Dead Man Running (2009) User Reviews

Very average Brit gangster flick

[Tin Tin-3 · 5/10 · 4 November 2009]

I wasn't expecting great things from this movie and I wasn't disappointed. The plot is very two-dimensional but done reasonably well, the film is well-paced and directed competently with a fair bit going on in its 90-ish minute runtime. It's never going to trouble the Academy but it pretty much does what it says on the tin as a run-of-the-mill UK gangster flick.

The performances leave a little bit to be desired, however. Danny Dyer, who now seems hopelessly typecast, really phones in his performance and it would be nice to see him given a role which might stretch him. If he keeps taking roles like this one, though, it ain't going to happen. Here Dyer is reunited with his co-star from 'The Business' (ten times the film that 'Dead Man Running' is, by the way) Tamer Hassan. Hassan, again, means well but again he's given very little to work with. It's a shame as both he and Dyer have, I feel, more to offer than this formulaic 'good-guys-gone-a-little-bad' buddy-buddy nonsense.

The chief baddie is 'played' by Curtis 'fifty pence' Jackson and it's not good, people. I'm not a fan of his music but he undeniably has talent, just not on the boards. His performance is borderline embarrassing but thankfully he doesn't take up much screen time.

Not a great movie, not a disaster either. Just average.

I did chuckle when I saw the name of footballer Rio Ferdinand in the credits as an 'executive producer' and the Jar-Jar Binks lookalike even gets a dedicated (and very clunky) line in the script. Rio's got his insipid 'Number 5' online magazine going on and now fancies himself as a mover and shaker in the film world but someone really ought to take the big man to one side and quietly explain to him that he is not in any way 'cool', nor will he ever be. Stick to football, Rio, you're quite good at that (recent performances aside).

fun

[missapril75 · 7/10 · 7 March 2010]

Well I enjoyed it. It was just good fun and made me smile several times. I'm unfamiliar with the two leads so I'm not fed up of them. Brenda Blethyn was terrific as usual.

The soundtrack was quite good too and I enjoyed the contrast when the classical piece took over.

Not sure the 'kill' would have been so clean with a sawn off shotgun. I thought they made a bigger mess than that.

"This movie even has big football movie connections it was funded by non other than Rio Ferdinand...that's right I said that huge football star Rio ferdanando..or something like that." He's England Captain and plays for One of the World's Biggest clubs. I think that qualifies as pretty big.

Strictly by-the-numbers, but still quite watchable.

[krachtm · 6/10 · 1 February 2013]

The plot: Given 24 hours to pay off his massive debt, a reformed gangster descends back into the underworld he struggled to escape.

Dead Man Running isn't a bad film, but it's strictly by-the-numbers. It lacks the brutal realism of something like Refn's Pusher trilogy or Hodges' Get Carter, operating in a universe more like Guy Ritchie's, where the underworld is populated by idiosyncratic acquaintances, crime bosses with dangerous reputations, and oddball sidekicks. The biggest difference, however, is that this seems like something of a breezy overview of the genre, where each character is given a brief cameo, rather than any kind of reinterpretation. Nobody really has much to work with, but it does give the film a certain simplicity that many people found lacking in Get Carter and Revolver, which are often accused of having overly intricate plotting.

It's not an original movie, but it's enjoyable enough for what it is. If all you want is a simple, mildly violent crime thriller, then this will fit the bill nicely. If you're looking for something a bit deeper or original, I think you'd be better off skipping it. You'll just be bored or annoyed by all the clichés.

Shrek head......

[FlashCallahan · 7/10 · 5 March 2010]

A loan shark gives ex-con Nick a period of 24 hours in order to pay back the money he owes.

Up against it, Nick involves his best mate on a multi-part mission in order to raise the cash before it's too late for them both....

If you go to see a film featuring Tammer Hassan and Danny Dyer and Produced by two premiership footballers and expect it to be a work of art, you are not living in the real world.

The plot is simple, Nick has to pay 100 grand back in a day, or him and his mother will be killed, what Nick doesn't know is that he has no chance to pay the money back as he has been bugged and 50 cent wants to make an exception of him.

