Complicity on DVD (2000)

A Scottish seven...only much much better!

Elgin from Worcestershire , 03/10/2004

If my memory serves me right then this excellent British (Scottish) film which is both well made, well told, and is also fairly close to the (superb) Iain Banks book on which it is based.

A series of horribly grizzly murders (much of it shown or described) are pinned on a Scottish hack journalist. Flash backs paint a vivid picture of seemingly idyllic childhood..."seemingly". The why's and who's as the film pans out are pleasingly original & shocking.

An excellent score from Colin Towns.

Superb cast list – Jonny Lee Miller, the fantastic Brian Cox, beautiful Keeley Hawes (a dead ringer for Keira Knightley? Or is that just me?), and the ever reliable and watchable Bill Paterson.

Makes me wish 'The Wasp factory' film would hurry up (as mythical and endlessly delayed as Douglas Adams' masterpiece HHGTTG...which is nearly finished, so there is hope) and look forward to the Iain M. Banks Sci-fi film in the pipeline.

An excellent film. Recommended if you fancy a Scottish seven...

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Started well, tailed off to confusion

A customer from Birmingham, England , 09/11/2004

Complicity begins well and stirs in conspiracy and mystery that attempts to keep the viewer interested. It centers around a journalist (Johnny Lee Miller) and his attempt at balancing his socialist leanings with his ability to write articles for a newspaper. He also has a mysterious source from a supposed intelligence agency feeding him names of men he keeps finding dead.

The film counters this thread with an introduction to Miller's friends and his social life. As one may suspect the two rapidly intertwine leading to the films two apparent conclusions to the conspiracy.

One being personal, the other political they are quite distinct and yet seem to be rushed through. Also the one that is first discovered seems to be entirely superceeded by the second with little rhyme or reason.

The supporting cast is of a good standard with Keeley Hawes as an extrovert, sexually liberated mistress and the scene stealing Brian Cox as the Detective Inspector.

Essentially a watchable film with a slightly odd ending, but by no means unmissable.

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North of the Border

FrankIV [Highly rated reviewer] , 07/10/2005

A very gritty version of Iain Banks's novel, interweaving the stories of a journalist being fed leads by a mysterious source about a series of ghastly murders and, through flashbacks, that journalist growing up with his friends. The two strands dovetail most ingeniously. As a thriller, this is tight and intriguing, and as a picture of the values of a generation, it's quite uncomfortable. Worth watching.

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Let's face it...

A customer from Huntingdon , 17/03/2008

The real reason for even contemplating this movie, is the fact that Keeley get's her kit off. I'm surprised no one mentioned it before, but I shoot from the hip.

The movie isn't half bad, but it has that annoying habit of trailing off at the end, almost as if we might care for a sequel. Nah!

Johnny Lee Miller is consistant, the murders are original, it all advances at a reasonable pace. Not enough of a twist to carry it off at the end though. Hence the 3 stars only.

Not one to rent as a preference, but if you're in your free month, why not?

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North of the Border

FrankIV [Highly rated reviewer] , 07/10/2005

A very gritty version of Iain Banks's novel, interweaving the stories of a journalist being fed leads by a mysterious source about a series of ghastly murders and, through flashbacks, that journalist growing up with his friends. The two strands dovetail most ingeniously. As a thriller, this is tight and intriguing, and as a picture of the values of a generation, it's quite uncomfortable. Worth watching.

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Let's face it...

A customer from Huntingdon , 17/03/2008

The real reason for even contemplating this movie, is the fact that Keeley get's her kit off. I'm surprised no one mentioned it before, but I shoot from the hip.

The movie isn't half bad, but it has that annoying habit of trailing off at the end, almost as if we might care for a sequel. Nah!

Johnny Lee Miller is consistant, the murders are original, it all advances at a reasonable pace. Not enough of a twist to carry it off at the end though. Hence the 3 stars only.

Not one to rent as a preference, but if you're in your free month, why not?

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