Perrier's Bounty

Cast & Crew

Cillian Murphy

Michael

Brendan Gleeson

Darren Perrier

Jim Broadbent

Jim

Jodie Whittaker

Brenda

Liam Cunningham

The Mutt

Michael McElhatton

Ivan

Gabriel Byrne

Voice of the Reaper

Ian Fitzgibbon

Director

Mark O'Rowe

Screenwriter

Alan Moloney

Producer

Stephen Woolley

Producer

Elizabeth Karlsen

Producer

Seamus Deasey

Cinematographer

Tony Cranstoun

Film Editing

Amanda McArthur

Production Design

Gerard Bryan

Art Director

Bridget Menzies

Set Decoration

Keith Madden

Costume Design

Nina Gold

Casting

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Critic Reviews for Perrier's Bounty

Audience Reviews for Perrier's Bounty

• Apr 15, 2014

  It's billed as an "urban western", and it's Irish, so you know that it's going to be brutal... up until you see that Cillian Murphy is in it. I sure am fond of Murphy as a talent, but he's not exactly the toughest-looking Irishman out that, which isn't to say that I'd recommend telling him that, because either I'm wrong or he'll send Brendan Gleeson on you. Seriously though, when I look at that title and see the "Bounty" part, I can't help but get pumped up about seeing how they're going to make a brutal crime thriller out of a French brand of carbonated water. Perrier water jokes aside, I can see this film's title seeming more hardcore if instead of all of this sparkling French water it promoted the Irish's beverage of choice, which ought to get folks sturred up. Shoot, forget beer, because this film is so Irish that just watching it should make you a little bit tipsy, which is probably why the Irish didn't even go and see it, seeing as how they're drunk enough at any point in the day without this film. Well, it doesn't exactly help that, of all publications, "The Irish Times" came down on this film, and kept people out of theaters... because, you know, "The Irish Times" is internationally recognizable enough to have something of an impact on moviegoers' tastes. Man, the Irish have never been able to catch a break, and this film isn't exactly helping, at least financially, and that's a shame, because it's better than Donald Clark of "The Irish Times" says it is, despite its problems. Being so short and so fast-pace, this film doesn't exactly have a whole lot of time for exposition, so what you end up with is a film that hardly gives you any immediate development, and barely puts that much focus into gradual characterization whose lack of flesh-out would be easier to forgive if there wasn't also a lack of believability. Not exactly compensated for by relatively extensive exposition, questionable character traits in this grimy ensemble piece aggravate, whether it be because of unlikability or because of unbelievability, or at least a sense of unbelievability that goes anchored by lowlights in generally snappy dialogue that is too snappy, to the point of being more cheesy. Dialogue occasionally snaps a little too sharply, not unlike style that is also generally effective in coloring things up, but often renders the film's feel frantic, and doesn't even help against a sense of familiarity. Overstylization is little more than yet another trait defines this film as yet another one of those Danny Boyle rip-offs that have become mighty popular in the crime wing of the film industry of the United Kingdoms... or rather, north-western Europe (Free the rest of Ireland... I guess), which isn't to say that the film isn't formulaic in other ways, being nearly devoid of originality to its narrative, whose predictability makes it easier to get insight into just how lacking in meat this story concept is in the first place. Underdeveloped, sometimes improbable, consistently formulaic and told in an overstylized manner, this film's story concept doesn't even give you the courtesy of all that much meat as a thriller, being more reliant on humor, and with a conflict that was never to be all the momentous to begin with. There's simply not much to this film, even on paper, and when it comes to the execution, laziness to substance and overambition to style prove to be a messy combination that renders the final product pretty decidedly underwhelming, perhaps even forgettable. Still, while the film occupies a mere 88 minutes, it doesn't exactly waste your time, being plenty of entertaining, both with a good bit of liveliness to its narrative, and, of course, with plenty of liveliness to its style. Well-known as a proficient DJ, David Holmes composes a score that is utterly formulaic, but groovy in its very modern rhythm and drive, which compliment entertainment value, much like a visual style Seamus Deasy brings to life with cinematography whose distinctly Danny Boyle-esque taste in biting lighting and crispy blue coloration. The film looks and even sounds good as a modern crime flick that is often too stylish for its own good, but more technically sharp than anything, with enough slick musical and visual style to entertain, at least through slick directorial orchestration. Getting kind of carried away in his plays on style, not just to be point of overstylization, but to the point of placing style over substance, Ian Fitzgibbon's direction remains pretty realized in its plays on the aforementioned snappy musical and visual style, in addition to Tony Cranstoun's snappy editing, thus crafting a solid pace that entertains time and again, until slower spells come into play and draw your attention to the heavier aspects of this story. Mind you, those heavier aspects are lacking in this mostly comedic crime thriller, but they still stand, and when they don't, color compensates with a certain fun factor and charm, anchored by charismatic performances. Boasting a decent cast to be so short, this film offers a number of talents who deliver with what they're being given, particularly the effectively antagonistic Brendan Gleeson, delightfully charming Jim Broadbent and convincingly more grounded Cillian Murphy, who, in all fairness, charm as thoroughly as they do partly because what material they have to work with is worthy. As I've said time and again, this story doesn't have much to it, but it certainly has flare, and no matter how lively the direction and acting are, what can make or break the momentum of this comedy is Mark O'Rowe's scripting, which is messy, even with snappy spots that are often too snappy for their own good, but predominantly mighty clever with its dialogue and colorful, if improbable characterization, and dynamic set pieces. The film thrives on its pacing, and while that's not enough to make a final product that has all that much memorable substance, it sure does entertain, thus making a thriller that does indeed have its thrills, despite fizzling moments. When it comes time to collect, there's little development and a little too much improbability to characterization, just as there is often too much snap to style, and little uniqueness to the telling of a dramatically thin story that ultimate renders the final product underwhelming and forgettable, but not lacking in entertainment value, sustained enough through groovy scoring and slick cinematography behind stylish direction, and charismatic performers with colorful scripted material to make "Perrier's Bounty" a plenty entertaining, if otherwise lacking comedic crime thriller. 2.5/5 - Fair

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  Super Reviewer
• Nov 16, 2012

  What starts off as an English thriller with huge potential, "Perrier's Bounty" slowly fades into a been-there-done-that chase-caper with no real flair minus the quirk added by the British factor, vaguely reminiscent of fellow Brit film, "In Bruges". With leading men like Cillian Murphy and Brendan Gleeson, I expected a huge pay off and performances we often do not see from them. I was partially right, as we hardly see Gleeson at all. And Murphy's character, the misunderstood, rag-tagger on the run is hardly leading character caliber. A script that needed another round of revisions, this film lacks everything promised by the presence of the prominent and respected actors on the film's poster.

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  chris h Super Reviewer
• Nov 29, 2011

  "Perrier's Bounty" is a well-made caper flick that is neither too funny nor too action-y. Its first half is great and inventive, but the second half is predictable and unfocused, with a conclusion that is ridiculous altogether. The biggest problem that "Perrier's Bounty" has is its script, which is lazy and unmotivated. Acting is great all around, especially from Cillian Murphy, but nothing can make up for a derivative and clumsy screenplay.

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  Super Reviewer
• Nov 07, 2011

  simple, strait narrative with few surprises, but highly entertaining. the film held a solid tension between the dramatic and the amusing. the end was a bit silly, but overall the film had character. very good watch.

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  Super Reviewer