Bullet Boy (2004)

While it doesn't offer any answers, it both thrills and makes you think.

It is neither dumb nor smart enough to be fun, and spends way too much time with its boring human characters.

The joyful confection is coated in a sparkly gloss, bright enough to gleam from the darkest, most cynical corners.

By the time the dramatic fireworks start popping off, each one feels earned.

Most homicides are solved in the first 48hours. A procedure to solve homicides is to back-track the last 48hours of a victims life. That's what this movie is. The lead character gets out of jail and is picked up by his doomed friend. Who speeds and drives recklessly getting them in an accident. The accident leads to a confrontation that they back down from. once word get out they back down, they must do something to defend their honor. Things get way out of control from there. The hand-held NYPD blue camera style is great. Well acted the character and events were believable, the way this played out in MANCHESTER (gunchester)is the same way is played out in ATLANTA, COMPTON, my CITY, and everywhere else where young men fight and die to protect their "REP".

"Gritty," "real," "uncompromising," "hard-hitting," just some of the buzzwords that I've heard and read in the description of what, ultimately, turns out to be, or at least attempts to be, social commentary on street culture in 21st century London.Whilst the film very much lives up to the aforementioned words (something British titles are always generally very apt in), I can't help but feel like I was cheated out of an actual story and instead presented with an 80 minute advertisement on how bad the pitfalls of the gun. To me, the entire movie was a bit of a waste; devoid of wit, humour and or any form of actual derision, we get taken through a series of one depression invoking scene to another. The melon coli that consumes and drives the film forward only helps to underwhelm one further in what, we already know, is already going to be a pretty morbid outing. A sense, or feeling of hope wouldn't have went a miss either, but with the premise being so linear and uncompromising, these are areas that were either sacrificed or merely completely forsaken, which ultimately proves to be a bit of a shame.The importance of the weapon in question becomes so overwhelming, that I feel it, this inanimate object, has much more dimensions than any one of the films main protagonists: It goes from a reminder of an ex con's past, to a secret that must be kept hush, to a thing of power, intimidation and hegemonic dominance, to a child's play thing and finally to a hot potato, all the while destroying each and every thing in it's path, dividing families, ending relationships and every other inevitable cliché that comes with the arming of the gun; unoriginality personified.Whist I wasn't particularly taken with the premise, or in fact what the film was supposed to be alluding to, I did find solace in the performances of the two primary characters.Ashley Walters, of "So Solid Crew" Fame, gives a noteworthy performance as Ricky, just released from prison and seemingly trying to get his life on the straight and narrow. Whilst totally believable in the role I feel the lack f direction the character was given and the writing put in front of Walters was bitterly disappointing. As the main protagonist I wanted, so dearly, to get behind his character but time after time he drew nothing but scorn from me as he seems far too content to lay stagnant in his own mediocrity and overtly abrasive whenever challenged. Whilst I see this as very much the teenage stereotype it didn't really help to teach me anything I wasn't already aware of, nor did it help to bring anything new to the plate. Plus, the end scene didn't have quite the impact I think the director was attempting to build toward as it was nothing short of inevitable. Rather than do the 180 you hope to see from this type of character we don't even see him undertake a 360 and instead he remains very much still and whilst he does air his objections to the gun at points, he seemingly learns little and develops in a manner that is very frustrating.Luke Frazer, playing Walters' younger brother, Curtis, is equally compelling as the starry eyed, awe-stricken admirer of Walters. Eager to copy his brother at every turn Frazer was both believable and convincing in the way he went about the task. Thanks to the way the story developed and the characters panned out, it was his journey that, ultimately, became the most interesting of the pair, as this impressionable youngster becomes so emblazed in admiration that tragedy almost befalls the boy within the film. It is a testament to Frazer (and the direction of that whole 10-20 minute period) that at a point when my frustration was really starting to take hold, he pulled me back in and, at once, had me round the proverbial gonads, yearning for things to work out for the kid. Understated, but very, very thought evoking.All in all, a film that works because of the performances from the above two parties, as nothing else was particularly stand-out; familiar premise, familiar characters, familiar feel and all-too familiar sense of being preached to rather than being educated.I'd recommend giving it a look and appreciating the performances - and, to it's credit, I can see a lot of people clinging on to the fact that the movie is "real," "cool" and or "exactly like me and my mates" - but not a film I'll be in a hurry to see again anytime soon and I can't help but feel it was an opportunity wasted.

