Hummingbird (2013) directed by Steven Knight, 17th June

Plot

A disgraced ex-special forces operative on the run from a military court martial. Suffering from post traumatic stress disorder and living rough on the streets of London. Barely scratching a living and numb to the world through drink. Then on a typical night being roughed up by some low level enforcers he decides to fight back. By chance he survives this encounter and manages to find a safe haven. An opportunity which allows him to turn his life around thanking those who once helped him and helping those who were around him. All the while it allows him to dispense street justice.

Review

If you are expecting an all out Jason Statham action film then you are going to be sorely disappointed by this film. Coming from Steven Knight the writer of 'Dirty Pretty Things" and "Eastern Promises" this is going to be gritty. From his previous writing efforts he has shown London at night and revealed it's dark ugly underbelly before.

The first 25 minutes of the film opens with what could be any action film. Flashbacks of Afghanistan. Street life in London. Injustice and being wronged. A chance opportunity to find safety and turn his life around. Here we have all the ingredients for a decent revenge action film. Then the film changes tonally to a crime drama. This is no bad thing but then again if you were expecting an all out action film you will be disappointed with the lack of Jason Statham dispensing justice with his fists.

Jason Statham plays Joey Jones. A traumatised ex-special forces soldier having served in Afghanistan and committed an atrocity there.  Awaiting to go to a military court he escapes from a military hospital and gravitates to London to slink into drink and obscurity. Here we have a morally ambiguous character. Someone who knows right and wrong and prepared to to wrong first to do right. Where the ends justify the means. He is also an estranged husband with a 9 year old daughter. On the night which changes his life he is accompanied by Isabel another person living rough who he helps to escape. When he finds sanctuary and an opportunity to escape his street life past he still sticks to the bottle and only kicks the bottle when he hears Isabel has disappeared. Here he cleans his act and starts to get back into shape. Taking up work as a dish washer and then on another fateful night his skills as a fighter are noticed. He finds gainful employment with Mr Choy (Benedict Wong) a local gangster and no job is too dirty for him as long as he gets the right payoff.

The real stand out is Agata Buzek playing Cristina a nun who runs a late night soup kitchen. Another damaged person who has more in common with Joey Jones  than we would expect. She gives a measured performance of a conflicted and at times hypocritical person. Happy to give advice but afraid of home truths.

Initially their relationship is prickly but she helps Joey to find Isabel and also tries to change him and show him the error of his ways with little effect.

Jason Statham has been given an opportunity to do something a little different  from his previous acting gigs. He actually does more acting but still beats up people and in this film there is less beating up and greater time looking troubled and conflicted. Admittedly he has not been given that much more to do than in his past films and plays it straight with no quips or knowing looks at the camera. I am a big fan of Jason Statham but some how I think someone like Viggo Mortensen would have made a better Joey Jones.

The film is also lightly peppered with some moments of humor. Also it was great seeing London at night.

This is not a Robin Hood type of film where he steals form the rich to give to the poor. Joey uses dirty money to help the poor and he has no problems wih this as long as he is doing good. Unusually in this film the hero is more dangerous when sober. This film tries to do a lot in it's short 100 minutes. There are some threads which are not fully explored or explained like his wife and daughter.

Jason Statham has carved out a niche for himself in the film industry to which he does a great job. The problem with this film is the star. He has made a watchable performance and has tried to make a break from his typecast role. Unfortunately for me his presence unbalances the film as his brand is too strong as I keep expecting at anytime for the Stath to get into a fracas and clean up and settle scores with his fists once every 10 minutes.

If you can remember that this is a Steven Knight film and just so happens to star Jason Statham and it is not a Jason Statham movie vehicle then you will enjoy the film. On the whole the film is watchable and entertaining  as you would expect from the writer of Eastern Promises and Dirty Pretty Things.

8/10