A refreshing alternative

Rating: 9/10 (26 January 2000)

It's good to see a film that relies more on acting than special effects, and this not only manages that splendidly, but does it with humor and style. This must be the most quotable film for a long time, and one where the whole cinema can chant the lines as they happen.
THE FOLLOWING COMMENTS MAY BE A SPOILER TO SOME PEOPLE..
The inventive way that the plot revolves around the three groups without actually knowing what the others are thinking is pure genius. Harking back to the comedies of Marlowe and Shakespeare, this script plays on the tragi-comedy perfectly, as the characters joke about finding a room full of dead bodies and how it works to their advantage.
A highlight of the film is the bar scene, where Danny John-Jules is explaining how the man caught on fire. The comedy of the scene, coupled with the rhyming slang that is used makes for a cracking piece of dialogue and action.
This film is full of irony, and we realise that if all the groups worked together from the beginning, then they would have all got what they wanted and would have all been rich, and alive. A great film, well thought out, and a classic for years to come. 10 out of 10.
Neil.