What’s it about:
Jude Law plays a
criminal who is released from prison and quickly returns to a life of crime
stealing cars and ram-raiding with his girlfriend. However he incurs the wrath
of local crime boss Sean Pertwee who feels he is encroaching on his territory.
5 things to love:
1. The
cinematography is really good for such an obviously low budget film. This was
Paul W S Anderson’s debut film* and although it never quite comes together
there are some fantastically creative shots throughout the film.
2. Although
not “top tier” the soundtrack for the film is pretty great. My favourites were
Utah Saints – ‘I Have Something to Say’ (which sadly removes the Highlander dialogue sample), Orbital – ‘Halcyon+On+On’
and The Sabres of Paradise – ‘Theme’.
3. The cast
is like a who’s who of British actors. Jude Law, Sean Pertwee, Jason Isaacs,
Sean Bean, Jonathan Pryce. I can’t say they are great performances, the script
is too stilted and stylised, but it’s fun to see a lot of them in early roles.
4. I liked
what the film was trying to be. A sort of A
Clockwork Orange for the 90s. It doesn’t succeed but I appreciate the
effort. The way Anderson sets the film in ruined buildings, tower blocks and
empty streets had a powerful vibe.
5. Lastly, you’ve
got to love the terrible 90s clothing that everyone wears. If you didn’t live
through the 90s you won’t understand.
1 it didn’t need:
There’s a lots about
this film that doesn’t work – Jude Law is very, very hard to take as a working
class thief – but the thing that brings the film to a grinding halt every time
is Sadie Frost awful performance as Law’s girlfriend Jo.
* Full
disclosure: I don’t think Paul
Anderson’s a terrible director and enjoy almost all his films (bar AVP) on a turn your brain off and have fun-level
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