User reviews

I wasn't expecting great things from this movie and I wasn't disappointed. The plot is very two-dimensional but done reasonably well, the film is well-paced and directed competently with a fair bit going on in its 90-ish minute runtime. It's never going to trouble the Academy but it pretty much does what it says on the tin as a run-of-the-mill UK gangster flick.

The performances leave a little bit to be desired, however. Danny Dyer, who now seems hopelessly typecast, really phones in his performance and it would be nice to see him given a role which might stretch him. If he keeps taking roles like this one, though, it ain't going to happen. Here Dyer is reunited with his co-star from 'The Business' (ten times the film that 'Dead Man Running' is, by the way) Tamer Hassan. Hassan, again, means well but again he's given very little to work with. It's a shame as both he and Dyer have, I feel, more to offer than this formulaic 'good-guys-gone-a-little-bad' buddy-buddy nonsense.

The chief baddie is 'played' by Curtis 'fifty pence' Jackson and it's not good, people. I'm not a fan of his music but he undeniably has talent, just not on the boards. His performance is borderline embarrassing but thankfully he doesn't take up much screen time.

Not a great movie, not a disaster either. Just average.

I did chuckle when I saw the name of footballer Rio Ferdinand in the credits as an 'executive producer' and the Jar-Jar Binks lookalike even gets a dedicated (and very clunky) line in the script. Rio's got his insipid 'Number 5' online magazine going on and now fancies himself as a mover and shaker in the film world but someone really ought to take the big man to one side and quietly explain to him that he is not in any way 'cool', nor will he ever be. Stick to football, Rio, you're quite good at that (recent performances aside).

Well I enjoyed it. It was just good fun and made me smile several times. I'm unfamiliar with the two leads so I'm not fed up of them. Brenda Blethyn was terrific as usual.

The soundtrack was quite good too and I enjoyed the contrast when the classical piece took over.

Not sure the 'kill' would have been so clean with a sawn off shotgun. I thought they made a bigger mess than that.

"This movie even has big football movie connections it was funded by non other than Rio Ferdinand...that's right I said that huge football star Rio ferdanando..or something like that." He's England Captain and plays for One of the World's Biggest clubs. I think that qualifies as pretty big.

The plot: Given 24 hours to pay off his massive debt, a reformed gangster descends back into the underworld he struggled to escape.

Dead Man Running isn't a bad film, but it's strictly by-the-numbers. It lacks the brutal realism of something like Refn's Pusher trilogy or Hodges' Get Carter, operating in a universe more like Guy Ritchie's, where the underworld is populated by idiosyncratic acquaintances, crime bosses with dangerous reputations, and oddball sidekicks. The biggest difference, however, is that this seems like something of a breezy overview of the genre, where each character is given a brief cameo, rather than any kind of reinterpretation. Nobody really has much to work with, but it does give the film a certain simplicity that many people found lacking in Get Carter and Revolver, which are often accused of having overly intricate plotting.

It's not an original movie, but it's enjoyable enough for what it is. If all you want is a simple, mildly violent crime thriller, then this will fit the bill nicely. If you're looking for something a bit deeper or original, I think you'd be better off skipping it. You'll just be bored or annoyed by all the clichés.

I didn't know what to expect from this film except that the poster made it look like an honest-to-goodness thriller that could've been made any time in the past 40 years, and that appealed to me. In the event, it's a well-played noir mostly set in London (though you get no real sense of the city, and it's a shame they had to show Big Ben) in which Nick (engagingly played by Tamer Hassan) has 24 hours to find £100,000 or he, and his mother (as always, a superb performance from Brenda Blethyn) will be 'buried in a shallow grave'. Well-paced, with a reasonable twist, it's only a shame that most of the dialogue is quite lame, and everything has a second-hand feel, but that's deliberate, I feel, and we need more movies like this that have a heart of noir while only seeking to entertain. The audience I saw it with, in Wandsworth, were thoroughly entertained.

