Breaking And Entering Details

[Highly rated reviewer]

The Law's A Sexy Ass

Strangely compelling viewing, if you are a north Londoner, or a Jude Law fan, or have had your small office burgled. I fall into all three camps.

The plot essentially involves Jude Law's office being serial burgled by a Serbian teenager run amok. Law takes the law (sic) into his own hands, and manages to track down the criminal, in the process meeting his sexy single mother (Binoche).

Law, of course, was already well served on the woman front with a half Swedish long-term girlfriend (Robin Wright Penn). The trouble is that she is a tricky character with an even more tricky 13 year old pre-pubescent slightly autistic gymnastic daughter (I kid you not).

Law steers a fine line between victim and maldoer, and whenever he's on the screen the movie is captivating. Binoche and Penn also put in good performances as the romantic interest(s). Ray Winstone , Martin Freeman and 'the prostitute' add amusement in well-drawn supporting roles. And London, the city, has a role of sorts: it's not cliched and is often very grimy, but it's always interesting to see.

The plot turns somewhat fantastical at the end, with the law becoming a victim in its own right. But that doesn't detract from a worthwhile character drama, some fine acting, and some memorable insights into relationships and modern London life. This won't top any charts but it's great that the UK is making these types of film - so try to see it.

Underrated

Would be easy to miss this one because of poor sales and average reviews at the time, and equally easy to dismiss because of some major weaknesses (the 'Tart with the Heart', Juliette Binoche as an impoverished polish seamstress), but well worth a watch because of some pertinent themes (immigration, alienation, urban vs rural) , some decent performances, and a fantastic soundtrack (Underworld and Gabriel Yared)