No Good Deed

Bob Rafelson's heyday may had been the 1970s but he can still direct actors who want to perform in a film rather than make movie.

In this modern take on a Dashiell Hammett story shot like low budget pulpish crime noir. It stars Samuel L Jackson as an off duty cop looking for a lost girl as a favour and he stumbles into a house full of strange people planning a robbery and is held captive.

Stellan Skarsgard is the suave leader of this motley group, whilst Milla Jovovich is the femme fatale who is playing people off one another but also acting against her will as she longs to escape from Skarsgard.

Jackson who is diabetic and likes playing the cello bonds with Jovovich who gives him insulin and she is also a talented piano player.

However the aftermath of the robbery does not go according to plan and there are double crosses aplenty whilst Jackson needs to escape his captors.

This is a film with a disparate group of characters who are caricatures, such as a dumb hothead, an elderly couple. It has good plotting, there is also a lot of character development helped by strong acting.

This is not a fast paced thriller but can be a rewarding film.