Clive Owen was once an enforcer for the London underground, but has since left London and is living off the grid out of his van. When he is unable to contact his little brother Jonathan Rhys Meyers for some time, he heads back to London to find him in person. He learns Rhys Meyers has committed suicide, but cannot believe it. An independent autopsy determines Rhys Meyers was raped, and Owen is determined to find out who did it and why. But his reappearance doesn't go unnoticed by his former criminal buddies nor his former boss Ken Stott.
The basic plot reminds a bit of an earlier neo-noir by director Mike Hodges, 'Get Carter', but this isn't a remake (altho I would say writer Trevor Preston was definitely inspired by it). This is also a very slow-paced movie, deliberately so... There is very little action and the few instances there are are quite brief. This movie is all about brooding tension and there's plenty of it. But action junkies will fall asleep watching this.
Hodges once again employed Clive Owen as his lead, who also starred in his last movie before this one, the excellent and a-typical neo- noir 'Croupier'. And he is great here, with his intense deadpan stare. There is a small part for the beautiful Charlotte Rampling as his former girlfriend, but her role is wasted and she doesn't seem to be too comfortable in this part, she's very static. Malcolm McDowell plays Rhys Meyers's rapist (this is not a spoiler btw) and there's some nice misdirection in regards to his activities and possible motive, also because there is also a subplot involving Owen's former boss Ken Stott who realizes why Owen is back in town.
Out of Hodges's 3 neo-noirs, this is the least of the three, but that doesn't mean it's bad. Far from it, but I can see how the movie's pace and lack of action (even in the 'climax') will turn off some people. Having said that, I really enjoyed it, and I would still recommend it. 7/10
The basic plot reminds a bit of an earlier neo-noir by director Mike Hodges, 'Get Carter', but this isn't a remake (altho I would say writer Trevor Preston was definitely inspired by it). This is also a very slow-paced movie, deliberately so... There is very little action and the few instances there are are quite brief. This movie is all about brooding tension and there's plenty of it. But action junkies will fall asleep watching this.
Hodges once again employed Clive Owen as his lead, who also starred in his last movie before this one, the excellent and a-typical neo- noir 'Croupier'. And he is great here, with his intense deadpan stare. There is a small part for the beautiful Charlotte Rampling as his former girlfriend, but her role is wasted and she doesn't seem to be too comfortable in this part, she's very static. Malcolm McDowell plays Rhys Meyers's rapist (this is not a spoiler btw) and there's some nice misdirection in regards to his activities and possible motive, also because there is also a subplot involving Owen's former boss Ken Stott who realizes why Owen is back in town.
Out of Hodges's 3 neo-noirs, this is the least of the three, but that doesn't mean it's bad. Far from it, but I can see how the movie's pace and lack of action (even in the 'climax') will turn off some people. Having said that, I really enjoyed it, and I would still recommend it. 7/10