I recently viewed Lock, Stock, And Two Smoking Barrels, and thought it was a cinematic masterpiece. I watched Dead Man Running yesterday, when I saw that the two had a similar plot line. I wasn't expecting Dead Man Running to be as good of a movie as Guy Ritchie's Lock, Stock, And Two Smoking Barrels, but I also wasn't expecting it to be almost as bad of a movie as Dave Eddy's Pocket Ninjas. The dialogue is rather lame, the twist is cliché and expected, and everything feels hand-me- down and second hand. Brenda Blethyn had a beautiful performance as Tammer Hassan's mother, which although was superb, didn't quite make up for 50 Cent's less than acceptable acting. Dead Man Running and Lock, Stock, And Two Smoking Barrels have the same situation with me as Corner Gas and Dan For Mayor. The Corner Gas/Dan For Mayor conundrum means that I enjoyed Corner Gas, but don't enjoy Dan For Mayor, although I want to. Lock, Stock, And Two Smoking Barrels is hands-down one of my all-time favourite movies, and Dead Man Running is hands-down one of my all-time least favourite movies. I really want to like Dead Man Running, but the dialogue, second-hand feeling, and clichés didn't do it for me. I give Dead Man Running a three of of ten.

Lighter in tone than most British gangster type thrillers, there are some real giggles to be had in this.

Helps that the acting is a cut above too, and there seems to be real chemistry between the two leads Tamar Hussain and Danny Dyer.

There's a couple of plot holes, but nothing major.

It's also stylishly filmed and directed, and moves along at a fast pace, and gets a definite thumbs up from me.

'Dead Man Running' sees the cinematic Cockney wide boys Tamer Hassan and Danny Dyer join together for yet another jolly boys outing on the big screen. Except this time instead of playing raging football hooligans destroying East London one shop window at a time, they are instead pushed into the world of the British Gangster flick. Which sounds like potential entertainment, but it really isn't. It'll help you fill an hour and thirty minutes of free time, but you won't be rushing to see it again at the Cinema, or out to buy the DVD, or see to it on pay-television...

The opening scene of the film shows that the recession has had far and wide reaching consequences across the economic board as the underworld boss Mr Thigo (Curtis '50' Jackson) decides to draw in every penny from all the outstanding loans he is currently owed. While Nick (Hassan) is the unfortunate customer who is going to be made an example of by Thigo to make sure everybody pays up promptly and without hassle – Barclays Banking this is not. Nick is given twenty-four hours to acquire the hundred grand he owes Thigo otherwise he and his mother (Brenda Blethyn) will be sleeping with the fishes. Cue a frantic race across London with his business partner and working-class friend Bing (Danny Dyer) in tow as they attempt various different activities while trying to raise the debt and stay alive.

Hassan and Dyer play the typical characters you have seen them time and time again, and it is now becoming a little annoying as well as entirely predictable and boring. Nick is a former 'hardman' who was a resident at Her Majesty's service before taking the legal and law-abiding route so he could care for his family. While Bing is his right-hand man who is willing to do almost anything to help Nick obtain the £100,000 that he owes. Yet there is one gleaming performance in this stiff, wooden cast which is that of veteran British actress Brenda Blethyn who plays Nick's caring, soft, yet incredibly versatile mother who provides not only the biggest laugh of the film, but also the tensest scene as we uncover a secret she has kept buried under her blanket.

I was never expecting a brilliant film from Alex De Rakoff's British crime flick 'Dead Man Running', but I was expecting more considering the decent cast it contains. It fails to harbour the primarily British cast's potential and instead delivers a predictable narrative coupled with a terribly clichéd script. The biggest problem however is the fact that despite being evenly and well paced, the film has nothing which will keep an audience's attention for longer than five minutes.

A classic british ganster film with the usual faces in the cast (Dany Dyer Tamer Hussan etc ) quite fast paced with humour.

Danny (rent a London wide boy) Dyer is yet again paid to play the same old tired London wide boy. His fellow type cast actor tammer Hasan is even in here the other London wide boy. so just by having these 2 actors you can pretty much guess the whole movies plot. BUT WAIT there is a twist not just DAN AND TAN we have that great of the hoodlum rap genre mr 50 cents, as he is in the u.k. I think we shall now call him 50p for future reference. This movie even has big football movie connections it was funded by non other than Rio Ferdinand...that's right I said that huge football star Rio ferdanando..or something like that. Any way having explained to you all who's in the movie and who's connected to it with the funding I now come to the review of the said movie. OK here it is 2 wide boys need 24 hours to raise cash quickly or there nasty money lender will do a number on one of them.. With no charm or style this movie chugs a long at a fair pace you can even see some local celebrities from the u.k. in it. What this film lacks in originality it does not make up in dialogue.

