A complex film with many layers to comprehend, mostly this is a UK stab at a Quentin Tarantino drug flic.
Daniel Craig stars as a nameless protagonist, caught trusting the wrong rich people, and trying to stay ahead of “the game” (aka the drug game. See The Wire).
On rewatch it was just as satisfying as I remembered, however as with the Knives Out movies, the intricacies in the plot and character motivations become unclouded on each successive viewing.
At the same time this is definitely a turn of the century film. Similar to Requiem for a Dream, Fight Club, The Matrix, the movie has an aura of depression wrought from capitalism and overconsumption, as if the entire world is against the protagonist and HE CAN’T WIN.
Modern movies outside of Asia have all moved back to the good guy wins trope.
Rescreened February 24, 2024 on Netflix.
