It was ok .It had interesting interaction between the characters .The main actors included Tamer Husan and Danny Dyer so you know what kind of film it will be.
16 Reviews
Pretentious, Moi!?
karl_mercer7 May 2009
This film promises much more than it delivers. I am not necessarily a fan boy of films such as Football Factory, or The Business, which portray Danny Dyer et. al. as cheeky cockney chappies who aren't nice guys but we empathise with and indeed, I applaud Messrs Dyer, and Hassan for taking a film with roles which are far more challenging and require far more acting talent than previously seen from them. They are thoroughly fantastic throughout and earned a star each in this review for their outstanding performances of what is an awful concept, and, quite frankly, script.
I do not want to include any spoilers, but it appears that this film, as mentioned by way2grimee is mere arty farty rubbish. It is a film for films sake and as such neglects the audience throughout. It appears the concept of the film drove the dialogue, and this results in a choppy narrative that has been described as 'like pulp fiction', but actually just seemed more like pulp...soggy, and with little substance. It fails to deliver any satisfying character development, leaving a total lack of empathy or understanding for the characters. I also agree with way2grimee that the sexual scenes, both homo and hetero, appear to be there for no other reason than gratuity and controversy and indeed, using cinematic suggestion the same effect on the storyline, and what scant character development there was, could have been achieved, possibly in a much better, more subtle and less brick-through-a-window fashion.
As mentioned, I am not a particular fan boy of the British gangster genre, and this therefore in no way swayed my opinion. I do like to support the British film industry, but, unfortunately it seems to be aiming to be more and more pretentious with each film. Everyone in the UK business seems to be so generically British in wanting to show the worst in everything...This film reeked of "Ooh look at how seedy London is"-ness, by someone whose experience of the seediness of London is accidentally talking to a homeless man on his way home from an organic fruit and vegetable stall at Borough Market.
Simon Fantauzzo, the writer, strikes me as someone who has spent far too much time studying film and writing itself, and not enough time on cinematography, and trying to engage the audience; as such this movie falls so flat on its face that I feel its release could easily feature on You've Been Framed. Controversial? yes, edgy? perhaps; but engaging? No way.
I do not want to include any spoilers, but it appears that this film, as mentioned by way2grimee is mere arty farty rubbish. It is a film for films sake and as such neglects the audience throughout. It appears the concept of the film drove the dialogue, and this results in a choppy narrative that has been described as 'like pulp fiction', but actually just seemed more like pulp...soggy, and with little substance. It fails to deliver any satisfying character development, leaving a total lack of empathy or understanding for the characters. I also agree with way2grimee that the sexual scenes, both homo and hetero, appear to be there for no other reason than gratuity and controversy and indeed, using cinematic suggestion the same effect on the storyline, and what scant character development there was, could have been achieved, possibly in a much better, more subtle and less brick-through-a-window fashion.
As mentioned, I am not a particular fan boy of the British gangster genre, and this therefore in no way swayed my opinion. I do like to support the British film industry, but, unfortunately it seems to be aiming to be more and more pretentious with each film. Everyone in the UK business seems to be so generically British in wanting to show the worst in everything...This film reeked of "Ooh look at how seedy London is"-ness, by someone whose experience of the seediness of London is accidentally talking to a homeless man on his way home from an organic fruit and vegetable stall at Borough Market.
Simon Fantauzzo, the writer, strikes me as someone who has spent far too much time studying film and writing itself, and not enough time on cinematography, and trying to engage the audience; as such this movie falls so flat on its face that I feel its release could easily feature on You've Been Framed. Controversial? yes, edgy? perhaps; but engaging? No way.
Not as good as recent entries
davidgduncan24 April 2010
A Danny Dyer film, with the other guy, you know, Tanner Hassan, is that right, i'm not sure, but surely a cause for celebration following the exuberant Dead Man Running. But don't be fooled, this film has none of the mockney charm that these two ragamuffins can muster. I ain't no film critic so seeing a guy masterbating to his whore neighbour might not resonate with me as it might others, but I found the whole process somewhat redundant. Give me Malice In Wonderland, give me The Business, give me any other UK gangster film other than this bunch of pointless tripe. With all due respect to the Dyer and the Hassan-meister, this ain't your best work.