So he grabs Dyer and they go on a beano to make the money in any way possible, and the outcome is throwaway silly crap that works in a way that only a film featuring the two leads could.

These guys have a lot of chemistry together, and anybody who happens to like movies by nick love will know this, they throw off lines as if they are best mates, and they really work well together when ever they are both on screen,

Hassan for once has a good role, he isn't a gangster or a heavy, though the story implies that he was once both of these. Dyer is Dyer and plays the same tole he does in all of his films, but he does this best, so why change anything?

The scenarios are quite funny, and it gets sillier the more money the pair make, but you know that everyone will be okay come the end, so it's a case of just sitting back and enjoying it.

Some of the casting is a bit strange, Jackson cannot act, it was evident in Righteous Kill and Get rich or die trying', and the presence of Davies, Blethyn and Walters is just wasted.

But this is Hassans and Dyers movie and they make it work well.

Don't take it seriously and enjoy it for what it is, a movie for a wet Friday night with lots of mates and beer.

As Likable As It Is Silly

[Theo Robertson · 6/10 · 17 February 2014]

Nick finds himself in debt to American gangster Mr Thigo . Nick has to find one hundred thousand pound within 24 hours or his mother who is being held hostage will be executed

With a film starring Danny Dyer , Brenda Blethyn , 50 Cent and executively produced by footballers Ashley Cole and Rio Ferninand what could possibly go right ? Not much . Reading the plot summary and the comments on this page you do realise you might be watching a Guy Ritchie inspired comedy thriller but that's too simplistic . More like you're watching a sort of British set SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE where a cosmic being conspires to fit one situation to smoothly dovetail in to another one . For example Nick and his best friend crash their London cab in rural Lancashire and low and behold there's a rave taking place . Not only that but the rave organisers just happen to know a couple of Manchester gangsters who want to arrange a hit that morning . Wow lucky if you need to earn 100 grand through illegal means . The Gods are indeed smiling upon Nick . They do like their fun though and play about with him . For example they arrange things so that he'll sit right next to some thieving scrote on a train who will steal his money , then when he goes to rob a bank someone coincidentally mentions on the phone the result of a dog race the previous night . The Gods do indeed work in mysterious ways

Sounds bloody awful and yet it's so awful and silly and lacking in any sort of reality that you can't help being swept along in its thoughtless stupidity and sense of fun . Yeah I'll be the first to admit that Guy Ritchie has a lot to answer for and we've seen far too many pale imitations of his work . If everything was dead pan it would indeed be a different film but a much lesser one and it's nice to see film once in a while that doesn't take itself or the audience too seriously

Fast-paced London noir

[waldog2006 · 7/10 · 1 November 2009]

I didn't know what to expect from this film except that the poster made it look like an honest-to-goodness thriller that could've been made any time in the past 40 years, and that appealed to me. In the event, it's a well-played noir mostly set in London (though you get no real sense of the city, and it's a shame they had to show Big Ben) in which Nick (engagingly played by Tamer Hassan) has 24 hours to find £100,000 or he, and his mother (as always, a superb performance from Brenda Blethyn) will be 'buried in a shallow grave'. Well-paced, with a reasonable twist, it's only a shame that most of the dialogue is quite lame, and everything has a second-hand feel, but that's deliberate, I feel, and we need more movies like this that have a heart of noir while only seeking to entertain. The audience I saw it with, in Wandsworth, were thoroughly entertained.

