Centurion

It’s fair to say that Neil Marshall has a pretty mixed CV. First up was flawed but fun Dog Soldiers, then came the nerve shredding excellence of The Descent (one of the most sweaty palmed experiences of the 2000’s) before a quick and sudden fall to earth with the overblown disaster that was Doomsday. Now Marshall has slipped quietly back into the mainstream with Centurion, a film that isn’t an immediate return to form, but is solid enough to hold its own. Centurion, tells the story of the Roman Ninth legion, and an incident of some dispute where some 4,000 men of the legion entered Scotland and were never seen again. Marshall ’s take is that they came across a tribe of people known as the Picts and much blood letting did ensue. Sorry, let me say that again. Much blood letting did ensue, as Marshall gets the camera right into the heart of the action as rivers of blood flow, limbs go flying and heads are decapitated. Amid the mayhem with have a mainly British cast (Dominic West and David Morrissey the best known) whilst the German / Irish actor Michael Fassbender gets the titular role. This is acted reasonably enough, with all participant's realising a degree of ham is required, despite the film trying to be as brutal as it can. One person who doesn’t get to say much though is the near wordless performance of Olga Kurylenko. Somewhat more pointless, than wordless I’d say, and a surprising decision by Marshall to have her character so, especially when you consider his background of getting strong performances from females. As this is, in effect, as chase movie, it doesn’t outstay his welcome and there is some cracking (though cold looking!) Scottish scenery to enjoy.

The OC Film Sting Final Verdict
Hard to be too critical about this, but it's very unlikely to demand further viewings. Rating: 6/10.