I could list reels of embarrassing London wide boy chit chat , but it was embarrassing to sit through let alone repeat.

This is a cash making machine that teenage boys will rent out to see how British gangsters should operate. 50p is the main pull here and to be honest just like his acting as a yobo singer who talks fast he does bring something to the movie… Can put my finger on it..O yes I remember when he came on screen acting the cool and sophisticated money lender I thought of David bowie… You know when bowies in a movie its going to be dreadful but get great reviews because his fans love him, well that's what I thought of 50p acting. Can't sing cant dance cant act…he will go along way.

Its almost blueprint in how not to make a movie about British life. This is yet another movie about the so called underworld of the u.k. made by people who have no idea about the underworld of the u.k. funded b millionaire football players and rent a yob actors this is so artificial it's the most plastic gangster movie yet. If you really want to see a movie and it has to be about gangster in the uk , then I suggest the Manchester movie "a very British gangster"

LOVED this little movie that I caught opening weekend in London. It's surprisingly funny and entertaining. Tamar Hassan is sure to be a big star- he's like a bigger and more handsome Antonio Banderas. Could see this being a breakout role for him like Sexy Beast was for Ray Winston. He's tough but sexy and charming.

and Brenda Blethyn is genius. I'm still laughing at some of her lines. The people in my theatre were cheering after her last scene (when you see it you'll know what I'm talking about).

Don't miss this little gem. Good pure entertainment.

Great soundtrack also.

Certain people like to stand outside McDonalds rather than go to school that's how!

Again these two appear in a derivative quick to forget bargain bin British gangster movie with all the cock-er-ney geezer charm of Guy Ritchies Bowel movements, hell they even throw in the lesser supporting cast of Snatch, a far far superior movie. Gangster Rapper 50p must have had a spare 10 minutes while in London during a promo tour because he's a barely written cameo (who could have livened the film up in a beefier role) and the two strongest actors in the movie, Brenda Blethyn and Phil Davis just seem lost in their own embarrassment wondering what there agents where playing at.

The involvement of English Premiership footballers as executive producers would suggest the film was a plaything and an outlet for their rather substantial weekly wage and it's their money that probably paid for the clearance of an actually rather good soundtrack.

Leave this movie well alone unless you like tucking socks into trackie bottoms, listen to music on buses using a mobile and have many friends with Asbo's and trophy dogs, for the rest of us there's a bit of damp paint on the wall over there, it'll be dry soon.

3/10 for the soundtrack alone

STAR RATING: ***** Saturday Night **** Friday Night *** Friday Morning ** Sunday Night * Monday Morning

Nick (Tamer Hassan) is trying to put his criminal past behind him and start up a successful travel agents. But he's in money worries getting it off the ground and even worse American gangster Mr. Thigo (50 Cent) has arrived in London and Nick owes him quite a bit of money. And just to remind him, Thigo takes his mother hostage and gives him twenty four hours to find the cash he owes him...or she dies. And so, with the assistance of his quirky business partner Bing (Danny Dyer) he begins a mad dash around the capital and even up north getting into scrapes involving underworld kingpins, motorway police and the lowest of the criminal underworld.

This latest addition to the Brit gangster flick came out of nowhere but looked rather slick and stylish, not to mention having the surprise inclusion of well known rap icon 50 Cent in the cast. Alas, it looks really cheap and awful, shot with a murky camera lens through out that brings it down a peg or two. But that's not the main thing wrong with Dead Man Running, a vapid, empty affair that fails to be thrilling or funny in any way. Even a lively supporting cast in the shape of Brenda Blethyn, Phillip Davis, Scot Williams and Ashley Walters can't bring it to life, plenty of material to go on but failing to strike a chord with any of it. As for lead stars Dyer and Hassan, they've worked well together before, but it would seem they fall apart without Nick Love to guide them. *

I saw this film years ago when it came out and remembered enjoying it, so I've just given it another spin and I gotta say, I just don't get so many of the low ratings here. It's a barrel of fun and rockets along at a great pace, never getting boring and often blackly funny. Maybe it was some sort of Danny Dyer hate bandwagon you all wanted to be on, but credit where credit is due, this is a good movie and for it being the directors only feature film I found it a bloody decent achievement. Maybe if it contained flying men and women in capes firing lasers out of their eyes (or whatever) the rating might have been higher, but I don't watch movies for nine year olds myself.