*Possible spoilers* As I left the auditorium after seeing "Bullet Boy", I had a feeling of surprise and anger.Surprise because a film that I expected to be indulgent and over-done turned out to be an immaculate and extremely well analysed piece of storytelling. And anger because of the films theme, how they reflect our time perfectly, it's a loud wake-up call done with a desperate and expressive voice – one I haven't heard in a very long time.The action takes place in the edge of Hackney, London's most run down borough; in this borough is the infamous "Murder Mile". 19 year old Ricky (Ashley Walters) finishes serving his time at a young offenders institute while his ironically named best friend Wisdom (Leon Black) and his younger brother Curtis are waiting so they can take him home. From this drive-home we can tell that Ricky wants to go straight, and we learn that Wisdom doesn't want to, but even before Ricky has the chance to breathe another breathe of freedom the story takes an unexpected and painfully realistic turn.As the car reverses they hit a wing mirror of a local rival.Words are said, egos are tested and threats ensue. This totally domestic and petty argument soon escalates, thanks in part to pride and vengeance.One of the greatest things about this film is that it isn't about gangs; these are kids, juveniles with no chance. Living in a place where gun crime is incredibly high, it must be hard, and this film emphasises, showing no mercy, it shows us a bleak story with a tint of hope, a teary smile. The emphasis here is gun crime, and why these kids use them.Technically, the film is superb. Wide panoramic angles, the comparison between run down estates, rich terraces and beautifully scenic views of Hackney Marshes. The close ups provide a tense feeling of danger and unease, the low-key camera work provides realism, the music is also fantastic, thanks to Robert Del Naja (from Massive Attack) and Neil Davidge, it provides a nicely composed score that takes us from frame to frame with ease.Ricky decides to ignore his welcome home party his dear mum made for him, and goes to a local party instead, where he meets his girlfriend. Back home his mother (played by Claire Perkins) tells him off for not coming to the party and not letting her pick him up from prison. "How many man (sic) have their mum pick them up from prison, it's a bit embarrassing, innit?" Ricky muses.Indeed."Bullet Boy" is a ruthless and mesmerising tale, part family drama part thriller- it's heartbreaking without being too sentimental, it's emotional without being cheesy, it's thought-provoking without being preachy. The performances are top class, especially by Luke Frasier whose plays Ricky's brother Curtis, he is sweet and naïve and is the one to give us that small bit of hope that maybe, just maybe everything will be all right. Ashley Walters gives a low-key, subdued and honest performance. The whole cast show great instincts, what's amazing is that they are mostly non-professional.Wrong decision after wrong decision, Ricky's world tears apart – "Everything's flopped" he realises, and the only way he knows how to escape is by leaving his family.But will his past catch up with him?

STAR RATING:*****Unmissable****Very Good***Okay**You Could Go Out For A Meal Instead*Avoid At All Costs Ricky (Ashley Walters) has just been released from prison for stabbing another teenager.His pal Wisdom (Leon Black) and little brother Curtis (Luke Fraser) come along to pick him up and he ingratiates himself back into the community he's been apart from for a while.All he wants,after serving his time in prison,is to start again and re-build his life and possibly move away with his girlfriend Beverley (Claire Perkins) and for awhile this seems like a real possibility.But then,an accident involving a smashed wing mirror lands him and Wisdom in a spot of bother with a rival gang.You and I would just exchange insurance details,but in 'da 'ood',things just don't work that way and a tit-for-tat war ensues that builds up to end in tragedy.This is such a small,independent film that it's a shame it probably won't reach out to a much broader audience,unless it ends up becoming a sleeper hit like The Full Monty,and lets all hope that happens.With the state of gun control/crime in the country at quite a shocking epidemic (especially in Nottingham!) Bullet Boy is,if nothing else,a very timely film released to speak out to the youth of Britain of it's shocking consequences.Lead star Walters (formerly of So Solid Crew fame) is a very choice actor to play the role,as he previously served time for illegal firearm possession,and so he's sort of further re-paying his debt to society here.The main problem area of gun crime does seem to be in the black communities,so in the Hackney area of London is where the film is set.The script is made up almost entirely of characters spitting heavy black lingo that might be a bit over-whelming for the novice or for those simply not fond of that way of talking.The film presents a very real and gritty presentation of modern black culture and their place in society.It pushes more-or-less all the right buttons,but possibly the biggest strength of the film is the compelling characters.Ricky is sincere and blatant in his efforts to go straight and promote peace to his 'brederin.'Wisdom is trapped as the guy who has to prove himself to those around him who deride him,not to mention Curtis as the innocent child on a collision course to be corrupted if the forces around him don't change.But the supporting players are very good too,such as Bev,Ricky and Curtis's bewildered,worn-out mum and her new boyfriend who has a chequered history of his own but has found God and hopes to inspire his following to those closest to him.They are very believable characters and,more-than-that,they are very real characters,and it sort of goes without saying that everyone involved gives fine performances to make them this compelling.Just today,Tony Blair has told us that violent crime is down in the country,something I have a bit of trouble swallowing,but which may or may not be true all the same.But I get the feeling somewhere like the hood may be a place he hasn't made any effort to change,just an area where the problems continue but people make a note of 'avoiding.'Bullet Boy is a fictional story,but,the chilling thing is it could so easily be true and doubtless there are many cases where a story that is almost exactly the same does happen there in everyday life.In the end,the director throws it down to one of the youngest cast members to deliver the films most powerful scene of symbolism and social commentary by tossing the gun that has caused him,his family and his close friends so much misery and suffering into the river instead of going out with it and winding up another statistic like his brother,as if to say:For God's sake,stop killing each other and make peace.'It is very powerful and effective,much like the film itself.It's the best film I've seen so far this year,that's for sure.****