Hummingbird - Movie Review: Relatively engaging, amusing
Reviews
oi-IANS
By Ians English
Rating:
3.0/5
"Getting
alive
for
one
summer!" is
how
Sister
Cristina
encapsulates
Hummingbird.
This
film
has
layers
that
intriguingly
unfurl.
At
the
core
of
it
is
an
interesting
story
of
a
gangster
and
a
nun.
This
film,
which
spans
over
a
period
of
eight
months
from
spring
to
autumn,
uses
the
small
petite
Hummingbird
beautifully
as
an
analogy
since
it
makes
its
presence
felt
in
Britain
during
this
period.
Set
in
London
over
a
period
spanning
February
to
October,
writer-director
Steven
Knight's
film
highlights
the
redemption
of
the
protagonist
and
issues
like
-
the
police
turning
a
blind
eye
to
prostitution,
human
trafficking,
homelessness,
violence
and
more
that
haunt
the
small
denominators
of
society.
The
film
begins
in
a
rudimentary
documentary
style,
against
the
military
and
socio-political
backdrop
of
Afghanistan,
where
a
special
commanding
officer
delivers
"justice",
his
way.
And
then
abruptly
moves
on
to
the
back
alleys
of
London,
where
the
local
drug
peddlers
unabashedly
punches
drug
addicts
and
then
chases
a
drugged
couple,
God
knows
for
what!
This
initial
15
minutes
of
the
film
leaves
the
audience
bemused
trying
to
grasp
the
link
to
make
some
semblance
of
the
story,
and
this
is
no
dream
sequence.
The
chased
dishevelled,
uncombed
drug
addict
is
Joseph
aka
Joey,
the
former
Special
Forces
Commander
on
the
run
from
a
military
court
martial.
He
breaks
into
a
plush
vacant
apartment
and
realises
that
the
flat
belongs
to
some
fashion
photographer
called
Damon,
who
is
away
in
New
York
for
three
months.
So,
he
illegally
occupies
the
flat.
Continue
to
read
Hummingbird
movie
review
in
slide
show.
Hummingbird
Story
Taking
this
as
a
cue
to
turn
his
life
around,
Joey
ditches
the
booze
and
drugs,
cuts
off
his
long
unkempt
hair
changes
into
the
well-tailored
suit,
and
uses
the
flat
owner's
credit
card
which
he
finds
in
the
piled
up
post.
Suddenly
he
has
everything.
He
then
goes
out
in
search
of
his
girlfriend
Isabel,
who
he
had
left
behind
while
he
was
being
chased.
Transformation
In
Joey
But
then
over
time
he
gets
the
news
that
Isabel
is
murdered.
He
goes
into
denial
but
his
past
in
Afghanistan
too
haunts
him
and
he
hallucinates
-
the
humming
birds.
Out
on
the
streets
he
bumps
into
an
old
acquaintance
from
Afghanistan
-
Cristina,
who
now
is
a
nun
with
the
Sisters
of
Redemption.
With
her
Christian
faith,
Cristina
tries
to
change
him
"into
a
good
man".
Hummingbird
Climax
What
follows
is
a
series
of
interesting
and
funny
sequences
that
lead
to
the
climax.
The
mushy
and
over-emotional
romantic
moments
coupled
with
the
well
chiselled
one-liners
between
Joey
and
Cristina
will
keep
you
asking
for
more.
Jason
Statham's
Perfomance
The
script
backs
the
rough
and
tough
Jason
Statham
as
Joey
and
the
unassuming
Agata
Buzek
as
Sister
Cristina.
Their
characterisation
and
convincing
back
story,
revealed
through
a
series
of
flash
backs,
makes
it
impossible
to
disbelieve
the
situations
and
the
narrative.
Production
Values
In
Hummingbird
The
cinematography
by
Chris
Menges
evocatively
captures
London's
underbelly.
Overall,
the
high
production
values,
boosted
by
Menges' visual
instincts,
John
Casali's
eclectic
sound
mix
and
composer
Dario
Marianelli's
stirring
score,
elevates
the
debut
effort
of
Steven
Knight.
Verdict
Hummingbird
is
a
relatively
engaging
film
worth
watching.
Hummingbird
Cast
And
Crew
Director:
Steven
Knight
Cast:
Jason
Statham,
Agata
Buzek,
Vicky
McClure,
Benedict
Wong,
Ger
Ryan,
Dai
Bradley
and
Victoria
Bewick
Music:
Dario
Marianelli
Cinematography:
Chris
Menges
Release
Date:
June
28,
2013
Running
time:
100
minutes