Poor man's Lock, Stock, And Two Smoking Barrels

[owen_shock · 19 June 2011]

I recently viewed Lock, Stock, And Two Smoking Barrels, and thought it was a cinematic masterpiece. I watched Dead Man Running yesterday, when I saw that the two had a similar plot line. I wasn't expecting Dead Man Running to be as good of a movie as Guy Ritchie's Lock, Stock, And Two Smoking Barrels, but I also wasn't expecting it to be almost as bad of a movie as Dave Eddy's Pocket Ninjas. The dialogue is rather lame, the twist is cliché and expected, and everything feels hand-me- down and second hand. Brenda Blethyn had a beautiful performance as Tammer Hassan's mother, which although was superb, didn't quite make up for 50 Cent's less than acceptable acting. Dead Man Running and Lock, Stock, And Two Smoking Barrels have the same situation with me as Corner Gas and Dan For Mayor. The Corner Gas/Dan For Mayor conundrum means that I enjoyed Corner Gas, but don't enjoy Dan For Mayor, although I want to. Lock, Stock, And Two Smoking Barrels is hands-down one of my all-time favourite movies, and Dead Man Running is hands-down one of my all-time least favourite movies. I really want to like Dead Man Running, but the dialogue, second-hand feeling, and clichés didn't do it for me. I give Dead Man Running a three of of ten.

Enjoyable, quite a hoot.

[TomFarrell63 · 7/10 · 23 March 2022]

Lighter in tone than most British gangster type thrillers, there are some real giggles to be had in this.

Helps that the acting is a cut above too, and there seems to be real chemistry between the two leads Tamar Hussain and Danny Dyer.

There's a couple of plot holes, but nothing major.

It's also stylishly filmed and directed, and moves along at a fast pace, and gets a definite thumbs up from me.

Dead Film Walking more like...

[the_rattlesnake25 · 4/10 · 18 November 2009]

'Dead Man Running' sees the cinematic Cockney wide boys Tamer Hassan and Danny Dyer join together for yet another jolly boys outing on the big screen. Except this time instead of playing raging football hooligans destroying East London one shop window at a time, they are instead pushed into the world of the British Gangster flick. Which sounds like potential entertainment, but it really isn't. It'll help you fill an hour and thirty minutes of free time, but you won't be rushing to see it again at the Cinema, or out to buy the DVD, or see to it on pay-television...

The opening scene of the film shows that the recession has had far and wide reaching consequences across the economic board as the underworld boss Mr Thigo (Curtis '50' Jackson) decides to draw in every penny from all the outstanding loans he is currently owed. While Nick (Hassan) is the unfortunate customer who is going to be made an example of by Thigo to make sure everybody pays up promptly and without hassle – Barclays Banking this is not. Nick is given twenty-four hours to acquire the hundred grand he owes Thigo otherwise he and his mother (Brenda Blethyn) will be sleeping with the fishes. Cue a frantic race across London with his business partner and working-class friend Bing (Danny Dyer) in tow as they attempt various different activities while trying to raise the debt and stay alive.

Hassan and Dyer play the typical characters you have seen them time and time again, and it is now becoming a little annoying as well as entirely predictable and boring. Nick is a former 'hardman' who was a resident at Her Majesty's service before taking the legal and law-abiding route so he could care for his family. While Bing is his right-hand man who is willing to do almost anything to help Nick obtain the £100,000 that he owes. Yet there is one gleaming performance in this stiff, wooden cast which is that of veteran British actress Brenda Blethyn who plays Nick's caring, soft, yet incredibly versatile mother who provides not only the biggest laugh of the film, but also the tensest scene as we uncover a secret she has kept buried under her blanket.

I was never expecting a brilliant film from Alex De Rakoff's British crime flick 'Dead Man Running', but I was expecting more considering the decent cast it contains. It fails to harbour the primarily British cast's potential and instead delivers a predictable narrative coupled with a terribly clichéd script. The biggest problem however is the fact that despite being evenly and well paced, the film has nothing which will keep an audience's attention for longer than five minutes.

Watch the trailer and see the whole movie!

[alimhaider · 1/10 · 24 October 2009]

Danny (rent a London wide boy) Dyer is yet again paid to play the same old tired London wide boy. His fellow type cast actor tammer Hasan is even in here the other London wide boy. so just by having these 2 actors you can pretty much guess the whole movies plot. BUT WAIT there is a twist not just DAN AND TAN we have that great of the hoodlum rap genre mr 50 cents, as he is in the u.k. I think we shall now call him 50p for future reference. This movie even has big football movie connections it was funded by non other than Rio Ferdinand...that's right I said that huge football star Rio ferdanando..or something like that. Any way having explained to you all who's in the movie and who's connected to it with the funding I now come to the review of the said movie. OK here it is 2 wide boys need 24 hours to raise cash quickly or there nasty money lender will do a number on one of them.. With no charm or style this movie chugs a long at a fair pace you can even see some local celebrities from the u.k. in it. What this film lacks in originality it does not make up in dialogue.

