Felony (2013) User Reviews

Decent enough thriller

[kosmasp · 6/10 · 26 October 2015]

You may not have too many turns and twists in this, so you'll be able to fairly see the direction this is going. But it's still a nice watch. Especially because of the moral decisions people have to take. Or are willing to take to protect or rather are trying to hide truths from others because they deem its the way to go.

The acting is pretty solid here and there are a couple of good action scenes, considering this is more a thriller. While you may not agree with everything going on and the ending might not be what you wanted to see (I actually liked where they went there and it might be the one thing that's not straight as arrow), this is worth a watch

Solid, but not enough to distinguish itself from the pack

[eddie_baggins · 6/10 · 29 January 2015]

Another one of the recent spat of Australian films that have failed to find an audience at home despite good reviews, Joel Edgerton scripted and Matthew Saville directed Felony is a frustrating experience due to it being a film that constantly threatens to become something powerful, yet is consistently bought down back to a level that makes it easy to see why people failed to fork out the cash to see a tale that isn't overly original or as effective as it wants to be.

Starting out in a hugely promising fashion, Felony looks likely to be one of those searing Australian dramas in the vein of Animal Kingdom or even Saville's own under-seen gem Noise, yet quickly descends into a procession of seen before events that culminate in a fairly unimpressive ending. The central scenario that Edgerton and Saville create is an intriguing one and a ripe potential idea and it's clear that the idea was developed first and the strands that follow afterwards and the film just can't keep up its beginning pace that sees some smart scripting and direction take place. You'll be undoubtedly hooked as these detectives look to cover up a shocking accident and thanks to some fine acting the film remains viable despite it's failures.

Edgerton remains a solid if unspectacular core to the film but the continued emergence of Jai Courtney and the ever good work of Tom Wilkinson (here called in to ad gravitas to a film that needed the weight) really brings the film to life. Courtney does some fine work as young detective Jim, even though he is saddled to the films horrid and awkward love story but it really is Wilkinson that steals this show. Wilkinson is both sympathetic, calculated and snarling as old time detective Summer. Wilkinson bites into the script and comes out on fire, it's a joy to see such a veteran of the industry come to our fair shores and show us how it's done and he clearly had a blast with this character. Director Saville also comes up trumps here despite some narrative flaws in the story and his direction honed in film and quality TV like The Slap has clearly set him up well.

While many bemoan local audiences failing to support home grown films, if the films are like Felony there's no reason why we should be forking out hard earned money on films like this. There not bad films but there films that aren't likely to cause people much excitement as truth be told, it's nothing we haven't been witness to before and Felony just doesn't do enough to leap from the pack even though it has some nice moments.

3 side view mirrors out of 5

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www.jordanandeddie.wordpress.com

pretty good

[blanche-2 · 7/10 · 18 March 2015]

"Felony," from 2013, is a film written by and starring Joel Edgerton, Jai Courtney, and Tom Wilkinson. These actors play Australian police detectives who are brought into conflict after a tragedy.

Edgerton plays Malcolm Toohey. After a few drinks, he is driving home when he hits a boy who is riding a bicycle. The boy is not wearing a helmet and is bleeding. Panicked, Malcolm calls for paramedics. He says initially that he didn't see anything, that he saw something in the street and it turned out to be the boy. Later on he says he saw the tail lights of a car as it turned the corner.

This discrepancy is noted by a new detective, Jim Melic (Courtney). Courtney's partner is a veteran, Carl Summer (Wilkinson). Melic doesn't understand the way the incident is handled. The car was not impounded, for one thing, and the discrepancy in Malcolm's statement isn't questioned.

Melic becomes obsessed with gathering evidence on the case, particularly after meeting the boy's mother and seems to become interested in her. Summer, on the other hand, wants him to stop investigating. Malcolm? His conscience is killing him.

Good movie, if not great, with an excellent performance by Wilkinson, as always. There is something about his presence in any film that elevates it, in my opinion. He is such an excellent actor, and has such a wide range, that he draws a viewer in immediately.

Joel Edgerton approached his role in an internalized way, probably not to everyone's taste, but his performance is solid. Jai Courtney comes off in his role as a determined detective who is able to keep his emotions in check until the very end, sort of inwardly seething.

All in all, very good, also quite dark. No one leaves this world unscathed.

