The Sweeney (Blu-ray)

You don't need to be any fan of the series to love this, a good fun Brit action romp, from start to finish they tear up London with cool shootouts and car chases, the story is pretty straight forward and plays out with an electric cast of talent and has director Nick Loves touch on it, certainly worth a watch, its not brilliant but still damn good fun.

Despite the shiney Apple computers, despite casting Ben (Plan B) Drew, despite the concession of feminism (police women can now punch suspects too) and despite wanting to look and be a UK based Heat, Nick Love's update of the 70's TV Cop show could have been made any time in the past 35 years. Ray Winstone stars as Jack Regan, head of the flying squad (Sweeney Todd, AKA Sweeney) and a man of supremely questionable methods. We first meet partner George Carter (Drew) as they take down a suspect with a baseball bat claiming 'We're the sweeney, you're knicked!' It's no wonder he's getting investigated by Internal Affairs. The plot centres on the hunt for a not particularly hard to find safecracker Allen ( Paul Anderson), but mostly this is a good excuse for Winstone to go large, whether punching suspects in the canister or leering at his colleague (Haley Atwell). Apparently serious but actually in parts feels like a parody. The Sweeney may be over long and at times indifferently plotted, but there's great fun to be had if you buy in and buckle up for a bumpy ride. The action scenes are Michael Mann style urgent and very efficient (particularly the Heat wanna be shoot out across Trafalgar square), Director Nick Love is unafriad to skew dark when required and the combination of Drew's under acting and Winstone's rampant scenery chewing gives their interactions a great sence of urgency. One great car chase amounts to a demolition derby in a caravan park. Some may say that this film bares little resemblence to the cult 70's show, but this is a different time to way back then and if you are hankering for geezer-isms and big guns then The Sweeney 2012 is one of the years best guiltiest of pleasures.
See if you like....
Rise Of the Foot Soldier.
Blitz.
The Football Factory.
The Firm.
The Business.
Heat.
Miami Vice (2006 movie)
The Sweeney (TV Series)

Despite the shiney Apple computers, despite casting Ben (Plan B) Drew, despite the concession of feminism (police women can now punch suspects too) and despite wanting to look and be a UK based Heat, Nick Love's update of the 70's TV Cop show could have been made any time in the past 35 years. Ray Winstone stars as Jack Regan, head of the flying squad (Sweeney Todd, AKA Sweeney) and a man of supremely questionable methods. We first meet partner George Carter (Drew) as they take down a suspect with a baseball bat claiming 'We're the sweeney, you're knicked!' It's no wonder he's getting investigated by Internal Affairs. The plot centres on the hunt for a not particularly hard to find safecracker Allen ( Paul Anderson), but mostly this is a good excuse for Winstone to go large, whether punching suspects in the canister or leering at his colleague (Haley Atwell). Apparently serious but actually in parts feels like a parody. The Sweeney may be over long and at times indifferently plotted, but there's great fun to be had if you buy in and buckle up for a bumpy ride. The action scenes are Michael Mann style urgent and very efficient (particularly the Heat wanna be shoot out across Trafalgar square), Director Nick Love is unafriad to skew dark when required and the combination of Drew's under acting and Winstone's rampant scenery chewing gives their interactions a great sence of urgency. One great car chase amounts to a demolition derby in a caravan park. Some may say that this film bares little resemblence to the cult 70's show, but this is a different time to way back then and if you are hankering for geezer-isms and big guns then The Sweeney 2012 is one of the years best guiltiest of pleasures.
See if you like....
Rise Of the Foot Soldier.
Blitz.
The Football Factory.
The Firm.
The Business.
Heat.
Miami Vice (2006 movie)
The Sweeney (TV Series)

I love this film and will be buying it release day. Plan B played a good part, its a great gritty British movie.

I'm a massive ray winstone fan, however he could be a little old or out of shape to realistically head up an elite unit! That being said, he is awesome and the movie is very good. Plan b does well although he needs to drop the "street" vibe for films like this. My only problem with the movie was when it neared completion, it felt hurried as if they had ran out of money. Still good, hope there is a sequel.