I could list reels of embarrassing London wide boy chit chat , but it was embarrassing to sit through let alone repeat.

This is a cash making machine that teenage boys will rent out to see how British gangsters should operate. 50p is the main pull here and to be honest just like his acting as a yobo singer who talks fast he does bring something to the movie… Can put my finger on it..O yes I remember when he came on screen acting the cool and sophisticated money lender I thought of David bowie… You know when bowies in a movie its going to be dreadful but get great reviews because his fans love him, well that's what I thought of 50p acting. Can't sing cant dance cant act…he will go along way.

Its almost blueprint in how not to make a movie about British life. This is yet another movie about the so called underworld of the u.k. made by people who have no idea about the underworld of the u.k. funded b millionaire football players and rent a yob actors this is so artificial it's the most plastic gangster movie yet. If you really want to see a movie and it has to be about gangster in the uk , then I suggest the Manchester movie "a very British gangster"

Really fun & entertaining movie

[moviechick222 · 10/10 · 31 October 2009]

LOVED this little movie that I caught opening weekend in London. It's surprisingly funny and entertaining. Tamar Hassan is sure to be a big star- he's like a bigger and more handsome Antonio Banderas. Could see this being a breakout role for him like Sexy Beast was for Ray Winston. He's tough but sexy and charming.

and Brenda Blethyn is genius. I'm still laughing at some of her lines. The people in my theatre were cheering after her last scene (when you see it you'll know what I'm talking about).

Don't miss this little gem. Good pure entertainment.

Great soundtrack also.

fun film dont take it too seriously

[a-29488 · 7/10 · 16 June 2021]

A classic british ganster film with the usual faces in the cast (Dany Dyer Tamer Hussan etc ) quite fast paced with humour.

How on earth do Dyer and Hassan keep working???

[specialbobby · 3/10 · 12 March 2010]

Certain people like to stand outside McDonalds rather than go to school that's how!

Again these two appear in a derivative quick to forget bargain bin British gangster movie with all the cock-er-ney geezer charm of Guy Ritchies Bowel movements, hell they even throw in the lesser supporting cast of Snatch, a far far superior movie. Gangster Rapper 50p must have had a spare 10 minutes while in London during a promo tour because he's a barely written cameo (who could have livened the film up in a beefier role) and the two strongest actors in the movie, Brenda Blethyn and Phil Davis just seem lost in their own embarrassment wondering what there agents where playing at.

The involvement of English Premiership footballers as executive producers would suggest the film was a plaything and an outlet for their rather substantial weekly wage and it's their money that probably paid for the clearance of an actually rather good soundtrack.

Leave this movie well alone unless you like tucking socks into trackie bottoms, listen to music on buses using a mobile and have many friends with Asbo's and trophy dogs, for the rest of us there's a bit of damp paint on the wall over there, it'll be dry soon.

3/10 for the soundtrack alone

Poor

[darrbarker · 3/10 · 19 November 2009]

This is very poor indeed. I read that two premiership footballers had gone fifty fifty on the budget of £2.5m pounds. None of that ends up on the screen, and perhaps there is a perverse sense of justice, for want of a better word – presumably everyone involved in this production took their lead from the two financiers, by putting themselves on massive salaries. How else can you explain where the money went ?! Over ten years ago, with Lock, Stock & Two Smoking Barrels, Guy Ritchie did this kind of film so much better, on a fraction of the budget.

