Hummingbird

A traumatised ex-soldier fleeing a court martial goes to ground in London in this Jason Statham vehicle from Eastern Promises writer Steven Knight. The underworld - and a spot of vengeance - soon beckon and, needless to say, Statham biffs a few villains en route. But he also proves he can convince as a troubled, volatile individual rather than just delivering the tight-lipped, fleet-footed action turn expected by his fans. Curiously, his performance is about the most believable thing in the film, since Knight - here also making his directorial bow - stretches credibility beyond breaking point with a romantic subplot involving Agata Buzek's charitable East European nun. Evidently, Knight's intention is to weave a modern Dickensian fable of unexpected encounters in the capital's great melting pot, but the story takes too many liberties to satisfy. Kudos to Statham for having a go, but this is fitfully successful at best.