A single mother (Andrea Riseborough) working for the IRA and living in Belfast with her equally involved brothers is picked up by a government agent (Clive Owen) and pressured to act as an informant after her part in a subway attack goes awry. In Shadow Dancer, director James Marsh, whose greatest successes have come in the documentary format (Man on Wire, Project Nim), presents a generally well made, character driven thriller which is greatly undermined by a stupid, completely unnecessary plot twist. The unfamiliar Riseborough is superb in an affecting, complex performance as is Owen who lends his usual, competent turn.