Danny Dyer's declining career takes another dive her – they've cast him as the comedy sidekick, but failed to give him any material to work with. Hassan, in his first lead role, is one of the film's few bright points but he struggles to stand out. It is frustrating to see talented British actors like Brenda Blethyn and Phil Davis appear in this kind of product. American rapper 50 Cent is as bad as other reviews have pointed out. The plot is very Guy Ritchie-esquire, but fails on just about every level and tedium kicks in at the half way point. The action is poorly staged. An underground bare knuckle fight scene is edited so badly its laughable. A hulking bodybuilder with no dialogue, save for a few grunts, takes on Hassan in a hastily arranged punch up which has zero choreography. It typifies the mentality of whoever made this dross – the guy has an imposing physique and looks great when he makes his entrance, but as soon as the "fight" starts, it descends into the realms of American wrestling, and is about as convincing. Hassan does his best, but its bad.

An interview with Rio Ferdinand in the national press, in the build up to this film's UK release, revealed that he'd not actually read the script before investing his half of the budget. Its an incredible attitude to take to producing a film, but one that appears to have caught on – the only thought that appears to have gone into the bare knuckle punch up is to bring in a massive body builder.

Later, there is a "chase" when a police motorcyclist persues Hassan and Dyer, driving a stolen black cab, through woodland. For no apparent reason, either within the scene or by what we see on the screen, the copper simply steers his motorcycle into a ditch, bringing an end to the chase before anything had happened. Several people in the cinema (and there were only several people in the cinema) grumbled at this – presumably the editor did the best he could, but why stage a chase if you can't pull it off ? It looks like there's half the scene missing.

All in all this was a very poor effort. I wouldn't bet against all concerned going onto bigger and better things, and it would be interesting to see what Hassan can do with better material. Its one of those films that drags even though its not overly long, and one that you can cut a good trailer for, and create an appealing poster for, but I found it very disappointing in just about every department.

Unsuccessful comedy/thriller gangster type movie

[wellthatswhatithinkanyway · 2/10 · 11 March 2010]

STAR RATING: ***** Saturday Night **** Friday Night *** Friday Morning ** Sunday Night * Monday Morning

Nick (Tamer Hassan) is trying to put his criminal past behind him and start up a successful travel agents. But he's in money worries getting it off the ground and even worse American gangster Mr. Thigo (50 Cent) has arrived in London and Nick owes him quite a bit of money. And just to remind him, Thigo takes his mother hostage and gives him twenty four hours to find the cash he owes him...or she dies. And so, with the assistance of his quirky business partner Bing (Danny Dyer) he begins a mad dash around the capital and even up north getting into scrapes involving underworld kingpins, motorway police and the lowest of the criminal underworld.

This latest addition to the Brit gangster flick came out of nowhere but looked rather slick and stylish, not to mention having the surprise inclusion of well known rap icon 50 Cent in the cast. Alas, it looks really cheap and awful, shot with a murky camera lens through out that brings it down a peg or two. But that's not the main thing wrong with Dead Man Running, a vapid, empty affair that fails to be thrilling or funny in any way. Even a lively supporting cast in the shape of Brenda Blethyn, Phillip Davis, Scot Williams and Ashley Walters can't bring it to life, plenty of material to go on but failing to strike a chord with any of it. As for lead stars Dyer and Hassan, they've worked well together before, but it would seem they fall apart without Nick Love to guide them. *

Not Bad

[amf33 · 11 November 2009]

All in all a decent film, being a woman i love any Danny dyer and he was the films main pull for me and the girls to go watch a typical guys film,A bit lack lustre at times but Danny kept me trans fixed, plenty of action one for the guys and the girls. I noticed a mixed reception from fellow cinema goers, and maybe a tad cheesy in parts but compared with other movies at the moment it was not that bad, British film too so it's a bonus.But would recommend full on action , not a bad story and a good cast, a bit unsure about 50 cent though maybe he should have stayed in the music industry, Other characters put in a good performance and Danny and Tamear teamed up again always seems to work and do the business.

Perfect Film, 1 Of The Best Films I Have Ever Seen!

[lukeyd123 · 10/10 · 14 February 2010]

I watched this film last night, it was 1 of the best films i have watched in a long time, if you like the British gangster type films then this is the film for you, very funny and entertaining all way through, nothing dragged or was boring at all.

