GAME OF DEATH (2010) Wesley Snipes

This is the first 'Wesley Snipes' movie I've reviewed here. To be honest, I've not been impressed with his previous DTV outings (although i did enjoy the 'off-beat' HARD LUCK...which most people seem to dislike?) So it's with brave trepidation that I dived head-on into his latest release GAME OF DEATH. The title alone is enough to make any self-respecting Bruce Lee fan piss-shit out their a-holes.....But it would be interesting to see if Snipes could invest a bit more time and effort on this project, with jail looming over his head (plus i picked it up 'new' for 99p)

Snipes plays 'Agent Marcus' a tough as nails CIA operative, who (together with his elite team) does the 'dirty-work' for the government, by eliminating those undesirable kingpins/drug barons/gun-runners/czars (blah, blah, blah...Kneecap Hill) Marcus' team includes Zander (Gary Daniels) and Flora (Zoe Bell) and the movie opens with the team taking out an arms dealer in New York. But for all his ruthless efficiency, Marcus seems 'Burnt-Out' (tm) and in need of 'Redemption' (tm)

("Are they taxes in heaven, father?")

We cut to Detroit, and see Marcus hiding out in a car, watching a kindly neighbourhood Reverend, Clarence (Ernie Hudson) playing basketball with the local kids. Marcus follows the Rev to his church, and offers him a cool million dollars, if he'll sit and listen to his confession. Clarence admits that the neighbourhood could do with the money, and lends a sympathetic ear to Marcus' problems.

("Your place or mine?")

Snipes goes into flashback mode, and we see him being congratulated for the earlier New York 'hit' and given new instructions for the next job. It seems the CIA want Marcus to infiltrate the world of 'finance-dealer/Gun-Runner' Frank Smith (Robert Davi) which will lead up the corporate ladder to 'backer' Redvale Industries. Upon earning their trust, he is ordered to terminate both parties (forewarned with the usual CIA failure/unaccountability bullshit)

(Deplorable Flora & Zander meander)

Marcus briefs both Zander and Flora on the details, and (six months later) he is soon in the employment and confidence of Smith. During a flight, Marcus realises that despite the many scare stories....Smith may not be the "Mean Bastard" the CIA have painted him to be. Marcus escorts Smith to a meeting/payoff ($100m) with Redvale. But greed has gotten the better of both Zander and Flora who (sick of playing second fiddle) decide to doublecross Marcus and bag the money for themselves.

("Must be weird not having anyone come on ya'?")

Matters are made worse when Smith has a heart attack in the back of the limo, and Marcus rushes him to the hospital (strange, given his objective?) whilst dodging gunfire from Zander and Co, who want him alive and well for his payday with Redvale. Marcus has his guns confiscated by hospital security...But Zander and his goons are fully armed, and ready to kill anyone that gets in their way.....Let the 'Game' begin.


Marcus rumbles the double cross and takes out several of Zanders henchmen (in probably the movies standout fight, a brutally efficient 'Seagal-like' snap fest in a psychiatric ward, replete with 'off-key' piano playing and screams from it's frightened patients...reminiscent of the 'Crazy Village' segment from GYMKATA) Flora chases Marcus all around the hospital (probably the most deserted 'institution' since HALLOWEEN II) offering up "Join Us" (tm) remarks, whilst at the same time, trying to shoot the shit out of him.

(Davi pondered his stay at he 'Bond-Villain-Retirement-Home')

Zander finds Smith, and forces the head nurse, Rachael to keep him alive (by fair means or foul) long enough to complete his meeting with Redwood. Rachael (under Zanders threat of "You either give him a shot...or take one yourself") explains that the cardiac catheterization procedure will take 30 minutes, before Smith can be moved (allowing more time for Marcus to fuck up more henchmen in the meantime)

(Wesley and his cell-mate)

And fuck-them-up he does, but after another round of shoot-outs, Flora gets the upper-hand and captures him. Zander gives Marcus the old "We could have been great together" bullshit, and despite having the opportunity to kill him....doesn't! (which ruins a lot of well built-up credibility, at this point) instead Zander decides to frame Marcus for all the hospital carnage, leading the CIA on a wild goose chase....whilst giving himself time to get Smith to his payday with Redvale.

("Are those Argyle socks?")

