Johnny Was

Although numerous film festivals honored it, I thought Johnny Was never connected the characters from the two groups which formed its dramatic heart and, disappointed, I turned off after about 45 minutes or so. Vinnie Jones plays the title role, with Patrick Bergin, former boxing champ Lennox Lewis, Samantha Mumba, Roger Daltrey (still hopefully of an acting career, I suppose) and Eric LaSalle (from ER) rounding out the main cast.

Johnny Doyle (Jones) used to be a member of an IRA crew led by Flynn (Bergin, looking much older now but best known in the US, I suppose, for playing Julia Roberts’ nasty ex in Sleeping with the Enemy) but Johnny went straight, and under the radar, after Flynn was arrested for their last job together. He lives in a strange squat in the Brixton section of London, with the very serious drug dealer Julius (LaSalle) and his junkie girl Rita (Mumba) on the first floor and revered Rasta DJ Ras (Lewis) living and spinning on the third. Flynn has a thing for Rita but not the, err, cojones to act on his feelings.

Flynn breaks out of Brixton Prison with fellow soldier Michael after serving five years, expecting Jimmy, another IRA confederate, to meet and carry them away. The cops have other ideas though, and the two are blocked from reaching Jimmy. Scrambling through the streets and unaware that Johnny’s nearby, Flynn nonetheless stumbles on him at a market and pressures him for temporary shelter. Back at the squat Flynn and Julius intersect, a conflict which Johnny and Ras are barely able to contain.

So you can see that the script, by former journalist Brendan Foley, sets up strong possibilities. Unfortunately, neither the relatively weak cast–Jones is much better in supporting roles–nor director Mark Hammond take hold and realize them. I honestly don’t understand the film festival awards but c’est la vie.

not recommended