Coming on the back of two other films based on real-life Dublin criminal, Martin Cahill, Thaddeus O'Sullivan's 'Ordinary Decent Criminal' is slickly made, glossy but ultimately soulless.
As Michael Lynch, Kevin Spacey steps into Cahill's shoes previously occupied so effectively by Irish actor, Brendan Gleeson in John Boorman's 'The General' and so disappointingly by Scotland's Ken Stott in 'Vicious Circle'.
The results in this movie are mixed. Spacey has the right sense of mischief to carry off a role like this. His accent is wobbly though - taking in almost every Irish county, North and South.
He just about gets away with it because Spacey brings a lot of baggage with him from his previous film roles enabling the mischievous screen persona he has so carefully crafted over the years to carry a movie as mediocre as this.
The impressive line-up of actors in his supporting cast disappoint, though.
Peter Mullan and David Hayman (who were both so, so good in Ken Loach's 'My Name Is Joe') are totally wasted as Michael Lynch's henchmen. Compare this to Adrian Dunbar and Sean McGinley's performances as similar characters in 'The General'.
Linda Fiorentino is reduced to a dull supporting role as one of Lynch's common law wives. Helen Baxendale makes virtually no impression as the other woman in his life.
By way of contrast, Maria Doyle Kennedy and Angeline Ball are far more impressive in the corresponding roles in 'The General'.
'Welcome to Sarajevo's' Stephen Dillane and 'The Singing Detective's' Patrick Malahide are stock keystone cops, forming part of the bumbling Garda team who try to jail Lynch.
Even accomplished Irish actor, Gerry McSorley (chilling in Jim Sheridan's 'The Boxer' and in 'In the Name of the Father') is just wasted.
Thaddeus O'Sullivan and his screenwriter, Gerry Stembridge have come at the story of Martin Cahill from a more entertainment driven perspective.
The film looks great - O'Sullivan's background as a director of photography pays off.
However, it inevitably suffers in comparison with Boorman's biopic because of its glossy Pulp Fiction style.
At times, it just comes across as smug.
When Boorman's movie was released in Ireland, it inevitably generated controversy as all big screen accounts of real life figures do.
There were accusations of Cahill's life being glamourised, of his cruelty being glossed over in favour of an urban Irish Robin Hood style story.
Some people argued it was immoral.
They should look at O'Sullivan's film. Crime does pay in the movie. Cahill/Lynch is depicted as a loveable rogue.
Whereas Boorman's film does not shirk in showing Cahill's vicious side - the snooker table scene - O'Sullivan and Stembridge dream up a more elaborate torture scene and even then, it's thrown away in a matter-of-fact way.
The conclusion also beggars belief.
'Ordinary Decent Criminal' is a terrible disappointment. Good soundtack by Blur's Damon Albarn though......
As Michael Lynch, Kevin Spacey steps into Cahill's shoes previously occupied so effectively by Irish actor, Brendan Gleeson in John Boorman's 'The General' and so disappointingly by Scotland's Ken Stott in 'Vicious Circle'.
The results in this movie are mixed. Spacey has the right sense of mischief to carry off a role like this. His accent is wobbly though - taking in almost every Irish county, North and South.
He just about gets away with it because Spacey brings a lot of baggage with him from his previous film roles enabling the mischievous screen persona he has so carefully crafted over the years to carry a movie as mediocre as this.
The impressive line-up of actors in his supporting cast disappoint, though.
Peter Mullan and David Hayman (who were both so, so good in Ken Loach's 'My Name Is Joe') are totally wasted as Michael Lynch's henchmen. Compare this to Adrian Dunbar and Sean McGinley's performances as similar characters in 'The General'.
Linda Fiorentino is reduced to a dull supporting role as one of Lynch's common law wives. Helen Baxendale makes virtually no impression as the other woman in his life.
By way of contrast, Maria Doyle Kennedy and Angeline Ball are far more impressive in the corresponding roles in 'The General'.
'Welcome to Sarajevo's' Stephen Dillane and 'The Singing Detective's' Patrick Malahide are stock keystone cops, forming part of the bumbling Garda team who try to jail Lynch.
Even accomplished Irish actor, Gerry McSorley (chilling in Jim Sheridan's 'The Boxer' and in 'In the Name of the Father') is just wasted.
Thaddeus O'Sullivan and his screenwriter, Gerry Stembridge have come at the story of Martin Cahill from a more entertainment driven perspective.
The film looks great - O'Sullivan's background as a director of photography pays off.
However, it inevitably suffers in comparison with Boorman's biopic because of its glossy Pulp Fiction style.
At times, it just comes across as smug.
When Boorman's movie was released in Ireland, it inevitably generated controversy as all big screen accounts of real life figures do.
There were accusations of Cahill's life being glamourised, of his cruelty being glossed over in favour of an urban Irish Robin Hood style story.
Some people argued it was immoral.
They should look at O'Sullivan's film. Crime does pay in the movie. Cahill/Lynch is depicted as a loveable rogue.
Whereas Boorman's film does not shirk in showing Cahill's vicious side - the snooker table scene - O'Sullivan and Stembridge dream up a more elaborate torture scene and even then, it's thrown away in a matter-of-fact way.
The conclusion also beggars belief.
'Ordinary Decent Criminal' is a terrible disappointment. Good soundtack by Blur's Damon Albarn though......