Synopsis: Kidnap goes slowly pear-shaped
Director: Stephen Frears
Actors: Terence Stamp, John Hurt, Tim Roth
Date: 1984
How viewed: Lovefilm Watch Online
Rating: 4/5
David Meyer says:
The thrills are in the acting, the hilarious arguments, and the constant shifting tensions between the men.
I say:
Tremendous! You've seen all the component parts before - kidnap plans slowly unwind, the evolving interpersonal dynamics as the kidnap victim tries to set the kidnappers against each other, and the knowledge that somehow the kidnappers will get their comeuppance, but this is done with real style - the Spanish scenery is fantastic (at times the film feels like a Western set in the Midwest prairies), there are some wonderful set-pieces, John Hurt is perfect, Tim Roth is typically punk, the dialogue is sparse and at times (when Stamp talks about death), almost zen like, and the scenes with the Spanish police are cleverly done. The only reasons for it not getting 5/5 were the Eric Clapton ttitle music (which is only played for the first 2 minutes - the rest of the music is appropriately Spanish), the opening scenes of the trial in London which feel almost unnecessary, and whilst Stamp (as the super-grass kidnap victim) looks fantastic, let's face it, he just can't act!
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