Quag7 This is the story of a guy who used to be a member of some radical faction of the IRA who has left that life and has managed to "go straight." He lives in Brixton, with a Rasta pirate DJ living above him, and a drug dealer living below him.One day, some of his old comrades, wanted by the police, show up at his door, and drag him back into his old life. The always awesome Roger Daltrey shows up as one of the boys in the old brigade, though as someone else commented, he's not given enough screen time.It was really cool to see Vinnie Jones get a three dimensional role. He's fantastic as a gangster or thug, but here he plays a guy with a conscience. He does a really convincing job of it, and as I'm used to seeing him play one kind of character, I was a bit surprised by this one.I think part of what works here is he doesn't overact. He doesn't seem self-conscious about having what is, perhaps for him, a deeper character than usual. He pulls it off with reserve and without histrionics or over-acting, and I was pleasantly surprised with the result. I hope to see him do more of this kind of thing in the future (hopefully not to the exclusion of his tough guy gangster roles!) Patrick Bergin, an actor I wasn't familiar with before this movie, does a fine job as a radical bomber who seems to be in it for all the wrong reasons (such that there's anything but wrong reasons to be into political terrorism, but that's a whole other discussion). As an Irish tough guy with a swagger and an air of irresponsibility, he gives it just the right amount of gusto to make the character work.Lennox Lewis is shockingly good as the pirate DJ, who plays a kind of counter-cultural authority figure or conscience of the film (he is said to be something like "the king" of Brixton.) I didn't even recognize him, but after this I hope to see him in more films.The dubby, reggae soundtrack is fantastic - perfect, actually. The film concerns, at least in part, the interplay between English, Irish, and Jamaican characters, and the soundtrack and script seem quite cohesive in covering this theme.I think this film is underrated. While it isn't The Godfather or anything, this is a solid film, with solid performances. I particularly liked the ending.I recommend it, and I think it's certainly better than the 5.5 it presently has.

mommus I don't understand how this movie could have won an award. What's wrong with our Canadian cousins!?Perhaps it's the fact that i live in London that makes the terrible attempt at accents all the more acute, or makes it so obvious that it was made in Belfast, rather than London, where it is set. Or perhaps it's the fact that Lennox Lewis (along with the rest of the cast probably!!) is far better at boxing than acting. But I think the real reason this film is such a stinker is that it has absolutely no point or direction whatsoever.Most of the dialogue is written and delivered in such a way as to make you think it's some kind of GCSE drama improvisation, and the story is non-existent.

An-Xphile Well, what can I say? I think the past 3 or so reviews pretty much summed up all my grievances. I feel so peeved off though from having wasted the past 90-odd minutes of my life that I can't resist ranting. Like the rest of you, I watched this movie because of the good 'reviews'. I watched the film and agree with what has already been said - crap casting, script, direction, etc. So there's no point in me re-hashing the past reviews. But throughout the film, the same thought went through my mind - 'This guy's Northern Irish accent is appalling. And, he's talking utter rubbish'. Being from Belfast myself, as soon as I see Northern Irish characters in a film I brace myself for the impending insult that is generally the complete slur on my fellow Northern Irish with pathetic stereotypes and even worse attempts at accents (Charlies Angels 2 being a particular treat - that guy uttered one line and the whole cinema erupted in laughter. In fact the only time I've been impressed by an actor's accent is Anna Friel and David Thewlis). And this film was no different. Throwing around words like Gobshite and Craic does NOT mean you can do a Northern Irish accent dear. If it did my English boyfriend who moved here would be considered a local. If you want to see good Irish cinema, check out Man About Dog (the REAL 'Irish Snatch') or Mickey Bo and Me, Divorcing Jack, An Everlasting Piece etc etc. And by ALL means, avoid any so-called Northern Irish film that doesn't have Northern Irish actors. Or at least, that has Vinnie Jones being required to be anything other than the strong, silent-type.

innababylon The last person's negative comments are a laugh. Me-109 or whatever his name is says everyone is is wrong because they enjoyed the movie, or else (unlike him!) they are all just hype because most only did one review - but Me has only ever written two (and both say 'don't watch this movie it is all hype'). Most people don't post too many reviews because we have a life and maybe don't see so many things we like enough. Most of the comments are from UK and Ireland because that was where the movie was made and played at festivals. It only just came over here (U.S.).This movie is not for anyone like the moaner who wants to take it too seriously. It is a fun B Movie made for not a lot of money that I went to see because I love reggae. Lots of the comments say that. Watch it on those terms and enjoy it or not, but spare the rest of us the lectures. Go find a movie you like and tell us why instead. I for one will be waiting for the soundtrsck.