Review of The Sweeney (2012) by Ben D — 10 Nov 2012

The Sweeney is an old British cop show, much beloved in the 1970s, whose hard-man ethos was suitably punctured and deflated by the homage shown in superior cop show Life on Mars. Director Nick Love approaches The Sweeney as if that had not happened - his cops are tough as nails, Cockney geezers, and get away with murder (literally).

It is a loud, brash and dumb movie whose resolution relies upon the police having failed to investigate the one key piece of information that would allow them to prosecute their villain (and surely when your villain has a convinient alibi you check whether its air-tight).

That said, there is one impressive action sequence - a shootout in central London - that, though owing a lot to previous action cinema (notably Heat), is very well staged and quite energetic.