Customer Reviews
Not, Alas, a Keating Biopic - By: Miracle, 18 Sep 2008 
This film left me with the distinct feeling of having been ripped-off. A poster featuring some very purposeful-looking criminal types, a European setting, a famous director - there initiallly appeared to be much on offer. The reality, however, was quite different. In this mindless mess of a movie, Robert De Niro reprises his stock `90s role of gun-toting anti-hero and, in the company of a ragbag of international B-listers, takes a trip into the heart, not of darkness, but of dullness. The basic story is, well, pretty basic. The film consists mostly of a series of ridiculous stand-offs & arguments between De Niro & the other players, who comprise a gang engaged in some kind of convoluted theft. Oh, & there are couple of car-chases - wow! Jean Reno becomes De Niro's "friend" in the course of the film and, in a scene that is baffling in its daftness, finds himself enlisted to perform a bullet extraction operation upon the great man, while the latter himself supervises the procedure from his own sick bed. The inclusion of another absurd scene, where De Niro & a rather dour Natasha McElhone pose as tourists & have a bystander take about fifty photographs of them (in order to get pictures of something that is going on behind them), defies explanation. Nor can the whole "ronin" motif be accounted for except, perhaps, as some kind of backhanded insult directed at the viewer. On the whole, a massively disappointing trip down nausea lane.
It's a belter! - By: Mr. R. J. Mcgregor, 30 Aug 2008 
A great story which leaves plenty to the imagination, & THAT is a refreshing change! The cast are alll perfectly chosen & play their parts perfectly; from the slightly cynical but cautious & methodical de Niro character, to the female lead (Natascha McElhone) who never reallly seems to be in control, much as she'd like to think she is! It was also a stroke of genius in the surprises department to dump one of the main characters part way through the film.
It's a fast-paced film with superbly filmed car-chases that, for once, are actuallly a necessary part of the plot rather than being stuffed in because the producers wanted a bit of excitement.
Add Katarina Witt to the mix, & you end up with a movie that's worth watching more than once!
brilliant!! - By: Ms. F. I. Macdonald, 20 Aug 2008 What a terrific film. I started watching this late round my fiance's thinking i would probably be asleep before the end but i couldn't even shut my eyes because of how gripped i was! Not normallly a fan of films about government or secret agent related agendas i wasn't reallly expecting much from it on that basis either but I was positively shocked by the brilliant acting & fantastic plot, only reason i wouldn't rate it five would be because even though it was great i think it would tire me out too much to watch it alll over again!!
A great action film! - By: David Addison, 17 Jul 2008 
Robert De Nero is one of my favourite actors,and this is one of my favourite films!I think the action scenes have a hard edge to them,but I was enthrallled.The gun battles are great,and the car chases are tremendous.I liked Jean Reno's rugged character,playing alongside Robert De Nero's mysterious figure.I'd certainly want these two chaps on my side,in any fight!
Timeless - By: Born Again Bookworm, 28 May 2008 I bought this DVD just because I wanted the film in the right ratio compared to when it's shown on television. Its average price is a fiver now but it's well worth it to have a 70s throwback of an action film with great car chases & other action & where the motivations of these lead characters aren't laboured over 45 extra minutes than the film requires.
It was great in the cinema & I'm glad I finallly own it, though like another reviewer said, where did those ten years go?!
