Mike Hodges made his presence
felt with his shocking and hard hitting gangster film ever made in British
cinema. But along with ‘Get Carter’, he made few other brilliant thrillers too
which remained unnoticed for many cinebuffs. I’ve seen his ‘Croupier’ couple of
months ago, which is an extraordinary film starring Clive Owen in one of his
best performance. Owen is in lead here too and Hodges brilliantly executed this
serious vengeance thriller with his unique style exploring sound and image
rather than dialogue or narration and still built the tension so damn well. He
brought to screen the striking uninhibited brutal side of crime world and
indifferent seedy side of the city at night capturing those dark alleys,
streets, walls, roads and other exteriors like classic noirs.
Will Graham is a fierce man who
doesn’t talk to any living things for days and weeks, surviving as a wild
drifter in his van like a ghost or vigilante trusting no single soul. He’s
stepping back to the city and the world of crime he abandoned three years ago when
he comes to know about his younger brother’s gruesome suicide death. Now he’s
got one sole aim to discover the reason behind it which is disgustingly and
disturbingly shocking one physically as well as psychologically. The plot is
just peripheral, just watch the film how Hodges dealt with its treatment with style; the first half and hour is just establishing the mood and tone. Watching
‘Croupier’ and this one, I must say Clive Owen gave his two most memorable and
stellar performances collaborating with Hodges. This is his fine minimalist
act, just like Jim Jarsmusch and Jean Pierre Melville films.
Ratings-7.5/10
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