Keith Ripley (Freeman) plays an experienced art thief who has managed to stay one step ahead of the law for many years. Even the times he has been arrested have led to little more than a night in jail thanks to his lawyer friends. When Ripley's long-time partner turns up dead, he must find a new recruit to break into one of New York City's biggest jewelry companies and steal a pair of lost Faberge Eggs hidden in the building's highest tank vault. Thus enters small-time thief with potential Gabriel Martin (Banderas). Ripley introduces Martin to a new level of thievery as the pair spend most of the movie gathering intelligence on the security system. Meanwhile, local cop, Lt. Weber (Robert Forster), who has been on Ripley's trail for years, has gotten wind that the new team is planning something big, but without proof, he can't do anything about it.
Radha Mitchell also appears in this film as Alexandra, Ripley's God-Daughter, and Martin's love interest. But as their relationship deepens, so does her involvement in the plot and she might end up being a liability for both thieves if their employer doesn't get what he wants.
There was more than one occasion where The Code reminded me of an updated Entrapment, but there were also quite a few times when the tools used by this pair just seemed downright laughable. I wish I knew how much money Apple spent for product placement ads in this film because every time Freeman's character needed to do something, he just happened to have an app for it on his iPhone. Need to skim across the floor avoiding infrared lasers? There's an app for that. Need a nice schematic of the jewelery company? There's an app for that. There is even one that syncs up with the miniature camera that Banderas has to sneak into one of the owner's suits.
In the end, the film is okay. Nothing great, but an enjoyable caper-flick to watch. There are just two things that really annoyed me. At no point does anyone explain the title of the movie and the only thing I can think of is that it has to do with a thieves' code, but it's never really mentioned. The other annoying part is the utter lack of special features. Nothing, not a commentary track, no featurettes, not even the standard behind-the-scenes making of segment. Though the movie has quite a few twists, especially at the end, they don't make you want to re-watch the movie since there aren't really any hints or clues laid our to you throughout the film that should have let you figure them out on your own. In the end, The Code isn't worth more than a rental, and then only if you really enjoy caper movies or either of the main actors.
