Review of Blitz (2011) by David L — 14 Jun 2012

Whereas Statham's Crank movies were gloriously, preposterously OTT, Blitz attempts some degree of realism, with depressingly poor results.

An unhinged cop killer despatches four (or is it five, whatever) victims, using such cunning ruses as dark glasses, a hoodie and clumsy arson to frustrate the best forensics in the land. Having been caught and released through lack of evidence, this criminal mastermind evades his round the clock surveillance and turns up at the funeral of one of his victims dressed as a cop. The film is shot through with a hundred such implausibles and as such has no business attempting realism.

Statham plays to type, the classic good guy thug who gets away with beating the dodgy to a pulp while insulting everyone else with his sexism and homophobia. Gene Hunt meets Clint Eastwood without the laughs or the class.

The pointless drug dealing cop subplot is mere padding and the whole thing is a poor excuse for Statham to lamely kick butt. In the realms of fantasy his schtick plays out well -- in supposed reality it's just depressing.