Review of London to Brighton (2006) by Tsz Yeung Yvonne P — 28 Jun 2008
A wonderfully dark and gritty film that feels like Dead Mans Shoes. A very simple story, a girl and a woman on the run, is transformed into a more detailed character study. At 85 minutes the film is tense and surrounded in mystery as bit by bit we are exposed to why they are on the run and why they are being chased.
The acting is fantastically real, it really does raise the quality of the overall film. Other British films such as Kidulthood and Snatch are ruined by quirky, over the top performances and stereotypically cliched dialogue.
Not here. Groome is naive and innocent yet suprisngly strong. One supporting character shows a softer side in the very british offering of a cup of tea to his captives. Spruell is also mysteriously captivating as the son robbed of a despicable father.
He plays it with an understated amount of both love and contempt. The film as opposed to being shocking is more uncomfortable. The overall tone is bleak but the message at the end is a fair one. Just about everyone gets their comeuppance.
A true great, though it does take time to settle into its shoes.
This review of London to Brighton (2006) was written by Tsz Yeung Yvonne P on 28 Jun 2008.
London to Brighton has generally received positive reviews.
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