Title: Blitz (2011) Starring: Jason Statham, Paddy Considine, Aidan Gillen Director: Elliott Lester Genre: Neo-Noir Police Procedural / Crime Thriller

⭐ Summary and Tone

Blitz is an adaptation of a Ken Bruen novel, moving away from Statham's typical stylized action films (like The Transporter or Crank) and embracing the gritty atmosphere of 1970s and 1980s police procedurals. The film is set in Southeast London and features a brutal, bloody story of a serial killer.

The Plot

Statham plays Detective Sergeant Tom Brant, a tough, maverick "Sarf East London" cop with major anger management issues and a penchant for vigilante justice. After getting into trouble for beating up youths, Brant is assigned to track down a dangerous serial killer who has been targeting and murdering police officers, a killer who calls himself "Blitz".

Brant is partnered with the by-the-book Acting Detective Inspector Porter Nash (Paddy Considine), an openly gay officer who is initially a bit of a pariah in the station. The film quickly reveals the killer's identity—Barry Weiss (Aidan Gillen)—shifting the focus from a "whodunit" to a cat-and-mouse game centered on legally catching the known suspect.

👥 Key Performances

The film is elevated by its strong cast of British actors, even if Statham's character is often seen as an extension of his established "hard man" persona.

• Jason Statham (DS Tom Brant): Statham is in his element as the hard-drinking, tough-talking copper who breaks the rules but "gets results". Brant is depicted as an "analog hero in a digital world," a cop who needs help with computers, adding a humorous layer to his usual persona. He delivers most of the film's one-liners and zingers.

• Aidan Gillen (Barry Weiss/Blitz): Gillen delivers a standout performance as the manic, psychotic killer who terrorizes the police force. His role is one of the film's most memorable and suspenseful elements.

• Paddy Considine (DI Porter Nash): Considine provides a more restrained and subtle performance as the partner, and the dynamic between his composed Nash and Statham's gruff Brant is a core strength of the movie.

⚖️ Critical Verdict

Blitz is considered a better-than-average Statham vehicle and a solid British thriller. It succeeds in creating a gritty, dirty-looking London atmosphere.

However, critics noted that the film often sacrifices character development and plot coherence by trying to explore too many subplots (like drug abuse and alcoholism) without giving them proper resolution. Additionally, for a Statham film, the action is relatively light. The climax has been noted as feeling rushed and reliant on Dirty Harry-style vigilantism.

Conclusion: Blitz is a dark, character-driven crime drama that showcases Statham's ability to anchor a serious genre piece. It is recommended for fans of grim police procedurals and those who enjoy Statham's distinct attitude, but it is not the high-octane action spectacle one might expect from his other work.