This smart, gritty, British thriller stars the super-talented Toby Kebbell in the lead role and features some superb supporting turns from the likes of Tony Curran, Brian Cox and Tom Brooke. Perhaps that’s why you expect something more explosive, something just a little bit more . . . . . . . . . . . . . substantial.
Don’t get me wrong, The Veteran is good. There are times when it’s very good. But it had many elements in place to be great yet somehow ends up feeling like a polished TV production.
Kebbell is the veteran of the title, a man finding it difficult to slot straight back into a civilian role. When he’s offered the chance to do something that makes the most of his particular skills he’s initially hesitant but soon realises that it’s a good way to make a difference in the way he always wanted to. And he soon looks like someone relishing his new position. But his new position offers ever-increasing dangers as well as job satisfaction.
Director Matthew Hope (who co-wrote the screenplay with veteran Robert Henry Craft) gets everything in the right place but just doesn’t seem to elevate the material to the level it could potentially reach. The film feels like a blend of Harry Brown, Dead Man’s Shoes and something featuring Jason Bourne but it doesn’t match those movies in any of the comparable, individual aspects.
The intentions are certainly good though. The script, after a deliberately slow and quiet beginning, doesn’t patronise audiences and doesn’t just go for the easy option either (especially in an impressive and bloody finale). The acting is great. Kebbell has been consistently watchable, in my opinion, since his brilliant turn opposite the mesmerising Paddy Considine in Dead Man’s Shoes and he deserves more opportunities to show his full range in leading roles like this one. Brian Cox is as good as he always is, Tony Curran is stern and menacing while Adi Bielski, Tom Brooke, Ashley Thomas, Mem Ferda and everyone else onscreen gives it their best.
There are some impressive moments throughout, usually centred around moments of anger, and the film should please those who like a bit of food for thought alongside their gunfights. It’s just a shame that it somehow falls short of being something great.
The Veteran enters civilian life here in the UK on Monday on 29th August and the DVD includes some strangely sterile interviews (about 7 mins), just over 10 minutes of deleted/alternate scenes and a “behind the scenes” featurette that lasts for about three minutes and shows nothing all that interesting, I’m afraid. Buy it for the film, not the extras. You can pre-order it here.
DIRECTOR: MATTHEW HOPE
STARS: TOBY KEBBELL, TONY CURRAN, BRIAN COX, TOM BROOKE, ASHLEY THOMAS, ADI BIELSKI, MEM FERDA
RUNTIME: 98 MINS APPROX
COUNTRY: UK
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