A Film That Makes us Deeply Consider Humane Issues

[Tariq_94 · 7/10 · 22 September 2014]

Felony is not an easy movie to discuss and talk about. It prompts us not only to consider such confusing dilemma, but also to think about the wide-range human behaviors and how they differ from one to another. Questions are raised by this phenomenal picture; Can we make the right decisions in critical situations? Do we even know what is the right thing to do in such conditions? Could the discreet steps lead us to even a harsher life than a lie followed by nothing more that an agonizing guilt?

Besides, this movie brings us the truth about how judgmental people are! They strive to expose the truth when it has nothing to do with them, and try to cover it up when they're involved or experiencing similar incidents.

I got a bit irritated by the very fact of our world shown in Felony; our world is becoming, day by day, a more brutal and frightening place to live in. Criminals and culprits are freely wandering outside, while innocent people (or those who made bad things unintentionally) are being charged and thrown to jail, not to mention cold-blooded murders and misdeeds (Mal felt guilty at least, although he didn't do anything bad, while those savage pedophiles were far from remorse).

The acting is a first-class. Tom Wilkinson is an accomplished master (I think his part from the script was the best among the others), and Joel Edgerton should be proud of himself for his gripping performance and astounding writing. The screenplay written by him is obviously due to his open mind and prosperous skills. Melissa George was utterly outstanding depicting Julie, Mal's wife, that did what a smart woman would do to keep her family up together. However, I expected watching more on-screen of hers, but she is never short of brilliant, skillful actress. She simply shone with her minor role.

In Felony, The right is wrong and the wrong is right, and maybe not. It's a great picture showing a humane issues and a puzzling dilemma that if you consider carefully, you would most definitely drive safely and cautiously!

Tense and intensively acted

[antoniotierno · 7/10 · 16 February 2015]

The movie stars a trio of top male actors in splendid roles, so that the intricate and very intimate "Felony" is a police story crossed with a strong psychological drama. Three very different Australian detectives, each one determined to do the right thing, are supposed to decide how to define justice in one specific case and must choose what lines can be crossed and what price may be paid as to achieve it. Director Matthew Saville has perfectly constructed a low-key and realistic drama. These kinds of moral decisions and subjects always end up making involving films, especially when the key performers are as good as Tom Wilkinson, Joel Edgerton and Jai Courtney. Working on a perfect screenplay by Edgerton, the director Matthew Saville has expertly constructed an extremely realistic drama where the malleability of morality in an increasingly difficult situation takes center stage.

The agony of choice.

[hitchcockthelegend · 6/10 · 24 April 2016]

After a few drinks celebrating not being killed during a bust, a police detective clips a cyclist with his car, rendering the young rider into a coma. Covering up the facts of the accident, with help from a superior, his conscience starts to attack both his state of mind, and that of his life at home. Something which is noticed by an up-coming young detective...

Ooh, the agony, the moral conundrum. It's pretty much a morality play, one that is very well mounted by the makers. Written and starring Joel Edgerton, it also stars Tom Wilkinson, Jai Courtney and Melissa George. After a quick-fire opening the pic settles into a brooding sense of emotional torture, a slow burn approach that casts caustic eyes over police cover ups and the folly of the human condition. A potential romantic thread feels unnecessary, while some of the dialogue leaves a lot to be desired, but with Wilkinson shining, Mark Wareham's photography the same, it's a better than average morally tinged drama. Though the ending will infuriate some... 6/10

What appears to be wrong could be right

[Sladkin-188-809662 · 7/10 · 14 September 2014]

THE STORY:

The duplicity of right and wrong is highlighted in this moody psychological police drama when an accident evokes conflicting responses from each of the people concerned.

TOP THREE PERFORMANCES:

1. Tom Wilkinson. His old-school senior detective is charismatic, convincing, and always endearing despite his questionable ethics.

2. Joel Edgerton. His confused and arrogant cop is compelling in his failing efforts to do what he knows is right.

3. Melissa George. Her empathetic and emotional mother shines in her primary motivation to protect her family.

THREE THINGS WE LIKED:

The intriguing plot that transformed all the players - The intense and lengthy stillness of the close ups - The simple and muted palette of Grey, blue & black

THREE WORDS: A Human Story

90mins on this? Thats it?

