Review of London Boulevard (2010) by Alex C — 31 Aug 2011

Old fashioned, gritty British gangster drama about an recently released ex-co Mitchell (Colin Farrell) who finds work as a bodyguard/handyman to a reclusive starlet (Keira Knightley). As they fall for each other, Mitchell's dangerous old associates try to drag him back into the gangster racket.

Slick directorial debut of William Monahan (who wrote The Departed) features an assortment of fine performances from Farrell and a supporting cast of great British character actors (including David Thewlis as the starlet's flamboyant best friend and the always great Ray Winstone as a twisted crimelord,) and has plenty going on to keep the interest high.

But despite all this, it never really transcends it's familiar roots, making it a entertaining but predictable affair.