User Reviews

So, so tempting to paraphrase the legendary two-word review of Spinal Tap's "Shark Sandwich" here, but such an arch dismissal does something of a disservice to what could have been a strong, idiosyncratic movie.

Anyway, this half-baked bunch of Sh*thouse is actually one of the strongest post-Lock Stock crime capers yet, which is praise so faint that these very words are vanishing from my screen as I type them. Once you put aside the fact that the film's mere existence is thoroughly depressing (at this rate, that bone-chilling term 'post-Lock Stock' is going to outlive influenza) you are free to admire its considerable directorial panache, some large stretches of very strong writing, and, most graciously, the way that it goes out of its way to discern itself from its infantile genre brethren.

It is an odd and very stagey three-hand chamber piece, featuring lead characters whose dynamic fundamentally doesn't make any sense. A sketchy, homeless crackhead (Walters, way, way OTT) lures a dead-eyed businessman (the ever tedious Steven Macintosh) to an abandoned warehouse in central London (which, rather helpfully, has running water and electricity) in order to sell him a stolen handgun. A deranged, skin-headed drug dealer (Serkis, in a performance clearly discernible from outer space) enters the mix shortly afterwards, after discovering that the weapon in question is the very same one that had been pinched from his bathroom the night before.

After a gripping opening, this very early instant is precisely where logic runs and hurls itself out of the nearest window. This is one of those movies that simply wouldn't exist without its main character's constantly inane and illogical behaviour. The calamitous trio's entire encounter is one gigantic assemblage of excellent reasons for each of them to leave the warehouse and never return, but none of them choose to. The tables are turned frequently but to no dramatic avail; in one scene, Walters plans to shoot Macintosh and run away with his money, and in the next he's cowering, gun in hand, in a toilet cubicle whilst Macintoff struts around on the other side of it cursing noisily. And as for the resilient, smirking bond that suddenly (and I do mean suddenly) forms between them in the finale? I've seen richer and more plausible moments of emotional heft in the Naked Gun flicks.

Although large chunks of the dialogue are authentic and peppy, playwright Dominic Leyton often tries to invoke profundity and gravitas via some very silly shortcuts. The most extraordinary example of this involves Walters having a very brief, tearful rant about the intricacies of the British class system, which manages to single-handedly convince our businessmen friend not to buy the gun from him at all. Why? Because guns is bad, blud. Its a scene so misjudged and absurd that you can't help feeling terribly sorry for the actors, who all rather admirably treat the material like Chekov.

These characters are all utterly shameless archetypes (Serkis is a volatile psychopath that dotes on his family; Macintosh the privileged white wimp, in over his head; and Walters' brash demeanor masks, quelle surprise, a heart of purest gold) but the whole notion of having actual characters in a film of this type, routine or not, is something of a novelty.

So yes, this is basically yet another shallow, stupid mockney slap 'em up. But despite the relentless implausibility of it all, if it had just relinquished the pretentious and simplistic posturing, it'd be easily recommendable to fans of this sort of thing as a lazy Sunday afternoon rental.

It is, at least, stylish and occasionally interesting.

Accountant tries to locate a gun in one of the less picturesque parts of London. He meets up with a drug addict who offers to help him out. Unfortunately for all concerned the gun he wants to sell is actually the property of a well tattooed and very crazed drug dealer. From that point things rapidly spiral out of control for all concerned and nothing goes right. Unremarkable drama feels at times as if it would be better suited for the stage where the rawness would over whelm the staginess of it all. Helping things along is the rapid discovery that nothing is as it seems and a good performance by Andy Serkis. (I really like Serkis but I'm rapidly coming to the opinion that he is either a one note actor, or he has to do something to get himself better roles since almost every one he's taken is a psycho.)

best drugs movie since train spotting and best British since lock,stock. hard hitting gritty and shows life in urban Britain as real as it can be. People will watch this and see how the 'other half' live and that although we are a culture that is hard and unforgiving, we can allow for the man not use to the ways we have to live. I identified with Dee, he had nothing and knew that he had nothing. no prospects no money no house no reputation and in that environment thats makes just existing almost imposable and with a habit as well life expectancy will be low. Tom and Dee eventually find their common ground and the fact that no matter 'rich man' or crack head a broken heart and a gun is a dangerous combination. loved it great film

I think this film deserves all the credit it seems to be getting.Well-written, superbly directed and very well acted by all.I was particularly impressed by the three leading actors, Steven Macintosh, Ashley Walters and Andy Serkis who was absolutely terrifying as the psychotic, machete-wielding,ultra violent thug. Set in what is called in the UK a "sink estate" i.e a social housing estate where crime and violence abound, the film accurately depicts the ethos which prevails there.For many people illegal drugs are a way of life, either buying, selling or stealing them and violence within and outside the family is the accepted norm.Police officers are not allowed on these estates on foot and often any response by the police will consist of not less that two patrol cars.I remember that as a naive young lawyer I had to go to one such estate to interview a man who had been involved in a motor accident.When I left his house, my car was surrounded by a group of about twenty youths all carrying bottles, knives and wooden clubs.They thought I might be a "copper" - a policeman.Not a happy memory. So, well done to all involved in making this realistic, gripping and ultimately very sad film.Definitely not for the faint hearted.Don't take your mum.

This movie had one of the most brilliant performances I have ever seen by Ashley Walters. Walters gives an amazing portrayal of the conniving and mendacious living that many crack addicts live. Crack is one the most popular and dangerous drugs in society. I think it it is good for people to know the menace that drugs can be to our ill-equipped minds. We were all born with a perfectly insane mind to begin with. Just add crack and BOOM your Walter's character in no time. SPOILER Chippin away in an old broke section of the projects waiting for some dumb punters to show up so that he can lie, cheat, and steal from them. Anything it takes. Even stealing Lahood's gun. Now that is crazy..

My mate, SPOILER "LaHood" (Serkis the Berzerkis), went so Richter in his character. He's an animal I tell ya. His little Buddhist prayer can't help him are you kidding. He's off the handle. Well done mate. I am looking forward to many returns from our fine actor who played Gollum's movement and voice. SPOILER Makintosh was pretty damn good as a * as usual. He beats the hell out this stinky * bathroom with a pipe ripped from the wall and scares Mr Crack pretty good. that was pretty nice, yeah. One of my favorite scenes was where Serkis (Gollum from LOR) is snorting some yea and the Techno was playing, he was rocking out with his * out.. Great * scene there Mate.

Then after all of the tension and lots of scenes, two worlds come together and they find out that they are not that different from each other. They both have the ability to love. But somebody has to die.

I'll watch it again.