44 Inch Chest (2009)

Director:

Malcolm Venville

Writers (WGA):

Louis Mellis (written by) &
David Scinto (written by)

Release Date:

8 October 2009 (Australia)

Genre:

Drama

Plot:

A jealous husband and his friends plot the kidnapping of his wife's lover with the intention of restoring his wounded ego. |

Plot Keywords:

Number In Title

Cast

John Hurt	...	Old Man Peanut
Ray Winstone	...	Colin Diamond
Ian McShane	...	Meredith
Tom Wilkinson	...	Archie
Joanne Whalley	...	Liz
Dave Legeno	...	Brighton Billy
Stephen Dillane	...	Mal
Steven Berkoff	...	Tippi
Melvil Poupaud	...	Loverboy

MPAA:

Rated R for pervasive strong language including sexual references, and some violence.

Runtime:

94 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

SDDS | Dolby Digital | DTS

Certification:

USA:R | Netherlands:16

Filming Locations:

Elstree Film Studios, Borehamwood, Hertfordshire, England, UK

Company:

Anonymous Content

Not as good as it should be

(I saw this at the Sydney Film Festival, but IMDb has it as "in production", so I may have seen an incomplete version.) The pitch would have been something like "Reservoir Dogs meets Last Orders". From Reservoir Dogs we get the basic set-up of a bunch of crooks played by fine actors meeting in a lock-up and debating what to do with their captive, plus an enigmatic title and a flashback structure. From Last Orders comes a group of top-notch actors clearly enjoying themselves in a brown, downbeat London.

Some of the dialogue is fun if you like expletives spat out in poetry-like rhythms. There are good jokes and the acting is, as you'd expect from this lot, pretty fine. I was particularly pleased to see Stephen Dillane get his chance to prove himself cinematically after such an impressive theatrical career.

The downside is the plot, or rather the lack of it. The basic premise is laid out early on in the piece, and there is no real conflict to maintain our interest. Contrast the uniformity of opinion here with the combustible dynamics of Mr Blond, Mr White et al and the problem is clear. Some dream sequences intended to open the tale out feel forced, and a couple of minor twists are inconsequential.

If this script had been produced with a younger group of unknown actors it might get hailed for its promise. With this cast, 44 Inch Chest can only be counted a disappointment.