[hamishgordon-22922 · 2/10 · 2 March 2015]

What is the problem with making a decent film in this country? I started watching this movie and it seemed as though I was in for a decent watch. The camera work - the direction - the acting - even the script - seemed good. Then I realised that there was to be absolutely no depth to the narrative. No plot. It was 90 minutes of grown men wasting my time - wrangling about this? So these filmmakers are going to take up an hour and a half of my life because some guy clipped a paperboy on his way home from a pub? That's the movie? Thats it? I mean I know if you hit someone - it's no joke - but you're going to base an ENTIRE feature length film on this? Couldn't these bloody useless cops be out catching ACTUAL criminals? You have movies about ACTUAL STUFF out there - and this is our Australian level of contribution? This was so utterly lame - so clichéd and predictable. You have the cop who has the crisis of faith and starts going to the hospital to visit the sick kid - you have the old cop who does a favour for a mate - you have the guy who's life is turned upside down - you have the stoic Indian woman hoping against hope in her hospital vigil - you have journalists and helicopters hovering around a kid who's fallen off his bike? Gimme a break will ya? Why can't you people make a film Australians can be proud of? No wonder the moment an Australian artist has a hit - the first thing they do is bail to another country! Absolutely horrible. Horrible...

A Solid Drama of Conscience - A TIFF Review by ReelScreenReviews

[reelscreenreviews · 22 September 2013]

This film debuted at TIFF and I was lucky enough to sit in on the world premiere. "Felony" stars the on screen talents of Joel Edgerton, Tom Wilkinson, Melissa George, and Jai Courtney or Jr. John McClane from the new "Die Hard" feature. "Felony" comes to us from director Matthew Saville the long time television director and previous director of "Noise" from 2007. He now collaborates with both writer and star Edgerton in order to bring this tale of principles to the screen.

This tale tales dives into the story of 3 police officers that all become entangled in a web of deceit that could destroy more than a few lives and careers. A veteran detective strikes a child on a bicycle on his way home after having more than a few drinks, and the events that he describes to his fellow officers don't exactly represent the truth. Of the two detectives that show up to investigate one is an old-school man in blue that wants nothing more than to protect his fellow officer, but his younger and more ethical partner wants to begin an investigation that would eventually unravel the facts many would like to keep secret.

Well people once again at TIFF this year I went into this film expecting to see a standard police drama, and once again I was surprised by a fresh and compelling tale. The director does a very nice job visually and he unfolds the drama and mystery at just the right pace, & he made use of hand held cameras from time to time by not over-using them throughout the movie. Also, Edgerton's script never gives you any more information than you need at any one time in the film, and his screenplay at least took chances with a child victim & police corruption. Most of all however the story always beckons the question, "What would you do?" Now because "Felony" could be considered a smaller film it absolutely relies on strong or solid performances, and thankfully the 4 main stars really don't disappoint. I'll start with Edgerton who wrote himself a very good character. He proves once again that he can hold a film together, and the sympathy for this guy is the driving force of the project. You easily feel for the guy, and Edgerton accurately depicts inner turmoil and personal suffering of conscience. Then his wife is portrayed by the mostly credible Melissa George, and this could be her best work in years. At her character's foundation is a mother that would do anything to protect her family and she encourages her husband to keep quiet. I think her best line is when she says to Edgerton, "I hate you for making me say this"…and that is in reference to her character wanting her husband to stand mute and to not take responsibility for his actions.

The other 2 cops are played by Jai Courtney & Tom Wilkinson, and Courtney is solid as the young and righteous rookie detective. You believe his change the world attitude and that he wants to do what is right, and he is also a brilliant contrast to his older more run-down partner brought to life by one of the best actors alive in Tom Wilkinson. Wilkinson is great as this aging and alcoholic cop and he simply owns this character right from the start. He is so good on screen that many times he looks like he's not even acting because he's just so natural. Wilkinson is also responsible for "Felony's" only moments of humor which are scarce, and he also fuels the movie's main conflict.

This brings me to my normal segment of "Nick-Picking" issues. I will start these by saying that the main character has this struggle and conflict that is powerful, but the film on a whole lacked this emotional force. "Felony" also could've had a stronger ending, and throughout the police drama it introduced side crime stories that really just went nowhere. This film is good but it is definitely not great. There were moments where I could see them going for something like an "L.A. Confidential" kind of theme with the three cops and the distinct behaviors, but this movie is nowhere near the caliber of that film.

