maj_kill
This is a great film. It shows people how life is spent at prison, and it also shows how the system works. English Frank played a great role alongside Scorcher. They both showed rivalry. Mic Righteous also seemed to be in this film, he has great future ahead of him, Mic Righteous's appearance was very good for him, because its easy for people to recognise who is his. This film is fantastic and i hope similar films release. I hope people recognise this film. This film doesn't only deserve awards, it also deserves more people viewing it. it is mainly because of viewers films get noticed. I humbly request viewers to watch this film. Remember it might be because of you thing might change for the people that are being discriminated. I am happy to right such a review on this film. I hope this film gets bigger and bigger. Majid Rahman Twitter: Majid_killa
skinhead-5
It's no quite Scum but this it is more of an updated version for the 21st Century.Alright, it's nothing like that in Borsral (YOC), you simply just don't wander a prison like that. You can clearly tell that the building is made up and done for film impact.Joe Cole is the shiner here, he carried it all off with an element of realism (I know people like him) but English Frank character is very strange indeed. He has a very unusual gait that makes him walk around like a penguin and speak like he has golf balls in his mouth and spends the whole film pouting. I am not sure that if the directors filmed him like that or it was a chosen style but in some places it's a bit ridiculous and comical.The filming style is very good though, some shots seen to over exposed or frame dropped to give it that technique first seen in 28 days Later. It's the mixture of this and standard shots that makes it good to watch.The violent scenes are well done and the attack on the jewellery shop is excellent as I have seen this happen on the Roman Road in East London.The other actors are pretty good as well and having wandered around estates in London people really do talk like that. I think someone took a bit of time studying accents and mannerisms and for once didn't hold back no matter how strange this talk may seem to middle class UK.Its a good twist on the Scum, but if you are trying to get parallels to Scum you won't. It's different, more realistic albeit the sets and locations are totally false. It also didn't stay clear of issues like Muslims been Muslims just to get extra facilities which was good. Although I was surprised they stopped short of a rape scene that is seems mandatory for this genre but you can assume it happens with the shots of Tommy in the solitary confinement.Worthy of a Blu Ray.....
January39
For those old enough this is kind of a Scum remake (just not quite as good), our lead loses his girlfriend after she miscarries their baby and he wants revenge on the criminals who (possibly) caused it... How does he do that? Gets banged up so he can beat them up.Our lead is then banged up and so begins his quest to avenge his girlfriend, tackling the bad guys one by one without them knowing who or what is doing. Thrown in the bent guard who enjoys partying with the bad guys and you get the picture. It's him against the world. His story is told through a series of flashback and dreams and other than that you never really get to know him... Yes, it sounds dodgy but give it time and it is actually quite good, the lead plays the part well - you can never really work him out as to whether he is a crazy or just really angry and on the edge. The supporting cast are a little weaker, not bad just weaker.There are also scenes where truth and realism take a back seat - like the 2 ZX10 bikes they have, how did they obtain 2 bikes in the same colour in the same place at the same time during the riots all with matching helmets!? - and better yet they can ride them like demons! Then after the attack on the shop they nick another car (BMW this time) and drive to the shop for reasons we never find out, only to encounter the police investigating the crime - really, what a surprise!!! Would any aspiring criminal (been doing since he been Sh**ting rusks, apparently) do that? I doubt it. I could not help feeling that the burglary got shoehorned in at the last minute to beef up the menace of the gangsters...Overlook these small flaws and give it a chance and it's a pretty good film. I doubt it will win awards or Oscars and we probably will never consider it a classic BUT it does draw you in, you do care about the lead and if we rated films on how believable they are (aside the small errors) then this film would do better than most blockbusters.6/10 for me, only just though...To sum up, give it a chance and you might be surprised!! I have a feeling we might be seeing more of the lead in the future.
smspencer69
I was intrigued as to why this was scoring so low on IMDb yet there was a suspicious lack of scaithing reviews - a film that is so hated usually inspires a few rants, yet nothing. So I decided to judge for myself.I've read comparisons to Scum and Prophet, obvious comparisons due to the location being in a borstal, but as the story was of a man seeking vigilante justice comparisons to Death Wish and the totally implausible Law Abiding Citizen spring to mind.Tommy his a hard working youth who's starting a family with his girlfriend when his life is turned upside down by a gang of four armed robbers. It seems clichéd but at least the back story is not quite as obvious as it appears on paper as you learn how Tommy got to this point with just a hint of the man he is on the outside through flash-backs. Now if you can believe the slightly unlikely main plot device that Tommy can commit a crime to get sent to both the same jail and wing as the men/boys he wants justice from then you can buy in to the story - as far as I'm concerned that is the only weak point.Joe Cole is convincing as Tommy, a man who's world has been turned upside down and has gone to extreme lengths to rid himself of the guilt and anger he feels. There's a strong cast who bring a believability to these characters and the portrayal of borstal is grim and harsh yet feels very real.The were 18 people in the 16:40 Monday afternoon showing I went to and none walked out. I don't think it's a classic but I gave it a 7/10 and would recommend to anyone who likes a decent British movies along the lines of Ill Manors and Kidulthood to go and see it whilst it's still showing.
AD