Arty Farty Distasteful Student Art-School Tosh
way2grimee3 May 2009
I was unfortunate enough to watch this film thinking perhaps it was another English gangster flick in the spirit of 'The Business' having seen Danny Dyer on the cover. However, I was instead greeted by a distasteful and depressing flick lacking significant character development. Not only this but there on numerous scenes of young gay men covorting with each other with no real explanation as to why. Other themes include suicide and drug addiction but are all terribly portrayed.
If you want to see this sort of film done properly watch requiem for a dream or the korean film 'peppermint candy' starring Kyung Gu-Sol, avoid this film at all costs people, save yourself the time and painful headache, whoever made this movie needs a good councilor.
If you want to see this sort of film done properly watch requiem for a dream or the korean film 'peppermint candy' starring Kyung Gu-Sol, avoid this film at all costs people, save yourself the time and painful headache, whoever made this movie needs a good councilor.
I had a big laugh (eventually)
heartdriven19 March 2010
This was the worst, most pretentious load of absolute inane rubbish I have ever had the misfortune to watch.
Luckily, however I managed to get my £3's worth (that's what it cost in Tescos) by watching 'the making of City Rats' in the extras part of the DVD. This was hysterical. The horrible, misogynistic and clearly sexually perverted director is on the biggest ego trip of his life and has managed to drag everyone else on this production along with it like some pied piper of doom.
There are some great lines like 'I did some research - I'll miss playing Chris' (James Lance, the bloke with the bit part in Alan Partridge, on his thoroughly embarrassing portrayal of an autistic homosexual - Hoffman you are most certainly not).
'I read a lot of sh*t scripts - but they are made into a success by big Hollywood actors' - Hussan. True... but this script is the most sh*t one ever and it's only got you in it so that's even worse.
Danny Dyer said some really funny things too (in that sort of I'm trying to be a serious method actor kind of a way) and the guy out of that dull mid 90's Asian family on Eastenders definitely got the top w*nker award but I've forgotten what both of them said right now and I can't face watching it again so you'll have to check it out for yourself..
My favourite quote however is from the 1st AD (I think it was) who said... 'This is the part of the DVD you watch when you've watched the film so many times and you think there must be something else on here to watch.' I suggest he reads the first review of this film I ever read which says... 'I would rather f*st my own dead grandmother than watch this film again.'
What started as a thoroughly depressing waste of an hour and a half of my life turned into a hysterically funny evening (albeit helped by a half a bottle of Jack Daniels). Buy this DVD (but try and get it for less than the £3 I paid) and have a laugh at the expense of everyone's inflated and misplaced egotistical ramblings on the 'making of'. It just shows you what happens when a bunch of failed trustafarian film students in Notting Hill actually achieve what they have been threatening to do for the last 10 years once armed with daddy's cheque book.
Luckily, however I managed to get my £3's worth (that's what it cost in Tescos) by watching 'the making of City Rats' in the extras part of the DVD. This was hysterical. The horrible, misogynistic and clearly sexually perverted director is on the biggest ego trip of his life and has managed to drag everyone else on this production along with it like some pied piper of doom.
There are some great lines like 'I did some research - I'll miss playing Chris' (James Lance, the bloke with the bit part in Alan Partridge, on his thoroughly embarrassing portrayal of an autistic homosexual - Hoffman you are most certainly not).
'I read a lot of sh*t scripts - but they are made into a success by big Hollywood actors' - Hussan. True... but this script is the most sh*t one ever and it's only got you in it so that's even worse.
Danny Dyer said some really funny things too (in that sort of I'm trying to be a serious method actor kind of a way) and the guy out of that dull mid 90's Asian family on Eastenders definitely got the top w*nker award but I've forgotten what both of them said right now and I can't face watching it again so you'll have to check it out for yourself..
My favourite quote however is from the 1st AD (I think it was) who said... 'This is the part of the DVD you watch when you've watched the film so many times and you think there must be something else on here to watch.' I suggest he reads the first review of this film I ever read which says... 'I would rather f*st my own dead grandmother than watch this film again.'