I clocked "Felony" at right around 1 hour and 40 minutes, and if I had to pick one word to describe it I would use the word 'Solid'. This was a solid police tale that instead of tackling the usual drugs, gangs, and chase sequences brought us a compelling drama of principles & conscience. Joel Edgerton once again shows that he can headline a film, and this time struts his stuff as a credible screenwriter as well. A strong supporting cast helps to raise this film above the realm of simply average, and all and all this is a quality movie. Nick's ReelScreenReviews is of course a 'Solid' recommendation of 3 stars out of 4, and that's for the police drama "Felony".

You bring me in then 180?

[LiamBlackburn · 7/10 · 18 September 2014]

Great performance by Head Detective Summer....epic monologue:

You bring me in then 180?!! Bullshit you will! Grow a f-in brain! Don't wave yourself off the pitch because suddenly it's eating away at you. What can you do?! Time.....time and the world...swallows events..and it's sad..but that's how it is...And you and me, the world is going to swallow us up, and who knows knows in the end if we leave a mark...but we're doing something!---and I like to think were doing something good with what were given. Don't wave yourself off for this....What do you want? Five years in the nick for nothing?!! Prison is for pricks that don't have their punishment up here (points at his head). Not you....not me....it doesn't make sense. Right?

Detective Summer is the best part of this movie....great acting as usual. The movie itself falls a touch flat at the end.......but really? like what was the Indian kid doing riding a bike in the middle of the road at 3am any way.

Storyline

[whovianlife · 5/10 · 31 January 2015]

It is a very good movie, the story line is very well thought out and is very good, but the movie goes very slowly it would be an excellent movie if it went a bit faster.

The actors who are in it a very good. the director did a very good job just needs to make the movie move a bit faster.

and since I am from Australia I am glad to see that the Australian movie empire moving along good job film Australia.

There where some filming mistakes but that doesn't matter it still was a very good film. very well done Jai Courtney I loved you in divergent and I loved you in this!

Intelligent, tense and superbly acted.

[Troy_Campbell · 8/10 · 18 September 2014]

A tightly wound crime drama that oozes class, this Sydney-set motion picture follows on from These Final Hours and Predestination to continue the stellar run for Australian movies in 2014. With an intelligent and slow burning screenplay by Joel Edgerton, Felony deals with one morally murky question: what price should a good person pay for making one bad mistake? Those hoping for a whodunit will be disappointed; the tension is built through a very precise pace and layered character development rather than a complex plot or shock-factor twists and turns. That the characters are so intriguing and engrossing can be equally attributed to the splendid actors on show. Edgerton leads the way as the respected detective, family man and all round top bloke who is forced to deal with a personally complicated situation, and he delivers an almighty performance with nuance and gravitas. He's not the only one though: Jai Courtney takes a break from hard-arse supporting gigs (Jack Reacher, A Good Day to Die Hard) to bring heft and subtlety to his new cop on the block role, whilst veteran Tom Wilkinson relishes his chance to portray the experienced department head who has misplaced old-school values. A special mention also needs to go out to Bryony Marks, whose moody score is utterly sensational and brings emotion all on its own. Due to a limited release it's unlikely you will be able to catch this on the big screen, but to the top of you 'to see' DVD list this should go.

Boring

[rogerdozier · 6/10 · 14 August 2019]

It dragged on but it had good actors. So it was ok

Crimes & Misdemeanors

[adrossan · 4/10 · 18 October 2014]

I do like MsSQ's review; I liked those things too.

Tom Wilkinson gave a sterling version of the standard Aussie accent too, well done Tom.

However, even though I don't like pointing out flaws in Australian films (there aren't enough of them since our shameful PM John Howard sold us out to the US with his Free Trade Agreement)I have to make the following points:

1) We do not have a felony/misdemeanor system here as in the US.

2) Joel Edgerton can't act - at all. Give up mate, or get more emotion going on in your face.

3) Why keep dyeing your hair Joel,it's fine the way it is. The dye is never convincing and always, repeat ALWAYS, looks cheap. Ditch it.

4) The story suffers from a lack of drawing the skeins of the other police work going on around the event. What is the relevance of the raid on the factory ? What happened to the normal everyday police work going on to keep the pressure and tension going ?