Redvale (replete with 'goombah' mafioso demeanor) smells a rat at Smiths new concerned chaperone's, but is soon outgunned, and forced to proceed to the vault, for the $100m. However a framed and furious Marcus steals an ambulance and heads over to Redvales for a final showdown with Zander and Co. Rachael gets caught in a 'Mexican Standoff'.....Smith takes a stand...and Revdale takes a knife in the back. Marcus ploughs through the remaining bad guys, before chasing Zander up to the rooftop for a tasty rumble...which barely leaves the badguy a leg to stand on (literally)

("Where's Woody Harrelson when I need him?")

With the 'Game' over (but our hero still wanted by the CIA) we then flash forward back to the church, where father Clarence implores Marcus to "Have faith" before launching into a (well-needed) Lords Prayer (Amen to that...you fucking atheists!) Marcus leaves the money with the padre, and returns to watch the neighbourhood kids play basketball as therapy for his 'redemption' (and probably for Snipes to reflect on his prison-less 'Box-Office' days of WHITE MEN CAN'T JUMP)



GAME OF DEATH is a pretty kick-ass movie (and I think my low expectations only helped matters) The cast is good (about time someone had a bit of faith in Daniels) and it's great to see Robert Davi again. I don't know if Snipes' IRS troubles plagued him during filming, but it added to his performance of a troubled, haunted man. And the fight scenes were brutal (and as mentioned, 'vintage-Seagal-Like') and despite my preference towards the psychiatric ward rumble...the final scrap between Daniels and Snipes didn't disappoint either.


The negatives being the (almost) non-stop 'avid fart'/black and white filters/overlays/slo-mo/speed-up techniques that pepper the first half (but thankfully wane off at the 40 minute mark) And Zanders plan/motives were also full of confusing plot holes:

A) Why did he open fire on a guy he (ultimately) had to keep alive?
B) Why not wait utill Smith had the money, before attempting the sting?
C) Why not kill Marcus when he had a clear chance?


Plot holes aside, the movie has enough plus points to outweigh the negative aspects. The 12 minute 'Making-Of' also highlights the fact that (cash-struck) Detroit has great 'Tax Incentives' for film-makers (wow.... an action movie that Michael Moore could be proud of?) and it's basic one (or two) main settings adds to the claustrophobic tension, that most Wesley Snipes films lack. Plus his IRS problems prevented the star from leaving the country, meaning this movie was NOT filmed in Romania.


Final thoughts: If you watch only one GAME OF DEATH, make it the 1978 Bruce Lee (cut-and-paste-ploitation) classic (which is still light years ahead of any 'homage' from any 'lantern-jawed hack director') However, if you want a brutal, good looking action thriller (despite early headache inducing avid farts) with a above average DTV cast....Wesley Snipes finally delivers the goods. I'm now looking to acquire the movie on Blu-Ray (if that's any kind of recommendation?) despite having 50+ discs and still not owning a player

(The 'Money-Shot' of the movie)

SHARKTOPUS (2010) Eric Roberts

The title alone, should keep the 'sophisticates' away, and until someone has the guts to adapt my script for (the 'thankfuly unfilmable') SHARKS IN SPACE, then SHARKTOPUS must surely rank as one of the fruitiest titles ever conceived. All the worse, for starring Eric Roberts (yep, the Oscar-nominated TALENTED member of the 'Roberts clan') Will 'Paulie' from THE POPE OF GREENWICH VILLAGE treat this movie with the contempt it (surely) deserves? Well, as luck would have it (the ever professional) Roberts steals the show, and plays it straight (and saves it from becoming the lame 'mugfest' it should have been)

Pic opens to mucho 'Baywatch' wannabes in Mexico (?) maxed, relaxed, chilling and willing on the beach. Atypical blonde bimbo goes for a swim, and is almost attacked by a huge GWS (and her friend with the worlds quietest scream, doesn't help matter either) But just before our toothy fiend can chomp on her implants, a huge set of tentacles rises from the sea, picking up the shark and killing it. About this point, you're expecting another MEGA SHARK VS GIANT OCTOPUS (aren't we all?) but these tentacles don't belong to a mere Octopus....but a genetically altered (government weapon) known as a SHARKTOPUS

(Oh Dear!)

