A Deal Is a Deal

source: A Deal Is a Deal

You're a London tube driver and you've had two 'one-unders' in as many weeks. You're traumatised but completely blameless. Then you're told about the 'Three and Out' rule; three fatal accidents within a month and you're out of a job... but with a huge pay off! What do you do? Take trauma counselling and drive very, very carefully? Or do you seek out a third 'one-under', take the cash, pay off your debts and retire to a Scottish idyll to write your novel? How far would you honestly go to achieve your dream? Well, in this macabre comedy Mackenzie Crook (from "The Office" and "Pirates of the Caribbean" fame) is willing to try anything. Even if it means encouraging the waifs and strays and down right depressed of this world to end their troubled lives under the wheels of his Tube train. Supporting Crook is "Star Trek: The Next Generation" alumni Colm Meaney along with last year's breakout star of "St. Trinian's" Gemma Arterton - soon to be seen alongside Daniel Craig in James Bond's latest adventure "Quantum of Soalce". "Three And Out" is a darkly funny tale of the perpetual loser and his fight to achieve just the merest semblance of a life.

OK, so you have had the misfortune of the accidents, and we all know that ASLEF have taken grave offence to this. And, in it's rawest form, they MAY have a point...or do they? Haven't we all watched films that portray dark things for the sake of comedy? OK, take Undertaker's Paradise (2000) for instance - the premise being that an undertaker takes to murdering a load of people to keep his business afloat, essentially for cash. Now, did the 'Undertaker's Union' get in a huff at being portrayed as salacious lovers of death? Perhaps not as i'm not sure they have a union, but my thinking is that they wouldn't have. After all, they realise it's just a film! I digress. OK, so the film starts off at a pretty fast pace with a quick set-up and launches headlong into what is essentially a moral cat-and-mouse extravaganza. But that's wherein the base of the films lies: morality and human emotion. I, like some other reviewers and commentators was surprised by this as it would seem from the posters that it's about chasing the cash, so it was a nice surprise that this as not the case. Mackenzie Crook delivers a good performance, and Gemma Arterton is adequately (and often nakedly) there for the guys, but Colm Meaney and Imelda Staunton really provide the heart-warming depth to the whole film. The interaction and emotional heartstrings that are pulled, using the lead as a vehicle for the film, really works well I feel, and gives the film some good depth, whilst the pace is kept up by the 'comedy capers' of awkward yet sweet Crook. I really do think that those who are offended by the premise should have a peek because it's really quite a sweet film with some real laugh-out-loud gags in there. One of which is Kerry Katona attempting to act, though not sure if that's intentional. I'm giving it an 8 because it makes for a good 'date' movie, and is deffo one for the girlies to enjoy...

to say that this film is great is an understatement it is brilliant. never have i seen such a mix of comedy/ drama/ romance that goes together so fantastically. the cast are excellent with Colm Meaney giving an award winning performance , newcomer Gemma Arterton is fresh & very capable. if there was a vehicle for Mackenzie Crook then this should be it. the audience is able to feel Paul's anxiety and his need for pastures new. it is extremely difficult to think of a film that has ever done such a good job at tackling what is a controversial subject. it's main plus is that the train driving is only ever a small part of the film and the majority of the running time is showing the journey Paul & Tommy go on and in the process we learn why Tommy is who he has become.

This is an entertaining British movie, kind of in the tradition of "Shaun of the Dead" (but without the zombies) or "Keeping Mum". Like those films it is a pitch-black comedy, but with a surprisingly soft heart at its center. The story is about a London tube driver (MacKenzie Crook)who has accidentally run over two people in a month and will receive a retirement pension if he hits a third. So he tries to find a suicidal candidate who will agree to jump in front of his train. Naturally, his plans go hilariously awry. He first goes on the internet and meets an extreme German pervert who wants to be eaten (making hilarious light of a very disturbing incident that really did happen in German). He finally settles on a suicidal vagrant (Colm Meaney), but before they complete their "deal", he winds up accompanying, his new associate on a trip to the Lake District to have a final reconciliation with his estranged wife and embittered adult daughter (Gemma Areton). Colm Meaney really makes this movie. He is very funny, but also a very tragic and redemptive character who really allows this movie to transcend its initial very funny, but obviously very silly, conceit to become something genuinely moving. Gemma Areton has a smaller part as his daughter, but she is both genuinely boner-inducing and really great. Frankly, her * scene is worth the price of admission all by itself, but the movie still would have been good without it. As for Crook, he is more than adequate, as is Imelda Staunton as the wife. I'd definitely recommend this one.

