BlokeWithABrainUK

It's rare that I feel moved to write a review, even for an excellent movie.

This isn't one of those.

Tom Hardy plays Tom Hardy, but this time with a weird Boston/Cockney accent that slips and slides all over the place. Timothy Olyphant is also present, as is Forrest Whittaker, who might as well not have been and phones his performance in from somewhere I hope is less relentlessly grim.

John Wick turned absurd uber-violence into riotous mayhem with a knowing wink to the audience. This film, unfortunately, has none of that self-awareness.

The story is mostly non-existent, and the incoherent script does little to shed light on it. The characters are devoid of any redeaming qualities, and subsequently, whether they get shot or not is of little interest to the viewer.

And shot they may or may not be - in what has to be one of the most ridiculous bullet-dodging body-counts in recent film history. This movie takes place in a universe where ammo is unlimited, handguns fire like gatlings, and while the bad guys are slaughtered by the hundred, nary a bullet scratches our leads.

By the time the final shootout lumbers into view, you may well have dozed off. I nearly did. It was only through intense self-discipline that I made it through to the tawdry, inconsequential end, and then wished I had given up and had a nap an hour and a half earlier.

"Chaos" would have been a better title, as it would have more accurately reflected the story, script, performances, and general mise-en-scene.

I've given it two out of ten because... well... actually I can't really think of a reason it isn't a one-star movie. It had a fair budget I guess. Perhaps it will become a cult classic in time, but I doubt it. Not unless self-flagellation makes a big-time comeback.

Beautiful period design - it really feels like the early 1970's throughout. The cast are superb and the lead character, Joe Lambe, genuinely fascinating and superbly acted.

The attention to detail is exceptional, with every prop, location, vehicle, costume, set absolutely spot on.

The story has enough intrigue and twists and turns to keep you guessing, with some genuine surprises. It has action, but also plenty of cerebral moments and never descends into silliness.

A real shame there wasn't a second series of this, as the production, script, cast and crew really delivered. It definitely had potential for multiple series.

I've never seen anything like this and I'm surprised Amazon are even showing it.

Essentially it is an extended Youtube type video, comprised only of generic video clips that have little or nothing to do with the actual subject - eg voice over talks of masonic meetings set over a clip of several people (including a woman) having lunch in a restaurant.

There is no actual original footage in this, and it isn't really a programme or documentary at all - just a poor script being read (possiby by AI) over an endless series of mostly unrelated stock clips downloaded or copyright free from the internet.

A bizarre total waste of time. I'd give zero stars if I could.