Dyer and Hassan make a great team in this film, I only watched it for the fact Dyer was in it, Did not expect it to be as good as it was. I don't see why the other reviews are so low ratings.

Brilliant!!!

A Must Watch For 2010 DVD!

Thanks For Reading.

yet another poor uk gangster movie

[simonpcpearson · 3/10 · 14 April 2010]

I am sick of low budget British gangster movies..they are the cheap, lazy cashcow for any talentless wannabe who thinks he can make films.

The video shops are full of them and none of them are any good. I wish UK film-makers would think outside of the box and stop making rubbish about cockney geezers, zombies, vampires or serial killers.

This one stars Danny Dyer and Tamer Hassan (who else?) but it does have some excellent moments with Brenda Blethyn and Phil Davis.

Even Dyer and Hassan get a few decent moments when the film reaches its last half hour or so.Couple of funny moments...not much but better than most of the dross they do. Hassan is certainly better than he was in Wrong Turn at Frightfest.

I gave this 4 out of 10..bit kind but, sadly, there is much worse out there

Danny why did u do this flick,,,why????

[iwaheed · 3/10 · 20 February 2010]

i am a huge fan of Danny Dyer and try not to miss his movies.,,He is one good actor and really funny at times.... i was waiting for this flick for ages like i did for Rock n rolla...but the results were totally different...unlike rock n Rolla this flick was a big disaster... 50cents looked more like a Doctor than a gangster and Tammer Hassan wasted his money and skills in this film...Danny...you are a good actor..please choose the flick while you are not stoned...we love you mate... Thet could've made a nice movie out of this story line but they failed....Rio Ferdinand you were a good defender but not a really good producer...if you have so much of money to waste....don't waste on producing such movies...help the poors and you will be remembered...ash Cole was also another soccer player who contributed in the production..Ash...you are not good soccer player and not a good producer either....well..please do watch this flick for Danny sake..if you are his fan...beside that this flick is a total waste of money and time...

Clichéd British gangster effort with lots of familiar faces

[Leofwine_draca · 4/10 · 15 March 2017]

DEAD MAN RUNNING is a typical expletive-laden British gangster movie that trades on past glories. All of the actors involved play characters who are mere riffs on their former glories and the plot, about a hostage situation and the attempt to make a great deal of money in a very short time in order to pay off a gambling debt, are very predictable.

The consistently uninspiring Tamer Hassan is the main character who is driven to the edge when his mother, Brenda Blethyn, is held hostage by a shotgun-wielding psychopath. Said psycho is played by Phil Davis, enjoyably riffing on his crazy turn in FACE, and he's the best thing in the movie. For her part, Blethyn feels miscast and hard to take seriously, although she's better than the one-note Hassan.

The rest of the film wallows in clichés and low rent situations, although it's not quite the worst I've seen of this genre; at least some of the comedy is funny in places. Danny Dyer has the typecast role of Hassan's buddy and is one again the naughty-but-nice tearaway. Alan Ford and Omid Djalili have cameos, the former welcome, the latter not so much. Worst of the group is rapper 50 Cent in a 'take the money and run' type turn as the crime boss.

Way Underated Here

[horizon2008 · 9/10 · 1 February 2024]

I saw this film years ago when it came out and remembered enjoying it, so I've just given it another spin and I gotta say, I just don't get so many of the low ratings here. It's a barrel of fun and rockets along at a great pace, never getting boring and often blackly funny. Maybe it was some sort of Danny Dyer hate bandwagon you all wanted to be on, but credit where credit is due, this is a good movie and for it being the directors only feature film I found it a bloody decent achievement. Maybe if it contained flying men and women in capes firing lasers out of their eyes (or whatever) the rating might have been higher, but I don't watch movies for nine year olds myself.

Another Guy Ritchie knock-off

[freemantle_uk · 3/10 · 14 April 2012]

Since the success of Guy Ritchie in British film industry many writers and directors have tired and fail to copy his formula of gangsterism and comedy. Dead Man Running is no exception, a poor attempt of a film that should have been straight-to-DVD had it not had 50 Cent, had Rio Ferdinard and Ashley Cole financed the film or promoted on the BBC's Film Programme.

