The Sweeney (2012)
Starring: Ray Winstone, Ben Drew, Hayley Atwell
Synopsis: Based on the 1970's TV Show of the same name, The Sweeney is London's Metropolitan Flying Squad, cockney rhyming slang Sweeney Todd. The Squad's purpose to investigate and prevent armed robbery and other serious armed crime. Jack Regan (Winstone) and George Carter (Drew) are two members of the Sweeney, using brute force and any other means necessary to stop criminal activity in London. When known armed robbers come to Britain and take the life of a young woman in a routine Jewellery heist, the Sweeney investigate the case.
Review: It opens with an already established Sweeney team carrying out an investigation, which I see as a positive for the movie. I feared an origin story, which would've been pointless given the type of work carried out. Quickly we see cars being destroyed and punches being thrown, as the team celebrate another victory, a new threat of armed robbers start going to work. It's not long before the Sweeney are back on the case. I enjoy Ray Winstone (Sexy Beast, 44 Inch Chest) however in this role sometimes had to remind myself he is for the law, rather than against it as in the other of his movies. Ben Drew (Plan B, Harry Brown) gives a good performance, bettering his other work, I didn't relate or like his character in Harry Brown, even though that may have been the point of his character, although Ben's character Carter does seem to be over looked for the whole of the second act of this film, returning to help for the third. Hayley Atwell (Captain America: First Avenger, I, Anna) playing one the female members of the team an enjoyable character who you wouldn't want to get on her wrong side. The Sweeney become investigated by Metropolitan Internal Affairs for methods used and conspiracy of theft, there always seems to be a personal angle to be written into the film, villain and co-workers making it there duty to prevent Winstone from his work.
It's an entertaining movie which should be enjoyed and not thought about, I came from the cinema and the more I was thinking about the story the more plot holes, bad edits and mistakes there were, some characters are forgotten about and others seem to be there to make up the numbers. There's no attention paid to early story plot points and very convenient incidents to help the film progress as the film comes to its close. It may seem at this point that I had not enjoyed it however at 112 minutes long I wasn't bored at any moment. I don't think the fans of the TV show will enjoy this as an update, I'm not entirely sure it's supposed to be, more of based upon The Sweeney. The car chases are well shot and realistic, exciting for a low budget British movie, however all members of the police and villains do need help with shooting, some almost hilarious misses to witness. It's always good to see Ray Winstone hit someone and dispense some cockney wit, "so get my way, or I'll break your legs".
Verdict: Average movie Good film, enjoyable if taken on the face value of it, if you don't see it on cinema rent it in a couple of months.
See this if you like: (Insert any Cockney/London gangster movie title her), anything that starred Ray Winstone.
Starring: Ray Winstone, Ben Drew, Hayley Atwell
Synopsis: Based on the 1970's TV Show of the same name, The Sweeney is London's Metropolitan Flying Squad, cockney rhyming slang Sweeney Todd. The Squad's purpose to investigate and prevent armed robbery and other serious armed crime. Jack Regan (Winstone) and George Carter (Drew) are two members of the Sweeney, using brute force and any other means necessary to stop criminal activity in London. When known armed robbers come to Britain and take the life of a young woman in a routine Jewellery heist, the Sweeney investigate the case.
Review: It opens with an already established Sweeney team carrying out an investigation, which I see as a positive for the movie. I feared an origin story, which would've been pointless given the type of work carried out. Quickly we see cars being destroyed and punches being thrown, as the team celebrate another victory, a new threat of armed robbers start going to work. It's not long before the Sweeney are back on the case. I enjoy Ray Winstone (Sexy Beast, 44 Inch Chest) however in this role sometimes had to remind myself he is for the law, rather than against it as in the other of his movies. Ben Drew (Plan B, Harry Brown) gives a good performance, bettering his other work, I didn't relate or like his character in Harry Brown, even though that may have been the point of his character, although Ben's character Carter does seem to be over looked for the whole of the second act of this film, returning to help for the third. Hayley Atwell (Captain America: First Avenger, I, Anna) playing one the female members of the team an enjoyable character who you wouldn't want to get on her wrong side. The Sweeney become investigated by Metropolitan Internal Affairs for methods used and conspiracy of theft, there always seems to be a personal angle to be written into the film, villain and co-workers making it there duty to prevent Winstone from his work.
It's an entertaining movie which should be enjoyed and not thought about, I came from the cinema and the more I was thinking about the story the more plot holes, bad edits and mistakes there were, some characters are forgotten about and others seem to be there to make up the numbers. There's no attention paid to early story plot points and very convenient incidents to help the film progress as the film comes to its close. It may seem at this point that I had not enjoyed it however at 112 minutes long I wasn't bored at any moment. I don't think the fans of the TV show will enjoy this as an update, I'm not entirely sure it's supposed to be, more of based upon The Sweeney. The car chases are well shot and realistic, exciting for a low budget British movie, however all members of the police and villains do need help with shooting, some almost hilarious misses to witness. It's always good to see Ray Winstone hit someone and dispense some cockney wit, "so get my way, or I'll break your legs".
Verdict: Average movie Good film, enjoyable if taken on the face value of it, if you don't see it on cinema rent it in a couple of months.
See this if you like: (Insert any Cockney/London gangster movie title her), anything that starred Ray Winstone.