Evengyny Thanks for the memories!

SpuffyWeb Sadly Over-hyped

Beystiman It's fun, it's light, [but] it has a hard time when its tries to get heavy.

RipDelight This is a tender, generous movie that likes its characters and presents them as real people, full of flaws and strengths.

xredgarnetx An aging Vinnie Jones stars as a former convict and IRA-type terrorist keeping a low profile after getting out of prison. His past catches up with him in the form of Patrick Bergen, an old terrorist crony who has also gotten out of prison and is looking for some action when he should be retired and gone fishing. The two stumble across a low-level drug lord, nicely played by Eriq LaSalle, and the three make some half-baked plans that eventually come to naught, thanks to the two-timing and still deadly Bergen. While there are some action scenes, mainly having to do with Belfast in the 1970s, the movie is largely a talker and character study of people either trying to do the right thing -- or maybe not. A great surprise ending. For adults only.

Muggins Johnny Was does precisely what it says on the tin. Drama, comedy, politics, music and a fair splattering of original twists and turns all vie for your attention in a genuinely inventive take on the classic caper format.It's clearly not the biggest budget big screen fest, but it's such a refreshing change to see something resolutely un-Hollywood: thoroughly entertaining, un-sanitised, ambitious.In a nutshell, Johnny Was is a well-built UK crime caper with an utterly brilliant dub reggae soundtrack. And, to be honest, that says all you need to know. But you can read on if you like.Lennox Lewis' Rasta DJ character is superb - and well realised by the big man - while Vinnie Jones is settling down quite nicely into this whole acting lark. The dub-laden soundtrack's utterly brilliant (it was overseen by Adrian Sherwood), Eriq La Salle (ex of ER) delivers an excellent and nasty villain while Samantha Mumba is, well, Samantha Mumba (but she plays a junkie so is kept quiet and prone quite a bit). Mark Asante's great and graced with a number of quality one-liners while Patrick Bergin is every inch the derailed, unhinged whirly-gig you need to drop in the middle of films like this in order to shake things up and get people reaching for their guns, big knives and really, really angry eyebrows. Get the idea? So, this weekend, why not spend your DVD dollars on a UK-made, UK-funded twisty-turny, crime caper with genuine charm, comedy and invention, and forgo, just this once, Hollywood's hideously homogeneous hokum.

roberts_benjamin It was great to see a movie that finally did not go with the same old tired themes.It was good to see Eriq out of Er scrubs and not promoting Soul Glo! Seriously though, this movie is one of the few from the past few years which had me wanting to tell friends about it.I really loved the mixing of plot and thought the characters, who clearly have all had a very different mix of backgrounds (Roger Daultry and Lennox Lewis??!!) did a good job meshing.In general, the movie flowed well with good suspense and a solid script.One not to be missed.

megan-206 I liked this film, I thought it was very entertaining and the soundtrack was great! As a bit of a "gangsta film phobe lady" I was afraid the movie would have too much violence and gore and gross me out but it wasn't disturbing as much as it was exciting and very interesting. Women could see this film and enjoy it. All of the actors worked very well off each other. This was also the first time I saw Patrick Bergin in a movie since SLEEPING WITH THE ENEMY, where he played Julia Roberts' abusive husband, and here again he takes on the role of a despicable escaped IRA paramilitary trouper with a BIG mouth. Vinnie Jones and Eriq LaSalle delivered strong performances even though it's funny that the explained away Jones' lack of Irish accent to the fact that he was a London-raised Irishman (adding to the conflict, but sure seems like an easy out). The reggae music is legendary.I'm sure all of their acting careers will benefit from being in this thrilling drama. I would highly suggest seeing it.