Nick (Tamer Hassan) is an ex-con who is struggling to play his debts, looks after his recently disabled mother (Brenda Blethyn) and with his friend Bing (Danny Dyer) tries to see sky holidays to Dubai because, eh… because. He is also a man who owns a £100,000 debt to a ruthless American gangster, Mr. Thigo (50 Cent), a man struggling to get his money back since the credit crunch. He picks Nick to make an example of him, that he has to get £100,000 in 24 hours or he will kill him and his mother. Nick and Bing have to use every trick in the book and everything they can to get the money.

Dead Man Running is just a cheap looking film attempting some stylish tricks and is filled with poor acting, action and comedy. The plot itself is just a rip off a Guy Ritchie film, some small time crook ends up crossing a big gangster and the crook has to pay him back quickly, that's what happened in Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels and Rocknrolla, but at least those films have sub-plots. Alex De Rakoff is no Ritchie, he does not have his directional or writing abilities. There are some stylist moments in the beginning when Thigo talks about the effects of the credit crunch on dealers, using football commentary when a group of kids are transferring cocaine to a council estate and when Nick and Bing are driving up north. But it looks cheap: the few action scenes like the bare knuckle boxing being shot too close and cut too quickly to truly tell what is really happening.

As a whole the film is very predictable and the plot turns and twists can be seen from a mile off. There is a ridiculous idea that Thigo has men all over London (despite being an American gangster) and been following Nick through a giant tracker in coat pocket and even if we can buy that he did not notice that, he sits on a train next to a teenager already on the train who is working for Thigo and he steals his money. That is just impossible. I could buy that some teenager steals the money simply through bad luck but no, that was too much plot convenience for the audience to suspend their disbelieve. There is too much luck and at the end the mother was able to kill her captor, so taking away what little tension there is.

Except for one mildly funny joke the humour falls flat and the story as a whole is weak. It could have been an interesting to see a gangster who operates across borders, having his fingers in a lot of pies and working as a banker to major gangsters and operations to a lot of people, but no, that is ruined. De Rakoff admits that the character started of English but was turned into an American because of the credit crunch. But what really happened was Rakoff found out that 50 Cent was available, so rewrote the character to be America. His nationality made no different because he just operated like a British gangster we have seen in dozens of gangster films before hand.

The acting is just sub-par. It is not good and most of the actors just phoned in there performances. Danny Dyer was not as annoying as he can be and he did not play the cockney hard man he normally plays. It was clear that 50 Cent was only on set for a couple of days and he has shown time and again he can not act. I would say go back to rapping but that would be just as bad.

At best Dead Man Running is a generic Brit-gangster film we have seen time and again. It offers us nothing new and is not worth your time. It is a dull film that is stupid when you put any real world logic to it and you may as well watch a good gangster film again.

Snatch it if you can

[kosmasp · 5/10 · 18 August 2010]

The British gangster film has been rising since a guy called ... Guy R. made his mark on that particular "genre" (or sub-genre or whatever you wanna call it). But while "Lock, Stock ..." and "Snatch" were somewhat original, this feels very formulaic. It's not so much the actors (though Mr. Dyer seems not to have a lot to do in this one or Tamers "woman", who only gets to get her kink on in some scenes), but the fact that you do know where this is going ... long before it gets there.

Now this isn't always entirely bad. But it would have been really good if the characters were better drawn. And I'm not only talking about the main characters, but also the supporting cast. They mostly stay bland, while they fail to be remarkable, not leaving any kind of impression you will remember after a few minutes.

Still and especially for fans, this will be somewhat satisfying and it moves along quite nicely, even if a few things feel forced (like the "twist(s)") towards the end of the movie.

Solid movie

[twanster-97655 · 9/10 · 26 February 2022]

Surprisingly good, well casted, good plot and fast paced. Well worth the watch, makes you wonder why Danny walked away from movies for soppy soaps! 50cent, plays the role well. The movie isn't a Blockbuster but it's a good watch and one you'll probably watch again.