Jack Said (2009)

This the second of the "Jack" movies and was an improvement from the first "Jack Says" with more detailed skyline shots of London and better camera angles maybe the increased budget was helpful. The Acting from Simon Phillips just gets better and better and is a fast rising star who will one day be a household name, I just hope he doesn't get stuck in an Eastenders character as he has a lot to offer. OK, he's notably put on a little weight in this movie compared to the first "Jack" movie but fortunately it doesn't spoil his character so that doesn't matter. There are lots of twist's and turns but you find your way as it goes and I got hooked and can't wait to see the third "Jack Falls" as there is unfinished business that I and Jack need to know. It's a unfortunate Mike Reid and Rula Lenska weren't here or unable to be there as they were so good in the first movie but this movie does hold up on it's own without the big guns although Danny Dyer does a superb job working with Simon. This is a raw gritty London movie relatively very low budget class movie compared to Hollywood films but is the sort of film production that is a great change from the usual gloss. This movie has it's own style with it's dark "Noir" mixed with some dark colour, harsh language, blood and guns quite a violent series well worth a visit for some great escapism ….I loved it.

I loved this film and would have to say it's one of my favorite movies of this genre. Absolutely riveting film about Jack, an undercover cop who has to find his way into a family the police have been trying to get close to for some time. Jack has to make some life changing decisions about how to deal with a predicament he finds himself in as a result of getting too close to the crims he's supposed to bring down. Lots of plot twists. Well written, well acted and a credit to the genre.Time is spent giving the characters depth so you either become attached to, or despise them. It's got all you could ask for. The moral dilemma, the love interest, the loyalty to job or friend, betrayal, revenge - and it works.It's the sort of movie that leaves you stunned at the end with lots of questions about the morality of the police. Well worth watching.

STAR RATING: ***** Saturday Night **** Friday Night *** Friday Morning ** Sunday Night * Monday Morning Undercover cop Jack Adleth (Simon Phillips) is deep into the world of gangland London and has formed a bit too close a relationship with Nathan (Danny Dyer) a loose cannon crook who steals quite a bit of money from gang boss's daughter Natalie (Ashlie Walker.) When he's interrogated for information by Natalie who thinks he's helping hide Nathan, Jack ends up making 'amends' by being Natalie's puppet, performing whatever gangland chore she wants. But a blossoming relationship with Nathan's sister provides the only shining light in his increasingly grim life as everything builds up to end in chaos.The 'graphic novel' craze arrives straight to DVD, with a project that's been glammed up like one of the more successful entries, Sin City. In parts it tries to capture the film noir feel a lot of these movies try to capture but the outcome feels more pretentious than successful. Sadly, Jack Said just isn't exciting or tense enough to work. While it's all done competently enough, the story feels wavey and all over the place and just doesn't leave the impression it could have. Such a shame considering the talent involved, including Dyer, Phillips and familiar face Terry Stone in a supporting role. And I've only just learned it's actually a sequel, which only means I can only wonder what came before it. **

I am so so disappointed in this film. This had unbelievably bad acting (much of this blame must go to the director, who, after watching the dailies, must have seen what i saw? I say this because the actors (some of whom i've seen in other films - Terry Stone was quite good in Rise Of The Footsoldier) are not bad but the acting was. The lead character is too porky to be a convincing lead man in this type of role and the female gangster's 'I'm from Lahndon, me' accent was atrocious. The continuity errors were pretty outstanding too with photos being put into one pocket, only to miraculously appear in another, minutes after receiving it. I have sadly had to give this a one star rating as it's a case of been there seen that, but executed in a much much better way.