I have seen many heist films and only Le Cercle Rouge came any close. Rififi has two portions, the heist, which is a successful one. and the latter is gang-war. And the two parts often feel quite distant from one another.
I know you didn't like the ending, but that's not the point, is it? The journey is there with all the thrills.
actually, I don't mind how it ended and I feel it was somewhat appropriate... With Italian Job or the Ocean's series, all looked as if though heist is interesting (which it is) and people can get away with things like that (many times they do)... maybe I'm trying to say is that fate is cruel or karma is a bitch... none of them got caught though