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Best movie ever!

It's entirely possible that sending the audience out feeling lousy was intentional

While it is a pity that the story wasn't told with more visual finesse, this is trivial compared to our real-world problems. It takes a good movie to put that into perspective.

Exactly the movie you think it is, but not the movie you want it to be.

I remember seeing this film once, and not only did I need to see it again, but I noticed I hadn't written a review of it, so it a case of all over again. Basically failed parole, or probation, officer Simon Garden (Steve Coogan) witnesses a murder in a store room, committed by one of Manchester's leading police constables, Detective Inspector Burton (King Arthur's Stephen Dillane). After escaping, Simon managed to drop his wallet containing identification at the crime scene, so he has been framed for the murder by Burton. The only proof he knows of to prove his innocence and Burton's guilt is the CCTV security camera footage on a video tape, locked inside a bank vault. With the help of ex-criminals George (Gandhi's Om Puri), Jeff (Sleepy Hollow's Steven Waddington) and Colin (Ben Miller), whom Simon paroled, and love interest Emma (Lena Headey), they plan to break into the bank and steal this video tape to clear his name. Also starring Jenny Agutter as Sarah Bonderenko - Victor's Wife, Emma Williams as Kirsty, Simon Pegg as Deflated Husband, Omar Sharif as Victor and Julia Davis as Insinuating Wife. I can see what the critics mean by the film trying to recapture the days of the British Ealing comedy crime caper, and it nearly manages it. Coogan is as good as what you see on TV, his range of co-stars are a alright, and there are some good moments that will get some giggles, so I might watch it again in the future. It was nominated the BAFTA for the Carl Foreman Award for the Most Promising Newcomer for writers Coogan and Henry Normal. Worth watching!

Steve Coogan (A Cock and Bull Story, Hot Fuzz)shines as a parole officer, who was wrongfully accused, joining his band of parolees in a delightful comedic romp to clear his name. Lena Headey (300) joins the fun, as does Omar Sharif.Not being familiar with Coogan's work on British TV, I was impressed with his talents and think there is some fine work ahead from him. Of course, I thoroughly enjoyed seeing Headey, and would like to see much more of her.I usually don't go for crude humor, but I did have to laugh at the roller coaster bit.

This is a John Duigan movie, one of my favourite directors. I love the way he wraps an entertaining movie around an art film. Every time I re-watch one of his films I find more of the symbolism of the art film inside. I've only seen this one once so far -on Showcase in Canada-, so I'm holding any vote till later, if I can get it on DVD. Apparently it hasn't been released in North America yet.What strikes me most so far are parallels with The Pink Panther. I love those films too, but hated Clouseau/Sellers. I have a feeling it will be the same here. Some people have pointed out that Sharif's cameo was pointless. But Sharif/Victor=Niven/Phantom complete with complicit wife and had to be in there somewhere. Duigan used the tale "Baba Yaga and the little girl" in Lawn Dogs, but Victor represented a different Baba Yaga reference similar to Bartok the Magnificent.It takes a while to get into Duigan movies, but it is well worth the effort. I'm even willing to put the effort into Paranoid. I'll edit and expand on this next time I watch it which I plan to do many times.

This film has been almost universally criticised by reviewers, so much so that I rather assumed it would be an unfunny dud. I was pleasantly surprised!(S0ME VERY MINOR SPOILERS)The plot may be highly improbable and have some gaping holes (e.g. why didn't the murderers just destroy the incriminating video?) but it is a very strong storyline that carries you and the film along with it. The presence of Omar Sharif and Jenny Agutter lend real weight to the cast list - Sharif in particular is excellent though Agutter is under-used. And there are many genuinely funny scenes. The all-singing all-dancing 'feelgood' finale is reminiscent of Bend It Like Beckham. And for this British reviewer it was refreshing to see a very British film for a change, with British locations and a totally different 'feel' to most US fare.In my opinion, where the movie could have really benefited would have been from a rewrite of the weaker sections, where the jokes fall a bit flat. This could have taken it from being a good film to a great one.