The Innocent Sleep

This got shown on BBC 1 just before midnight so I was expecting another American TVM . But as it started I was slightly surprised to find THE INNOCENT SLEEP was a British thriller , unfortunately it`s not a very good one

The problem is that it`s not just run of the mill but also treats the characters as stereotypes . All homeless people are either Scottish or scousers except for one old gentleman who is of course very high class , and all of them without exception alkies . Gangsters are of course either cockneys or Italians who of course all smoke cigars . All policemen are either corrupt or stupid while all journalists are of course workaholics who leave no stone unturned as they crusade to cover the truth . As much as the plot tries to twist and turn you still find yourself expecting more from a modern British thriller . Maybe I`d have been better off with an American TVM

OK, hands up - I'm a fan of Rupert Graves. Ever since his "Scudder" in "Maurice" (1987) he has been able to do little wrong. Here, he is the likeable dosser "Alan" who accidentally witnesses a mob-style hit in London. The killers know someone saw them and so he must keep one step ahead as they close in. Luckily for him, the crime has attracted the attention of journalist "Billie" (Annabella Sciorra) but can she help keep him alive as he faces pursuit from bent copper "Matheson" (Michael Gambon) and his paymaster "Cavani" (Franco Nero)? As British crime efforts go, this is OK - a decent cast present a reasonably paced drama with just about enough twists and turns to keep it interesting. Sadly, though, the dialogue is straight out an episode of "The Sweeney"; Gambon is nowhere near his best and Nero features just a bit too sparingly to make much of an impact. The illuminated London skyline offers some added menace, and though the ending is really rather poor, director Scott Michell still takes a little time to try to develop the lead characters. No it's not great, but it is still quite a watchable effort.

Appalling! There are plenty of excellent Liverpudlian actors who would have given the role far more authenticity and gravitas. There are certain accents that should never even be attempted by those who are from elsewhere. Aside from that, I have nothing against Rupert Graves, unless he's a Tory, and I thought that his performance in Turks & Caicos was superb.

I too caught this about midnight, not aware it was being shown and had missed first 15 minutes but thoroughly enjoyed its Britishness. Being a Londoner I found it captured the essence of a London police drama, albeit very stereotypically but with a charm long forgotten, but the locations were wonderfully captured and made me feel quite homesick (even though i'm a North Londoner by birth), it really did remind me of The Lavender Hill Mob or Dixon of Dock Green. It also reminded me of an episode from The Sweeney or dare I say it The Bill and these programmes still have great following. Rupert Graves gave a splendid performance as did the whole cast and wish I had seen it when first shown.

Mostly bland crime story in which a homeless man (Rupert Graves) is witness to a hanging from London's Tower Bridge. When he goes to report the crime, he discovers the cop leading the investigation (Michael Gambon) was one of the hangers, so he enlists the help of a journalist (Annabella Sciorra) to expose the story. Unfortunately, aside from a neat twist about three-quarters of the way through, there is little real mystery or suspense: we know Gambon did it, and Graves manages to stay out of any real danger for most of the film. The actors do the best they can, but get little support from the unsubtle script and direction; Sciorra spends most of her time being earnest and Gambon chews a little scenery but not enough to make a lasting impression. Graves is a solid lead but falls victim to the film's biggest failing; this is one of the least convincing depictions of homelessness I've seen. Overall, the film feels like a typical British TV crime show, but with most of the depth carefully removed.