5) Joel doesn't know enough about police internals to really give an accurate depiction of what goes on behind the scenes, and how actual police have protected one of their own offending. Nowhere near enough reasoning was given as to why the real offender either should or should not have given themselves up.

A credible fail; with more reality and tension, and no Joel Edgerton "acting", this would have been a world class production.

Cop movie but not a crime flick

[searchanddestroy-1 · 31 July 2017]

What a pretty good surprise this movie from the Aussies. Not a film which could be similar to thousands ones. Pretty realistic too, closer to reality than most crime features that we see everywhere. I don't remember having already watched such a very same scheme, involving a cop in a sort of hit and run affair; not exactly but nearly...It is definitely a cop show but without being a crime movie. In summary, a very unusual film which deserves to be shown.

Not bad!

[bjoernis · 7/10 · 28 May 2015]

I went to the video store and rented the according to IMDb's 7 out of 10 ranking "Snowpiercer". Went home, put it on and ended up fast forwarding the movie, ripping it out of the DVD player at 1 hour into the movie and driving back to the video store. As I threw it in the face of the clerk, I yelled: "Give me another one!!". And glad I am that he gave me this.

This is not a high octane fueled movie. This movie runs on diesel, and diesel is good. It is a slower burning fuel, but cranks out much more torque.

Good acting of the cast, a good plot and good shooting of the movie.

I like Aussie movies!

Cheers mate

Little Gem

[stylesm · 6/10 · 21 February 2021]

Edgerton is quickly becoming an Aussie favourite in my eyes. Whilst the screenplay is a little generic and predictable, the turns are solid with Wilkinson head and shoulders above the lot. The procedural element feels somewhat organic which is a very welcome change from the cringe of Aussie police dramas, I'll put that down to sound direction.

It's the Tom Wilkinson Show with a Good Script by Joel Edgerton

[LeonLouisRicci · 7/10 · 3 June 2015]

Australian Film with British Actor Tom Wilkinson Stealing the Show delivering Cynical, Sharp, and Provocative Dialog Written with an excellent Feel for the Subject by Joel Edgerton.

The other Two Lead Actors Joel Edgerton and Jai Courtney are really Not Up to the Task. Their Limitations are Glaring when placed Next to that Old War Horse Wilkinson and He Literally Blows Them Off the Screen.

They seem to Mope and Stand Around a lot and Stare, to convey Dedication and Guilt. This is a Character Study with some Concern about "The Thin Blue Line" also Known as the "Code of Silence".

Police Protecting Their Own. A very Topical Subject to Say the Least. This doesn't Involve Shooting Unarmed Suspects but is Profound Nonetheless. It Starts as a Drug Bust Action Film, but After that the Set-Up goes Nowhere but the Background, as Does another Crime Procedural about a Pedophile.

The Focus here is Clearly within the Department and the Movie is a bit Different Compared to most Modern Shoot 'em Ups. Not a Great Film but Worth a Watch for Wilkinson's Rants and a Good Story.

Authentic in its simplicity and boasting terrific performances from Wilkinson and Edgerton

[luke-a-mcgowan · 7/10 · 1 November 2015]

Felony is a remarkably unremarkable story that is all the more authentic for its simplicity. It tells the story of Mal Toohey (Joel Edgerton) who, after a hugely successful drug bust and celebrations, drunkenly and accidentally hits a small child on his paper route. Panic-stricken, he lies about finding him on the side of the road and commits himself to a story that will gnaw at him over the following days. Toohey never fools Jim Melic (Jai Courtney), a young detective with a far more experienced partner in the form of Carl Summer (Tom Wilkinson, boasting an impeccable Australian accent). Melic begins to pick apart Toohey's story while trying to impress and maintain a working relationship with his senior partner, who insists that there is no foul play.

Edgerton's film is deep in just the right places and keeps it simple and straightforward in others. The background cases - Toohey's drug bust and Melic and Summer's rapist - don't complicate the story but rather enable us to perceive each detective's view of the world. Each of the film's leads are given rich characters to work with, and the dialogue is both authentic and yet very clever - Detective Summer's monologue late in the film is perhaps the best of the script.

Jai Courtney fumbles for the most part with his inability to move his face out of its stony preset. However, there are two scenes in which he does quite well, including a terrifically awkward scene in which he shows poor judgement with the young victim's mother. Joel Edgerton excels in subtlety, as we see the guilt crawling up his skin as the film progresses. The film's highlight is Tom Wilkinson, who is every bit the loyal Aussie police officer and carries off each scene with superb authenticity and acting class. A drunken night time confrontation later in the film is absolutely spectacular.