What started as a thoroughly depressing waste of an hour and a half of my life turned into a hysterically funny evening (albeit helped by a half a bottle of Jack Daniels). Buy this DVD (but try and get it for less than the £3 I paid) and have a laugh at the expense of everyone's inflated and misplaced egotistical ramblings on the 'making of'. It just shows you what happens when a bunch of failed trustafarian film students in Notting Hill actually achieve what they have been threatening to do for the last 10 years once armed with daddy's cheque book.
Good Film..
DiSilva928 July 2009
Warning: Spoilers
I completely disagree with all of the harsh comments being thrown around about the film. I do admit that I am a lover of all Danny Dyer films and therefore an almost obsessive fan but I believe that the film isn't given as much credit as it deserves. I do however recognize the weak elements and how people were 'waiting for the action' but the fact that it may never come I believe portrays the essence of the stories and the characters.
For me I really enjoyed the different stories and the depths that they went to and I'd say that it's a film to watch. It is interesting to see the bad cases that people have to deal with everyday in London or any other city and states the truth of its' tag line that things are not always how they appear in the movies.
Heart felt stories and intriguing characters, that's why I give it a 7.
For me I really enjoyed the different stories and the depths that they went to and I'd say that it's a film to watch. It is interesting to see the bad cases that people have to deal with everyday in London or any other city and states the truth of its' tag line that things are not always how they appear in the movies.
Heart felt stories and intriguing characters, that's why I give it a 7.
My bottom set year 9 drama class could have handled the subject with more sensitivity
zoemumford21 March 2010
I must admit I did not expect too much from this film, not being much of a Danny Dyer fan. Even so, it was surprisingly dreadful and instantly forgettable. What self indulgent twaddle, containing easily the most offensive portrayal of someone with autism I have ever seen - my bottom set year 9 drama class could have handled the subject with far greater sensitivity. Quite how any of the actors were conned into associating themselves with making it is beyond me. Unless you are researching for your dissertation on the worst British films of all time, there is absolutely NO justification whatsoever in choosing to watch this. Don't let anyone persuade you otherwise.
Had the makings of a good film but done terribly
dbasson7411 July 2009
Warning: Spoilers
There were interesting points within the film, some parts were nicely shot. The acting was terrible and it seems as though some of the actors hesitated trying to get out there words sometimes and tried to say things better than they could say them, in other words, it was'nt natural acting.
The idea of the story being revolved around different lives and then some how colliding was good, although seemingly been done already (Full Frontal) an some notable others which i cannot name at the moment out of a memory block.
The director relied heavily on a lot of horizontal and vertical pans, they were trying to create an atmosphere or create the mis en scene but it doesn't work at all, if anything, it seems as though they have put these shots in their to give the film more time.
Where this film is supposed to uncover Britain's crime ridden underbelly tragically fails. So having a person dig up a body, point a gun at someone, does this really 'expose' anything new? If anything the film gives an insight into the crazy minds of some people and it almost seems that everyone in London is gay?
Im not sure why Tamer Hasan and Danny Dyer pursued this film, they were much better together in The Business which i enjoyed and i must say that I'm always on the lookout for any films where they might be in it. This film however does not show their talent off, it mocks it.
The idea of the story being revolved around different lives and then some how colliding was good, although seemingly been done already (Full Frontal) an some notable others which i cannot name at the moment out of a memory block.
The director relied heavily on a lot of horizontal and vertical pans, they were trying to create an atmosphere or create the mis en scene but it doesn't work at all, if anything, it seems as though they have put these shots in their to give the film more time.
Where this film is supposed to uncover Britain's crime ridden underbelly tragically fails. So having a person dig up a body, point a gun at someone, does this really 'expose' anything new? If anything the film gives an insight into the crazy minds of some people and it almost seems that everyone in London is gay?
Im not sure why Tamer Hasan and Danny Dyer pursued this film, they were much better together in The Business which i enjoyed and i must say that I'm always on the lookout for any films where they might be in it. This film however does not show their talent off, it mocks it.
