'Luther: The Fallen Sun'- Movie Review

The British actor Idris Elba, who recently ruled out playing 007, reprises his role as Detective Chief Inspector John Luther in "Luther: The Fallen Sun," a continuation of the BBC crime drama. The feature-length movie, which is currently showing in cinemas and will be available for streaming on Netflix from March 10, allows Elba to redirect the online frenzy of his fan-casting for James Bond to his established role as Luther.

As a renegade copper investigating London's most gruesome homicides, Luther is a complex hero whose shades of grey, both in his personal style and moral compass, feel simultaneously classical and modern. Drawing inspiration from characters like Columbo and Sherlock Holmes, Luther is brought to life by Elba's screen presence, which combines rumpled gravitas with movie-star charisma.

Luther is a larger-than-life character who is brilliant yet troubled, rough yet ready, and always on the edge of darkness. He is a detective who is willing to bend the rules in order to catch killers, and his uncompromising sense of justice puts him at odds with his colleagues. Elba portrays Luther's psychological torment in a soulful manner, bringing to life the character's inner passion, rage, and pain without resorting to the obvious.

In "Luther: The Fallen Sun," Luther is last seen in police custody after the events of the show's fifth series finale. However, his latest adversary, a tech billionaire played by Andy Serkis, has leaked a dossier to the media that incriminates Luther in a range of offenses. Despite being behind bars, Luther is still the focus of the billionaire's attention as he hunts down his next victims. Luther must fight to clear his name while avoiding his former colleagues in the police force, including DCI Odette Raine and his former boss Martin Schenk.

The movie is set in a gloomy, gothic version of London where every alleyway and suburb is filled with members of a twisted rogues' gallery who are super-criminals and agents of terror. Serkis brings his expertise in motion-capture performances to the role of the sadistic billionaire who is also the head of a blackmailing operation. "Luther: The Fallen Sun" is an action-packed movie that takes the viewer on a thrilling ride with Luther as he battles to catch the killer while avoiding his own arrest.

The plot of "The Fallen Sun" may not be groundbreaking, but it's the execution that makes it stand out. Director Jamie Payne expertly balances the tension and action with moments of introspection and emotional depth, resulting in a film that is both thrilling and poignant. The film's stunning cinematography and haunting soundtrack also add to the atmosphere of dread and despair that permeates every scene.

At the heart of "Luther: The Fallen Sun" is, of course, Idris Elba's commanding performance as the eponymous detective. Elba effortlessly slips back into the role he's played for almost a decade, bringing nuance and depth to a character that could easily become one-dimensional in lesser hands. He imbues Luther with a world-weary charisma that is impossible to resist, and his chemistry with Cynthia Erivo's Odette Raine crackles with intensity.

Overall, "Luther: The Fallen Sun" is a worthy continuation of the beloved BBC crime drama, and a must-watch for fans of the series. It's a testament to Idris Elba's talent as an actor that he can make us root for a flawed and morally ambiguous character like Luther, and a reminder that sometimes the most interesting heroes are the ones who are not quite so heroic.