“If you’re picking the wrong fight, at least pick the right weapon.” —Tom Brant
Today’s quick review: Blitz. Tom Brant (Jason Statham) has made a name for himself as one of London’s most violent police officers. When a serial killer (Aidan Gillen) begins targeting officers in his area, Brant teams up with Sergeant Porter Nash (Paddy Considine) to track him down. As the killings escalate with no usable evidence for an arrest, Brant and Nash face the question of whether to seek justice outside the law.
Blitz is an action thriller starring Jason Statham. Blitz follows two detectives as they investigate a serial killer with a grudge against the police. The movie benefits from a trio of talented leads, a nicely scoped conflict, and a dash of violent action. It also hits a sweet spot between hardcore action thriller and contemplative crime drama. However, Blitz misplays its hand in subtle ways, making it a mixed bag overall.
The backbone of Blitz is its character work. Jason Statham fits the role of Tom Brant perfectly: a tough police officer with a fierce loyal streak who is willing to use force whenever it is necessary. The movie throws Brant into a situation where his persistence is an asset but crossing the line could spell disaster for the investigation. Helping keep him in line is his partner Nash, an unassuming officer with plenty of resolve.
Aidan Gillen holds up his end of the movie as Barry Weiss, the serial killer who calls himself Blitz. His performance is unhinged in all the right ways, conveying the mania of the character without being distracting or unbelievable. Weiss is a man who is just clever enough to stay one step ahead of the police. The story gets a lot of mileage out of just turning him loose and letting Brant and Nash try to catch up.
Blitz’s flaws lie in the details. The main conflict works well, but a lot of the scaffolding never clicks. The movie toys with several subplots that never really go anywhere: Brant’s reputation in the press, the hostility Nash faces for being gay, and the personal problems of some of Brant’s friends on the force. There are plenty of good ideas in here, but the conflit with Weiss is the only one that actually pays off.
Blitz is a fine pick for viewers who are interested in what it has to offer. Fans of the serial killer angle may find it a little blunt, while fans of action flicks may find it too introspective. But for anyone willing to overlook the parts of the movie that don’t quite fit their preferences, Blitz is a solid thriller with a fair amount to offer.
For another Jason Statham crime movie that deals with some similar elements, try Chaos or Redemption. For a more contemplative serial killer investigation that explores some of the same moral questions, try The Little Things or Zodiac. For a darker thriller about a serial killer, try Se7en, The Bone Collector, Kiss the Girls, or Taking Lives.
[6.2 out of 10 on IMDB](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1297919/). I give it a 6.5 for a well-constructed plot that’s a little lacking in the details.