Firstly, I have to say that the controversy surrounding this film is totally unfounded. I can see why many train drivers and other people would object to a film about suicide (and trying to convince people to commit suicide), but if they actually SAW this film, I think they'd agree that the subject matter is handled very well. It doesn't make a joke about it and it's very heart wrenching as you delve deeper into Tommy's life as he tries to make up for the mistakes he made. In many ways, he see's suicide as a form of redemption to help his family. And just when you think it's going to have a happy ending--you'd be surprised! Overall, while I don't think it's the best British film to come out in recent years, it's certainly not a bad film in general. The acting is brilliant and the story (while a little far fetched) does follow nicely and makes the film easy to watch. If you watch this expecting a laugh out loud comedy, look elsewhere. But if you fancy a emotional, yet slightly depressing, storyline that will tug at your heartstrings... go ahead and give it a go. Don't believe the controversy surrounding this film until you've seen it, it's worth a look.

Very funny performances from main characters Mackenzie Crook and Gemma Arterton, along with the rest of the supporting cast. The film is controversial as the plot focuses on a serious issue, but the well written script means that 'Three and Out' is more of a lighthearted comedy. The soundtrack - with its mix of Irish and Rock music is also well suited to the film, fitting with the lighthearted mood. The quality of camera work and photography is good, shot in Cumbria and Liverpool there is lots of superb scenery. Overall, this is a very funny movie well worth going to see!

I saw this not knowing what to expect, and I'm glad that I didn't expect loads of laughs. I suppose it is a dark comedy if anything, but it delivered something much more meaningful, and I was hooked in immediately to the human drama that enfolded. I really wanted to know what happened to the characters, all of whom seemed 3-dimensional, and I cared about their fates. The performances were excellent, especially Colm Meaney as Tommy and Mackenzie Crook as Paul, but Imelda Staunton was wonderful as always. I wanted to see whether the characters would go through with their intentions, because several outcomes seemed possible, and the plot kept me guessing. The ending was emotional and in a strange way very satisfying, and not unrealistically optimistic either. If you are going to deal with the subject of suicide, this is a very effective and thought-provoking film and succeeds on several levels. It deserves a higher rating than it has so far.

The Christian Idea of God's Grace, the forgiveness one attains through repentance, is an optimistic stanza one assumes toward life – the absolution is always possible, no matter how great the offense. Assuming a hard working dope that's all his life tried to endure and provide, to be fair and altruistic, to love and cherish his wife and children – this dope lives and dies without love and forgiveness, because there is nothing to forgive. Next day after expiration he is forgotten. This dope, like the air, nobody notices – it is always there and is taken for granted because it is unconditionally given and always available. Consider a catholic mobster, who kills, rapes and tortures, he appears in a confession booth and in a minute is fully renewed and forgiven. No more sins and life starts anew. Same with the main character of this film, perhaps not fully forgiven but remembered, for all these years of being an egoist and a scumbag, his daughter still loves him, for all these promises, that remained unfulfilled, she missed him all these years. He's not an air to her, familiar and always accessible, rather unattainable dream, never fulfilled and always pregnant with potentiality. And after the final loss (death) he will be remembered and never forgotten as a mystery, never fully revealed. Apparently there is a golden median, were giving and appreciation go hand-in-hand, in a dynamic equilibrium – but how one finds this balance? Often, promises of eternal salvation that will follow ethical behavior obtain no evidence of the salvation while we are still alive. "Three and Out" provides no answers to these eternal questions. The title itself, reflecting narrative setup - "Run over three people in one month to obtain the ticket out of this mad house into a paradise" – does not really suggest good symbolism. Two accidental victims and, finally, last one, executed. Perhaps this is due punishment, without mercy, an execution that restores justice. "A deal is a deal" – an obligation before God and people in the game called Life, where one who not giveth should not receiveth. No mercy. But then the ending, the daughter of the executed with the executioner are now lovers. Positive: An attempt to address a human condition. The casting presents ordinary people. Negative: Trite plot – we already had seen films with very similar ideas before and similar outcomes. Characters often are not believable. Paul and Frankie are very unlikely pair and their engagement feels very forced and unreal. The film never achieves pathos that is required when addressing this kind of matters. Conclusion: The director was trying to make a film that means something – not just an entertainment. I do not feel he had fully succeeded. However, this is a serious effort, and should be treated with respect.

After so many years of waiting for a worthy British comedy since Bridget Jones' Diary, this fine piece of work came as a breath of fresh air. After watching it half way i thought they could have done better but at the end of the movie everything made sense. Well its a British movie and it is very British, it outlines dilemmas that are faced by day to day men as we all try to work smart and not hard(with less in return). It seems there has been a lot of controversy as most(tube trade union) believe that the movie is insensitive towards tube workers. One wonders, but when did the British lose their sense of humour? this a comedy! I just believe it was an opportunity for some to get onto our screens. Everyone who has been to London knows that the tube is never reliable, but thats another subject. When titanic hit the screens no one went to protest but I am sure far more people have perished in the seas. The first good movie in a decade comes out and all these sharks are coming at it in full swing, please lets give this movie some credit it deserves.