{"id":3541,"date":"2015-05-14T15:16:21","date_gmt":"2015-05-14T15:16:21","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/filmgaze.com\/blog\/?p=3541"},"modified":"2015-05-14T15:29:07","modified_gmt":"2015-05-14T15:29:07","slug":"spooks-the-greater-good","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/filmgaze.com\/blog\/thriller\/spooks-the-greater-good\/","title":{"rendered":"Spooks: The Greater Good ***"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"movies-spooks-the-greater-good\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Ol\u2019 Harry (Peter Firth) is back in this film spin-off of the BBC TV series – a comfort factor for fans. Titled Spooks: The Greater Good<\/em>, fans can also be reassured that the film is not trying to be a glossy version of its small-screen self, rather in-keeping in style and still \u2018very British\u2019 in manner. There are no Jason Bournes here.<\/p>\n

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\nAfter a high-level threat, terrorist Qasim (Elyes Gabel) absconds from an MI5 escort in London in an elaborate rescue mission, the American Secret Service questions MI5\u2019s future value, and the blame sits squarely with MI5 Intelligence Chief Harry. He smells a rat from upper brass and disappears off the radar \u2013 later thought to be in league with Qasim and co, revealing top-level information. The powers-that-be (played by\u00a0 Tim McInnerny and Jennifer Ehle) hire decommissioned MI5 agent Will Holloway (Kit Harington) – Harry\u2019s former prot\u00e9g\u00e9 \u2013 to find the AWOL spook, and in turn, stop any more terror incidences happening in London.<\/p>\n

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\nAs it stands, The Greater Good<\/em> is a perfectly serviceable piece of spy drama that revels in its London setting \u2013 never missing a beat to show off a London landmark. The UK’s love of CCTV paints part of the picture here too. Naturally, it still has to keep up with the Bournes of this world. The action sequences are less stylish (and less costly) though, with Harington jumping off facades around Southbank like a parkour fanatic, or going as far as Berlin with one lead.<\/p>\n

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\nFirth is naturally thrilling in his deadpan delivery, crossing and double crossing every player, which is what keeps the storyline ticking along \u2013 that, and the editing and a sense of impending doom n’ gloom. The camp factor is injected by McInnerny as the agency\u2019s chief who you expect to crack into Darling giggles at any second in his face-to-face confrontations. Ehle has little to play with, stuck mainly in a glass \u2018cage\u2019 making high-level decisions.<\/p>\n

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\nAt least the youngsters get out and about, with a determined Tuppence Middleton as spook June giving Harington\u2019s Will a runaround for his money. Harington is sometimes deemed as a one-trick pony, but his (as of yet) ‘limited acting range’ seems to suit him admirably here, as he has to play his cards close to his chest as a frustrated Will in dealing with Harry.<\/p>\n

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\nSpooks: The Greater Good<\/em> is the ultimate extended TV episode, and though it\u2019s bogged down by clunky scripting and overly forced dialogue, it has it\u2019s delicious little gibes between characters, with Firth coming out the champion of the lot. It\u2019s still early days to judge Harington in such a role but it\u2019s by far a positive step in the right direction since Testament of Youth<\/em>.<\/p>\n

3\/5 stars<\/strong><\/p>\n

By @FilmGazer<\/p>\n

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