Star Rating:

Deadfall

Director: Stefan Ruzowitzky

Actors: Olivia Wilde, Eric Bana, Charlie Hunnam

Release Date: Monday 30th November -0001

Genre(s): Crime, Drama, Thriller

Running time: 95 minutes

Eric Bana and Olivia Wilde are Addison and Liza, a brother and sister who have just robbed a large sum of money from a casino. While making their getaway, they're involved in a nasty car accident, so to deter attention from the police they decide to split up and meet once they've found a safe way to get across the border into Canada. Along the way, Addison runs into numerous people, leaving a long trail of violence in his wake, with the eager Officer Hanna (House Of Cards' Kate Mara) in pursuit. Meanwhile, his sister gets a ride from Jay (Sons Of Anarchy's Charlie Hunnam), a boxer who has just been released from jail and is heading home to see his parents, played by Kris Kristofferson and Sissy Spacek.

The snow-bound setting, the crime plotting, the darkly noir-ish elements and the all-star cast can't help but bring to mind the likes of A Simple Plan and Fargo, but director Stefan Ruzowitzky is certainly no Sam Raimi or Coens Brothers. While you will remain interested in seeing how the story is going to pan out, the plot just flops along from one scene to the next, and considering we're dealing with two criminals on the run, there is a total lack of immediacy to proceedings. There are also far too many coincidences happening in too short a time, not to mention the jarring nods to the likes of incestuous relationships and Indian spirituality.

On the plus side, Ruzowitzky does however get some pretty good performances from all of his leads - especially Wilde, who makes for a great femme fatale - but unfortunately they're all lumbered with some dreadful dialogue. It also features the best snowmobile chase in a movie since Die Hard 2. But all of this goodness is drowned out by the meandering story and hopscotching tone.

At one point during their flirtation, Liza tells Jay that "This is kinda like an old movie." Yeah, it sure is Liza, except that one was pretty good.