For those unfamiliar with ‘the lads’, this film version centres on the jaded older character Regan, played by Brit pit-bull Ray Winstone. Detective Regan and his team of hardened Flying Squad coppers of London’s Met police force are set up to take a fall with tragic consequences. Pursued by Internal Affairs at the same time, Regan makes it his personal mission to put wrongs rights, by any means possible.
Four words aptly describe The Sweeney 2012: big, brash, ballsy fun. It’s a Winstone mecca for fans to witness their idol in all his former hard-man glory – complete with a damaged and sinister edge to his Regan that keeps things nice and spicy. Winstone is utterly brilliant, shockingly hilarious and totally in his element, like a warm, welcome déjà vu rush return to his Sexy Beast days. He plays Regan, warts and all, making you empathise immediately with this crime-fighting ‘dinosaur’ as he stomps around trying to defend his territory in an ever-changing underworld.
No words are frittered in the script from co-writers Love and John Hodge who take the essence of the Ian Kennedy Martin source material to deliver the hilarious one-liners, telling it how it is in the most crass language in parts that brings a wicked smile to the face and a good belly laugh: Take the private bank scene where Regan and Carter come across a pompous bank manager, or the fabulous comment from informer ‘Arry (Alan Ford) at certain ladies’ lack of class. It’s these gems that will keep fans amused and appeased, though you could do with more.
This is an all-guns-blazing crime romp that tears up the capital – and neighbouring counties, complete with action, danger and glamour (supplied by Hayley Atwell as smart-talking copper Nancy). With its highly convincing turn by the ever-chilling and captivating Paul Anderson as lead gangster Allen, who toys with Regan more than any other perp ever managed to in the TV version, Love smoothly blends what fans love about modern-day action crime dramas with the old-fashioned Sweeney charm. The result is a pure tonic.
[Rating:4/5]
Saw the trailer..looked totally wrong. Lost all the aesthetic of the t.v show and teid to make itself into some sort of Bourne movie with car chases, automatic gun fights and explosions. The T.V series, was gritty, low brow and unglamorous.
Regan and Carter would be most happiest sat down the pub smoking a woodbine watching the strippers or arguing with a criminal. ” Your fackin’ knicked, Tinkerbell”. The line in the trailer delivered by Winston ” Put your trousers on ya nicked” is said with no passion or humour. Life On Mars is the closest to the real Sweeney that we’ll ever get. This is just an insult – I got all this from the trailer, God knows how bad the entire 90 minutes s gonna be.
How can you judge a film by its trailer alone? Many trailers include footage that isn’t even used in the actual film. Don’t make such presumptuous statements.
So your telling me you’ve never watched a trailer and thought ” F*ck that, there’s no way I’m going to watch that ” especially, if it’s a big screen version of a well loved T.V Series. When you saw the trailer for Miami Vice, did you grab your folding chair and flask and rush to camp over night to watch it on the Silver Screen ‘cos the trailer made you all giddy and craving those halcyon days of the mid 1980’s ? When you saw the trailer for “Starsky and Hutch” with Owen Wilson and Ben Stiller, sit back smugly clutching your Starsky and Hutch 1978 annual and go ” Yup, they’ve nailed it with this trailer, it looks like the show has come to life on the big screen..” – Trailers for remakes and big screen versions of t.v shows can easily gauge the atmosphere and character of a movie within a two minute trailer..that’s the whole idea of them. 🙂