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Of course, Marks inevitably gets caught (this should come to no surprise to anyone who's watching a biopic on a giant drug smuggler), but it's not the mystery of when and how he'll get caught that keep the movie's momentum going, it's the relationship he forms with his girlfriend (Chloe Sevigny) and his children. At heart, Marks is just a likable dude who loves his family, and it is his relationships with them that give the film its heart and emotional pull.
Mr. Nice isn't a hit-you-over-the-head epic biopic. It's subtle and nuanced. It is hella entertaining and wickedly funny in some parts due to the wonderful performance of Ifans. While he's been wholly a supporting player in comedies, he truly shines in this dramatic part. He brings depth and warmth to Marks, almost as if he has been playing him his whole life. Sevigny is okay as his ladyfriend and eventual wife in a kind of stilted accent. She could have been played by any actress really. But, like Ifans, Thewlis also turns out a stellar performance as the wacky and psychopathic IRA member. His character is even more over-the-top than Marks, as he constantly on the run, brandishing guns at every turn.
Mr. Nice is a well-developed picture with emotional depth and great performances. Here's hoping it makes Rhys Ifans a bigger star over here.