The action in the film calms for a while as we are introduced to American couple played by James Franco (The Interview, Pineapple Express) and Kate Hudson (Almost Famous, The Skeleton Key). They left Chicago for London after tough times during a down economy. James Franco plays Tom Wright, he has just inherited his family home from his grandmother in London and Kate Hudson is his wife Anna Wright who is school teacher having fertility problems as they try to start a new family in a foreign country. Franco is a contractor who is able to do the work on his new home himself but the expense of doing the work has put them in debt. This problem will eventually lead them down a road to hell that is paved with good intentions.
The couple becomes involved in the heist because the thief who robbed and killed one of his partners in the heist is their border and lives in their basement. He was the keep to himself kind of tenant who paid in cash every month. Since they were in debt they thought nothing of it. Until the day they found his body dead and rotting from an over dose of liquid heroin. A long with his body they find a bag with 220,000 pounds in it. They call the police but don’t turn in the money. This is when their financial circumstances begin to overtake their morals. The detective who comes to check out their scene is played by veteran actor Tom Wilkinson (Batman Begins, Selma ) He is that typical detective who is chasing down a lead but has that supervisor who always gets in his way. He won’t stop because his daughter died from drug use and he knows in his gut that this new case is connected to the dealers who dealt her the liquid heroin she over dosed on.
“Good People” is one of those “What would you do?” thrillers. What would you do if you were in debt and found 220,000 pounds in your basement? The film is rather predictable, yet still entertaining. As the film goes on the thieves come back looking for the money. The couple gets together with the detective in an elaborate plan to save themselves from their situation. There are a few creative killing scenes using a pool stick and a nail gun to get the job done. If you are looking for a film that is full of thrills and chills this may not be for you. However if you are looking for a film on demand on a night with nothing to do, this film could fit right into your schedule. It’s well acted and executed which is a testament to the director and cinematographer (Jorgen Johansson) for giving the film a look that matches the dark story line. The end is a climax of death with very graphic violence which might be worth your time.
Reel Rap - 5/10 stars