{"id":6351,"date":"2011-05-01T11:21:07","date_gmt":"2011-05-01T09:21:07","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/pinartarhan.com\/blog\/?p=6351"},"modified":"2013-06-27T00:41:15","modified_gmt":"2013-06-26T22:41:15","slug":"london-boulevard-starring-colin-farrell-keira-knightley","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/pinartarhan.com\/blog\/london-boulevard-starring-colin-farrell-keira-knightley\/","title":{"rendered":"London Boulevard starring Colin Farrell & Keira Knightley"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"London<\/a>
London Boulevard starring Colin Farrell & Keira Knightley. Image via spinetinglermag.com<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Plot Summary \u2013 No Spoilers<\/strong><\/p>\n

Mitchel (Colin Farrell<\/a>) has just been released prison and would rather not have any more violence in his life. Unfortunately, he is stupid enough to hang around his friend Billy (Ben Chaplin<\/a>), who gets Mitchel more into trouble than any favor he might to for him. It is also because of Billy that Mitchel gets involved with the ruthless psycho gangster Gant (Ray Winstone<\/a>). Gant tries to grant Mitchel\u2019s loyalty, but Mitchel isn\u2019t exactly tamable.<\/p>\n

An ex-con trying to stay an ex-con is always difficult, if not impossible, but Mitchel\u2019s bad choices, as well as his thirst to avenge his mate Joe get him deeper and deeper. He could have been free to run away or waste anyone he wanted, but unfortunately he has two weaknesses: his wacky sister (Anna Friel), and the movie star Charlotte (Keira Knightley) he is trying to protect and is falling in love with. What has a guy got to do?<\/p>\n

**<\/p>\n

The Movie<\/strong><\/p>\n

Now, London Boulevard is an interesting film. It\u2019s deeply flawed in many areas, but it is weirdly fun to watch. Let\u2019s break it down:<\/p>\n

Keira Knightley:<\/strong><\/p>\n

Did you notice how I let Keira Knightley just be in the sidelines (of the plot summary)? It is because she really is just another tool for us to see where Mitchel\u2019s choices are going to take him. It is probably intentionally ironic (intended by the writer\/director) William Monahan \u2013since Keira Knightley plays an actress who is just sick of being simply the bed buddy to the male star, only to help the audience find out more about him.<\/p>\n

The flaws: (Spoilers!)<\/strong><\/p>\n

–\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Why does everyone think it is much more authentic if gangsters are saying the c-word, all the time? I mean really- do novelists (London Boulevard was based on the novel by Ken Bruen<\/a>) and screenwriters (adapted by director William Monahan)?<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Do they hang out with gangsters, count how many times they say the c-word in a minute and reflect it in the screenplay? I don\u2019t think so. There is some f-word thrown in for good measure too. OK, so if there is going to be this much swearing, can we get some more variety? The dialogue gets very boring, very often.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

–\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Why make Keira Knightley an ornament? Yes, she is the leading actress, but there is not much for her to do except to hang around, smoke and get depressed. There are barely a couple of conversations before they are in love. Yes, Colin Farrell is pretty charismatic and good-looking here. And Keira Knightley is the perfect damsel in distress. But we need more than just two of them chatting twice to see the connection\/attraction\/whatever.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

–\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Why the hell is he not taking the job as her protector\/bodyguard? He liked the girl. He liked the wacky friend Jordan (David Thewlis). Why not freaking take the job and never ever see Billy?<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

–\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 He says he is never getting back in, but he is out for blood for his homeless friend. And he is out for blood, yet he grows a conscience at the last minute which will obviously bite him in the last minute. If a teenager is cold-blooded enough to kill an old homeless guy, he doesn\u2019t deserve your mercy. Period.\u00a0 And if you are going to hunt him down, don\u2019t let him know. \u00a0And if you will let the whole town know you are after someone, finish the job when you have the chance.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

–\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Could Ben Chaplin\u2019s character be more of a loser? Yes, I get it we are not supposed to like him and he is supposed to be a scumbag, an excuse for a lowlife criminal but even so\u2026it seems like a miracle his dumb character survived to see his 30s\/40s.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

–\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Are all paparazzi that disgusting, disturbing and idiotic? And it is a wonder how Mithcel kept his temper and cool for so long. I was expecting a beating at his first encounter.<\/p>\n

The fun:<\/strong><\/p>\n

–\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 The soundtrack <\/strong>is just awesome. It suits the mood perfectly and I want to own every single song used in the film.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

–\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Colin Farrell<\/strong> is really good. A truly grey character couldn\u2019t have been more likable. He seems pretty mild at first (for a criminal), but he gets more aggressive as his buttons are pushed and we get to see his dark side. And his dark side is truly cool.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

–\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 David Thewlis <\/strong>is a riot. His hippie\/weed-smoking and apparently ready-for-anything-exciting character makes for a refreshing buddy\/partner-in-crime for Mitchel.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

And actually, this trio does win over all the flaws I listed.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The verdict: <\/strong><\/p>\n

A crime\/drama of an ex-con \u2013 with some cool moments and a touch of romance thrown in. Fun and watchable, but could have been so much better. And it does need work on the dialogue and the IQ on its major character. But no, I don\u2019t regret the 90+ minutes I spent watching it.<\/p>\n

Currently 6.4 on IMDB. I was about to rate it a 6.5- too intriguing to be a 6, and missing too much to be a 7.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Favorite<\/strong> Mitchell Line\/Scene:<\/strong><\/p>\n

Mitchel (to Gant):<\/em><\/strong> See what you have to understand, Rob, if I was a gangster you\u2019d be the first to fucking die. I\u2019d not work for you. I\u2019d kill you and take everything you\u2019ve got.<\/p>\n

Gant: Oh.<\/p>\n

Mitchel<\/em><\/strong>: If I were a gangster. That\u2019s why you don\u2019t want me to be a gangster. That\u2019s why nobody wants me to be a gangster. \u2018Cause I could not stop if I started. Do you get it? Don\u2019t ask again.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Fun note:<\/strong> Ophelia Lovibond-from No Strings Attached (the girl who slept with Ashton Kutcher, and later his dad Kevin Kline) has a small part. As it turns out, she is British and her NSA accent is real. Oh, and she is playing a bitch again.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

MORE ON THE STARS OF THE MOVIE:<\/strong><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Colin Farrell:<\/strong><\/p>\n

Colin Farrell Trivia<\/a><\/p>\n

Pride and Glory starring Edward Norton and Colin Farrell<\/a><\/p>\n

The Recruit starring Colin Farrell, Al Pacino and Bridget Moynahan<\/a><\/p>\n

5 \u00a0Movies to Watch on Fast Forward<\/a> feat. The New World starring Colin Farrell<\/p>\n

Ricky Gervais on Farrell- 2010 Golden Globes<\/a><\/p>\n

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Keira Knightley:<\/strong><\/p>\n

Pride and Prejudice starring Keira Knightley and Matthew Macfadyen<\/a><\/p>\n

Ray Winstone:<\/strong><\/p>\n

Martha, Meet Frank, Daniel and Laurence: Fun romcom with Monica Potter, Rufus Sewell and Joseph Fiennes<\/a> feat. Ray Winstone<\/p>\n

Edge of Darkness starring Mel Gibson<\/a> feat. Ray Winstone<\/p>\n

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