Dead Man Running (2009)

Director:

Alex De Rakoff

Writers:

Alex De Rakoff (written by)
John Luton (story)

Release Date:

30 October 2009 (UK)

Genre:

Action | Crime | Drama | Thriller

Plot:

A loan shark gives ex-con Nick a period of 24 hours in order to pay back the money he owes. Up against it...

Plot Keywords:

Loan Shark | Violence | Manchester England | London England | Theft

Cast

50 Cent	...	Thigo
Tamer Hassan	...	Nick
Danny Dyer	...	Bing
Monet Mazur	...	Frankie
Brenda Blethyn	...	Mother
Bronson Webb	...	Smudger
Blake Ritson	...	Jarvis
Esmé Bianco	...	Herself - Featured Burlesque Performer
Joe Egan	...	Big Man
Scot Williams	...	Tommy
Rupert Degas	...	Football Commentator
Jeff Stewart	...	Tiffany's Client
Robert Stone	...	The Lump
Viv Weatherall	...	Motorcycle Policeman
Trevor Byfield	...	The Mark
Glenn Doherty	...	Petrol Attendant
Adam Saint
Jodi McAllister	...	Sexy Lil Bit
Lauren Reading	...	Lady Of The Night 1
Andrea Newland	...	Bank Cashier
Nakeba Buchanan	...	Yardie Girl
Amy Lawson	...	Lady Of The Night 2

Runtime:

92 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Certification:

UK:15 | Ireland:15A

Filming Locations:

London, England, UK

Company:

Next Generation TV & Film

Movie Connections:

Edited into "The Paul O'Grady Show: (2009-11-11)" (2009)

Very average Brit gangster flick

I wasn't expecting great things from this movie and I wasn't disappointed. The plot is very two-dimensional but done reasonably well, the film is well-paced and directed competently with a fair bit going on in its 90-ish minute runtime. It's never going to trouble the Academy but it pretty much does what it says on the tin as a run-of-the-mill UK gangster flick.

The performances leave a little bit to be desired, however. Danny Dyer, who now seems hopelessly typecast, really phones in his performance and it would be nice to see him given a role which might stretch him. If he keeps taking roles like this one, though, it ain't going to happen. Here Dyer is reunited with his co-star from 'The Business' (ten times the film that 'Dead Man Running' is, by the way) Tamer Hassan. Hassan, again, means well but again he's given very little to work with. It's a shame as both he and Dyer have, I feel, more to offer than this formulaic 'good-guys-gone-a-little-bad' buddy-buddy nonsense.

The chief baddie is 'played' by Curtis 'fifty pence' Jackson and it's not good, people. I'm not a fan of his music but he undeniably has talent, just not on the boards. His performance is borderline embarrassing but thankfully he doesn't take up much screen time.

Not a great movie, not a disaster either. Just average.

I did chuckle when I saw the name of footballer Rio Ferdinand in the credits as an 'executive producer' and the Jar-Jar Binks lookalike even gets a dedicated (and very clunky) line in the script. Rio's got his insipid 'Number 5' online magazine going on and now fancies himself as a mover and shaker in the film world but someone really ought to take the big man to one side and quietly explain to him that he is not in any way 'cool', nor will he ever be. Stick to football, Rio, you're quite good at that (recent performances aside).