This is quite a good film, the plot wasn't anything out of the ordinary, neither was the acting, however it still manages to entertain with its gritty environments and intrigues within the plot line.
The story follows a recently retired young soldier who is unemployed and lives the slams of a British city. His friend introduces enlists him to an antiespionage agency that is investigating several terrorist cells planning to carry out attacks against the UK. The protagonist also tries to keep a neighbour and friend of his safe from a drug gang in their neighbourhood, that has enlisted his friend's child brother in their ranks.
The film touches several issues, such as the current "war on terror", drug problems, increasing criminal activity, children introduced to gangs, veterans facing problems adjusting to civilian life. It doesn't oversell itself and neither does it come short. It is both entertaining and thought-provoking.
If you sit to watch it bear in mind 2 things: a) the film doesn't focus on the action as much as the plot line and character development. Don't expect a Jason Bourne film. b) (read after the SPOILER sign)
***SPOILER*** The only problem I had with the film was its ending, and the main reason I wouldn't recommend this to everyone. The ending is quite anticlimactic and leaves several plot lines unresolved. While I wasn't expecting a good "Star Wars"-kind ending where all the good guys live, all the bad guys die and the world is a happy place, I'd still like to know what happened with all the other people involved in the story. Personally, I was left with a "so, that's it?" thought, which ruined the rest of the film for me. A similar film, "The International" (2009), has a similar kind of ending, but in that movie, the ending was enjoyable because it didn't leave unresolved issues and the viewer wandering if the copy of the film he just watched had a few scenes missing.
The story follows a recently retired young soldier who is unemployed and lives the slams of a British city. His friend introduces enlists him to an antiespionage agency that is investigating several terrorist cells planning to carry out attacks against the UK. The protagonist also tries to keep a neighbour and friend of his safe from a drug gang in their neighbourhood, that has enlisted his friend's child brother in their ranks.
The film touches several issues, such as the current "war on terror", drug problems, increasing criminal activity, children introduced to gangs, veterans facing problems adjusting to civilian life. It doesn't oversell itself and neither does it come short. It is both entertaining and thought-provoking.
If you sit to watch it bear in mind 2 things: a) the film doesn't focus on the action as much as the plot line and character development. Don't expect a Jason Bourne film. b) (read after the SPOILER sign)
***SPOILER*** The only problem I had with the film was its ending, and the main reason I wouldn't recommend this to everyone. The ending is quite anticlimactic and leaves several plot lines unresolved. While I wasn't expecting a good "Star Wars"-kind ending where all the good guys live, all the bad guys die and the world is a happy place, I'd still like to know what happened with all the other people involved in the story. Personally, I was left with a "so, that's it?" thought, which ruined the rest of the film for me. A similar film, "The International" (2009), has a similar kind of ending, but in that movie, the ending was enjoyable because it didn't leave unresolved issues and the viewer wandering if the copy of the film he just watched had a few scenes missing.