It's not very easy for
a gangster film to avoid cliches of the genre, and I was rather worried when
the 2010 movie London Boulevard began in a way strongly reminiscent of The
Italian Job. A London criminal (Colin Farrell, rather than Michael Caine) is
released from prison, and a celebration is laid on for him by his friends
before he is offered the opportunity of "one more job".
At this point, however,
the script takes off. It is based on a novel by Ken Bruen and the title is a
spin on Sunset Boulevard. A pretty girl introduces Farrell to a retired
actress, and he takes on the task of looking after her at a time when she is
besieged by the paparazzi. But the actress is no Norma Desmond – she's played
by Keira Knightley.
Unfortunately, Farrell
gets mixed up with the activities of a tough criminal played by (inevitably?)
Ray Winstone, and before long he has good cause to be worried about the safety
of his beautiful but totally flaky sister – a very good part for yet another
gorgeous actress, Anna Friel. The plot developments come thick and fast as
Farrell also sets out to avenge the brutal murder of a disabled friend of his
by a couple of young hoodlums. An irony of the story is that, on one occasion
when Farrell resists the urge to mete out violent retribution, he lives to
regret it.
There is a good deal of
violence in this film, but the quality of the screenplay is such that it never
seems to become gratuitous. I've read a number of deeply unenthusiastic reviews
of this film, but the negative reaction of some critics really surprises me. I
think London Boulevard is one of the best films about gangsters that I've ever
seen.
