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By
DEBORAH NICOL
A nameless coke dealer just
wants to keep his nose clean (forgive the pun),
finish the final big job, and quietly get the hell
out of Dodge. Same old tale of no escape from the
drug biz? Not bloody likely.
Producer Matthew Vaughn of the "Lock, Stock and
Two Smoking Barrels" and "Snatch" super team comes
front and center as director to helm this London
gangster gem. Shaving away the previous yucks in
favor of slick dialogue, Vaughn commits this crime
drama with smooth execution. Daniel Craig
("Sylvia," "Munich") demonstrates in no uncertain
terms why he is ideal as the next Bond boy. His
ice blue eyes and confidence exude unquestionable
sex appeal, but never undermine his pure talent.
Brit mob films have proven themselves in a
previously American-only genre. Vaughn and Guy
Ritchie's endeavors alone have demonstrated that
crime humor can be quick and sharp-tongued, but
also flat-out hysterical. In this film we see that
humor clinging to the bottom rungs of the crime
ladder in the form of showy morons who have
managed to do well, but whose time is surely
limited. Jamie Foreman ("Saving Grace")
personifies this well as a greedy dealer with a
clumsy entourage. Climb a few rungs higher, and
the sheen of London society makes its presence as
grand cover-ups smooth out cockney edges. Craig's
nameless man-of-the-hour maintains a respectable
career, dots all his Is, and as a result pins
himself to the wall by being too good – now he is
hopelessly endeared to the men to whom he brings
millions of dollars.
However, Craig is never too slick nor too wise.
Unlike previous gangster films in which the dealer
is so overly confident that he is robotic or so
omniscient that he transcends realistic amounts of
knowledge, Craig's character maintains his
humanity. He excels at what he does because he is
bright and focused, but he can become muddled when
presented with a situation for which he was never
trained. In an ironic bit (considering his next
Secret Agent role) he mugs for the camera with a
gun – a new toy that has suddenly become necessary
equipment. Mr. Reliable must prove himself beyond
his normal call of duty, but it is a task that
involves realistic psychological tolls.
Craig is flanked by cool and talented fellow
Brits. A freakishly tan Michael Gambon ("Being
Julia") portrays the top rung mob boss pulling all
the strings. Always calculating, always ready to
make the world an easier place for himself and
himself alone. Colm Meaney ("The Van," "Star Trek:
The Next Generation") is an upper-rung middle man
who knows how to handle annoying situations
without getting himself too mussed up. George
Harris ("The Interpreter") is Craig's right-hand
man with a little too much experience under his
belt to keep himself sane.
The characters are smooth but not incapable of
injury when something goes awry. The story is
linear but when a plot component (or character) is
hacked away, two more appear in its place. Good
storytelling keeps the viewer guessing, but never
to unrealistic distraction. Vaughn has proven
himself beyond his producer capabilities, and the
New York underground crime scene better take
notes.
Extras abound on this tight little disc. A
commentary track is provided by writer J.J.
Connolly and director Vaughn. Also included are
deleted scenes and alternate endings with director
commentary, along with storyboards, posters and
trailers of other films. Featurettes include a
Making Of and a Q&A with Craig and Vaughn, the
latter of whom repeatedly voices a desire to
distance this film from the comedy of his two big
hits. |