Dark Stories of living in the Capital of the UK
alistairc_20006 November 2008
Warning: Spoilers
I had the pleasure of seeing an early screen of this movie in summer 08. This is a complex movie that has four interconnected parts telling one story of loneliness. I took it to be living in the nation's capital which can be a fractured experience.
The best segment involves the young British Star Danny Dyer. He is asked by the mother of a previous friend to help find him. What follows it a gritty expose of the underbelly of the city. I loved every minute of it and it is worth watching the movie just to see it.
Secondly there is a dark tale of a mans involvement with a person who sells love. This person is lonely and when she strike up an unlikely friendship it seems that she might finally have found a good friend.
The third tale involves a man who is depressed. He throws melons off tall buildings to see what the splatter marks. It makes you think that he is getting the nerve to see what type of mark he would make. Whilst up there he sees a woman bent on the same thing. He talks her down and then they become friends for a time. The subject matter of suicide is handled deftly by the director. It is a rather unpalatable section.
The last part is a coming of age story. I did not enjoy this segment at all. Although the women in the audience seemed to enjoy it.
This is not the happiest tale I have seen but it is very compelling. Watch it if you like good British films.
The best segment involves the young British Star Danny Dyer. He is asked by the mother of a previous friend to help find him. What follows it a gritty expose of the underbelly of the city. I loved every minute of it and it is worth watching the movie just to see it.
Secondly there is a dark tale of a mans involvement with a person who sells love. This person is lonely and when she strike up an unlikely friendship it seems that she might finally have found a good friend.
The third tale involves a man who is depressed. He throws melons off tall buildings to see what the splatter marks. It makes you think that he is getting the nerve to see what type of mark he would make. Whilst up there he sees a woman bent on the same thing. He talks her down and then they become friends for a time. The subject matter of suicide is handled deftly by the director. It is a rather unpalatable section.
The last part is a coming of age story. I did not enjoy this segment at all. Although the women in the audience seemed to enjoy it.
This is not the happiest tale I have seen but it is very compelling. Watch it if you like good British films.
Unbelievably pointless, dull and somewhat disturbing
ramyhallak6 August 2009
I'm not going to bore you with any old tattered rubbish like this film did for me.
I have the absolute utmost respect for Dire and Hassan, but this film did not suit the great roles that they usually play.
I too thought that film would have been good because of the impressive cast line up, WRONG, WRONG!, WRONG!! It was the most appalling piece of film work I had seen in all my life. To be fair some of the acting was good. However the degree of acting was greatly minimized by how terrible the storyline was. The two suicidals in the film made it depressing. The Prostitute with the Extremely Weird clients made it disturbing and the freak who wanted to love her had also added to the strangeness. Every single aspect of this film's story line had no point to it what so ever. It was Awful.
I can't stress enough how Bad, Boring and bewilderingly pointless this film is.
DO NOT WATCH THIS FILM!!!!! It's a complete waste of time
I have the absolute utmost respect for Dire and Hassan, but this film did not suit the great roles that they usually play.
I too thought that film would have been good because of the impressive cast line up, WRONG, WRONG!, WRONG!! It was the most appalling piece of film work I had seen in all my life. To be fair some of the acting was good. However the degree of acting was greatly minimized by how terrible the storyline was. The two suicidals in the film made it depressing. The Prostitute with the Extremely Weird clients made it disturbing and the freak who wanted to love her had also added to the strangeness. Every single aspect of this film's story line had no point to it what so ever. It was Awful.
I can't stress enough how Bad, Boring and bewilderingly pointless this film is.
DO NOT WATCH THIS FILM!!!!! It's a complete waste of time
Shitty Rats.
BA_Harrison19 August 2016
Danny Dyer. On the cover. Holding a gun. Must be another cockney gangster film methinks, but I couldn't be more wrong. What we have here is a dull and depressing drama in which several scuzzy Londoners cross paths during their everyday lives. No hard geezers carrying sawn-offs. No bent rozzers taking a bung. No suited and booted chancers ducking and diving. Just a whole lot of suicide, sex, murder and drugs, with a masturbating artist, a crippled hooker, a drunken ex-con, a mother looking for her dead son, a self destructive man and woman, and a gay autistic deaf bloke looking to get laid with a little help from his brother. While all of this sounds like the recipe for a sleazy slice of fun, the drama is played out in a very measured (ie., boring) manner, and frequently enters pretentious art-house territory, meaning that most Dyer fans will think it's a load of old pony. I did.
