Nothing new here

Out of Time, star Washington and director Franklin's first collaboration since the under-rated Devil in a Blue Dress, is one of those thrillers where you can't believe the main protagonist can be so gullible or stupid.

Washington plays a small-town Chief of Police who gets himself embroiled in one of the easiest scams to spot this side of the Nigerian bank Internet scam. Not only does he put himself in the frame for murder, but he also, without so much as a second thought, gives away evidence money to the scammers.

But it's okay, because he's played by good old Denzel, and we all know Denzel is a good guy at heart; here he's just been misled by someone he trusts (though isn't that the point of a good scam?). The complex moralities which could have been employed are left on the shelf marked 'not considered by the writer'. Especially as Mendes plays the investigating detective who also happens to be Denzel's estranged wife. The possibilities are largely ignored.

What we're left with is a slick little thriller that you'll have forgotten about half an hour after seeing it. It ticks along, and there's some pleasure to be had from watching Denzel squirm as the net closes in on him, but ultimately, this is no more exciting or compelling than most other thrillers around at the moment.