Aussie Joel Edgerton has been a reliably solid supporting actor in mainstream Hollywood movies for the last decade or so and with his role as Ramses opposite Christian Bale’s Moses in the upcoming Ridley Scott Egyptian extravaganza Exodus might be about to leap him into leading man status. But on the evidence of this, it turns out he’s also a talented screenwriter with a refreshing preference for characterization and realism over action and spectacle.
Despite the fact that the marketing for the film features its three leading cops wielding guns and looking menacing, Felony is a slow-burning drama where, aside from a very brief opening sequence, the action is confined to arguments and confrontations.
Edgerton plays Sydney detective Malcolm Tooney who, after a night out celebrating a career high bust, gets behind the wheel drunk before hitting and seriously injuring a young boy. Tooney makes the drunken decision to play innocent but newbie cop Jim Melic (Jai Courtney) suspects he’s lying and tries to uncover the truth. Detective Carl Summer (Tom Wilkinson) was a mentor to both men and finds himself having to choose between their loyalties.
It’s almost flawlessly written and performed, with the characters and their actions completely believable and the story unfoldimg in a pleasingly unpredictable fashion. Unfortunately the film’s only real flaw is that it just doesn’t feel particularly cinematic. It’s directed by veteran of Australian TV Matthew Saville and although he frames the drama well at an hour and 45 minutes, it kind of feels like watching every episode of a TV mini-series in one sitting. With dialogue and characters this interesting it doesn’t need any visual trickery (in fact it would make an excellent play) but a bit of effort to make proceedings more aesthetically interesting wouldn’t have gone amiss.
But it’s a minor quibble really and this is still a hugely gripping psychological thriller that is definitely worth sitting through.
Overall Verdict: A simple, engrossing and convincing story that’s perhaps just a little bit too televisual.
Reviewer: Adam Pidgeon