Absolute Rubbish
djkbee25 June 2013
Such a waste to see Danny Dyer go from the likes of The Business & Football Factory to films like this. Another great actor in this Tamar Hassan - a complete waste of a film for him to be in to.
It is honestly THAT bad, I'm not being harsh at giving this a 1 I'm being real. You'll understand if you chose to sit through this boring garbage... the first 20mins should give you enough of an idea that your in for a complete waste of time. Avoid this one you have been warned. Instead flick through my other reviews of UK based films and maybe chose one of them that have above 5 stars to watch instead of this mess.
It is honestly THAT bad, I'm not being harsh at giving this a 1 I'm being real. You'll understand if you chose to sit through this boring garbage... the first 20mins should give you enough of an idea that your in for a complete waste of time. Avoid this one you have been warned. Instead flick through my other reviews of UK based films and maybe chose one of them that have above 5 stars to watch instead of this mess.
A tale of Watermelons
otaviorl1 May 2009
Warning: Spoilers
The movie starts strong, opening with a dream of a character that quickly reveals to us the dark, gloom full tone of the movie. A man walking about with a watermelon, going to a rooftop to throw it down "Just to see what happens".
Despite the dark mood, what the movie shows is life persisting against all odds in an extremely hostile and cold environment - be it traveling in elevators with watermelons or traveling between tall iron and glass giants, it is as if there was no curiosity, not a single breath left in the city. It depicts the dying side of the city and quite frankly, in all of us. Watermelons deciding whether we are to jump or not from the rooftop.
This is not a happy story - for some. It shows us how easy it is to misjudge people, it shows how actions carry consequences and... it shows that it is never too late to redeem ourselves, by digging out our sins just so that we can be forgiven.
From suicide to sex, from murder to prostitution, this movie really is all about one thing and one thing only - people connecting with people. The general underlining tone is that, no matter how oppressive things are, there will be those who can give unto us love, companionship and friendship. All loose ends can be connected - 'all that I want is to speak with a real person'.
Despite the dark mood, what the movie shows is life persisting against all odds in an extremely hostile and cold environment - be it traveling in elevators with watermelons or traveling between tall iron and glass giants, it is as if there was no curiosity, not a single breath left in the city. It depicts the dying side of the city and quite frankly, in all of us. Watermelons deciding whether we are to jump or not from the rooftop.
This is not a happy story - for some. It shows us how easy it is to misjudge people, it shows how actions carry consequences and... it shows that it is never too late to redeem ourselves, by digging out our sins just so that we can be forgiven.
From suicide to sex, from murder to prostitution, this movie really is all about one thing and one thing only - people connecting with people. The general underlining tone is that, no matter how oppressive things are, there will be those who can give unto us love, companionship and friendship. All loose ends can be connected - 'all that I want is to speak with a real person'.
A bit uneven maybe, but still an impressive character study
wellthatswhatithinkanyway17 July 2009
STAR RATING: ***** Saturday Night **** Friday Night *** Friday Morning ** Sunday Night * Monday Morning
London is a city full of people, moving about in droves, with little time for each other, facing straight ahead and barely noticing each other exists. From the top looking down below, people might well appear like 'rats', scurrying about to whatever garbage bin has attracted their attention. No one appears to have the time to look in the more solitary corners and see the sorry state of affairs going on there. In short, it's a terrible place to be lonely and stared down at. Yet the main characters presented in City Rats, each one linked to each other in some way which we find out about as the story goes on, prompt the sort of contempt which makes us inflict this grim fate on them but as events roll on, we are forced to see them in a different light and see less judgemental reasoning for how things turned out like they did for them. Starting with the ex drug dealer trying to buckle down to an honest living who is approached by the mother of a guy he used to know to help track him down, we move on to a wife beater separated from his family who whiles away his time dropping water melons from tall buildings and sharing phone sex with a crippled prostitute who finds herself the interest of a poet who lives on the floor below her. Meanwhile, a man takes his deaf, autistic brother on a tour around seedy Soho to help him lose his virginity and come to terms with his homosexuality.
