tomsview This is one of those films that can't fail to impress you with how clever some filmmakers are.The story of a traffic accident involving a detective, Mal Toohey (Joel Edgerton), and his attempt to cover it up, and the attempt by another policeman, Jim Melic (Jai Courtney), to find the truth, doesn't sound all that special in a synopsis, but this film is so well done and has so many layers that it is one the most intriguing movies of it's kind you are likely to see.The portrayal of the police is fascinating. We see the danger of the job, and the hierarchy that exists between the older, senior officers and the younger police. We also see the brotherhood of the predominantly male culture that protects its own.This is a gritty and intense drama with a cast in top form. However, Tom Wilkinson just about steals the show as veteran cop, Carl Summer, who attempts to solve problems using both sides of the law. He also nails a very passable Aussie accent.The film features two beautiful women: Melissa George and Sarah Roberts. The stunning Roberts, who plays Ankhila Sarduka, an Indian woman, looks far too exotic to be simply called Sarah Roberts. All the stars deliver clearly defined and believable characters.There were also considerable talents on the other side of the camera. Director Matthew Saville, steers the drama from one powerful scene to the next. He had previously written and directed "Noise", another offbeat Australian police drama that also rejuvenates a well-worn genre.The film has a very good score by Bryony Marks who also happens to be married to Saville. This is a fairly straightforward score compared to the edgier one she composed for "Noise". She's beginning to be a name that can sit comfortably with notable Australian film composers such as Bruce Smeaton, Nigel Westlake, David Hirschfelder and Barrington Pheloung.Joel Edgerton not only stars in the film but also wrote it. The dialogue is sharp with Tom Wilkinson getting some of the best lines - but it needed his grizzled old copper to give them the right voice.Edgerton followed "Felony" with "The Gift" (actor, writer, director) proving that it was no fluke. I think this bloke must be one of the most talented sons ever to emerge from Blacktown. It's not just the Australian film industry that is the richer for his presence. I for one will be on the lookout for whatever he does next.

LeonLouisRicci Australian Film with British Actor Tom Wilkinson Stealing the Show delivering Cynical, Sharp, and Provocative Dialog Written with an excellent Feel for the Subject by Joel Edgerton. The other Two Lead Actors Joel Edgerton and Jai Courtney are really Not Up to the Task. Their Limitations are Glaring when placed Next to that Old War Horse Wilkinson and He Literally Blows Them Off the Screen. They seem to Mope and Stand Around a lot and Stare, to convey Dedication and Guilt. This is a Character Study with some Concern about "The Thin Blue Line" also Known as the "Code of Silence".Police Protecting Their Own. A very Topical Subject to Say the Least. This doesn't Involve Shooting Unarmed Suspects but is Profound Nonetheless. It Starts as a Drug Bust Action Film, but After that the Set-Up goes Nowhere but the Background, as Does another Crime Procedural about a Pedophile.The Focus here is Clearly within the Department and the Movie is a bit Different Compared to most Modern Shoot 'em Ups. Not a Great Film but Worth a Watch for Wilkinson's Rants and a Good Story.

blanche-2 "Felony," from 2013, is a film written by and starring Joel Edgerton, Jai Courtney, and Tom Wilkinson. These actors play Australian police detectives who are brought into conflict after a tragedy.Edgerton plays Malcolm Toohey. After a few drinks, he is driving home when he hits a boy who is riding a bicycle. The boy is not wearing a helmet and is bleeding. Panicked, Malcolm calls for paramedics. He says initially that he didn't see anything, that he saw something in the street and it turned out to be the boy. Later on he says he saw the tail lights of a car as it turned the corner.This discrepancy is noted by a new detective, Jim Melic (Courtney). Courtney's partner is a veteran, Carl Summer (Wilkinson). Melic doesn't understand the way the incident is handled. The car was not impounded, for one thing, and the discrepancy in Malcolm's statement isn't questioned.Melic becomes obsessed with gathering evidence on the case, particularly after meeting the boy's mother and seems to become interested in her. Summer, on the other hand, wants him to stop investigating. Malcolm? His conscience is killing him.Good movie, if not great, with an excellent performance by Wilkinson, as always. There is something about his presence in any film that elevates it, in my opinion. He is such an excellent actor, and has such a wide range, that he draws a viewer in immediately.Joel Edgerton approached his role in an internalized way, probably not to everyone's taste, but his performance is solid. Jai Courtney comes off in his role as a determined detective who is able to keep his emotions in check until the very end, sort of inwardly seething.All in all, very good, also quite dark. No one leaves this world unscathed.

eddie_baggins Another one of the recent spat of Australian films that have failed to find an audience at home despite good reviews, Joel Edgerton scripted and Matthew Saville directed Felony is a frustrating experience due to it being a film that constantly threatens to become something powerful, yet is consistently bought down back to a level that makes it easy to see why people failed to fork out the cash to see a tale that isn't overly original or as effective as it wants to be.Starting out in a hugely promising fashion, Felony looks likely to be one of those searing Australian dramas in the vein of Animal Kingdom or even Saville's own under-seen gem Noise, yet quickly descends into a procession of seen before events that culminate in a fairly unimpressive ending. The central scenario that Edgerton and Saville create is an intriguing one and a ripe potential idea and it's clear that the idea was developed first and the strands that follow afterwards and the film just can't keep up its beginning pace that sees some smart scripting and direction take place. You'll be undoubtedly hooked as these detectives look to cover up a shocking accident and thanks to some fine acting the film remains viable despite it's failures.Edgerton remains a solid if unspectacular core to the film but the continued emergence of Jai Courtney and the ever good work of Tom Wilkinson (here called in to ad gravitas to a film that needed the weight) really brings the film to life. Courtney does some fine work as young detective Jim, even though he is saddled to the films horrid and awkward love story but it really is Wilkinson that steals this show. Wilkinson is both sympathetic, calculated and snarling as old time detective Summer. Wilkinson bites into the script and comes out on fire, it's a joy to see such a veteran of the industry come to our fair shores and show us how it's done and he clearly had a blast with this character. Director Saville also comes up trumps here despite some narrative flaws in the story and his direction honed in film and quality TV like The Slap has clearly set him up well.While many bemoan local audiences failing to support home grown films, if the films are like Felony there's no reason why we should be forking out hard earned money on films like this. There not bad films but there films that aren't likely to cause people much excitement as truth be told, it's nothing we haven't been witness to before and Felony just doesn't do enough to leap from the pack even though it has some nice moments.3 side view mirrors out of 5 For more movie reviews and opinions check out - www.jordanandeddie.wordpress.com