It took us a while to come around to some level of appreciation for Colin Farrell, but then he didn’t make it easy on himself considering some of his acting choices. However, in London Boulevard, the new London gangster film, co-starring Keira Knightley, Anna Friel and Ray Winstone, he could either put the likes of his cameo on Scrubs and role as Bullseye in the shockingly bad Daredevil well and truly behind him, or undo the reputation he’s built up thanks to In Bruges and Phone Booth.
Release date
Released on the 26th November 2010, the movie had a short, but largely unsuccessful stint in UK cinemas.
Storyline
London Boulevard follows South London criminal, Mitchel (Colin Farrell), upon his release from prison. In an attempt to get onto the straight and narrow he hangs up his gangster boots to become bodyguard and handy man for reclusive Hollywood actress, Charlotte. However, Mitchell struggles to escape his past, and when it catches up with him in the form of London boulevard crime boss, Gant (Ray Winstone), it threatens his new life and all those that are a part of it.
Cast
In addition to Keira Knightley (The Imitation Game) as Charlotte, Colin Farrel as Mitchel and Winstone as Gant, the movie also stars the additional acting muscle of Anna Friel, playing Mitchel’s kid sister, and Stephen Graham (This Is England ’86 & Boardwalk Empire) as an associate of Mitchel deep in the criminal underbelly of London’s opulent boulevards.
The cast also includes David Thewlis (Macbeth (2015)) as Charlotte’s manager, Eddie Marsan (The World’s End) as corrupt detective superintendent Bailey, Ophelia Lovibond (Guardians Of The Galaxy) as Charlotte’s friend Penny and Matt King (Starlings) as Gant’s henchman Fletcher.
Production
The film was based on the 2001 Ken Bruen novel of the same name, having been adapted for the big screen by writer William Monahan, who also made his directorial debut for the movie. Kasabian guitarist Sergio Pizzorno (Noel Fielding’s Luxury Comedy Series 2) scored the movie, making his own cinematic debut in charge of music.
First Impressions
London Boulevard had more than enough potential to make it a decent film to watch, but the big test for the movie rested on Farrell’s shoulders as the central character in the crime thriller. If he’d been more Ray than Bullseye then it could have been good. However, it received quite bad reviews when it was released back in 2010.
, film release date, storyline and trailer from Tuppence Magazine movie news, starring Colin Farrell, Keira Knightly & Ray Winston.){kind=link}