Review of Lawless Heart (2002) by Arash B — 17 Sep 2011

After a man's funeral, three stories featuring friends and relatives of the deceased are interwoven.

I really enjoyed this film's concept. When the first story ends and the film focuses on another character, the film becomes a kind of mystery as we try to figure out what all the incidental details of the story mean. It's creative and original without being flashy like a bad Tarantino imitation.

Strong, understated performances by the three leading men, Douglas Henshall, Tom Hollander, and the incomparable Bill Nighy, and Josephine Butler are helped by intelligent dialogue.

However, I did think that each story ended too soon, which originally added to the film's suspense, and when I still wanted more answers by the end of the film, I felt like I had been cheated. What happens with Dan's marriage? What is Nick's response to Tim's final question? I think the film was trying to be subtle, but this element didn't play.

Overall, Lawless Heart -- I have no idea why that title fits -- is a creatively constructed film and worth the time.