Atonement in action

Little has changed with Redemption. But, where Statham is different from muscle-bound heroes such as Stallone, Van Damme and Schwarzenegger is that his films boast more substance.

His character here, Joseph Smith, is recovering from a mental breakdown after a stint in Afghanistan, something that is glimpsed in flashbacks partly shown as a drone surveillance video. He deserted and went underground. Now he’s a homeless, haunted veteran on the surveillance-camera-covered streets of London, drinking copious amounts of cheap alcohol to help him forget what happened.

Teenager Isabel (Bewick) is his companion up to a stage where a couple of hoodlums, who prey on the homeless, rob him and snatch her. He aims to get her back. Sister Cristina (Buzek) runs the soup kitchen where he eats on those nights when he’s sober. She’s his comfort and his confessor. When he gains entry into a posh apartment and realises the owner won’;t be back for months, it is she whom he tells. He manages to take refuge in the apartment, lying low and healing his body and soul, while wearing the owner’s clothes and driving the man’s car.

The film is awash with coincidences, which can be overlooked as Statham, using his many physical skills, sets about changing people’s lives.

Writer-director Steven Knight plays moral games throughout this tale of redemption. The nun accepts money from Joe, but remains tormented about spending it on ballet tickets. Joe steals from the unseen owner of his flat, but his job as an enforcer allows him to pay the man back.

Statham, as always, is fascinating. For the first 15 or so minutes the character doesn’t utter a word. When he does, he doesn’t make speeches.

And while the script loses track of the main thread, it embraces some awkwardly charming scenes between nun and enforcer. Even in the fights – which are savage affairs – there are comic touches. Statham fans will find much to savour here.