First Reviews for ‘War On Everyone’ starring Theo James, Michael Pena and Alexander Skarsgard
The reviews are in for John Michael McDonagh’s “War On Everyone” which premiered today in Berlin at the Berlinale Film Festival.
Here’s what some of the early reviews had to say about Theo James’ supporting role as Lord James Mangan:
Though it does occasionally feel as if the supporting cast are reading from different scripts, War on Everyone also boasts an enjoyably hammy turn from Theo James as a British baddie with a serious bloodlust,
War on Everyone’s plot swings on a bank robbery the cops want a cut of. It’s being done by a crew in the pay of a British lord with a deviant streak (Theo James) and his foppish sidekick (Caleb Landry Jones). Terry and Bob are happy to let the lord loose until an inevitable ante-up elevates James’s character from just plain bad to out-and-out evil. He crosses a line and Terry and Bob’s version of morality finally kicks in.
Problem is, McDonagh, wanting to write characters he clearly loves into a genre he also has obvious affection for, needs a plot. And that plot needs antagonists, so enter Theo James’ dastardly, louche British aristocrat villain, and his sniveling, lisping sidekick Russell (Caleb Landry Jones). James, actually asked to do something other than be extraordinarily handsome for once, rises to the occasion surprisingly well, especially during a scene in which he casually extinguishes his two moppet daughters’ belief that “Mommy is in heaven” by asserting that “death is just darkness forever. Now run along and play.”
As the investigation proceeds, they destroy a strip club, punch someone’s eye out and uncover a child pornography ring, ratcheting up the stakes until the only thing left to do is walk in, confront big boss James Mangan (a spoiled British lord played by Theo James, looking both dandier and more butch than James Franco) and his prissy right-hand stooge, Birdwell (Caleb Landry Jones, playing a more effeminate version on “Dirty Harry’s” Scorpio killer), in a good old-fashioned Mexican standoff.
But the duo rediscover their long-dormant consciences in time for a violent showdown with the godfather behind the heist, English aristocrat Mangan (Theo James, channeling the young Rupert Everett), whose louche old-world manners mask some diabolical crimes.
Reviews are mixed but it sounds like most were impressed with Theo James’ performance. We looking forward to seeing Theo in this role as well as the film’s stars Michael Pena and Alexander Skarsgard.
Check out clips of the film here.
