I'd agree wholeheartedly. I've just seen this for the first time on television (the rather wonderful in its way London Live). I don't mind slow movies and weak plots if in return you're given good characters and strong acting. An example is a much more recent road movie "Valley of Love" with wonderful performances from Depardieu and Huppert.
This was just nihilistic and largely pointless. "Sexy Beast" is so much better as a Brit gangsters in Spain movie.