LONDON BOULEVARD

UK, 2011, 103 minutes, Colour.
Colin Farrell, Keira Knightley, Ray Winstone, Ben Chaplin, David Thewliss, Anna Friel, Olivia Lovibond, Sanjeev Bhaskar, Eddie Marsan, Stephen Graham.
Directed by William Monahan.

London Boulevard introduces us to the gangster world of London.
The film was written and directed by William Monaghan, screenwriter of such films as The Departed, Body of Lies, Kingdom of Heaven. Although an American from Boston, he captures the atmosphere of London and the London streets, clubs, wealthy mansions.
However, the film does not appeal to all audiences. While much of the detail is right, the characters are not so well and clearly drawn, the dynamic sense of action flags.
Colin Farrell is good as the criminal released from jail, trying to start life again, meeting up with his associates, getting a job baby-sitting a reclusive film star, interacting with a gangster chief who wants to employ him. Keira Knightly is the reclusive star. David Thewliss her eccentric minder. Ray Winstone does a variation on his usual thing as the gangster. Several British character actors form the supporting cast.
The language in the film is strong, sometimes crass, overdone, even for characters like this. However, it is interesting to see the work of William of Monaghan.

1. The gangster world of London, the UK? An American interpretation?
2. The title, London, the streets, prison, flats, clubs, mansions, the countryside, shops, Oval? A sense of realism?
3. The style of the film, ugliness, the ordinary world, the world of glamour?
4. Forcible characters, situations, ordinary life, the gangster world, the world of show business? Police, violence, corruption?
5. The nihilistic tone of the film?, Possibilities for the characters, rehabilitation, building on good nature, yet violence, harsh experiences, vengeance, betrayal? Love and deaths?
6. Colin Farrell as Mitchell, getting out of prison, Billy meeting him, the job proposal and Mitch’s refusal? The future? Going to see the old man, giving him the money? His being beaten? Going to the hospital, his death, the funeral? The atmosphere of vengeance? Meeting with Penny, her being seductive? Her job? Mitch’s sister, the drugs, the need for her protection, people exploiting her? Arguments with Mitch about food and health? The thugs? Gant and the wrong victim, the Islamic man, black, his being cruelly murdered? The The meetings with Gant, his offering jobs to Mitch, the discussions, his touch of coarseness, his henchmen? The role of Jordan, protecting the star, offering the job, dealing with the papparazzi, dealing with the truck driver and his threats, discussions? Meeting the star, the attraction towards her, the discussions, infatuation, sexual relationship? Mitch’s decisions?
7. Mitch talking with the star, her marriage background, affairs, films, sex object, the photos, Los Angeles, the relationship with Mitch? Her future?
8. Billy, his background, obsequious, pals with Mitch? The proposal? The pressures on him, slow- witted? With Gant, Kow-towing to him? Drug dealers, visiting the customers, the woman and her dependence, his brutality, Mitch’s consideration? His running, his death?
9. Gant, power, crudeness, presumptions, cruelty, the murder, the arguments with Mitch, Mitch coming to his room, the bedroom, his death?
10. Keira Knightley as the star, her reputation for taking her kit off, sex object on the screen, the posters? Jordan and his care for her, her husband, his return, the confrontation, his backing off, death? Her living as a recluse, the cameras, the papparazzi, the crowds, going shopping, stealing? Talking to Mitchell, her husband, Mitch shielding her, the affair? Los Angeles?
11. Jordan, eccentric, his acting career, drugs, his relationships, hiring Mitch, his later brutality, killing, death?
12. The corrupt policeman, making the contacts, collecting the money, Gant and his threats? The policeman and his running away?
13. The thugs, the confrontation with Mitch, killing him? Extreme pessimistic ending?
14. Those who live by the sword, die by the sword.