Competently directed and well acted, this film about young thug from Belfast in the 1980's who infiltrates the IRA to gather information for the British cops asks a bit too much. Yes, the audience is given a clear look at life in the conflicted city and the horrors that became a daily occurrence during the conflict. However, the audience isn't given a hero they can fully back nor a storyline that is engaging enough to warrant sitting through all of the misery on screen.

Jim Sturgess (Across the Universe, 21) is a solid actor and is well cast as the thieving Martin, the young man who becomes a mole. Too bad his praise-worthy performance is buried in the mix. Director Kari Skogland is a good director, but it seems the cursory elements, the locations, side conflicts, the need to explain the history, got in the way of her storytelling.

This isn't a film I'd advise searching out. If it is available, you may want to give it a look however.


Cautions: This film presents sexual situations, gory violence and plenty of foul language.



Related Reviews:
Ben Kingsley movies
The Assignment (1997)
Transibberian (2008)


Other Critic’s Reviews:
NY Movie Guru
Reel Talk

Labels: Ben Kingsley, film, Jim Sturgess, movie review, Rose McGowan