Neil Thompson's Clubbed is the epitome of what’s wrong with British cinema today. A post Guy Ritchie, Shane Meadows wannabe, with neither the soul, imagination or insight of either director. Danny (Mel Raido) is a down-trodden factory worker in an un-named midlands town (in reality it was filmed in Birmingham) during the 80s whom we first meet at the gates of a prison as a voice over asks the rhetorical question of what it’s like to spend 12 years behind bars. Cue flashback. Danny’s life is crap; his estranged wife thinks he’s a loser, he’s beaten up by the local thugs (whilst his daughters watch) and he’s in a dead-end job. Just when things couldn’t get much worse, amiable doorman and sometime boxer, Louis (Colin Salmon) comes to the rescue. Offering a host of helpful tips on how to fight and then avoid actually fighting (apparently read The Art of War for more info…) he takes Danny under his wing, aided by fellow bouncers Rob and Sparky. Danny starts to regain some self respect and things are looking up, just in time for flaky, unhinged Sparky (Scot Williams) to ruin the party for everyone.
Taking its visual cues from a recent crop of nostalgic 80s fare, most notably Shane Meadow’s excellent This is England (also Midlands based), Clubbed desperately strives for some sort of significance whether via the ska-generation, skinhead aesthetic or the pretentious voice over. One scene in particular has our bouncer brigade lined up against a wall in ‘iconic’ 80s dress , only rather than creating wistful longing for years gone, it jars horribly with the drabness that is almost every other scene. The standout death (a tacky rehashing of the crucifixion in The Long Good Friday) is incredibly poorly staged; no-one seems to know where to put the camera, what to look at, or why. The dialogue is dreadful and people in the screening I was at were audibly laughing at this supposedly heart-wrenching scene.
The bouncers themselves mostly put in serviceable if unremarkable performances, with the exception of Scot Williams (Sparky), who struggles with even the most basic emotions (anger, fear etc). Ronnie Fox musters up a savage but entirely forgettable approximation of a gangster boss as Hennessey – old Jag, camel overcoat, driving gloves, greasy hair. But this is all beside the point in a film whose emotional core sits with Danny, and Mel Raido is in trouble from his first lines. Now I understand that he’s portraying a young man who’s somewhat lacking in confidence but the limp and simplistic way he delivers his lines inspires not the slightest bit of empathy - childish outbreaks of anger confirm he’s not to be sided with. I found myself in ex-wife Angela’s shoes; don’t let him in! You’re right, he’s not responsible enough to be trusted with the kids! And worst of all, like so much of the 90-odd minute running time, Danny is a charisma free zone.
I could pick away at this crusty scab of a film all day, but what really grates is what it represents; the worst in derivative British cinema. The filmmakers and cast have pillaged the best and worst of the past 40 years of British film and managed to construct something with no personality of its own whatsoever; shuffling along like an insecure, clingy wretch desperate to emulate its far cooler big brother.
I was also at the Raindance screening on Monday night. I could not disagree more! In fact the review (if could call it that) seems to me like nothing more than the rantings of a frustrated failed film maker.
I thought the film showed great heart, it's exactly the kind of film we should be seeing coming from British film makers. The story based on writer Geoff Thompson's life was dealt with incredible intelligence and sympathy. Visually, I thought the movie looked superb.Performances from Mel Raido (Danny) and Colin Salmon (Louis)were also great. All in all, I thought from the the toe tapping start of title sequence to the explosive ending, this was a thoroughly enjoyable film. Keep up the good work guys!
What a confused critic you are. I also have watched a lot of the films at Raindance and must say Clubbed is one of my favourites so far. You seem to miss the point about the art of fighting is not fighting, the way we as humans tackle the worst situations in life is through humour - hence the laughs were invited, deliberate and received. Your cheap, if not predictable, comparison jibe about Meadows/Ritchie is way off the mark. The films visuals/style/setting are worlds apart from This Is England (Clubbed is about MEN in the 80's Club land, not kids in the streets trying to be grown-ups) It also manages an ending, something Meadows always forgets and as for Ritchie you slag his latest feature randomly in your bizarre review of "Flick". Clubbed was based on true events, the crucifixion scene(which was worse in reality according to the producer) actually happened, yet you say should not be in the film because it is slightly similar to another film and because it was shot with some sensitivity of the subject, is tacky. Can’t wait for your next review….or maybe I can.
Clubbed was refreshing, has meaning and a must see.
Hello all!!
