Hummingbird
Directed by:
Steven KnightScreenplay:
Steven KnightCinematography:
Chris MengesComposer:
Dario MarianelliCast:
Jason Statham, Agata Buzek, Vicky McClure, Benedict Wong, Christian Brassington, Lee Asquith-Coe, Andrew Ellis, David Bradley, Josef Altin, Darren Lynch (more)VOD (3)
Plots(1)
From the award winning team behind Eastern Promises, comes the story of an ex-Special Forces soldier, Joey Jones (played by Jason Statham), who has found himself homeless on the streets after going on the run from a military court-martial. One night he breaks into an apartment in Covent Garden and finds that the luxury penthouse will be empty for three months. He finds a credit card, car keys and a full bank account for him to plunder but, instead, he decides to use the opportunity to get clean and get a job. He gives up booze and drugs and finds work as a dish washer in a Chinese restaurant. But before long, his talents are touted by a Chinese gangster boss who recruits him as a driver and enforcer. Joey rises through the ranks of the underworld in Soho - but he never forgets his old friends on the streets. (Lionsgate Home Entertainment)
(more)Reviews (4)
One of the movies with Jason Statham where you don’t get too many laughs. Surprisingly, Jason isn’t spitting out catchphrases left and right, and what’s more, he isn’t killing tons of enemies to support the action part of the flick. Everything seems pretty realistic, that is if you are willing to accept that Jason starts an affair with a nun. Still, this is one of the more civil, serious and genuine action films that doesn’t put too much emphasis on the protagonist, but rather on emotions, which makes for a rather non-stereotypical impression.
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Statham still has some surprises up his sleeve. All the run-of-the-mill punch-ups have started blending into one and it’s nice to see baldy act a little again. Statham’s PTSD, constantly replaying the horrors of war, including hummingbirds, to our stoically calm hero, gives necessary depth to the story. Marianelli’s music plays on the emotions so discreetly that you don’t even realize that you’re watching an action thriller. The romantic storyline between a gangster and the nun all of a sudden doesn’t appear that funny anymore. Everything fits perfectly into a place and the ending, even tho it could have been shallow and optimistic, resisted becoming that kind of ballast. An unexpectedly humane drama that reflects all of the woes of London, from class differences, thru international multiethnic friction, to domination of a Chinese crime empire.
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Probably the first essentially non-action film with Jason Statham that makes the viewer think. This is called progress. But they succeed only halfway. The ideas are nice, Statham occasionally tries to act, but I still didn't believe him very much as a homeless man.
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Jason Statham as a killer and a thug who falls in love with a nun. Unlikely? Not at all, especially if the film remains decent. Decent means that we won't actually see the nun having sex, even though it does happen between them. We still have to maintain some Christian values, right? No, it's a shame if the film held back a bit, it would be better. Like this, it's just an action romantic drama that tries for a strong ending, which it partially succeeds at. I guess I just expected mindless violence, but it's nice to see that Statham still has his acting skills.
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