There are a number of elements that feel underdone - the death of Summer's son is only touched on twice - and it was hard to buy the twenty-something Courtney and sixty- something Wilkinson as partners. The ultimate fate of Summer indicates that the role either adapted to his casting or was written just so it would end that way.

Felony is authentic in its simplicity and thanks to the talented performances, Australians can proudly identify it as a product of our local film industry.

What just happened?

[IdgeE · 4/10 · 9 May 2022]

I realize this movie was made almost a decade ago, but I hadn't heard of it before. I love Tom Wilkinson, anything he's in, he just makes better. So it is with this role in this movie.

Questions: What happened with the pedophile, the girlfriend, the fingerprints?

What was the deal with the boy's mother? Was she even interested in who hurt her son? Did she like the younger cop? Her character just had nothing to present, except for her crying when the boy died. That's it. Otherwise, she just made faces and basically let the men take advantage of her or just push their way into her life.

The younger cop; what was his deal? He crossed the line of professionalism by crushing on the mother, especially going to her house and trying to kiss her. Did she give a signal that she might be interested? Did he just assume that she'd fall for him, just because?

The older cop; what's with putting him in the hospital? Just to get him out the way so the young cop could arrest the perpetrator?

Why is the wife so negative? Sure, her husband confessed to hitting the child with his car, and of course I'd expect angst. But she was just weird. The actress herself has some dumb facial expressions, just watch Lie To Me and that's obvious.

It's a disappointment but I watched it through to the end because I kept hoping it'd get better. I hate that I didn't like it, but I can't help that at the end I went, "what just happened?"

"Felony": Australian Dramatic Thriller Delivers with Solid Performances

[jtncsmistad-82689 · 7/10 · 11 January 2016]

From thequickflickcritic.blogspot.com/

"Felony". A treatise on "What goes around, comes around". On doing what's right because, in the end, it's the only thing TO do. And on the age-old unwritten mandate that "Cops take care of their own."

That's a lot to bite off and chew, mate. The good news is that Director Matthew Saville and the stable of fine Australian acting talent at his behest more than pass muster here. Everyone steps up impressively to deliver a rock solid dramatic thriller with a constant current of conscience serving as it's foundation.

Namely, Tom Wilkinson is outstanding as ever, Joel Edgerton (so good in last year's "The Gift") is as dependable as fans like me have come to expect and Jai Courtney comports himself just fine, thank you. Wilkinson is the reason to watch "Felony". As great as he is, the veteran inveterate character actor continues to operate largely under the radar.

The time has long since passed that the damned radar zero in.

For more of my Movie Reviews categorized by Genre please visit: thequickflickcritic.blogspot.com/

Boring! 3/10

[leonblackwood · 3/10 · 1 March 2015]

Review: I stupidly thought that this was going to be an action movie about cops taken out the bad guys, but it turned out to be a slow drama about a highly decorated cop who has a drink with his colleagues after a successful bust, and on the way home he mistakenly clips a bike rider with his wing mirror which causes innocent young kid to crash to the floor. He then calls the paramedics because the accident looks pretty serious and the head of the investigating team decides to cover up the fatal accident and put it down to the officer finding the kid on the floor. The movie is extremely slow and it seemed to be going round and round in circles. The officer who caused the accident wanted to admit the whole accident right from the beginning so the movie seemed a bit pointless. Its all about the officers guilt and how he deals with the fact that he put this little kid in critical condition. Although it's a deep drama that deals with an emotional subject matter, I personally found it pretty boring and nothing really happens for ages. It started of quite promising, with the edgy shootout, but then it goes dramatically downhill after the accident happens. Anyway, it could have been much better if they added a bit of action but the director chose to keep it as straight drama which was a bad choice from my point of view. Disappointing!

