London Boulevard

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Films that don't have critics' screenings generally veer from nonsensical to atrocious in the quality stakes, but coming from The Departed scripter William Monahan - here, making his directorial debut - there is calibre both behind and in front of the camera for this cockney gangster tale. While it echoes other crime flicks almost to the point of cliché, (Carlito's Way and Layer Cake, in particular), Monahan shows a strong hand directing his cast. Yet he edits his film poorly and jams too many characters into the mix, when he should really have concentrated on Farrell's magnetic ex-con and Ray Winstone's psychopathic gangland boss.

Farrell's "Mitch" has just been released from prison after three years for GBH. After being picked up by his hoodlum mate (an excellent Ben Chaplin), he is quickly offered a return to his criminal past, but refuses when he gets a job as security for Knightley's reclusive movie star. Soon the two fall in love; but Mitch's past catches up with him when Winstone's powerful nutcase takes a shine to him, offers him a job, and then refuses to take no for an answer.

Somewhat surprisingly, Farrell excels here as a London hardman, and you don't question the validity of him playing such a character for a second. His accent rarely slips, and the Castleknock native pushes a quiet intensity with an underlining edginess; when playing opposite Winstone, both men are in their element. You really feel that it could boil over at any point - and that tension bleeds through to other scenes, too.

The plot, however, is predictable and rife with holes. Had Monahan trimmed his film here and there, it could have moved easier, felt less clunky. That said, there are inherent problems with the source material, meaning that the ending leaves a lingering feeling of frustration, rather than one of satisfaction. It's as if Monahan went to "Gangster Movie Ending" school and decided that such a conclusion, however familiar, didn't need to be changed.

There are some really great performances in London Boulevard, especially from Farrell and Winstone - so as a helmer, Monahan certainly has potential. However, some form of originality and a more assured editorial hand is certainly called for in the future.