Viewers that haven't already fainted at this prospect, are then treat to the crumbiest-looking military HQ ever (consisting of two laptops on a few glass tables, and a patently phony looking large screen) We discover that Sharktopus (known as S11) is the brainchild of 'Shady' government researcher Nathan Sands (Eric Roberts) who is suitably attired for such top secret shenanigans, in stonewashed jeans, and revolting light-blue shirt (which incidentally, he never changes throughout the course of the movie)

(Eric Roberts and his never-changing shirt)

Sands has his daughter Nicole, work alongside him to test the military capabilities of Sharktopus (replete with 'Uni-Sol' style computerised headgear) and attempt to show (top-brass) Commander Cox how they can program S11 to take out any targets they see fit. Cox, in celebration of such a technological breakthrough, can only glibly remark (quote) "Sands....you crafty S.O.B" as a half-assed congratulation. Sands gives a demonstration, by sending Sharktopus after a local speed boating drug courier, but the creature clashes with the hub of the boat, knocking away it's headpiece, rendering it uncontrollable by Sands, and more importantly...hungry!

We cut to two workers on a lunchbreak at the side of a huge cruise liner. These two 'regular Joes' crack witisms about the subject of suicide. Whilst one is examining the contents of his lunchbox, a huge tentacle grabs the other into the water, and chomps ahoy. The other 'Joe' barely has enough time to mutter "Oh no, not like this" before suffering a similar fate (and yet seems more bothered about dying at the tentacles of a Shark/Octopus hybrid...rather than it's very existence)

(Don't ask!)

Meanwhile Commander Cox is tearing Sands a new asshole over his monumental fuck-up, and demands the Shartopus be captured not killed (regardless of cost) threatening to "Cut off all other funding" before a timely warning of "Fail and that's not ALL I'll cut off" Sands sends his minion Santos (dig that accent) to track down Andy Flynn (legendary badass, and ex colleague of sands) previously sacked for being a "Greedy Bastard"

(Believe it or not...this is the hero)

You'd think with this much 'history' (not to mention, bad blood) with Sands...that Flynn be played by someone a little more mature, than the 20 year old 'Sacha Mitchell' wannabe, that we get? Santos finds Flynn (rather easily) chilling at a poolside with two babes, and both men go through the usual "We need you" and "I'm out of the game" bullshit...untill both develop of case of 'serious-face' when it's announced that S11 has escaped (gasp!)

(Corman secured the finance for the sequel)

We are then introduced to the most improbable 'metal-detector-enthusiast' (replete with silicone breasts and Bikini) searching on a beach. Unbeknown to her, an older gentleman (i.e, a pervert) is watching her bend over to dig up the sands in search of treasure (Note, this geriatric pie-hawker is played by none other than Executive Producer Roger Corman) Finding an ancient gold coin, the bimbette treasure hunter celebrations are cut short, when Sharktopus' tentacles pull her screaming into the water. Corman just stands by and watches (despite her pleas for help) and shrugs his shoulders at such an event, before making of with the coin for himself.....Weirdsville!

Flynn is reunited with Sands (replete with the expected 'love-hate' bullshit putdowns between each other) Seems that the proclaimed "Greedy Bastard" Flynn, has always been a bit of a government-whore, putting dollars before sense, and after agreeing a fee of $300,000 to bring Sharktopus back (alive) he sets sail, bringing along Nicole and Santos.

(Bone-Drunks-N-Whore-Many)

Enter brattish (yet spunky) news reporter, Stacy Everheart and her long-suffering cameraman Bones, arriving at Mexico, looking for a career-breaking news-story and hiring the services of crusty(ish) old seadog PEZ (Blake Lindsay) who has witnessed sightings of Sharktopus, to assist them.

(Ship-shapely assistant Stephie)

With all the major characters introduced we are left with brief scenes of (soon-to-be) victims, in the shape of a bickering yuppie couple, getting a nasty surprise visit from Sharktopus whilst bungee-jumping....and Pirate-Radio host Captain Jack and his shapely assistant, Stephie (who both scoff at reports of Sharktopus' sightings)

('Fish Fingers and Ships')

Sands spends the mid-section of the movie sat on his luxury yacht demanding 'More Scotch', whilst Nicole and Flynn argue about her fathers motives behind the S11. Everheart is dropped by her network bosses, and therefore vows to capture footage of the Sharktopus' to save her career. So now, we the (desperate) viewer are left with a multitude of complex characters, each one determined to fulfil their goals

(Pathetic)

Flynn has his plans of using tranquilizing darts (and not to mention two un-named assistants) chewed up and shat out by S11 (who also causes our hero one of the worst cases of leg wound FX ever) whilst (a seemingly unbothered) Santos applies bandages with all the medical care of 'Fred West' to the gaping gash.

