This review contains spoilers - hard to point out the flaws without a few spoilers!
Firstly, I liked the cast and location... and I generally liked what they were attempting with the story. However, there seemed too many points that were either very unlikely or didn't make sense. For example:
We're told that Harvey was just an ordinary, everyday guy who Steven Roper randomly chose to plant drugs in his flat - why would the police and courts convict someone of drugs offences (heroin no less) when they have no prior convictions? Wouldn't they look at the evidence as a whole and suspect foul play? Just doesn't seem likely. And why would Steven Roper plant drugs on an innocent person anyway? Wouldn't it be better to plant them on someone who the police already suspect?
And if Harvey (and his friends) are just ordinary, everyday guys, why are they suddenly good at pulling off a heist? Being clever and having the guts isn't enough surely.
The first time Harvey bumps into Roper in the street he gives him loads of lip and attitude. An ordinary guy who's been in jail for something he hasn't done and he mouths off to the likes of Roper (who was the person who got him sent to jail)? Make yourself noticed for the sake of the plan, maybe. But being tough and cocky? No.
When it comes to the robbery, why did Dempsey take time to break in through one door but then also take time to break out through the roof? Surely going back out through the door would have been quicker. Sure, it was so he could fire the arrow from the roof... but why was he doing that anyway? I must have totally missed that part. Some money needed to fired through the air and hit a dart board because...? Did he need to get that money to Charlie quickly? Was that the money Charlie planted in the security room? If so, fine, but running the money over to him would have been almost as quick surely? Especially if he doesn't have to spend time breaking out through the roof. Factor in the possibility that he could have missed with the arrow and left Charlie searching for it. Seems like a flashy idea that is all flash and no benefit.
Another point, the money is in a safe... in a basement... a basement with no windows... a basement that is alarmed. But when they put the safe in, they placed it over a drain cover? A cover that covers a drain large enough for someone to fit in? Really? No-one thought that was a bad place to put the safe? And why does a basement have an opening to a storm drain anyway?
Finally, a minor point really but when characters in films are trying to be clever but that cleverness doesn't stand up then it sticks out. When DI West notices that the tape recorder is still running and listens to it, Harvey (on the tape) says "You can either run after me and bring me back or you can sit down and listen to this tape". All I could think was, he could pause the tape, run after Harvey, bring him back and THEN listen to the tape. The tape isn't going anywhere.
Firstly, I liked the cast and location... and I generally liked what they were attempting with the story. However, there seemed too many points that were either very unlikely or didn't make sense. For example:
We're told that Harvey was just an ordinary, everyday guy who Steven Roper randomly chose to plant drugs in his flat - why would the police and courts convict someone of drugs offences (heroin no less) when they have no prior convictions? Wouldn't they look at the evidence as a whole and suspect foul play? Just doesn't seem likely. And why would Steven Roper plant drugs on an innocent person anyway? Wouldn't it be better to plant them on someone who the police already suspect?
And if Harvey (and his friends) are just ordinary, everyday guys, why are they suddenly good at pulling off a heist? Being clever and having the guts isn't enough surely.
The first time Harvey bumps into Roper in the street he gives him loads of lip and attitude. An ordinary guy who's been in jail for something he hasn't done and he mouths off to the likes of Roper (who was the person who got him sent to jail)? Make yourself noticed for the sake of the plan, maybe. But being tough and cocky? No.
When it comes to the robbery, why did Dempsey take time to break in through one door but then also take time to break out through the roof? Surely going back out through the door would have been quicker. Sure, it was so he could fire the arrow from the roof... but why was he doing that anyway? I must have totally missed that part. Some money needed to fired through the air and hit a dart board because...? Did he need to get that money to Charlie quickly? Was that the money Charlie planted in the security room? If so, fine, but running the money over to him would have been almost as quick surely? Especially if he doesn't have to spend time breaking out through the roof. Factor in the possibility that he could have missed with the arrow and left Charlie searching for it. Seems like a flashy idea that is all flash and no benefit.
Another point, the money is in a safe... in a basement... a basement with no windows... a basement that is alarmed. But when they put the safe in, they placed it over a drain cover? A cover that covers a drain large enough for someone to fit in? Really? No-one thought that was a bad place to put the safe? And why does a basement have an opening to a storm drain anyway?
Finally, a minor point really but when characters in films are trying to be clever but that cleverness doesn't stand up then it sticks out. When DI West notices that the tape recorder is still running and listens to it, Harvey (on the tape) says "You can either run after me and bring me back or you can sit down and listen to this tape". All I could think was, he could pause the tape, run after Harvey, bring him back and THEN listen to the tape. The tape isn't going anywhere.