London Boulevard Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		3.0
Video		4.5
Audio		4.5
Extras		1.0
Overall		3.0

London Boulevard Blu-ray Movie Review

Just when I thought I was out...

Reviewed by Martin Liebman February 24, 2012

I will hurt someone before they hurt me.

One might reasonably assume that London Boulevard will play like any other Johnny-come-lately Gangster movie clone, desperately wanting to be the next hip and cool modern day classic to be remembered in the same breath as Snatch and Pulp Fiction. Yet it's not really like either of those or even the average erratic, convoluted, flash-in-the-pan Crime Dramas in a broader sense. It's far less chaotic and far superficially more straightforward to fit into that circle of films, though there's definitely an underlying intrigue of character development that the film introduces but never really hits out of the park. Nevertheless, the movie fails to offer up an original story. At its core, it's another take on the tired old storyline that sees a character struggling to remove himself from a life of crime while a life of crime refuses to remove itself from his life. First-time Director William Monahan, perhaps best known for penning the screenplay for Martin Scorsese's The Departed, both writes the screenplay for (adapted from Ken Bruen's novel) and helms London Boulevard, the latter with the confidence and style of a veteran filmmaker. Yet for as nice as the film looks and for the potential for greater character study the film offers, it never quite escapes the doldrums of its unoriginal plot.

Free.

Mitch (Colin Farrell) has recently been released from prison where he stayed three years for his role in an "altercation." He's met on the outside by hills old buddy-in-crime Billy (Ben Chaplin) who is providing Mitch a place to sleep and has helped plan a welcome home shindig celebrating his freedom. At the party, Mitch makes the acquaintance of Charlotte (Keira Knightley), a beautiful and dedicated former actress who instantly takes a liking to the handsome reformed criminal. She offers him a job as a handyman-slash-bodyguard to keep around the house and shield her from both a hungry paparazzi and any ill intent that may come her way. She lives in solitude with only the enigmatic Jordan (David Thewlis), and Mitch is more than happy to take on a legitimate job for someone unassociated with the world of crime he wants to leave behind. Yet when Mitch's friend Joe (Alan Williams) is murdered, he must choose how and if he'll avenge his death. Meanwhile, Billy is up to no good, bringing Mitch's freedom and skills to the attention of a dangerous mobster named Gant (Ray Winstone) who, despite his best efforts, finds wooing the careful Mitch into the fold a difficult proposition. Can Mitch make a new life and a burgeoning love with Charlotte work, or will his old ways take hold and lead him down a path of certain destruction?

To be sure, there's not a shred of an original plot arc in London Boulevard. Escape from a past life, particularly a past life of crime, is hardly the stuff of groundbreaking storytelling anymore, but the movie does manage to rise above the fray as a fairly smart character study nevertheless, using its bland arc to paint a more complete picture than is often even attempted in movies like this. While Mitch's journey from prison to the streets and his struggles with finding a new life and love while resisting the urge to be sucked back into the underground form the foundation, the story remains at least somewhat engaging thanks to some interesting dynamics that shape the lead character beyond his struggles with good and evil and right and wrong. The subplot of Mitch's friend Joe's murder seems somewhat irrelevant within the larger context, and even as it comes around full-circle at the end it appears more a convenience to end the movie a certain way than an integral piece of the puzzle, but it proves to be the central point of reference in Mitch's battle within himself, a foundation for comparative analysis, the ultimate test of his will to stay out of trouble and remain on the straight and narrow, avoiding the mines and booby traps laid by those who would either benefit by him or cut him down out of spite along the way. Will avenging Joe's death lead him down the darker path? What will choosing to look the other way mean? Mitch's dealings with Gant are largely shaped by his struggles with Joe's murder and how to cope with it. Yet revenge and justice don't necessarily equate to wrongdoing, and Mitch's ability to find some balance and inner peace with that will, one way or the other, shape his destiny.