Flynn, Santos and Nicole come to the rescue of Everheart but sadly not in time to save Pez (although he lives on in our hearts, that's for sure) Flynn now realising that he's been a 'yes-man' for too long, decides that bringing back Sharktopus alive is no longer an option. And sensing a news-scoop, a grateful Everheart and Bones tag along with our bunch of motley heroes to film the creatures destruction.

More people are killed at the beaches (a trio of jet skiers and a yuppie couple on a yacht) Sadly, movie fans....Captain Jack also buys the farm (although thankfully not shapely assistant, Stephie) During these tense moments Flynn finds the time to apply his 'ladies-man' shit on Nicole (who's steely reserve is slowly melting to the studly charms of our leading man)

(Poor Santos)

Things get uber-personal, when poor Santos (and his non-acting and terrible accent) are eaten by Sharkopus (I guess Flynn and Nicole have to make their own cocktails now?) And even Flynn takes time from beaver-hunting and wisecracking to swear revenge on the tentacled terror. Although bullets (and shouting "NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!") won't deter Sharktopus in the slightest. We're suddenly in split-screen-city, culminating in Flynn telling Sands to stick his money up his hairy arsehole!

(Worse than pathetic)

The Sharktopus (clearly sick of all the underwater munching) takes to the land and starts killing the shit out of many a Mexican land-lubber and tourist in a series of poor CGI'ed MDK's. Flynn arrives to shoot the shit out of the creature, but is halted by Sands, now clearly insane (not to mention drunk) enough to even sacrifice his own daughter to retrieve the 'Dorsel-Finned-Death-Machine' But in a sudden eleventh-hour conversion, Sands soon proves to be softie, and 'buys the farm' protecting Nicole from S11...but not before whispering some secret (rather last minute) hints on how to defeat the beast to his daughter

(Alas poor Eric, I knew him well)

Clearly not too unaffected by her fathers demise (and the only REAL actor gone from the movie) Nicole explains to Flynn that they can tag S11 with an interface dart, and that she can blow it up from the safety of her laptop (WTF?) During such shenanigans, Everheart dies for her 'art' at the jaws of Sharktopus, but not before Flynn tags it...and Nicole saves the day by blowing the fucker to kingdom come. Leaving happy 'shit-eating' grins allround for the surviving cast.

(Ka-Fucking-Boom!)

SHARKTOPUS does exactly what it says on the box. It delivers low-brow thrills, lousy CGI and instils a genuine fear for the mental health of Eric Roberts. It zips along at a steady pace, leaving no clichés left unturned in it's quest to produce a movie almost as campy as it's title. The creature roars, but at least no 'National Geographic Shark Footage' was harmed during the making of this movie. It's probably a lot more fluid than MEGASHARK VS GIANT OCTOPUS and contains a few trademark 'Corman' quirks (looking forward to his upcoming PIRANHACONDA later this year) and whilst not reaching the giddy-lows of SHARK ATTACK 3, is miles ahead of dross like MEGASHARK IN MALIBU (which even I refused to review!!!!) Fans of cheery SYFY 'originals' will not be disappointed by this sporadically amusing hybrid horror.



Memorable Quotes:


Santos: "He'sagreedybastardnodoubtbutheknow'sthewatersbetterthananyone"

Andy Flynn: "Excuse me everyone...There's a killer shark octopus hybrid heading this way...so please leave the marina in a kindly fashion?"

My Seagal 'Congratulatory' Mix

I've recently uploaded a few of my songs/mixes on Youtube, and this is probably the best place to showcase this one (replete with 'first timer' style slideshows) the mixes are rather lame, but contain most of the best "how good is he" moments from Seagal movies...Enjoy

BORN TO RAISE HELL (2010) Steven Seagal

Wow.....two Seagal reviews in one day (I must be on PCP!)

BORN TO RAISE HELL crept into the UK on december 27th 2010. Whilst hardly a fitting 'step forward' after MACHETE got the 'Stout Sensei' back on the big screen, it has a few points of interest, to satisfy the die-hards.