Round-Up: I'm usually a fan of Joel Eggerton, who was great in Animal Kingdom and the Great Gatsby, but his performance in this movie was average. I think that the fault has to be with the director who didn't allow him to go deep into the tricky situation. Jai Courtney, who was terrible in A Good Day To Die Hard and Divergent, hasn't really been that impressive in his roles yet, but he still has some time to shine at the young age of 28. Tom Wilkinson on the other hand has been getting a lot of work lately and he always put in a great performance. At the age of 67 and with big movies like Batman Begins, The Grand Budapest Hotel and his emotional performance in Michael Clayton, I doubt that this small movie will hurt his reputation and in my personal opinion, he was the best thing in this film. Anyway, the whole movie was based in Australia and I'm certain that the money that was backing the movie came from Australia so maybe that's why they didn't try to make it into a big crime thriller like the Hollywood distributors would have.

I recommend this movie to people who are into their deep dramas about a cop who causes an accident after a drink with his work colleagues and has to deal with the guilt when the crime is covered up. 3/10

Subtle and gripping, Australia shows Hollywood how to do it

[pfgpowell-1 · 8/10 · 23 April 2015]

With so much high-octane expensive Hollywood dreck crowding out our cinemas, real gems such as Felony, Animal Kingdom (which also has the very excellent Joel Edgerton) and Mystery Road seem to get sadly bypassed or even forgotten. That isn't to say that Hollywood can't make good films (or that Australia can't make clunkers), but they seem to be few and far between and distributors who are obviously and understandably in it for the money seem to take the easy way out. Oh, and I really haven't seen enough Australian films to list any clunkers, but what I have seen is of an enviably high standard. Some reviewers here have bemoaned the lack of 'action'. Well, boo-hoo for them. I far prefer the subtlety of writing, direction and acting we get in Felony. Three different kind of cops, all in their way a little flawed, though not in a clichéd way, get caught up in a sad situation, an unfortunate incident which simply spirals out of control.

Edgerton, basically a decent man is persuaded by Tom Wilkinson's old-school cop to tell a lie after he accidentally knocks a young lad off his bike at night while less than sober. Add to these to Jai Courtney's young cop who feels he must do the right thing - though his motives are a tad murky - and you get a complex psychological drama which satisfies at every level. None of the characters is 'bad' or 'good', and each works in a pressured environment.

Edgerton scores double because he also wrote the script. I shall now be off to see what else he has written. If you manage to catch this and like great filmmaking, watch it.

All the guilt and drama, but not a thriller!

[sorendanni · 5/10 · 17 December 2020]

First of all, I give this film 5/10 because I don't want to break it down to the ground. Too much of my disapointment is to blame for the misleading packaging of DFW, the Dutch Blu-ray distributor. The cover of the Blu-ray shows a gray photo of cops with pistols ready to fire. On the back there is THRILLER in orange, thick letters.

Although Felony starts the action in the middle with a shooting, that a cop survives only thanks to his bulletproof vest, the film comes to a complete standstill just a little later. The cop who survived the shooting gets behind the wheel under the influence of alcohol. He hits a boy on a bicycle. An old colleague removes the burden of proof and the drunk cop is suddenly instead of a drunk perpetrator, a hero. But his conscience will not let him go.

I really felt sorry for the boy and his mother, for me this was the highlight of the movie. Nice filming! The acting was also all very neat. Also nice that we once saw Melissa George as a brunette, less fun that her role is too small. And actually we can say the same about Tom Wilkinson's role: too small for the actor's talent.

And so I come to the major pain point of this film: too little happens. And I don't mean that there is too little blood, that there are too few bullets flying around or that there is not enough fist fighting. For the action thriller that DFW would have liked to sell so badly, this would certainly have been necessary. But even for a drama there is too little tension, too little confrontation between the characters.

No, we see a lot, a lot of internal struggles with the drunken cop's guilt, and the junior police inspector's struggle for justice. And then there is the senior police detective who mainly thinks about the good reputation of his department. Fascinating, even realistic. But the long-awaited big showdown between the police officers is a disappointment.

Had turned Tom Wilkinson into a real villain, turned Joel Edgerton and Jai Courtney into two true martyrs, and given Melissa George a role worthy of her talent. And a big showdown between these characters, with a lot of violence and tension. Then I would have liked to give this film 10/10. But unfortunately...

Holy $hit what a waste of time!

[jakebrann · 3/10 · 13 May 2022]

This has to be one of the dumbest movies from start to finish that I have ever seen! The whole movie is just a big waste of time with some great actors. I kept watching waiting for there to be some exciting part, a twist, anything but it was just boring and pointless. What a waste of time and waste of some great actors. Becomes irritating to watch and then it just ends... thankfully!