London Boulevard Movie Review

London Boulevard (2010)

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Written by: William Monahan (screenplay), Ken Bruen (novel)
Directed by: William Monahan
Starring: Colin Farrell, Keira Knightley, Ray Winstone, Eddie Marsan, Stephen Graham
Rated: R
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Plot
An ex-con with a reputation tries to go straight by working as a handy man for a reclusive actress but this is unfortunately not the wish of London's underground crime lord.

Verdict
A charismatic criminal gets out of jail but can't get out of the life. We root for him the entire movie, wondering if he'll make it. The harder he tries to distance himself, the stronger the pull. This has style, aided by the London setting. If he can extricate himself from the criminal underworld, he has a life full of promise waiting for him. With a formidable foe, he's got his work cut out for him.
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Review
This was Monahan's directorial debut, after having written The Departed (2006) and Body of Lies (2008).

Fresh out of prison, Harry Mitchel (Colin Farrell) is offered an apartment and work if he accepts a job from his friend Billy's boss. Mitchel declines, not wanting to be a criminal. It's clear he knows how to handle himself and read a situation when he saves a woman from muggers on the way to his getting out party. He stumbles his way into a job working for reclusive actress Charlotte (Keira Knightley).

Mitchel is pulled in several directions. It's clear he doesn't want to be involved in the criminal life, several times refusing local gangster Gant's (Ray Winstone) offers. Gant sees a good soldier, offering Mitchel everything. Together they could slice up the town. Mitchel is also reeling from the violent death of an old friend, and Charlotte develops an interest in him. They have chemistry. He's pulled between these two worlds, but he's always going to be a criminal which makes that label difficult to shed.

Colin Farrell plays Harry Mitchel

Escaping Gant's grip puts Mitchel right in the middle of being a criminal. He had said earlier he'll hurt anyone if it means protecting himself, and that's where Gant has put him. If he doesn't attack first, Gant will get him and anyone else he cares about. We've seen that Gant is merciless and sadistic.

Mitchel hatches a plan to get rid of his enemies and Gant. We're rooting for him despite the violent nature of his gamble due to Farrell's charisma and his character's desire to put his murky past behind him. The entire movie has been Mitchel trying to extricate himself and the difficulties that generates. If he can get away from Gant, he's got a life waiting for him. Unfortunately getting out won't be as easy as getting in.