Mr. Nice

Bernard Rose directs this rambling biopic about notorious drug trafficker Howard Marks (Rhys Ifans). Raised in Wales, Howard's good grades lead him to Oxford, where he discovers hashish. After obtaining his degree, Howard marries, moves to London, and becomes a teacher. But then a friend (Jack Huston) persuades him to make a drug run. Says Howard in his voiceover, “I didn't set out to be a dope dealer. It isn't something I'm proud of.” Worse yet, he admits, “I tried to smoke it all.” Just as his marriage is coming to an end, he meets Judy (Chloë Sevigny), a shopkeeper, and Jim (David Thewlis), an IRA gun runner, who become his allies. Soon, his globe-trotting between Europe and the Middle East captures the attention of an Oxford chum (Christian McKay) who recruits him to spy for MI6; but when an American deal goes bad, Howard and Judy hit the road with their baby girl, and he adopts the pseudonym Mr. Nice. While it's an engaging story and Ifans is solid in the title role, Mr. Nice ultimately feels strangely stagnant, as if Rose were dutifully ticking off boxes along Marks's journey from respectability to notoriety. Still, this should be considered a strong optional purchase. (K. Fennessy)