Reviewed by George Ivanoff

Tuesday is a British heist film from first-time feature-film director/writer Sacha Bennett. Despite a good premise and a terrific cast, this film can’t seem to lift itself above being rather ordinary. A more experienced writer/director may have done better with the same material. The basic plot, whilst hardly innovative, is interesting and reasonably well thought-out. A gang of professional thieves set out to hit a small bank on the one day it has a rather large and valuable emerald temporarily stored in a safety deposit box. But as they begin their meticulously planned operation, they discover that someone is already in the process of robbing the bank. Add into the mix a couple of bank staffers who also have their sights set on nabbing the emerald, and you have a potentially interesting film. Even the way in which is the story is told has a lot of potential.

This is all achieved through flashbacks as two police detectives question all the people involved. Things are revealed little by little, with a few twists and surprises along the way. It should all work really well and deliver an excellent film. Unfortunately, the flashbacks sometimes get a little confused, and the directing style is mostly rather pedestrian. On the occasion that the director tries something a little difference—a sequence involving still photographs with a voiceover—it is overused and seems out of place with the rest of the film.

The cast is excellent, particularly John Simm and Philip Glenister, both of whom were in the brilliant series Life on Mars. They do well with what they’re given, but there is nothing particularly remarkable about any of the characters.

The DVD release contains a behind the scenes featurette, which like the film is rather ordinary, and a mildly amusing gag real.

Tuesday is by no means a bad film. It’s just that there’s nothing special about it either. 

Tuesday
(2008)

Available through Hopscotch Films.