SummaryLondon Boulevard follows an ex-con trying to make a fresh start in a relationship with a reclusive actress. A sexy, stylish gangster thriller bristling with wit and brutal intrigue, London Boulevard stars Colin Farrell and Keira Knightley as star-crossed lovers who run afoul of one of London’s most vicious crime bosses. (IFC Films)
Directed By:William Monahan
Written By:William Monahan, Ken Bruen
London Boulevard
Metascore
Mixed or Average
52
User score
Mixed or Average
5.8
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Metascore
Mixed or Average
52
31% Positive
4 Reviews
4 Reviews
69% Mixed
9 Reviews
9 Reviews
0% Negative
0 Reviews
0 Reviews
Nov 10, 2011
80
It reminds me more of Shane Black's "Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang," though ultimately it's darker and more raggedy around the margins. Still, Monahan, like Black and unlike Ritchie, has some feeling for his characters.
Nov 7, 2011
70
It satisfies not only in the tradition of yarns boiled hard and wry, but as a savvy comment on fame and ambition.
User score
Mixed or Average
5.8
35% Positive
14 Ratings
14 Ratings
48% Mixed
19 Ratings
19 Ratings
18% Negative
7 Ratings
7 Ratings
Aug 20, 2021
7
Before watching this movie an elderly geezer had commented loudly every bite I took out of an excellent sole at my favorite Italian hang out. He offered that I eat it like I got released after 30 years in the box, and gave a non stop live commentary on a lot of other things. Very opinionated. This made me think how life must be, being George Clooney or John Malkovich, if one gets recognized and commented on non stop like a Director's Cut Blu Ray Disc. Love Keira Knightley ever since "Bend it like Beckham", "Love Actually" and "Pirates of the Caribbean". Keira is playing a believable "damsel in distress" (Manhattan Dating Project). Ray Winstone, whom I adore in "Sexy Beast" & who booked a rewarding VW campaign which I had wanted, does an excellent job. Colin Farrell ends up in Londonistan instead of "In Bruges"after some time away & yet does not behave like Eddie Murphy in "48 Hrs.", but keeps his dignity & style. Almost Zen like. Rainer Maria Rilke finds his way into this Post Punk Gangsta extravaganza, as well as some other entertaining one-liners. More brutal than a "Fish called Wanda" & yet not as scary as "Candyman", if you so wish. Steven Dorff "Somewhere" should have made a Cameo, if you ask me. Same as some "Mulholland Dr." Castmembers. Having lived in dystopian UK headquaters, where certain elements are way out of whack, this roughed up ghetto "Notting Hill" version touches the viewer like an uber frozen Strawberry Daiquiri blended in the style of up a Long Island Ice Tea. I yet have to find a picture with Colin Farrell which does not entertain.
Dec 12, 2014
7
The cast was great but the script was never near to their potential Colin Farrell is always fun to watch ,even Ray Winstone he has that gangster class William Monahan is a Academy award winner he should have done better Kasabian - La Fee Verte is one good thing from the movie!
Nov 9, 2011
58
The directorial debut of William Monahan, the Oscar-winning screenwriter of "The Departed," London Boulevard collapses under the weight of its own ideas and the amount of talent it has to burn.
Nov 8, 2011
50
Monahan's debut has verve and charisma, but, in the end, the tension of a late-night pub shrug.
Nov 7, 2011
50
A movie like this lives and dies by its finer details, and London Boulevard screws up by applying the same broad brush to its entire cast, meaning every character gets the same amount of shading.
Nov 10, 2011
40
Had the film stood still more often, its stylish gambit would have worked better.
Dec 7, 2012
4
A cool, likable film that feels better than it really is. I liked the vast majority of the movie, the script, cast, style, etc., it's just a boring film that never grabbed my attention like so many other films of its genre have.
Jun 4, 2015
3
An unbelievably boring movie in my opinion. The cast is really amazing and it really should be much better. The movie contains interesting moments and the actors are quite good and have good performances, but the story itself just was a bit too boring to me. I had to watch it 3 times as I fell asleep in first 2. Maybe it just wasn't the movie for me, but some parts of the movie were just unnecessary and boring, while some were played out a bit weirdly, like Charlotte's and Mitchel's relationship. If you expect a gangster movie, then there are many other better ones, if you just expect a mix between a thriller (even though not that thrilling) and something of a drama, then i suggest this one
Sep 15, 2025
2
Je dois dire que ses initiales ne passent pas très bien en français, aussi l’appellerons-nous (certes très familièrement) Keira… surtout que son prénom n’est certes pas commun -du moins pour nous, alors que son nom évoque bien évidemment quelque chevalier de royale naissance, certainement… Toujours aussi mignonne même avec son affreuse frange (on dirait une serpillère) mais aussi élégante, y compris lorsqu’elle s’habille n’importe comment… En face, Monsieur a un comme un prénom de poisson pané (c’est étrange) et a surtout l’air bête et hésitant : il se demande s’il doit la jouer Statham ou Ben Stiller ?… C’est comme le film lui-même qui hésite entre la tarantinade en salade (légère) et la chierie typique de Guy Ritchie, l’homme qui chie… des films de merde. Le réalisateur tente un entre-deux qui ne donne rien ou pas grand-chose… La romance est bien sûr éventée (et téléphonée) avant que d’être et la partie du scénar qui concerne le gentil ex-criminel qui a bien du mal à se dépatouiller de tous ces criminels qui veulent l’embaucher, cette partie-là est décidément bien maladroite et poussive. Le film entier l’est de toute façon (poussif) et même les tortues se sont endormies devant (elles ont fait une course pour passer le temps). Un truc marrant tout de même (et qui revient avec récurrence) concerne ces crevards de paparazzi : c’est presque marrant, des fois ici et là… mais bon, j’ai arrêté cette sieste de film à peu près aux deux tiers, sans compter les avances rapides !
Production Company:
- GK Films
- Henceforth Pictures
- Projection Pictures
- FilmDistrict
- Location HQ
- London Boulevard
Release Date:Nov 11, 2011
Duration:1 h 43 m
Rating:R
Tagline:Not every criminal wants to be one.
Awards
Evening Standard British Film Awards
• 1 Nomination
