Nothing wrong with a bit of controversy; it’s just like, my opinion, man, but Nick Love’s reboot of the beloved Euston Films tv show is a really good old-school British policier. Yes, the old John Thaw/Dennis Waterman tv show from the 1970’s was a blast, and still stands up well with lots of location shooting, motors, salty humour and tough-guy posturing. Creating a new version was no easy task, and while this 2012 revival topped the UK box office on release, it was not loved by many, although the French somehow thought it was worth an instant, scene-by-scene remake with Jean Reno in 2016.
It’s a cops and robbers game. Regan and Carter are part of a crime-unit called the Sweeney (rhyming slang Sweeney Todd; Flying Squad) whose tough methods attract the unwelcome attentions of boss Haskins (a well-cast Damien Lewis) who is presiding over an internal affairs investigation. Solving the murder of a woman gunned down in a diamond-shop heist is the goal, but as the cops brethlessly surmise, it’s not a robbery, it’s an execution….
The main cast are hardly like-for-like substitutions and likely to enrage purists. Ray Winstone’s cockney geezer routine has a little of Thaw’s rough-and-ready energy; despite his ubiquitous betting adverts, the actor was good in Sexy Beast and 44 Inch Chest, and offers a slovenly take on the hard-bitten cop Jack Regan. Similarly, casting rapper Ben Drew aka Plan B as sidekick Carter doubles-down on street-cred if not actual credibility; Drew doesn’t look like he could park an ice-cream van never mind bust a crime ring, and yet that inexperience and unfamiliarity work to brighten the old-man’s-picture mood.
But where Love’s film scores is the action; punch-ups are punchy, car chases thrill including the caravan-site climax, and the film’s dynamic centrepiece is a lengthy Michael Mann-style shoot-em-up with machine guns in Trafalgar Square. Shot by the brilliant Simon Dennis, this makes great use of real locations and off-the-cuff, hand-held shooting. The gleaming contrast between the office-world of the cops and the dingy garages of the crims is striking throughout, and there’s some vintage support from Alan Lake, Allan Corduner and even Ed Skrein.
From a script co-written by Love and Trainspotting’s John Hodge, The Sweeney doesn’t aim for any real reflection on UK police brutality other than to celebrate it; this womanising Regan is pure blokey-wish fulfilment, particularly a risible non-PC plot-line about him sleeping with the boss’s girl, played by Hayley Atwell. Yet by ringing the changes on the venerable property, Love somehow makes a crime drama compelling in its simplicity. The whole venture may be aimed at selling a few DVD’s out of supermarket bins, but there’s nothing wrong with a little low-brow entertainment. And if that’s the kind of action you seek, then, as Jack Regan says, ‘get your trousers on, you’re nicked!’
good
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I watched the original Sweeney! film the other day. Pubs, fags, birds, hangovers, punch-ups and a surprisingly good plot. Tempted to give this another go now.
I’ve a soft spot for Sweeney 2 as well, and The Professionals is a constant temptation on Prime.
I genuinely thought I was the only one who liked this!
Definitely old school crime drama. Ray Winstone is terrific, Plan B should have brought his A game. But a good picture nonetheless.
Having never seen the tv show, or even heard of it, does this stand on its own two legs,storywise?
Actually, yes, it’s a straightforward crime movie without any previous experience necessary. Like the Care Bears movie if the bears had machine guns and souped-up cars.
Nice! I just had an image of Grumpy Bear dressed up as Rambo 😀
I just bought the blu-ray for a quid, and it’s a charity shop staple. Unpretentious stuff, best seen without the prism of tv expectations.
I’ve been close to taking this one out of the library a few times but haven’t grabbed it yet. I’ll take this as a guarded recommendation. Better that I don’t know the show.
Oh man, it’s great to have you back! I think there was a time when you were my only commenter! This is a very unfashionable film, so gives me a lift to hear that I’m not alone in liking it! Thanks!
Definitely liked this one myself! The shout out scene reminded me of Heat too, so it’s funny that you mentioned Michael Mann😊 In my opinion a bit of an underrated film this one. Great post!😊
I was at a press conference for this at the Savoy and Plan B talked about how he doesn’t watch anything, film or tv, that’s more than three years old. So maybe this film would work better if you have no interest in the old tv show, it’s hardly a reverent update. Worth a look despite a not-great reputation!
Loved Winstone in Sexy Beast, wonder what happened to Plan B. Didn’t see this as I wasn’t a fan of the TV series back then but might give it a go now.