The Sweeney Paris

Adapted from the 70s crime drama The Sweeney and directed by Benjamin Rocher, The Sweeney Paris uncovers the story of a murderous criminal ring in Paris, led by Kesper (Jakob Cedergren), and the unconventional methods of an undercover police squad on a mission to catch them, at any cost. Serge Buren (Jean Reno) is the front-runner of the team, which also includes Cartier (Alban Lenoir), Manu (Oumar Diaw), Margaux (Caterina Murino), Ricci (Stefi Celma), Genoves (Sebasatien Lalanne) and Boulez (Jean-Toussaint Bernard), all of whom participate in varying degrees to the acts of police brutality, during raids or within interrogation room scenarios

The actors are all on par in terms of delivering satisfactory performances through the film, and the team do communicate a good, sometimes comical sense of camaraderie from the outset, though none demand specific kudos. It can be difficult to connect with the characters at times, which is a shame considering the latter half of the film is centred around Reno’s emotional vengeance, but the cinematography is well thought-out and captures the darkness of the tale. Rocher’s direction is praiseworthy, and it’s clear that thought has gone into the production, but what may have been intended as a solid action-packed feature is more of a passable tribute to the original, due to the slightly lacklustre plot elements. The soundtrack is also not prominent enough to leave a mark; considering this is supposed to be an action movie, it could have done with a bit more attention to the music selection to better complement the scenes.  

As with many cop vs bad guy movies, the storyline is often predictable, which unfortunately doesn’t captivate the viewer or allow for any real suspense to build. However, for fans of the original or those who enjoy the genre, it could be well received.

 

Aneequa Sameen

The Sweeney Paris is released nationwide on 15^th April 2016.

Watch the trailer for The Sweeney Paris here: