Review of Cardboard Gangsters (2017) by Lee M — 23 Sep 2018

As a welcome break from the glut of big budget summer blockbusters this week, I settled down in my comfy cinema seat to enjoy Mark O'Connor's latest offering Dublin crime drama Cardboard Gangsters. That comfort was short lived however as the raw and gritty realistic nature of a drug war raging in Darndale gripped my attention mercilessly for the next ninety minutes in what was yet another showcase for what is the thriving film making scene that exists in Ireland at the moment.

Cardboard Gangsters follows a group of young Cardboard Gangsters and their attempt to gain control of the drug trade in Darndale, chasing the glorified lifestyle of money, power and sex. Jay Connolly (Connors) is a part-time DJ and low-level drug dealer. However, when his welfare is cut off he decides it's time for him and his gang to enter the big leagues which attracts the attention of the local King Pin and sets Jay down a violent and bloody path.

Having already encapsulated festival audiences around the world, the film has won three awards at the Manchester Film Festival (Best Actor, Best Feature Film and Film of the Festival) and was awarded Outstanding Achievement in Film making at the Newport Beach Film Festival in California, It is currently enjoying a nationwide release to high critical and audience acclaim.

For those you pine for the days of TV shows like Love/Hate this film is definitely the tonic for you as the authenticity of this world is captured perfectly in the writing and direction of Mark O'Connor and a towering performance by the immensely talented John Connors who is at the forefront of all that is good in this film (it also feature Damien Dempsey in a cameo role, which can only be a positive). Galvanised by some fantastic Dublin rap music, this well made and faithful drama never glamourises it's subject matter and contains large of heart, humour and hurt resulting in hard hitting film that will leave it's audience shaken long after the end credits roll!