The Innocent Sleep (1996)

OK, hands up - I'm a fan of Rupert Graves. Ever since his "Scudder" in "Maurice" (1987) he has been able to do little wrong. Here, he is the likeable dosser "Alan" who accidentally witnesses a mob-style hit in London. The killers know someone saw them and so he must keep one step ahead as they close in. Luckily for him, the crime has attracted the attention of journalist "Billie" (Annabella Sciorra) but can she help keep him alive as he faces pursuit from bent copper "Matheson" (Michael Gambon) and his paymaster "Cavani" (Franco Nero)? As British crime efforts go, this is OK - a decent cast present a reasonably paced drama with just about enough twists and turns to keep it interesting. Sadly, though, the dialogue is straight out an episode of "The Sweeney"; Gambon is nowhere near his best and Nero features just a bit too sparingly to make much of an impact. The illuminated London skyline offers some added menace, and though the ending is really rather poor, director Scott Michell still takes a little time to try to develop the lead characters. No it's not great, but it is still quite a watchable effort.