Best Laid Plans (2012)

So much average

It's entirely possible that sending the audience out feeling lousy was intentional

This is a coming of age storyline that you've seen in one form or another for decades. It takes a truly unique voice to make yet another one worth watching.

The movie's neither hopeful in contrived ways, nor hopeless in different contrived ways. Somehow it manages to be wonderful

"Best Laid Plans" is a gripping film loosely based on the Steinbeck novel "Of Mice and Men". Don't worry, the story differs considerably enough that nothing is spoiled if you're up on your Steinbeck. The story is woven around an odd pair: the mentally challenged gentle giant "Joseph" (phenomenally played by Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje, whom you may remember as the very different Mr. Eko in "Lost") and his guardian, the small-time crook "Danny" (Stephen Graham).The two seem to have a modestly idyllic life, pulling off small capers to make a living and fishing at the local canal. But due to Danny's involvement with the wrong crowd, he gets into a jam where the only way out is for him to submit his buddy Joseph to a very brutal criminal occupation.The character development and evolution of each man is what makes this interesting to watch. Danny is plagued by guilt for what he is doing to his friend and slowly descending into drug abuse (coke, not meth like in my title--but hey, clever wordplays don't come easy). Kind-hearted Joseph is profoundly altered by the violence he is subjected to. At the same time, each man finds his own love interest, each woman mirroring the harshness and innocence of the 2 men."Best Laid Plans" runs the full spectrum of bleakness, brightness, darkness and charm. It begins with a mildly comedic scene but quickly turns heavy when we realize what is at stake. From then on, the film gets heavier and darker, but it remains peppered with some charming & heartwarming scenes involving Joseph. The extreme contrast makes the film unpredictable, suspenseful and sometimes beautifully disturbing. It's the director's ability to mix the two extremes--beauty & brutality--that makes this a poetic experience. If you like character-driven stories set in a tense, gritty environment, then check this one out.By the way, if you happen to be a pitbull lover (the dog, not the rapper), definitely check this out because it makes a great metaphor for those gentle, lovable mutts who, simply due to their physique and eagerness to please, are subjected to human brutality just like Joseph. I'm sure the metaphor can apply to many things as well. This film will keep you thinking for a long time.

I watched this film as it was set in Nottingham and I wanted to see how many places I recognised. And that was basically all that held my interest in this film.I do wonder why people go through all this trouble of getting actors and film crew together etc but along the way seem to forget that the film needs a script as that may allow for some character development and empathy from the viewer.As they forgot to incorporate a good script, you are left with the usual clichés of the underworld with a highly unrealistic unbelievable improbable story-line. Running alongside all that you have this rather strange - and I think they thought this was clever - romance thing between the carer chap and prostitute juxtaposed with the apparent innocence of Joseph and Isobel - the mentally disadvantaged couple.I think the cast was pretty good but if they got rid of that silly cage fighting stuff and concentrated on the development of those highly improbable relationships and to make those actually have some meaning then that would have been quite an achievement. But sadly blood and gore is what makes people tick and in this film it just wasn't necessary.

First of all, let me say that there is a certain statement of fact to be made about 'Best Laid Plans' and it is this. If you have any appreciation or respect at all for the medium of British Independent film, then the sleeve credits alone will ensure that you simply cannot pass this one by. I say "will ensure" because "should ensure" in this context would quite simply be a redundant phrase.Credits do not of course guarantee that any film will live up to its promise, but realistically speaking, anybody who loves and understands this genre and appreciates the luminaries within it would be a fool to bet against the credibility of the acting and directional talent gathered here. Which is why it is interesting and refreshing to hear the views of a couple of American critics on this platform, and equally why one British critic, puzzling though his observations are, is probably better ignored. Not that I wish to dwell too much on the critique of other critiques, it's just that this film delivers so much bang for what was probably its buck, and does it on so many levels that it is difficult to imagine where such scathing detraction could possibly come from. The leveller here is a simple one, if you don't like this movie... then you just don't get it. First and foremost, what we have here is a damned good story. Start with a big black guy carrying a washing machine and wonder where on earth this could possibly be going. What you get is an intriguing premise, with even more intriguing sub-plots woven into it, no spoilers coming here by the way... see the movie. An often unavoidable truth with independent cinema is that in return for that elusive damned good story, it is never by any means certain (given the absence of Hollywood's millions) that you are going to get any icing on your cake. Yet in this regard "Best Laid Plans" exacts itself as a true David to Hollywood's flabby Goliath. Take some Ken Loach style social realism, throw in some Nick Love style menace, some convincingly stylised violence, and not one but two touching love stories. Then start dealing with some deep themes,like isolation, greed, relationships, and while you're at it why not be audacious enough to examine the concept of love, with stark honesty and through a slightly skewed lens? Why not indeed? This is a brave piece of storytelling and you really don't get away with this kind of stuff without a pretty slick script and a bunch of stellar performances from a gifted cast. Chris Green is definitely one to watch in terms of the former.I would equally have to concede some understatement in comparing David Blair with any other director. Since he has clearly taken both script and cast and made the whole thing fly. So there must be a downside...perhaps the shooting? Nope, it's all dark and brooding when it needs to be and bright and evocative when it doesn't. So you may want to consider for a minute the ruminations on the philosophical themes of lost souls, complicated relationships and life's meaning at, let's say the estimated $32,000,000 price tag at which "Tree of Life" came in.Hell of a lot of icing there... but not much in the way of cake. And then see this gem and be thankful... because Hollywood would simply have ruined it.

A really good movie .. The characters are 99% The script does not ruin it ..It's a really good performance .. The story is whole ....It kept me at least 99% through the whole movie...If the score is from 1 to 10 . i will give it about 8.4 .. but there are of course things u have to get by .. meaning ... slow beginning.. but the movie is great. I recommend it .....It is a movie about .. when men/women .. are faced with no choice at all