Ok I didn't see CLUBBED at Raindance but at the screening at Prince Charles. I have been a member of their online groups and been following their progress. I have to admit I was totally shocked when I saw this review!
I LOVED IT!!!!
I just thought it was a great, fresh Brit movie!
In my opinion the acting was top notch especially Shaun Parkes and I disagree with you James I think this real-life story was made for the big screen.
I will be seeing it again!!!
Saw this at Raindance too and couldn't agree less. Thought it was thought provoking, entertaining and original and was really well received by the audience I sat in. Spoke to a few people on the way out who were blown away by it.
Read quite a few reviews over the years but rarely one so off the wall or off the mark as this one. Don't know what the director did to you to deserve this but it must have been bad!
I hardly know where to start, but will just pick up on a couple of points. So Clubbed took it's visual cues from Shane Meadows and This is England did it? You really should have gone to Specsavers mate. Great film in its own right, but what it's got to do with this apart from having male characters in a town that isn't London? "Skinhead aesthetic"...where? If there was a skinhead present he must have been in the bogs when the cameras were rolling.
And Scot Williams...he was brilliant in this...a real standout performance in my opinion. Did you really watch this?
To borrow a phrase, I could pick at this scab of a review all day, but don't have the time. Don't know what you do for a proper job James, but don't give it up just yet.
The reference to 'skinhead aesthetic' has specifically in mind Hennessey's two thugs - bomber jacketed, shaved of head and Doc-Marten wearing. Their physical presence (clothes, attitude, gait) all betray a highly familiar 'skinhead aesthetic' and this contibutes a significant part into how the film feels and looks.
I would just like to say that I saw 'Clubbed' very recently at a screening in Birmingham and I couldn't agree with this review more. As for the comments posted by the other 'users' I highly suspect that they have been posted by the film-makers under pseudonyms as I don't see how any member of the audience, whether they liked the film or not, could get so impassioned by this lacklustre film. As an aspiring film-maker from Birmingham I do not wish to be mean and offer full support for anyone trying to do what they love the most in this industry. I thought the short 'The Bouncer' by the same writer was excellent, however, Clubbed just did not do it for me. As an 80's period piece I got no real sense of its place in that time, it lacked a real 80's soundtrack for one thing. It had no real soul to it and the dramatic scenes felt forced, leading up to a rather graphic scene of violence that unfortunately had no real weight behind it, apart from the fact that something gruesome was happening to the 'nice guy' character, who was so ridiculously nice in order to try and wring as much emotion and sympathy from the audience as possible, but instead just fell flat. The film was technically competent at best, nothing that reached above any kind of ambition, and the characters severely lacked charisma. The story, supposedly based on true events, was slightly far-fetched, did it all happen as it transpired in the film? As mentioned before I am a fellow Brummie and aspiring film-maker, and my comments are in no way meant to be hurtful or disparaging, just honest. Not many films get made in the UK comparatively, even less in the Midlands, so when they do they need to be that extra bit special, 'Clubbed' unfortunately wasn't.
Read this review of Clubbed with great interest, having gone along to see it last night. Looking at the comments here, it seems to be one of those films you either love or hate. I just loved everything about it. The story kept me gripped all the way through and the performances and soundtrack were stunning. If there's a problem with it, it's how do you categorise it...a gangster movie, a drama, a friendship movie, a family story or something else? I've seen it likened to everything from Trainspotting, to This is England to all Guy Richies stuff and it's not remotely like any of it. Who cares? It stands on its own and will almost certainly become cult viewing.
Wow, I don't think I have ever agreed less with a film review. An undeserved and scathing review of a great movie, that could well have an agenda behind it.
I thought it was a wonderful movie, which should be highlighted and praised as an example of what can happen when British film makers get it right!
Here is my short review -
This film is fast paced, so you won't get bored. It just gets on with it and flows nicely throughout. No filler, no overly long dialogue, and no corny subplots.
Not one for the faint hearted, as adrenaline is sure to pump throughout. Not many movies manage to hit the right spots at the right time, so these guys did a good job.
The soundtrack is great, and really compliments the action. The acting is realistic, and the casting was superb. You become quite attached to the characters throughout this short journey.
With action, violence, drama, crime, comedy, and touching moments, this film should appeal to a wide range of people.
As far as British film goes, this movie is right up there, and possibly in a league of its own.
A very enjoyable and touching flick, which I'd recommend to anybody - especially fans of British cinema.