Review of Ill Manors (2012) by Graham W — 02 Nov 2012

A sprawling movie that occasionally resorts to cliché but contains more than enough that is inventive to provide a great summing up of modern London. The music makes it - as you would expect from director Drew aka the rapper Plan B, also aka the persona Strickland Banks.

Riz Ahmed provides the presence of a conscience amid the venality and an ongoing cameo from John Cooper Clarke is a touch of genius - his lyrics about 'coolness' really strike a tone in an environment where those hackneyed concepts 'respect' and 'saving face' are all too present. There is violence but is used relatively sparingly and a house fire is well staged even if the denouement of that particular incident is a little too cheesy. A great first effort of a movie and by turns one that made me nostalgic as well as glad that I have left London.