There is a lot to like about indie action thriller “Jackdaw,” from its bold visuals, strong lead performance, and inventive action scenes. The bones for a wickedly successful film are there, but writer/director Jamie Childs can’t quite get a hand on the character development and related emotional weight that’s so desperately needed. It takes such a long time to get going that I was disengaged before the movie even hit the 20 minute mark. That’s why the movie feels as though it’s designed to keep viewers at a distance, which is its downfall.

Set in coastal England over the course of a single... read the rest.