Mr. Nice deals a vice, pays the price

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Mr. Nice (2010)

While Mr. Nice may sound like the title of some light and fluffy Freddy Prinze Jr. romantic comedy, it is actually the tale of one of the most notorious drug smugglers in history. Howard Marks, a.k.a. Mr. Nice, gained great wealth through the smuggling of cannabis, however, as is usually the case, sees his world come crashing down around him.

Rhys Ifans (Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1, Hannibal Rising) stars as Marks, playing him from the time he was a young boy until he reaches his fifties. Marks was a shy youngster whose world completely changes when he heads off to study at Oxford.

Marks' roommates are quite the potheads, and Marks himself grows quite fond of both the drug and the freewheeling lifestyle attached to the scene. But after a run-in with the law, he goes straight, gets married and begins a career as a teacher.

The story doesn't end there. When one of Howard's old college friends presents him with the opportunity to unload a large amount of pot, and make a nice tidy sum while doing so, Howard jumps head first into the world of drug smuggling.

He doesn't just involve himself in the world of narcotics. Marks forms a partnership with Jim McCann (David Thewlis), a prominent member of the IRA, to facilitate the movement of all of these drugs. Britain's MI6 (James Bond's employer) is quite interested in knowing what is going on, and offers to help Marks out of any difficult situations he might find himself in, in exchange for information.

The film follows Marks through the highs, as he makes a fortune, falls in love with his wife Judy (Chloë Sevigny) and raises several kids. But the life of a drug baron doesn't stay charmed for too long, and Marks' life is no different. Marks has many opportunities to get out of the game, but whether it is out of greed or simply due to the thrill he gets out of skirting the law, he stays involved in the scene for too long, and finds himself behind bars.

Ifans (a friend of the real-life Marks) is terrific in this film. Ifans resembles a middle-aged Liam Gallagher throughout the film, although he is far less prone to engage in violent behaviour than Gallagher. In fact, Marks claims to never have resorted to violence during his smuggling days, and also refused to deal in harder drugs.

Mr. Nice is a very entertaining film. Perhaps it could have been a bit longer though. That's not something I say about many films, but this one took place over such a large chunk of time, and Marks did lead such an interesting life that at times the film did seem rushed, trying to pack too much into a two-hour running time. Another 15 minutes or so to flesh out some areas would have been welcome. Nevertheless, what is presented is quite good.

Mr. Nice arrived on home video on March 22.

Rating: 3 1/2 out of 5 stars