BLITZ

UK, 2011, 97 minutes, Colour.
Jason Statham, Paddy Considine, Aiden Gillen, Zawe Ashton, David Morrissey, Ned Dennehy, Mark Rylance, Luke Evans, Nicky Henson.
Directed by Elliott Lester.

Blitz is a typical Jason Statham action vehicle. However, he is back in his native England rather than in France (the Transporter series) or in America, where most of his action films have been set.

He plays a police officer who is suffering from burnout. We see him in action, vigilante-like against youths stealing cars in the streets. However, a mysterious killer begins to kill police and he is involved in the investigation, especially with the new officer in charge, played by Paddy Considine. This is complicated because Paddy Considine plays a gay man, subject to ridicule by fellow police and an attitude of homophobia. The film is obviously taking a stance against homophobia.

There is a very strong supporting cast. Aiden Gillen is the maniacal killer, bent on revenge on those who have arrested him. David Morrissey is a hack journalist who gets information from the killer. Ned Dennehy is a police snitch. Mark Rylance is an officer whose wife has been killed – and who wants to return to work.

The film is routine material – but is much more controlled and audience-friendly than the heightened action films that Jason Statham stars in in the United States.

1. The title of the film? Overtones? Blitzkrieg? Weiss and his calling himself Blitz, boasting to the press? Taunting the police?

2. The London settings, south-east London, the precincts, the streets? Homes? The nature of policing in that area of London? The difficulties? The visuals of the city, night and day, overviews of the city?

3. The musical score?

4. The introduction to Brant, Jason Statham’s screen presence? Waking up, the overhead shot, bewildered? Going out, seeing the thugs in the street, confronting them, bashing them with the hurley stick? The papers and their condemnation of police brutality? His being called in by the authorities, warned? His success as a policeman? His having no private life?

5. The killing of the young policewoman in the street, the shooting of the young policeman in the vehicle? The killing of Roberts? The taking of the souvenirs, his uniform? The attempt on Elizabeth Falls? Stokes and his missing out on saving her? The young boy and his being killed in coming to her defence? The revelation of the killer?

6. Weiss, his personality, mad? His life, the loner? The revelation of his background, the arresting police and his getting vengeance? Contacting Dunlop at the paper? His interaction with the snitch, killing him? The set-ups, the car and the empty boot? The attempt of Elizabeth Falls? Nash and Brant and their visit to his apartment, his cheeky confrontation? His being investigated? The finale,the chase, the rooftop, his supreme confidence, Brant killing him?

7. Nash, his personality, his achievement? His revelation to Brant that he had been vigilante-like concerning a paedophile? The taunts about his homosexuality? With the squad, taking command of the investigation? Discussions with Brant, Brant going to see him, their frank talk, Brant and his collapse? Brant and Nash working together, following through on Weiss? The final confrontation – the funeral, the set-up, Weiss thinking he was following Brant? The chase, the rooftop, his being caught by Brant and Nash? The touch of the vigilante, the Star Chamber – vengeance on those who went beyond the law?

8. Elizabeth Falls, as a policewoman, rehabilitation, the drugs? Her looking after the young man, his concern about the death of the Indian shopkeeper? Her meeting with Stokes? Getting the information? Her putting the pressure on the drug dealers? The outing with Stokes, her disappointment? The attack, the young man dying?

9. Roberts, the senior police, the death of his wife, wanting to go back to work, his friendship with Nash? His wife’s funeral, his funeral?

10. Stokes, giving the information to Elizabeth, the cup of coffee, the outing, the return home, his not following through as she expected, not walking her to the door? His return, his being upset? A future relationship between himself and Elizabeth Falls?

11. Radnor, seedy, contacting Brant, his information, wanting the money, Brant leaving him to pay for the coffee? His ringing the newspaper, the appointment with Dunlop? His being murdered in the toilet?

12. The presentation of police investigation, the squads? The brutal touches – but the control, compared with similar American films?