Hummingbird

Year: 2013
Genre: Drama
Director: Steven Knight


Plot: A former Special Forces soldier, now a drunk living on the streets, haunted by his war crimes, gets a new lease on life after breaking into another man's flat. Using the man's money, he gets a job and tries to rebuild his life, and at the same time avenge the death of a girl he knew, while maintaining his friendship with a kind nun.


The gist: Imdb lists action in this film's genre, but I disagree. It's mostly a drama, starring Jason Statham in an unlikely role.

Statham proves here that he has acting chops to go with his ass kicking skills, and though he gets to beat a few people up here, it's his acting ability as a former soldier trying to go straight that gets more focus. 

Steven Knight, who wrote the screenplay and directs, does a decent job keeping the film flowing for the most part. His focus on London street life after hours is fascinating and dark at the same time. He also makes good use of his two main leads, Statham and Agata Buzek, who plays the nun Cristina. Their relationship, which gets more complicated as the story moves along, is the heart of this film.

However, I do feel that this story would work better as a miniseries, so that Knight can explore his story even further and give more time to other supporting characters like the dead girl Statham tries to avenge, or the Chinese human trafficker played by Benedict Wong, or Statham's ex-wife and daughter.


The good: Believe it or not, Statham is pretty good here, and so is Agata Buzek. They make a great duo on screen. The story is also well written overall.

The bad: Too little time spent on the story and supporting characters. The ending is a bit of a letdown, though it does tie up most of the loose ends. The film could also use a bit more tension overall.


Verdict: A decent effort for a drama starring action star Jason Statham. Just try this with an open mind and don't expect an action flick. (3/5)