Yet it's largely up to the audience to make those connections; the film focuses more attention on the general elements and leaves the critical subtleties to the imagination. The movie never becomes bogged down in procedure, but certainly the overreaching arc never really takes off. Outside of Mitch, the characters are largely generic bodies with little perceptible depth. Then again, this is Mitch's story, and the supporting cast -- even the most important pieces of his puzzle -- is just that, supporting pieces helping to shape the story of the lead character. Still, the performances are of a relatively high quality. Farrell never struggles with his character, nicely balancing a machismo tough guy with a wannabe softer lover, but he doesn't seem to really capture the inner conflict with any outward force. His emotions run high and the technical merits of the performance are satisfactory, but the audience won't feel as if they've truly been granted access to the deepest, darkest recesses of his psyche, which lessens the impact of the central conflict. Keira Knightley is strong as the reclusive actress/love interest and Ray Winstone does the whole big-shot gangster thing with a commanding presence. The movie is gorgeously photographed, using its locations and shadow to fine effect. It plays with a technical steadiness that helps absorb the audience into the shady London locations, even if it largely fails to truly get inside of its lead character's head, which is where the the movie really needed to go, try as it might and in light of its otherwise unoriginal arc.

London Boulevard Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

London Boulevard's 1080p Blu-ray transfer is spectacular. The movie opens with a rough, gritty façade but settles into a crisp, balanced, and beautifully film-like appearance that's made possible by strong clarity, tremendous detailing, and the retention of a light layer of film grain. Indeed, strong details are this transfer's best asset. Facial textures are naturally complex, clothing reveals the finest lines and fabric consistencies, and various wood, brick, and concrete surfaces both inside and outside are marvelously presented and highly natural in appearance. Likewise, the color palette is balanced and accurate -- neither vivid nor dull -- and it handles everything from bright yellow paint to the dullest grays with equal care. Flesh tones are accurate under all lighting conditions, and black levels are sturdy, perhaps appearing a shade too dark or a hair too light in a handful of shots. The source print is immaculate, and compression artifacts are absent. This is another stellar Blu-ray release from Sony.

London Boulevard Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

London Boulevard's DTS-HD MA 5.1 lossless soundtrack is a winner. The track effortlessly create a wide and enveloping soundstage, spreading out its elements across the front and around the back with clarity and authenticity. Indeed, surround elements are seamlessly integrated, whether heavier vehicle movements or the deep blow of a boat's whistle or light ambience such as chatter, footsteps, car brakes, and the general din of busy locales. Music is expertly handled, whether crisp bagpipe notes at a funeral, the heavy beats of pop music, or the slightly muddled texture of throwback classic tunes playing over the action. Unfortunately, dialogue is once or twice lost under, or forced to compete with, the music, but it's otherwise clear and focused up the middle-front portion of the soundstage. Gunshots ring out with suitable potency and realism, but the deepest part of the low end can sound a bit rattly and muddled. Overall, however, this is a very strong, enveloping track that nicely pulls the audience into the shady world of London Boulevard.

London Boulevard Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

London Boulevard contains only one film-specific extra.

• The Making of London Boulevard (1080p, 15:33): Cast and crew discuss the plot, adapting the Ken Bruen novel, the specifics of the characters and the quality of the performances, shooting the story on the fly without a concrete ending in mind, the picture's violence, creating the film's iconic photograph of Keira Knightley, the film's visual stylings and its transcendence of recent periods, costumes, and shooting in London.
• Previews: Additional Sony titles.
• BD-Live.

London Boulevard Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

London Boulevard is nothing special, but there are hints of something far better that never gel or come completely to fruition. The movie is centered on a tired plot line, but as a character study there's an admirable quality about it, even if it never really finds a satisfactory stride or conclusion. The performances, however, are good, and Director William Monahan has likely ensured himself some future work behind the camera for what is a positive, yea exciting, debut. Sony's Blu-ray release of London Boulevard features dazzling video and audio, but fans will be disappointed with the inclusion of only one supplement. This is a release that will make for a satisfying rental at any time, or a purchase down the line when the price drops.