The Courier

The major claim to fame of this weak action film is the musical score, which is credited to Declan MacManus (the real name of musician Elvis Costello). Set in Dublin, the story follows Mark (Padraig O'Loingsigh), a motorcycle-riding courier, who locks horns with a drug dealer named Val (Gabriel Byrne), after his friend Danny is killed, and he discovers that the courier service he works for is just a front for Val's heroin ring. Danny's sister (Cait O'Riordan, who is in real life the wife of Elvis Costello) joins forces with Mark: romance blossoms, and justice is served. Music is used with regularity to cover up gaping plot holes, and the dialogue ranges from sappy to just plain dumb (the climactic moment of the film is a howler, as Val holds Mark over a balcony--with a sawed-off shotgun to his throat, no less-- and the detective deadpans: "Val, just cool it."). Not recommended. (R. Pitman)