Seagal plays special tactical squad leader 'Bobby' (surnames not needed)who heads up an 'International Drug Task Force', that (for budgetary reasons is currently located in Bulgaria) The film opens with getting the drop on some arms dealers, leading to a brutal shoot out in a bar. For the many faults I'm about to point out about this movie, let me take this opportunity to point out that Seagal is badass as fuck in this one (sample dialogue "This shotgun is my warrant bitch")
The titles roll and we are treat to images of money counting machines, lap dancers and all the other 'pleasantries' associated with the middle east.



We are treat to a voice-over (that's supposed to be Seagal...but clearly isn't) who informs us (rather modestly) that the squad is headed only by the "top narcotic cops" (i.e, him...because he's there to replace a friend who was killed on duty) Bobby swears to find the killers. And about 5 minutes into things, we also get the 'nagging girlfriend on the phone' scenario (of course she's almost 40 years younger) and after calming her down, Bobby hangs up and remarks "Believe 'Dat Shit" (as we've all done)



We are then treat to a pleasant scene involving a 'home invasion' by a gang of Russian criminals, lead by the sadistic Costel (played by Darren Sahlavi) whose M.O. is to break in, kill the husbands and rape the wives. More 'Avid Fart' nonsense ensues, leading to Bobby and his task force getting he drop on some other criminal/dealer types. For a lesser sentence, one of the detained crooks (Bruce) agrees to go undercover and rat out even bigger criminals, like the old mob boss Dimitri, who plays chess in the park or the 'home-invasion rapist' Costel, who turns out to be another powerful kingpin (guess the break ins, murder and rapes, just ease the tension somewhat?)

(Voltage Pictures were accused of 'Subliminal-Advertising' in their movies)

Bruce is wired up, and attempts to frame Dimitri, whilst Bobby and Steve listen in, parked in a nearby van. They are soon made by Dimitri's bodyguards and Bobby gets out, knocking several shades of shite out of one and all.

(Flipping hell)

Meanwhile the Dimitri leads a family life in his huge mansion (replete with drug laboratory and workers in the basement) Seagal pulls over Dimitri and arrests him. Later that evening, Bobby attempts to have a quiet meal with his girlfriend...but oh no, more wrists, arms and legs to be broken. Upon beating three of Dimitri's guys senseless, Bobby remarks to his wife "See why i hate eating out"

(This Bruce isn't 'Boss')

Dimitri gets bailed, Bruce is shot in the head for his treachery, and Bobby indulges in (another Seagal trademark) 'The Clothed Lovemaking Scene With The Younger Girl'

("I said full fat milk!")

We cut to Dimitri and having a major fallout with Costel...leading to more 'avid fart' shots of topless dancers, sped up angles and European looking cars. Costel decides to do his whole 'house call' act on Dimitri's family, resulting in his wife being murdered, and a war between the two crime lords well and truly up and running.



Costel attempts to flee the scene, but is confronted by Bobby and Steve, resulting in a chase, a shootout, leading to Steve's death. With two friends dead in the line of duty, Bobby swears revenge, and even teams up with Dimitri to bring Costel to justice.

("How dare you have the same colour jacket as I?")

If my review seems a little disjointed, it's only because the plot to this one is all over the place. Despite the fact, that this is a by-the-numbers Seagal effort (nowhere near as good as A DANGEROUS MAN, URBAN JUSTICE or DRIVEN TO KILL) it does have a few interesting points, though. The plot (however slim) has parallels to early 70's Italian 'Polizia' movies (in that it shows the Law teaming up with the lesser evils to bring down the greater ones) and the actor playing Dimitri is quite good, and Darren Sahlavi is a name to watch out for (shame his rumble with Seagal was so one-sided)

Seagal adds real police procedures to the 'raid' and 'arrest' sequences (probably picked up from his stint as a real life deputy) A mixed bag for sure, but not without interest....but a step back from A DANGEROUS MAN. The one good thing about a less than memorable Seagal movie, is in about 6 months time, you'll barely remember a thing about it (thus, it'll be like watching a new movie again) and chances are,you'll either see something you didn't notice before, or it'll just plain grow on you. Either way, it's far from the turkey it could have been, but could have been so much better better (especially since Seagal wrote the script) I suppose it's A DANGEROUS MAN's fault, for being so good

