Back in the 70s The Sweeney was the big thing with its controversial story lines full of action and most of the time completely over the top and cutting edge violence for the time of night that the show used to go out on TV.
But today with all the violence on TV (that’s just from the news), The Sweeney maybe a little out of its depth with all the big blockbusting American movies that are coming over to our side of the pond.
It’s The Sweeney You Slaaags
Now for me, I’m a big fan of British made movies, so when I heard sometime back that The Sweeney was going to be made in to a movie by Nick Love and that it was a British born movie, I started to get a little excited, then Ray Winstone was in it, I just couldn’t wait.
So The Sweeney is loosely based on the 70s TV show and I say loosely, as though the characters are there, it’s completely different to how the TV show was back in the day, yes the violence is in there, yes there are car chases and yes the London slang is there as well. But for most of the film it’s in a style of its own.
Based around London with a special police division of the flying squad (The Sweeney Todd) who will go to any lengths to get a job done, most of the time down the route of violence. Jack Regan (Ray Winstone) and George Carter (Ben Drew aka Plan B) will stop at nothing, bending the rules to get the villains put behind bars.
The Sweeney Right To The Bone!
Right from the start of the film, you just know that this is going to be a British film with bite and even though I was a bit weary of Ben Drew playing the part of Carter, he really carried it off, there is that chemistry between the characters and with some rather funny one liners, The Sweeney did hold my attention throughout.
OK, it may not have the worlds best script, but the set action sequences and rolling shots of London do it justice, Ray Winstone is perfect for the Regan part with his rugged, weathered, look of a guy on the edge, while Ben Drew looks like that likely lad that may look quite sweet on the outside, could kick the crap out of you any second.
What I really love about The Sweeney is that you don’t have to have seen the 70s TV series to know the characters, everything is done in the film that needs to be done, you know what they are there for and how they get about things and this is generally shown from the opening of the film, showing just how the Flying Squad get in and kick arse!
Overall Thoughts For The Sweeney
There are going to be those that hate The Sweeney and those that think it’s not going to sell well on the other side of the pond, but for me, I enjoyed every minute, it’s not made on a massive budget and you can tell, but it’s British film and that’s something that we should all support.
So go and see The Sweeney for a gritty bit of British thriller and action.
Karen Woodham is the founder and owner of the Blazing Minds. She is also a Cinema reviewer and works with RealD 3D reviewing the latest 3D releases and IMAX, she has also had several articles published in various publications including the first edition of SFW Magazine. In 2015 she became an Award Winning Blogger and also has her website listed as one of the UK’s Top 10 Film Blogs.