Maybe we don't have the best actors to play them, but this is still a very impressive character study, that has a clever use of atmosphere, mood and soundtrack to engross us in what's going on. The whole 'water melons dropping from a building' thing is a bit weird and not explained properly but Tamer Hassan's character develops the most, with his relationship with a similarly suicidal young woman which has a devastating, abrupt conclusion. A small film with some flaws, but enough going on beneath the surface to make it shine. ****
London is a city full of people, moving about in droves, with little time for each other, facing straight ahead and barely noticing each other exists. From the top looking down below, people might well appear like 'rats', scurrying about to whatever garbage bin has attracted their attention. No one appears to have the time to look in the more solitary corners and see the sorry state of affairs going on there. In short, it's a terrible place to be lonely and stared down at. Yet the main characters presented in City Rats, each one linked to each other in some way which we find out about as the story goes on, prompt the sort of contempt which makes us inflict this grim fate on them but as events roll on, we are forced to see them in a different light and see less judgemental reasoning for how things turned out like they did for them. Starting with the ex drug dealer trying to buckle down to an honest living who is approached by the mother of a guy he used to know to help track him down, we move on to a wife beater separated from his family who whiles away his time dropping water melons from tall buildings and sharing phone sex with a crippled prostitute who finds herself the interest of a poet who lives on the floor below her. Meanwhile, a man takes his deaf, autistic brother on a tour around seedy Soho to help him lose his virginity and come to terms with his homosexuality.
Maybe we don't have the best actors to play them, but this is still a very impressive character study, that has a clever use of atmosphere, mood and soundtrack to engross us in what's going on. The whole 'water melons dropping from a building' thing is a bit weird and not explained properly but Tamer Hassan's character develops the most, with his relationship with a similarly suicidal young woman which has a devastating, abrupt conclusion. A small film with some flaws, but enough going on beneath the surface to make it shine. ****
A witheringly bleak, downward-spiraling, multi character, inner-city, existential nightmare!
Weirdling_Wolf28 August 2020
This little-seen, poorly regarded, conspicuously grungy British Indie melodrama features top Lahnden sleazers, the priapic, potty-mouthed Diamond Slags of 'The Business', and this time out, Danny Dyer & Tamer Hassan credibly play against type, delivering career best performances in, Steve Kelly's witheringly bleak, downward-spiraling, multi character, inner-city existential nightmare, 'City Rats' (2009). A suitably sordid, superbly acted ensemble piece that greatly deserves far more of a nod than it currently receives. So, if you should ever care to take a butchers at some of the more debased creatures lurking within London's seamy underbelly, 'City Rats' provides a rather stark, if not exactly edifying overview of their tawdry travails!
Outside of its relative obscurity, 'City Rats' adds a singular 'oddness' to the all-too familiar milieu of London's oft-romanticized criminal underclasses that, for me, makes, Steve Kelly's downbeat drama a wholly unique experience! And it would be entirely remiss of me if I didn't mention the gutsy performance given by the fabulous, Susan Lynch as the disabled prostitute, 'Gina'. As someone who has spent much of his adult life in a dark place, some of the themes explored in 'City Rats' rang uncomfortably true, and it's a shame that the swarthily handsome Hassan's robust performance as a morose dipso has been ignored, and if no one else, Bukowski woulda dug on this one!
Outside of its relative obscurity, 'City Rats' adds a singular 'oddness' to the all-too familiar milieu of London's oft-romanticized criminal underclasses that, for me, makes, Steve Kelly's downbeat drama a wholly unique experience! And it would be entirely remiss of me if I didn't mention the gutsy performance given by the fabulous, Susan Lynch as the disabled prostitute, 'Gina'. As someone who has spent much of his adult life in a dark place, some of the themes explored in 'City Rats' rang uncomfortably true, and it's a shame that the swarthily handsome Hassan's robust performance as a morose dipso has been ignored, and if no one else, Bukowski woulda dug on this one!
Keep watching.
craigtheviking30 March 2022
See also
Awards | FAQ | User Ratings | External Reviews | Metacritic Reviews
