Review: After seeing the impressive cast in this movie, I was wondering why it wasn't a big hit in Hollywood but now that I have watched it, I can totally understand why. The film is about a group of thugs who rob a French gangster in a East End club. They end up with loads of cash and a liquid form of heroin but a couple of the thugs get greedy and they end up killing some of there crew. The guy who ended up with all of the loot, lived downstairs in a house rented by Tom & Anna Reed (James Franco & Kate Hudson), while Tom was renovating a house that he inherited. Whilst trying to have a baby and heavily in debt, they find there house-mate dead in his bedroom and they come across the cash from the robbery. After much debate, they decide to keep the cash to clear there debts and pay for the house renovation but the thugs want there loot back, along with the French gangster who they robbed it from. They also have a police detective DI John Halden (Tom Wilkinson) heavily on there tail but he's really there to help them because the liquid form heroin killed his daughter. Anyway, Tom & Anna struggle to stay alive whilst getting hunted by gangsters and there loved ones also become in danger. Sounds great on paper but it really turned out to be an average, cheap looking, movie. The acting was OK but the storyline was quite weak. They could have easily taken the money and left the country, which would have made it impossible for the gangsters to find them but they decided to stay were they could easily be caught. If they felt guilty about keeping the money, they also could have given it to the police and moved back to America were they would have been safe. Anyway, I personally kept on falling asleep through the movie because I got bored of the whole plot. The showdown at the end was pretty weak, after such a big build up but there is a sense of intensity which made it watchable. At the end of the day, it was a bad day at the office for James Franco, Kate Hudson and Tom Wilkinson but I doubt that it will hurt there reputation as top actors. Disappointing!
Round-Up: Kate Hudson, 36, first hit the big time after her role in Almost Famous in 2000 and from there, her career has blossomed after starring in a string of Rom-Com's which include How To Lose A Guy In 10 Days, Alex & Emma, The Divorce alongside Naomi Watts, Raising Helen, You, Me & Dupree, Fool's Gold, My Best Friends Wedding, Bride Wars, Something Borrowed and Wish I Was Here. She definitely has a joyful presence, which she inherited from her mum, Goodie Hawn, which is why she was a weird choice for this movie. James Franco is also known for his comedic roles in the controversial the Interview, This Is The End, Your Highness, Pineapple Express etc but he has made some serious movies like 127 Hours, Rise of the Planet of the Apes and Home front with Jason Statham. The chemistry wasn't bad between these two established actors but they seemed like they didn't know what they were doing most of the time. Anyway, this film was directed by Henrik Ruben Genz who hasn't really made any big budget movies in his career. Personally I was disappointed with what he done with the script and he made the film seem cheap and sketchy. Omar Sy was a great choice as the French gangster but he wasn't in the film that much, which was a shame. It was definitely a waste of a good cast and I can understand why it slipped under the movie world radar.
I recommend this movie to people who are into their action/crime/thrillers about a couple who are on the run from gangsters after they find a bag of money in there house-mates room. 3/10
Round-Up: Kate Hudson, 36, first hit the big time after her role in Almost Famous in 2000 and from there, her career has blossomed after starring in a string of Rom-Com's which include How To Lose A Guy In 10 Days, Alex & Emma, The Divorce alongside Naomi Watts, Raising Helen, You, Me & Dupree, Fool's Gold, My Best Friends Wedding, Bride Wars, Something Borrowed and Wish I Was Here. She definitely has a joyful presence, which she inherited from her mum, Goodie Hawn, which is why she was a weird choice for this movie. James Franco is also known for his comedic roles in the controversial the Interview, This Is The End, Your Highness, Pineapple Express etc but he has made some serious movies like 127 Hours, Rise of the Planet of the Apes and Home front with Jason Statham. The chemistry wasn't bad between these two established actors but they seemed like they didn't know what they were doing most of the time. Anyway, this film was directed by Henrik Ruben Genz who hasn't really made any big budget movies in his career. Personally I was disappointed with what he done with the script and he made the film seem cheap and sketchy. Omar Sy was a great choice as the French gangster but he wasn't in the film that much, which was a shame. It was definitely a waste of a good cast and I can understand why it slipped under the movie world radar.
I recommend this movie to people who are into their action/crime/thrillers about a couple who are on the run from gangsters after they find a bag of money in there house-mates room. 3/10