Review of Adulthood (2008) by Nathan R — 30 Dec 2008

Two years ago there was a hard hitting gritty British film released called Kidulthood. A drama about inner city kids and their way of life.

Adulthood it the follow up set 6 years later and not only has multi talented lead actor , writer and director Noel Clarke managed to recapture the feel of the first movie , he has managed to better it.

After Sam Peel is released from jail for killing Trife, he finds difficulty adjusting to life on the outside. He is forced to confront the people he hurt, trying to find out which one is seeking revenge on him. While Sam tries to cope with the effect his actions had on the people he knew, he finds himself being hunted by a group of young thugs, who seem to be following the same path as Sam had in the past â?? but why are they hunting him and who are they?

Sam's first day of freedom will be one he never forgets and as important in his life as the one that lost him his freedom in the first place. Sam is about to go from Kidulthood to Adulthood, if he survives â?¦.

If you read the British tabloids you would think that London was full of gun toting , knife wielding teenagers eager to kill anybody who gets in their way. Of coarse it's not true, London is no worse than any other big city but small truths like that don't sell newspapers.

Noel Clarke has made a film that brings the life of these young adults to a wider audience.

None of the characters are likable in fact they are a bloody annoying bunch . They are either using drugs , having sex or fighting and although they aren't the sort of people you would want to mix with you still somehow end up feeling concerned for their plight . Especially convicted Murderer Sam.

You don't have to have seen Kidulthood to enjoy Adulthood if enjoy is the right word to use.

It's a film to admire rather than enjoy because of it's dark nature.

The cinematography is fantastic . There are shots of London that are breathtaking but I can't see the London tourist board asking to use them!

There is one scene in particular where we seen three situations being played out on the same screen with each scenario moving in different directions. It's a very clever sequence and unlike anything I have seen before.

It takes a while to get used to the street slang that is used and times and I could have done with some subtitles myself and I'm from London !

God knows what the American audience will make of Adulthood but I was really impressed with it. Alongside "Sugarhouse" it's one of the best British movies I have seen this year.

Noel Clarke should be proud of Adulthood.

8 out of 10.