Great casting in authentic ‘Mr Nice’

Director: Bernard Rose

Cast: Rhys Ifans, Chloe Sevigny, David Thewlis, Andrew Tiernan, Elsa Pataky

Cert: 18

Never an obvious leading man, Ifans grabs the opportunity to take centre stage as the real life Howard Marks, one of the foremost drug dealers of the 1960s-70s – during which he is said to have controlled 10% of the international hashish market - and a bit of a fantasist (references to him being a spy and a music promoter).

Marks spent seven years in prison and emerged to campaign for the legalisation of cannabis.

Rose takes his story and has wisely selected Ifans to play Marks (the actor is, in fact, a long-time friend of the man he portrays) in a film that combines archive footage with the dramatisation of the plot. It is a film full of stylish authenticity.

The casting is perfect, even if Sevigny doesn’t have much to contribute as the eventual Mrs Marks, the story is interesting and Ifans emerges with credit.

Star Rating: 4/5