Episode 82:Sweeney Dredd

In which Martyn gets drunk and he and Gerrod discuss the 2012 films, The Sweeney and, Dredd.

This is a raw, unedited discussion by two drunk people. Enjoy. Play along at home, by listening out for Gerrod’s ghost and our secret word ‘mouse’.



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DVD REVIEW-The Sweeney

What you lookin’ at, slag?

In 2007, Edgar Wright and Simon Pegg brought us Hot Fuzz. Hot Fuzz was the answer to the question ‘why doesn’t Britain make big, over the top cop movies’. Everybody involved in this has clearly never seen Hot Fuzz.

Now, it’s not that the Sweeney is a bad film, it really isn’t. It just isn’t the Sweeney. It’s directed by the uber-talented Nick Love. the problem is, Love seems to think he is directing the next big classic. But, this isn’t Heat, and Winstone and Plan B aren’t DeNiro and Pacino. However, Ray Winstone is well cast as Reagan and puts in one of his best performances in recent years. But, Plan B just comes across as a poor man’s Tom Hardy. He mumbles his lines and tries to come across as sinister, but just comes across as miscast. The film doesn’t quite know if it wants to be a full-on action film or a police procedural. It doesn’t do both particularly well. There is a fantastically shot, shoot-out in Trafalgar Square that falls flat, due to the fact that there are approximately 11 bystanders, that’s right 11 by-standers in Trafalgar Square, the streets of central London have absolutely no traffic, which means we get cool shots of Winstone speeding along Waterloo bridge, but if you know anything about London, it instantly takes you out of the moment.



The villains are two-dimensional and get interrogated in a white office, with a great view of London, full with the latest Macbook’s and digital video cameras, but they never ask for lawyers.
If you’re a fan of the original series and you’re thinking of watching this, don’t. But, If you’re at a loose end one evening, stick this on and enjoy with the alcoholic beverage of your choice.

The Sweeney is out on DVD January 21st

DVD REVIEW-ill Manors

ill manors is the directorial debut movie from the rapper, turned actor, turned film-maker, Plan B, AKA Ben Drew. What makes this such an astonishingly impressive film, is the fact that it comes from a first time director and was shot on the extremely limited budget of £100,000. It looks like a much more polished and expensive production.

Ben Drew insists that this is not autobiographical, but is a party based on real events and local urban legends. The film plots several days in the lives of several Forest Gate residents, who are all in some way connected.
Aaron (Ahmed) is the friend and go-for, to drug dealer Ed (Ed Skrein). Aaron starts to see Ed in a new light when he forcibly pimps out crack-addicted prostitute Michelle (Anouska Mond) in order to pay for the phone, he thinks she stole.



Meanwhile, Kirby, played excellently by Drew’s godfather, Keith Coggins. Has just been released from jail. Kirby used to be the local kingpin who is now forced to work for his former go-for, Chris (Lee Allen). Kirby wants his empire back, but Chris isn’t gonna let him have it. Katya (Natalie Press) is a trafficked sex slave from Eastern Europe who escapes her kidnappers and goes to extreme measures in order to protect her baby. Apart from Riz Ahmed, the cast is made up of mostly unknown actors, which gives the film an added sense of realism and authenticity that doesn’t come with most “urban” dramas.

The direction is slick and inspired, Drew employs a few techniques, such as non-linear storytelling, as well as a mix of mobile phone footage and split-screen action, that could have felt gimmicky or clichéd, in the wrong hands. He flashes us back through the characters lives to show us their childhoods. Even though some of the characters are overly violent and unlikeable, you still care for them. Everybody in this film is a victim in some way. Drew provides the score to the film, but the tracks never feel intrusive. The music has a purpose that adds another layer to the story.

If the film has any flaws, it’s the running time. It’s just over two hours. But, that is a very minor quibble for such an impressive debut.
Plan B announced last week that he is taking a year off, I can’t wait to see what he comes back with.

⭐️⭐️⭐️

DVD Extras:

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