Originally published on metropolis.co.jp on October 2011

Tough-as-nails London cop with a reputation for brutality (Jason Statham, who likes a challenge) teams up with his gay superior (Paddy Considine) to go after a smarmy serial cop killer who calls himself Blitz (Aiden Gillen). He nabs the creep, but he’s been smart and there’s no real evidence, so he walks. Yes, it’s largely standard if lower-key J. S. fare, but the bestubbled action hero gets to do a little more acting than usual, and the (admittedly violent) action is balanced with good storytelling and fleshed-out characters. A couple of sub-plots are skillfully woven into the whole. Rainy day.