Film Reviews

The Debt

• Rating:
• Director: John Madden
• Starring: Ciarán Hinds
• Details: US / 113 mins (15A)

A tense, (mostly) skilfully handled thriller that just has one sloppily inserted flashback too many, The Debt is nonetheless a classy affair and solid watching thanks to a superb cast. Helen Mirren really gets her teeth into her role, while Jessica Chastain, playing the younger version of Mirren's character, is equally impressive.
The plot is set in two different times; one in 1966 where Chastain, Worthington and Csokas take part in a mission to capture and bring to justice a nazi war criminal; the other in 1997 where Mirren, Hinds and Wilkinson portray the same characters dealing with a lie that has brought them fame and fortune. When the past comes back to haunt them, a moral dilemma once again raises its head and the lie they told all those years ago won't go away.
When you have six different actors playing three different characters, spanning decades, there is going to be confusion. Throw in flashbacks, featuring characters that don't really resemble their older counterparts, and you've a recipe for perplexity. It goes back and forward far too much, and the film may have worked better in more of a straight up narrative - then maybe progressing to the latter years with Mirren etc.
That said, it's an accomplished cast playing the older version of the trio and each one of them is exceptional. Hinds is great as the older version of Worthington - who show's a surprising vulnerability in earlier scenes; and Mirren and Chastain mirror each other well. Walk out onto the street and you could find someone who looks more like Csokas than Wilkinson, though.
The Debt is the type of elegant, adult fare we don't see enough of these days. While it may not reach the dramatic heights that it could have, it's still good to see films like this being released theatrically.

Review by Mike Sheridan