Director: Elliot Lester
Cast: Jason Statham, Paddy Considine, Aidan Gillen
Certificate: 18
Running time: 97 minutes
Plot: When a cold-blooded killer begins to target police officers, the rebellious Det. Brant (Statham) discovers the culprit may be a face from his dodgy past. But the killer – ‘Blitz’ – may be too smart to be caught and stopped…
Jason Statham grunting through a series of one-liners, a villain with a wafer-thin motive, and a reckless hero whose irresponsible behaviour has created a monster. These are just some of reasons BLITZ shouldn’t work. But it does. And if you’re happy to leave your brainbox at the popcorn stand, it could be the most effective actioner to have hit screens this year…
BLITZ is a gritty affair, and though it’s clearly DIRTY HARRY-lite, the distinctly British feel gives it a fresh appeal. The London setting is drawn very well, and there’s a real sense of the streets on which the story takes place. Heading up the action as Detective Tom Brant is rent-a-cockney-hardnut Jason Statham, who, for all his faults (mostly in the wooden acting department) makes for a blinding lead here. His manner and presence are integral to the film, and though his character may be clumsily drawn in broad strokes (he dishes out a vigilante-style beating on some wayward youths before the titles even roll), there’s no doubt, he’s a hard man for a hard film. Yes, at times, BLITZ is difficult viewing: for all of Statham’s generic cop-on-the-edge shenanigans, there are moments of brutal and genuinely unsettling violence, which in the age of the pre-watershed DIE HARD is strangely refreshing and completely appropriate for the subject matter.
The general unpleasantness is headed up by Aidan Gillen, who as the titular cop-killer Blitz, enters a suitably dark performance. Though many of the other performances are unexceptional, Paddy Considine (surely Britain’s top actor) brings a touch of class to the proceedings. Along with this, viewers are treated to some exciting action, particularly in the form of an on-foot chase through the streets of London. BLITZ even manages to conjure some strong emotions, especially in the downfall of Inspector Roberts (Mark Rylance), whose story forms one of the many subplots that tie nicely together.
But this is far from perfect, and will not be to the liking of all viewers. It plot and backstory are generic at best, David Morrissey is criminally underused, and its thumping sub-Guy Ritchie soundtrack is thoroughly irritating. However, the action is effective, performances satisfactory, and story undeniably engaging. No, this will not be remembered alongside such Brit classics as THE ITALIAN JOB or THE LONG GOOD FRIDAY, and yes, you will have seen far better examples of gritty action. But it works, even though it perhaps shouldn’t. Amongst the plethora of low-rent American nonsense that Statham has put his name to over the years (along with his dodgy yank accent), it’s good to know that he still has an eye for quality British action.
