some may view this as a typical british gangster movie and if that's a turn off don't bother watching it. don't watch it for the supposed romance between kiera knightley and colin farrel. don't watch it because most people seem to hate it. watch it for the difference in language. nothing is a shock in this movie but it's well paced and provides a transport from reality for a little over an hour. isn't that what movies are for?

To each his own, someone once said. I was mesmerized by this film on many levels. All of the negative comments are surprising to me. Perhaps we didn't see the same film.

Does the film lag in spots. Yes. Is the storyline a little 'Twilight Zone'? Yes. Is this a total waste of great talent? Not on your life! Everyone is perfectly cast and their work is spot-on.

It is, of course, Colin Farrell's movie. He is hard to dislike in any of his roles. There is an innocent sweetness about him in spite of all the 'bad boy' gossip that follows him around the world. He owns this role. Keira Knightley? Who on the screen is more enchanting than she is? No one. She is so vulnerable in this film. She is hauntingly frail, both physically and mentally. As an A List actress hunted down by the Paparazzi day and night, she is so believable. Perfect casting.

Ray Winstone has cornered the market in the UK as the Tony Soprano of England. I never get tired of watching him steal every scene he's in. He's probably a really sweet guy in real life, but in reel life, he is totally scary and menacing. He will cause your blood pressure to go up in this film, and not just once!

What can you say about David Thewlis? I have never seen a Harry Potter film so that is not how I know this wonderful actor. Basic Instinct 2 introduced me to him and I tracked down his other films and have watched most of them. He plays Keira Knightley's friend-caretaker-hanger-on so perfectly. His face speaks volumes. He can sit at a table and not have a word of dialog and you know exactly what he's thinking. He is really the 'star' of this film.

Ben Chaplin. Love this guy. He is a younger version of British actor, Ritchie Coster. Like Coster, he plays the baddie or the heavy. Dark, handsome, helter-skelter movements, he is evolving into a first-class actor who will have a monumental career by the time he decides to retire. If he ever does. Your eyes follow him whenever he's on screen. Even when he's acting opposite Colin!

Last but certainly not least is David Thewlis' former flame (and mother of his daughter), Anna Friel. She plays Colin's sister. Not just loopy but borderline insane in this role. You want to reach into the screen, grab her by the shoulders, and shake her awake! Her scenes are very strong and memorable.

Bottom line: Why all the negative comments? The soundtrack crackles with old favorites like The Yardbirds, etc. Is there a soundtrack to this film? If so, when can we get it in the US? The photography is stunning. The colors are vibrant even when the lighting is way down. The inside of Keira's home is lovely. You can almost feel the furniture's texture. Everyone is lovingly photographed. As a photographer, I appreciated this aspect of the film the most.

The night I saw the film I immediately ordered it from amazon.com. Can't wait to get it and watch it again. It is going to be one of those films I watch once or twice a year forever. Do yourself a favor and take a look at it. You won't be disappointed. I promise.

Brian DePalma was considered a master plagiarist by many. It's with little irony that "London Boulevard" reminds you of DePalma's "Carlito's Way". Director William Monahan also references Martin Scorsese which also ironically Monahan wrote the Oscar winning script for "The Departed" which was a reimagining of the Hong Kong crime thriller "Infernal Affairs". The question you ask yourself is Monahan's effort more than the sum of it's influences? The answer to me is a resounding yes. Similarities to other films cannot be denied but when done right you call it a homage. Monahan introduces enough unique fluorishes and twists to elevate it above mere copycat status. Colin Farrell is magnetic and macho as the recently released con who wants to go straight in a world that keeps pulling him into a life of crime. Ray Winstone adds another indelible portrait to his personal rogues gallery as a sadistic crime boss. David Thewlis nearly steals the show as the foppish manager of Keira Knightley's papparazzi stalked movie starlet. The film kept me rapt and invigorated throughout. For those who would dismiss "London Boulevard" as derivative I ask you to consider Bogart, Cagney, and Edward G. They were gangster archetypes who didn't play the same character twice. "London Boulevard" is a variation of the British gangster tradition that includes "Get Carter", "The Long Good Friday", "Mona Lisa" and "Sexy Beast'.