One of Hollywood’s most in-demand writers whips up a potent directorial debut with the vicious, spirited gangster drama “London Boulevard.”
William Monahan, who won an Oscar for his screenplay for “The Departed” and also wrote “Body of Lies” and “Kingdom of Heaven,” draws superb performances from his cast in a fairly routine and not particularly plausible story delivered with verve.
Small-time crook Mitchel (a sharply dressed Colin Farrell) gets out of prison and is determined to stay out. But doing a favor for his scuzzy loan-shark friend (Ben Chaplin) leads to a moment of accidental heroics that spotlights Mitchel’s talents in the eyes of a gangster boss (a priceless Ray Winstone, who looks very much like the kind of man to whom no one ever says no).
Meanwhile, a chance connection gets Mitchel a new job — as a handyman and bodyguard to a neurotically reclusive starlet (Keira Knightley, who looks even more starved than usual). Bored and frail, she cages herself in her London mansion while hiding from the paparazzi who surround her place. Her campy friend/guardian (David Thewlis, who is also brilliant) issues smiling warnings to Mitchel about her peccadilloes as he gets drawn in by her charms.
Monahan’s trademark tart dialogue is as strong as ever, and Farrell and Winstone make for a formidable pair of opponents. Take a stroll down “London Boulevard” if you enjoy surly, smart, hard-edged British crime movies like“Sexy Beast” and “Croupier.”