("Oops...My bad")

Classic Dialogue:

"Midgets are a little short...money should never be" (Remarks Dimitri to Costel, during a light pay-off)

"Trust is not one of my more spectacular attributes" (Bobby modestly informs Bruce)

"Only a brilliant Strategist, cold have beaten me in one move" (says Dimitri to Bobby, after only one exchange in chess)

CA$H (2010) Sean Bean

CA$H limped direct to DVD in the UK (after a limited US release, where it made a piss-poor $47, 000 at the Box Office) However, don't let the 'DTV' premier and low returns put you off, what is clearly one of the best crime thrillers of the last decade.



Sean Bean plays Pyke Kubic, an English criminal (replete with 'Ecky Thump' Yorkshire accent) who comes to Chicago to visit his twin brother Reeve, who is banged up for a bank robbery. Reeve tells Pyke that he threw the suitcase of loot off a bridge, before the cops caught him, and that it landed on an old 'Buick' Station-wagon.



The recipient of the windfall is Sam Phelan, who along with his cash-strapped wife, Leslie decide to keep the money (which totals over $600, 000) for themselves, and it's through their materialistic greed (plus their stupidity of paying for everything with Cash) that Pyke tracks them down (via Car Payment receipts)

Pyke (in true TERMINATOR style) knocks on a few wrong doors, in his quest to find the money. He stumbles across Glenn (SHOWGIRLS) Plummer (playing a character called 'Glenn The Plumber') And he also puts the loud-mouthed Plumber (plus a few misconceptions about tough talking Afro-Caribbeans) in their place, bfore moving onto the next address.

(With neither SPEED 3 or SHOWGIRLS 2 on the horizon, Glenn felt a career change was in order)

Next up, Pyke comes across Melvin Goldberg (Legendary character actor, Mike Starr) who it turns out is guilty of theft, but not Reeves swag. The theme of 'We are all corruptible' runs throughout the movie, which somehow helps endear (an otherwise) cold calculating character like Pyke to the audience...Despite his brutal nature, he is no more corrupt than the (supposed) good guys in this movie.

("What does it take to change the essence of a....FUCK IT...Where's the loot?")

Now Pyke wants his money (to the exact penny) and this guy gets paid faster than a bailiff in a Ken Loach movie. So armed with menace, a gun, and an accent that would make John Rhys (Cyborg Cop) Davies weep into his 'Tetley Tea Cup'....he sets about teaching the couple a valuable lesson in life. Kubic Pyke is the bailiff from hell (thank fuck he doesn't work for Northumbrian Water, otherwise i'd be moving house.......pronto)



The hapless (albeit, naive) Phelan's find that Bean is a immovable force in their lives, and that their initial cover-up of the cash (plus Beans imposing persona) prevents them from ringing the police. When Pyke (literally) moves into their house, he gives them five days to find the remaining $13, 000 owed, thus forcing the young couple to re-mortgage their house (which had only just been paid off, rather smugly, weeks before)


When the overall figure is still not met (and Leslie's offer of a sexual currency spurned) Pyke forces the Phelan's to rob convenience stores. At first disgusted and reluctant, the Phelan's soon embrace the 'outlaw' lifestyle, and find out a few home truths about each other, along the way.

(Konica...Colours...are calling you)

Sean Bean is great in this movie. His Yorkshire accent adds to proceedings, and makes his many foul mouthed rants all the more funnier. The other actors are ok, but are rightfuly outshone by Bean (who seems even more out of place, alongside the americans, due to his yorkshire accent) which turns the most basic of insults into something side-splitting.

Witness as Bean utters such lines as:

"I refuse you're offer of pussy!"

"Jew motherfucker!"

"Trail was as hot as a street whores snatch!"

CA$H defies it's STV credentials, and keeps the viewer engaged, whilst giving food for thought afterwards. I prefer a well made, tightly plotted thriller like this, over a dozen Tarantino homage-fests. And fans of good old fashioned (down to earth) movies, should embrace this film as a breath of fresh air, in a sea of CGI diarrhoea that clogs up the cinemas of recent. The final scene, screams out for a sequel, but i dare say it's ultra low box office reception will deny us this. However i can wholeheartedly recommend this cracking crime thriller/comedy/morality play/DVD release.