Revengers Tragedy

Sid & Nancy director Alex Cox makes a bid to become Britain's answer to Baz Luhrmann with this interpretation of Thomas Middleton's 17th-century play about family, loyalty and vengeance. Christopher Eccleston plays Vindici, returning to his home city after a ten-year absence to avenge the murder of his wife, killed on their wedding day by dastardly duke, Derek Jacobi. Eccleston displays a wry wit and gleeful dementia, but he is drowned out by a glut of hammy supporting performances - model Sophie Dahl and Margi Clarke are particularly dreadful, the former playing an embarrassing Princess Diana-like martyr. Cox adds to the mess with a profusion of flashy camera techniques and clichéd imagery. He has attempted to make a futuristic black comedy but, unlike Luhrmann, Cox lacks the skill, sophistication and vision to successfully turn a period text into cutting-edge, contemporary entertainment. The result is a tedious picture that's more pantomime than progressive.