Debut director Michael Vaughan clearly had a list of boxes to tick: sleek cool blue and boltgun metal color pallette, electro moody Michael Mann-like soundtrack whacked into place, drugs and clubs, copious profanity, a cocky middleman trying to escape from his line of work just as a maelstrom blasts into view to tear everything he was used to to hell. Control slips, bodies pile up, guns are brandished, more hired guns with their own freaky m.o's are brought in. The camera swirls and sweeps gracefully through the neon green and grey urban sprawl of greasy spoons, bars, and cars as deals, hits and beatings are carried out.
But it never really escapes from the shadow of Guy Ritchie and his Brit crime flick imitators despite the style and cast. Its a shame this film really doesnt speak with its own voice as there are plenty of glmpses of potential, but at least Vaughan is stealing from the best and knows how to bolt the thing together to carry the audience along for the ride. Best viewed as a chance to see a new director's first major work, and Daniel Craig in a pre-Bond role (the scene where he tries out a Luger pistol can now be seen in an unintentionally funny light as it foreshadows his later career choice).
Not worth devoting special time for, but if you bump into it when its on, pop a few pills and watch.