Mitchel (Colin Farrell) is being released from prison after a three-year sentence. His former friend Billy (Ben Chaplin) is there to pick him up. Billy is ready to help Michel to get back in his criminal past. But Mitchel says no, he really wants to live the life on the right side of the law. One day in the street Michel helps a woman, Penny (Ophelia Lovibond), from being attacked at a ATM. They talk and Mitchel says that he's unemployed, as a thanks for his help, Penny says she might have a job for him. It proves to be a job as something like a handyman for a very well-known actress, model and artist Charlotte (Keira Knightley).
But first Mitchel wants to find his alcoholic sister Briony (Anna Friel), who are turning tricks to survive. He finds her and tries to get her to live a normal life. Billy is really trying to get Michel back in his crime past, he even introduces him to his boss, the violent insane Gant (Ray Winstone). Gant quickly learns that Michel is a very intelligent guy, and wants to make "business" with him. Again Mitchel says no.
Instead Mitchel wants to see what job Penny talked about, and seeks out the address. There he meets Jordan (David Thewlis), a would be actor, now more of a drug addict, who minds the house where Charlotte lives. Mitchel takes on the job, now being an aide to Charlotte, who daily are being hunted by paparazzi people who are driving her mad, she's obviously trying to find back to life, fighting a depression.
Gant doesn't take Micthels no to working with him that easy. In his insane world he has not only to kill Mitchel but also everyone Mitchel knows. It becomes clear that Mitchel and Charlotte has fallen in love. They decide to move to California. But first Mitchel has to protect his loved ones from Gant.
With the help of Jordan he starts to find a way to protect them all.
Will they succeed, will the couple ever escape to California?
This film is the directoral debut for writer William Monahan, who also made the script for this film. Luckily he is having a fantastic cast, Farrell and Knightley are really good, as always. Winstone and Friel also are wonderful, but the real find in this movie is David Thewlis the drugged out Jordan. This is a UK/US co-production, but made mainly in London. It could be any decade, but the soundtrack, which by the way is magnificent, is 60s music, especially the Yardbirds are an important part of it all.
But first Mitchel wants to find his alcoholic sister Briony (Anna Friel), who are turning tricks to survive. He finds her and tries to get her to live a normal life. Billy is really trying to get Michel back in his crime past, he even introduces him to his boss, the violent insane Gant (Ray Winstone). Gant quickly learns that Michel is a very intelligent guy, and wants to make "business" with him. Again Mitchel says no.
Instead Mitchel wants to see what job Penny talked about, and seeks out the address. There he meets Jordan (David Thewlis), a would be actor, now more of a drug addict, who minds the house where Charlotte lives. Mitchel takes on the job, now being an aide to Charlotte, who daily are being hunted by paparazzi people who are driving her mad, she's obviously trying to find back to life, fighting a depression.
Gant doesn't take Micthels no to working with him that easy. In his insane world he has not only to kill Mitchel but also everyone Mitchel knows. It becomes clear that Mitchel and Charlotte has fallen in love. They decide to move to California. But first Mitchel has to protect his loved ones from Gant.
With the help of Jordan he starts to find a way to protect them all.
Will they succeed, will the couple ever escape to California?
This film is the directoral debut for writer William Monahan, who also made the script for this film. Luckily he is having a fantastic cast, Farrell and Knightley are really good, as always. Winstone and Friel also are wonderful, but the real find in this movie is David Thewlis the drugged out Jordan. This is a UK/US co-production, but made mainly in London. It could be any decade, but the soundtrack, which by the way is magnificent, is 60s music, especially the Yardbirds are an important part of it all.