Review by Mari Lynne Rupp
Don't have too-high expectations on this one, and you won't be disappointed. In fact, you may be pleasantly surprised.
Starting out as a crime-thriller, Russian mob boss comissions Ritchie (Stephen Dorff, Blade, Backbeat) to hijack a priceless antique cross from a Moscow skyscraper, when thier luck takes a turn for the worse and the thieves are forced to take hostages. During the takeover, it becomes apparent to Ritchie and his unfortunate partners that the police are the least of thier worries.
Thinking this was going to be another Heist-gone-wrong, I waited for the cliche scenes and gratuitous good-girl-sexes-up-bad-guy shots...And got blood and guts hardcore instead. Commitments fans will be pleasantly surprised to see Bronagh Gallagher as one of the hostages who turns the tables on the unfortunate thugs. New-to-America brit actress Jaime Murray (The Deaths of Ian Stone, Dexter) and Sean Pertwee (Dog Soldiers) also lend thier talent, Pertwee portraying the hard-boiled Russian crime boss with a secret attachment to the rare antique which is the center of the action. This appears to be a directorial debut by Kit Ryan, with witty dialogue that has just enough comic scenes, but not so much it puts the movie over the top. These scenes are just tight enough, I wish Mr. Ryan best of luck with his future endeavors and hope he goes on to bigger and better. I would rate this movie seven out of ten. If you enjoyed Shaun of the Dead and The Cottage, this movie should definitely top your Netflix list.