FIFTY DEAD MEN WALKING Review
Inspired by the real life story of Martin McGartland's recruitment as a police informant to spy on the IRA in late 80s Belfast, Fifty Dead Men Walking charts his path from exuberant youth to paranoid recluse under the increasingly watchful eye of ageing British policeman, Fergus (Ben Kingsley). Martin (Jim Sturgess) rapidly gets deeply involved in the IRA's affairs putting his whole family at risk as suspicions come to a head.
Told in flashback with a portentous voice-over from Kingsley, Kari Skogland’s film starts snappily before launching into a terrible, patronising explanation of the long running conflict. Presumably designed for an international audience unfamiliar with this recent piece of history, it jars with the rest of the film and sets things off poorly. Fortunately, things pick up and a pretty solid thriller develops.
Early scenes to a period soundtrack match the energetic Martin as he rebels, chases skirt and poses in his new car. Jim Sturgess is thoroughly convincing as a young guy torn between two sides and manipulated by both. Natalie Press (previously seen in the excellent Red Road) is a welcome presence too as Martin's wife, rising above a role that could’ve been simply martyr to her husband’s nefarious activities, and balancing the suffering with an alluring zest for life. Ben Kingsley is expectedly wonderful in a role that he could probably have phoned in – still, it's an eminently watchable performance.
Not everything works and there are some missed opportunities. One of potentially the most interesting scenes has Martin on a date with his would be wife commenting on how he doesn't believe there's a god up there worrying about who's catholic or protestant when quizzed on his loyalties. The tension between religious ideals, morals and monetary incentives is an interesting one but it's not developed enough for this to be as thought provoking a film as the subject matter suggests. There are some lazy clichés too - the faceless, dehumanised British troops (akin to those in Braveheart) and the oft used sympathy-inducing stalwart of ‘guns in proximity to baby’, to name but two. Rose McGowen's character adds little and her presence as a fiery temptress seems unnecessary and slightly crass. It's arguable too that Kingsley's voice-over is unwarranted. It does work well as a snapshot of a community torn asunder by warring factions however, and there's an effective shift in tone as youthful rebellion turns sour and familial responsibilities take hold.
There are few flourishes that stand out and it probably won't stay with you long after the credits, but it's a pacey and entertaining thriller, rising above its clichés by virtue of an exceptional cast.
Fifty Dead Men Walking is out in the UK on April 10th
