WELCOME TO THE PUNCH

UK, 2013, 99 minutes, Colour.
James Mc Avoy, Mark Strong, Andrea Riseborough, Johnny Harris, Daniel Mays, David Morrisey, Peter Mullan, Natasha Little, Ruth Sheen, Jason Fleming.
Directed by Eran Creevey.

Welcome to the Punch was written and directed by Eran Creevey, who had received some acclaim for his film, Shifty.

This film is quite complex, with his initial focus on a heist, the robbers escaping by motorbike, the policeman, Max (James Mc Avoy) assigned to the pursuit shot in the knee by one of the robbers, Stern would (Mark Strong).

After surgery and therapy, Max returns to the force after three years, encouraged by the Chief, Tom (David Morrisey). Max and his partner, Sarah (Andrea rise para) have a hospital duty where a young man who has been shot is recovering – he is the son of Stern would, caught up in a drug deal gone wrong when he has been shot. Stern would returns from Iceland where he had retired.

In the background there are political themes, the increase of violence in England, political campaigns against violence and for greater police force, managed by a shrewd adviser, Jane (Natasha Little) – and there is more to her lurking presence with the police than is initially thought.

There are murders, double deals, police corruption, Max with his intensity still pursuing Stern would add a final confrontation.

A complex plot but certainly very interesting.

1. A police thriller? British? Violent crime? Politics and conspiracies?

2. The London settings, offices, the robbery? Police precincts? Flats, the container warehouse, clubs? Atmospheric? The musical score?

3. The title, the explanation, the areas for the containers? Punch and application? Violence?

4. The robbery, Max, on the phone, the pursuit, the motorbikes, knocking off Stern would, Stern would and his shooting maxes knee, the escape? The prologue to the drama?

5. Three years later, Max waking, his character, his injuries, his anger, the impact of the shooting? Sarah, tension with her? Her urging him to go to the prison, the prisoner, in the plan, defying them, the any of what was to come? His freedom?

6. Tom and Nathan, police in charge, Tom organising maxes return, his commission, to go to the hospital, the virtual, the visitor to the young man, Max the costing him? The issue of the Stern would, the police briefings, Dean Warns on the connection?

7. Stern would after the robbery? In Iceland? His son on the plane, wounded, getting out, collapsing on the tarmac, go to hospital, his death, his parts his father were visiting him in the mortuary, weeping?

8. The hotel, the siege on the shooting? The police officers and their being killed? Stern would at the back of the room?

9. Roy Edwards, his long friendship with stone would, his wife? Picking up Stern would? Helping him, the information, the club, the shootout at Warn's mother’s house, his being wounded?

10. Max and Sarah, on duty, Max and his moods, Sarah Stern, the relationship? The police style, the notes on her hand? The virtual, the realisation of the truth, the information, searching the container, the confrontation with Worn, her death, Max being framed her death, the body in his bed?

11. Tom, his role in the police, in charge, strong? Nathan and the briefings? The phone call, the information, going to the club, Nathan shot?

12. Jane, the politics, the campaign, the politician and his speeches, Jane and her presence? The plan?

13. Warns, the deal, his military background, the weapons, the smuggling of the weapons in the coffins of the soldiers? His loyalty, willing to kill? Relationship with his mother? The final confrontation, his death?

14. Tom, the revelation of his position, his going to see Jane, the conspiracy, the political advantage? The headlines about violent crime in England, the Conservative group, building up a squad, vigilantes like? Yet also setting up scenarios so that the public would vote for politicians against crime?

15. Tom, the relationship with Max, setting up, his death?

16. The confrontation between Max Stern would, guns drawn, Max and is putting his gun down, acknowledging that Stern would had not killed him?

17. An interesting been blend of police drama and politics?