Fifty Dead Men Walking – 2008

April 13, 2010 by JT
Filed under Film Reviews

Fifty Dead Men Walking takes a little bit to get into, but when you do you are gripped right through to the end, based on true events the film follows Martin McGartland’s shocking real life story.

Martin is a young lad from west Belfast in the late 1980s who is recruited by the British Police to spy on the IRA. He works his way up the ranks as a volunteer for the IRA whilst feeding information to his British handler and saving lives in the process.

Director Kari Skogland does bring a very intense sense of realism, and emphasises the suspense-thriller elements that flow naturally through the story of a man terrified of being found out at every turn.

Jim Sturgess puts in a winning performance, and starts out as a comical petty crook selling stolen clothes and mocking the British military who are trying to protect the streets. He ends up though as a desperate man, with one eye looking over his shoulder he tries to be the father figure and husband that his family desperately need.

Ben Kingsley (with hair) is equally commendable as the British handler, Fergus, who goes to great lengths to protect his informant at whatever costs, knowing the information he provides is helping to save lives. The relationships that are built throughout the film demonstrate the boundaries of trust and respect while at the same time stretching them as far as they will go.

Running in similar guise to other undercover films such as The Departed and Donnie Brasco, this one is powerful and tense in it’s own right, with an excellent performance from Sturgess.

View the trailer