Breaking and Entering - Reviewed on PureMovies.co.uk

Dir: Anthony Minghella

Starring: Jude Law, Martin Freeman, Juliet Binoche, Sophie Wright Penn, Rafi Gavron, Ray Winstone

Jude Law is one of those rarities: A British actor who has become a fully fledged Hollywood superstar. So many Brits have been overlooked in the past but Mr. Law has landed firmly on his feet, making one box office smash after another. So it was no surprise when, after the success of The Talented Mr. Ripley and Cold Mountain, director Anthony Minghella cast Jude once again in their latest collaboration.

Breaking and Entering tells the story of a series of criminal and emotional thefts, set against the backdrop of London’s changing culture and geography. Will (Law) and his friend Sandy (Freeman) run a flourishing landscape architecture firm whose state-of-the-art office repeatedly attracts the attention of a local gang of thieves. After another break-in, Will chases one of the young gang members, Miro (Gavron), back to the apartment he shares with his mother Amira (Binoche), a Bosnian refugee. Will befriends Amira to further investigate the burglary but despite living with his beautiful long-term girlfriend (Wright Penn) and her troubled 13-year-old daughter, their friendship takes an unexpected turn. With his life already in crisis, Will embarks on a passionate journey into the wilder side of both himself and the city.

First things first, this is not a feel good film. Minghella creates a very depressing portrayal of a London ridden with vice, drugs and crime. The storyline lacks logic. There is no reason why Will would not catch the thief when he had the chance. In essence, the film’s attempts to be emotional and heart-warming failed.

The acting is a big plus of the film. As Sandy, Freeman is solid in a more serious part than he usually plays and still offers some great comedy lines. Sophie Wright Penn and Juliette Binoche show why they are seasoned pros, Rafi Gavron is good in his first film role and Ray Winstone delivers an excellent cameo performance. Jude Law, however, is what makes this film. His part is poorly written and his character requires some common sense but if you put that aside, Law is on top of his game and merits his place in the Hollywood elite.

The setting is integral to the film and London has a wide range of locations to film in which allows Minghella to create any story he would like to tell. Particularly impressive was the contrast and comparison of Sarajevo with London.

The film is more than watchable, but attempts to be more emotional and tragic than it actually is. It is essentially a film about Will finding himself, but at times it was the audience who were lost. Nevertheless, Breaking and Entering is a gripping drama but will not replicate Cold Mountain come awards time.

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