Sunday, June 12, 2011

Blitz

“See this? It’s a Hurley. The Irish use it in a game that’s a cross between Hockey and murder.”

The opening speech delivered by master orator Jason Statham portraying Det.Sgt. Brant in Blitz a well directed gritty British thriller from Elliott Lester. It’s good to see Statham hasn’t completely ‘Americanised’ himself from appearing in the likes of The Mechanic, Death Race, The Expendables and The Transporter series in so far as that he can’t comfortably take up a role in such a quintessentially British film such as this. As a first, Blitz actually required Statham to act as opposed to just running and jumping while shooting, dodging rocket propelled grenades or shooting from the window of vehicles travelling at 120kph as the majority of his previous projects have required him to do at one point or another.

Statham’s tough as nails, renegade, alcoholic copper Brant, is put on the hunt for the self styled Blitz [Aidan Game of Thrones Gillen] who is on a brutal police officer killing spree throughout his London district. Brant is aided by Insp. Porter Nash [Paddy The Bourne Ultimatum Considine] a homosexual officer from another station who’s career is not without his own black spots. Together the two men must reconcile their differences and pool their collective talents and traits in order to catch their psychopathic adversary.

This movie contains scenes that may not be for the squeamish. At one point following a brutal scuffle, our killer beats someone’s skull in until it’s a pulp, then upon realising what he has done, vomits through his hands into the bloody mess before him. Blitz is not afraid of blood and gore and wears it’s sadly now rare 18 Certificate like a badge of honor in defiance of the current abhorrent trend of editing a directors true vision down to where it can be delivered to a larger age group. No, this is an adult movie and it does what it says on the tin.

Blitz is probably a bit more realistic in comparison to it’s American cousins in so far as it presents a view of police procedure a bit more grounded in reality in some respects; but in others, especially the climax is delivers something that goes against even the most grounded Hollywood vision of the world which isn’t a bad thing and perhaps may quite literally, blow you away.

Ironclad will probably be considered the best British movie of the year, but if you prefer it more modern then you'd do well not to ignore Blitz.

Colonel Creedon Rating: ****

10 comments:

Civilian Overseer said...

Nothing to do with the article but I had a freaky dream last night that I fell I must share with the denizens of the bunker. The Colonel and Mr.V where two halfs of a Rick Ashley & Robert Palmer tribute act in the style of "Jedward". The Colonel was Rick Ashley, Mr.V was Robert Palmer, it ended with them leaving the stage, getting on motorbikes and crashing into a pile of pillows. My Wife woke me up thinking I had was having a nightmare. Now I am afraid to go to sleep. Stay out of my dreams Colonel!

vaughan said...

Okay how the hell did he know I like Robert Palmer????

Civilian Overseer said...

"Sign", rolls eyes heavenwards, Dept. of Civilian Oversight, remember!?, Want to know what you had for breakfast today?, what's really freaky is that we know what you will have for breakfast tomorrow. ;)

Major General Creedon said...

If it was the motorcycle from Street Hawk then I'm initiating "Protocol 7" as - if confirmed - it means we've had the same dream!!!

Constance said...

Skivs, darling. I've learned the hard way that people get a little creeped out when you say "you were in a dream I had last night!" Mark T. especially hates it when he shows up in my drug induced hallucinations.

Civilian Overseer said...

Colonel, if I hear that you have been tempering with the extremely low frequences of the Earth's electromagnetic field again, there will be hell to pay.

Also, I am, as of this moment cutting the budget for your Dream Warriors Program, that, and giving up eating cheese before bedtime.

Connie, please think about what a person with a fervent imagination such as mine could do with your name. Don't say I didn't warn you. ;)

Constance said...

oh, I'd love to say something along the lines of "oh, I couldn't POSSIBLY know what you mean!"

But then that would mean that I couldn't say anything about the laughably hilarious name of a certain national air line.

Civilian Overseer said...

O Constain, what ever do you mean? ;)

Constance said...

And what is it your lovely wife growing inside her blessed womb? A sweet, innocent baby girl? I can only pray to Our Lady that neither she, nor your wife, nor (God forbid) your own mother see what you have written.

Sure and I'll light a candle for ye at Mass, and pray that the Lord above will somehow strengthen them...

Civilian Overseer said...

Don't mention that guy and babies to me.