I am sick of low budget British gangster movies..they are the cheap, lazy cashcow for any talentless wannabe who thinks he can make films.

The video shops are full of them and none of them are any good. I wish UK film-makers would think outside of the box and stop making rubbish about cockney geezers, zombies, vampires or serial killers.

This one stars Danny Dyer and Tamer Hassan (who else?) but it does have some excellent moments with Brenda Blethyn and Phil Davis.

Even Dyer and Hassan get a few decent moments when the film reaches its last half hour or so.Couple of funny moments...not much but better than most of the dross they do. Hassan is certainly better than he was in Wrong Turn at Frightfest.

I gave this 4 out of 10..bit kind but, sadly, there is much worse out there

i am a huge fan of Danny Dyer and try not to miss his movies.,,He is one good actor and really funny at times.... i was waiting for this flick for ages like i did for Rock n rolla...but the results were totally different...unlike rock n Rolla this flick was a big disaster... 50cents looked more like a Doctor than a gangster and Tammer Hassan wasted his money and skills in this film...Danny...you are a good actor..please choose the flick while you are not stoned...we love you mate... Thet could've made a nice movie out of this story line but they failed....Rio Ferdinand you were a good defender but not a really good producer...if you have so much of money to waste....don't waste on producing such movies...help the poors and you will be remembered...ash Cole was also another soccer player who contributed in the production..Ash...you are not good soccer player and not a good producer either....well..please do watch this flick for Danny sake..if you are his fan...beside that this flick is a total waste of money and time...

All in all a decent film, being a woman i love any Danny dyer and he was the films main pull for me and the girls to go watch a typical guys film,A bit lack lustre at times but Danny kept me trans fixed, plenty of action one for the guys and the girls. I noticed a mixed reception from fellow cinema goers, and maybe a tad cheesy in parts but compared with other movies at the moment it was not that bad, British film too so it's a bonus.But would recommend full on action , not a bad story and a good cast, a bit unsure about 50 cent though maybe he should have stayed in the music industry, Other characters put in a good performance and Danny and Tamear teamed up again always seems to work and do the business.

I watched this film last night, it was 1 of the best films i have watched in a long time, if you like the British gangster type films then this is the film for you, very funny and entertaining all way through, nothing dragged or was boring at all.

Dyer and Hassan make a great team in this film, I only watched it for the fact Dyer was in it, Did not expect it to be as good as it was. I don't see why the other reviews are so low ratings.

Brilliant!!!

A Must Watch For 2010 DVD!

Thanks For Reading.

The British gangster film has been rising since a guy called ... Guy R. made his mark on that particular "genre" (or sub-genre or whatever you wanna call it). But while "Lock, Stock ..." and "Snatch" were somewhat original, this feels very formulaic. It's not so much the actors (though Mr. Dyer seems not to have a lot to do in this one or Tamers "woman", who only gets to get her kink on in some scenes), but the fact that you do know where this is going ... long before it gets there.

Now this isn't always entirely bad. But it would have been really good if the characters were better drawn. And I'm not only talking about the main characters, but also the supporting cast. They mostly stay bland, while they fail to be remarkable, not leaving any kind of impression you will remember after a few minutes.

Still and especially for fans, this will be somewhat satisfying and it moves along quite nicely, even if a few things feel forced (like the "twist(s)") towards the end of the movie.

Surprisingly good, well casted, good plot and fast paced. Well worth the watch, makes you wonder why Danny walked away from movies for soppy soaps! 50cent, plays the role well. The movie isn't a Blockbuster but it's a good watch and one you'll probably watch again.