Film Review: Shooters (2002)

In today’s world, or at least in some certain circles in the West, it became quite fashionable to question whether putting people in prison for their crimes is necessary and whether there should be more humane and enlightened alternatives for such practice. On the other hand, for protagonist and narrator of Shooters, 2002 crime film directed by Colin Teague and Glenn Dufort, prison appears to have served its purpose. After six years behind the bars, Gilly (played by Louis Dempsey) is determined not come back and yearns for quiet life and starting a family. His best friend Justin a.k.a. “J” (played by Andrew Howard) could have achieved the same, but unstoppable drug habit and heavy financial considerations made him anchored to the world of crime. His latest deal involve large shipment of automatic weapons and Scottish crime boss Jackie Junior (played by Gerald Butler). Gilly reluctantly agrees to take part in the scheme, which would involve Max Bell (played by Adrian Dunbar), sinister Irish mob boss who took interest in J’s beautiful wife Marie (played by Melanie Lynskey), while police led by Detective Inspector Sarah Pryce (played by Emma Fielding) also becomes interested.

Made with relatively low budget, Shooters is one of many British films made at the turn of millennium which tried to exploit success of Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels and depict British underworld as something more exotic or at least refreshingly different than its US counterpart. Dempsey and Howard, two main actors who wrote screenplay together with Gary Young of Harry Brown fame, however, try to differ from Guy Ritchie’s black comedy. Shooters is serious and very grim in its portrayal of mean streets of London, plagued by poverty, drugs, violence and corruption. Actually, scriptwriters go too far in that direction, making almost any character dislikeable and leaving audience almost nobody to root for. Directors Colin Teague and Glenn Dufort don’t help much with their “artsy” direction that makes this gangster film more pretentious than it really is. What ultimately makes this film more than watchable is superb cast that features some of the most notable names from British Isles, including Gerald Butler who would few years later become star and who here has great fun playing flamboyant gangster. Supporting actors, who mostly leave two main actors under shadow, also represent diversity of British Isles with actors from various parts, joined by New Zealander Melanie Lynskey as J’s long suffering wife. Their performances and relatively short running time compensate for most of the film’s flaws, including weak ending, and turn Shooters a sastisfying viewing experience for the audience with low expectations.

RATING: 5/10 (++)

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