Plunkett and Macleane

The first film from Ridley (Blade Runner) Scott’s son Jake is a fast moving comedy with a lot to recommend it.

Based on the real-life eighteenth century escapades of Will Plunkett, a highwayman and Captain James Macleane, a nobleman, Plunkett and Macleane tells the obviously hedonistic tale of how they rob the rich so that they can escape to America. Along the way, Macleane falls in love with Rebecca, the daughter of the Thief Taker General, the film’s excellently convincing villain. Needless to say, this causes much consternation as they try to avoid the hangman’s noose with a limited degree of success, and rattle the aristocracy with their plundering antics.

The most frequent criticism of this film has been that there is little or no plot - but then again, the filmmakers have done little to disguise this: see the tagline, for example. Instead, it relies upon the obvious comedy, superb visuals, techno soundtrack (which works marvellously) and excellent performances from all concerned. Robert Carlyle and Jonny Lee Miller (re-united once more after Trainspotting) are outstanding as the titular thieves, and Ken Stott as Thief Taker General Chance is menacingly convincing. Liv Tyler as Rebecca acquits herself adequately here - it is not her finest hour as an actress, but it is hard to give such an obvious role much depth of realism.

It is great to see such a vibrant, exciting film returning to WSC (we previewed it in the Spring Term as the Mystery Film in the Allnighter). If this film is anything to go by, we will be seeing a lot more of Jake Scott as a director. The boy deserves to go far.

Chris Campbell