Nowhere near as bad as it's reputation

You can definitely feel like this was a film messed about with by the studio. The film we have know is a solid thriller/action film, when it's clear Mike Hodges and Mickey Rourke were going for something more serious then that.

I would love to see a company like Arrow try to get the rights and let Mike Hodges release his Director's Cut, with John Scott soundtrack. Maybe with that cut we probably have a far better film then we got.

But overall it's a solid 6.9 to 7 film. It's a shame with a top notch cast of Mickey Rourke, Bob Hopkins, Alan Bates and Liam Neeson with Director Mike Hodges (Get Carter, Croupier), it should have been better then it was. I thought Rourke was very good as IRA member looking for a new life, and his accent nowhere near as bad as some on here would have you believe. Bob Hopkins brings his A game. Alan Bates goes a little to OTT camp for me, it would have been better if the roles between him and Hopkin's would have been switched. Neeson is really underused, also the beautiful Alison Dooley (Indiana Jones and The Last Crusade) as a IRA member is a easy sight on the eyes.

It loses it's way especially in the third act, and doesn't pack the punch it should have. Probably one of the reasons Rourke and Hodges disowned it. Shame really.