Review of The Sweeney (2012) by Khalil P — 11 Jan 2013

Very mediocre film. I thought that Nick Love was a nihilist. Upon seeing the treatment of the primary female character in this film, I think he's just a misogynist. Albeit the diegetic event I am alluding to may be the only thing that added some much needed tone and tension to an otherwise soulless film. Love should also know not to pull off Heat-like shootouts when the audience's emotional stake isn't in any of the characters and that neither revenge rampages nor buddy cops work when the main characters are assholes. Buddy cop conventions work due to the characters' charisma and rampages work when the characters can afford the audience's sympathy. He failed at both conventions, expecting the audience to sheer the characters on by connecting with their premodern view of how a police force should operate. You're not José Padilha.

All in all, I am not denying Nick Love's ability as a film-maker and I will continue to follow his work. The pacing is great, the action is great, and the pulling off of this film on a three million pound budget merits worship. He is a manufacturer of British "junk" culture with a distinctive mark and personal style that shouldn't be overlooked. His films have a sincerity that more "cerebral" (and, thus, critically acclaimed) directors like Guy Ritchie couldn't dream of. His less bloated plots make his characters work as people, questionable people we have to find a point of connection with and not as colorful pieces advancing the coming together of a Tarantinoesque plot. I just wish he'd stick to gangster films, where his Cockney characters aren't as problematic and his annoying conservatism isn't as pronounced.