Review of 4.3.2.1 (2010) by Meredith W — 30 Apr 2014

Written and directed by Noel Clarke (Kidulthood (2006) and Adulthood (2008)), this crime thriller owes a lot to Akira Kurosawa's Rashomon (1950), which focused on a crime and it's aftermath from different perspectives.

While this is a good thriller, it does fall into the cliches that comes with British crimes films like this. However, it all comes together in the end, sort of. Just don't expect anything sophisticated.

It follows the exploits of 4 friends, Shannon (Ophelia Lovibond), Cassandra (Tamsin Egerton), Kerrys (Shanika Warren-Markland) and Joanne (Emma Roberts) and how one encounter with a gang changed 3 days in their individual lives for them.

Shannon finds her Mum (Kate Magowan) leaving home for a younger man, and then getting mugged for the contents of a packet of Pringles. Cassandra goes to New York to meet her internet boyfriend and to audition for a college placement.

Kerrys ends up locked in a panic room by a gang looking for lost diamonds, while Joanne finds herself working late shifts at her families corner shop. Then the gang arrive. It's got a sense of fun about it, but it is quite dark, especially when it deals with themes like rape and muggings.

However, it does have a good cast, with some familiar faces making some appearances, especially during the New York sequence. It set the scene for a sequel, which won't happen due the film flopping.