Ill Manors

Surprised to see that there isn't already a thread for Ill Manors but considering that when I heard the words a Ben Drew aka Plan B film I rolled my eyes expecting another self indulgent mess from a rapper who wants to be a filmmaker, the lack of a thread may make sense.

Just after finishing the film and I'm shocked by how damn good it was. Drew is a natural born story teller and infuses the film with a sense of urgency and realism that makes it stand out as one of the best debut films in a long time.

Here's a quick review of the film which captures my thoughts on it.

Let's be honest, musicians who turn their hand to film maker more often than not produce unwatchable, self indulgent vanity projects. From the turgid, poorly made oddity that is Madonna's ludicrous W.E. to Daft Punks plain odd Electroma there are few who have made the transition from making music to making watchable cinema. In recent memory, only Rob Zombie has proved as adept behind the camera as he is a microphone. As such no one really had any hope that Ben Drew aka Plan B's directional debute Ill Manors would be anything other than an unwatchable, self indulgent mess. But against all expectations Drew has managed to create one of the fienst directional debuts in a long time.

The fractured, Altman-esque narrative follows six interconnected tales involving drug dealers, prostitutes, hoodies and gangsters. With such a broad narrative structure the film does test plausibility and often feels like something from a soap opera. Coincidence after coincidence brings the various plot strands together and the finale is a little too neat but none of this matters considering just how watchable the films is. Yes, Crash and a dozen others have dpme the whole fractured narrative in a more intelligent manner and the decline of urban youths has at this stage been done to death but Drew brings so much energy and wit to proceedings that one can't help but be swept up in the urgency of the journey unfolding.

Visually, Ill Manors is a work of pure unadulterated genius. The opening credits which mix stop motion and time lapse set the tempo for a film that never lets up. Utilising pretty much every trick at his disposal, Drew comfortably mixes super 8, POV shots, camera phone footage, time lapse and montages that would feel at home in the work of Ron Fricke. What's more impressive is just how well it all comes together to tell a coherent tale that never feels like Drew is simply showing off for the sake of it.

As with many interconnected tales, Ill Manors features a narrator who helps bring the various strands together. Drew in a fit of inspired genius relies on his own rapping to narrate the tale. It's a brave and bold move that could so easily sink the film but in Drew's capable hands the scenes featuring narration border on genius. Many films have tired to meld hip hop and cinema but Ill Manors is the first to meld the two together in a successful and cinematic manner. Drew's narration never feels heavy handed or forced and there's not a moment where it feels like Drew is showing off. Instead they work as the heart and soul of the film and allow Drew to quickly, efficiently and stylish fill in each characters back story.

Ill Manors is one of the most surprising and unique films to come along in many years. Drew is a born storyteller who infuses his tale with a sense of realism and heart that many more established film makers would kill for. Made for £100,000, Ill Manors is a visually stunning work of cinema that is destined to become a cult classic and Drew, given enough money is one day going to produce a classic to rival Scorsese at his best.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1hfxWjUcbzs

ricero

I havent watched this yet but I bought the soundtrack and its very good but also very dark

ricero

ricero wrote: »

I havent watched this yet but I bought the soundtrack and its very good but also very dark

The soundtrack is really good and used brilliantly. The Mr Drug Dealer scene in particular is an inspired piece of cinema.

Bluegrass

Just watched this, class film. Really well put together, and doesn't go about sugar coating anything. It's as harrow as it gets. Brilliant.

FrogMarch

Harrowing stuff. Very good watch indeed.

Wils110

Have a look at Harry brown plan b is in it with michael Cain...good film

Bluegrass

Seen it, class film too.

Faith+1

Very good movie OP but I preferred Kidadulthood and Adulthood for some strange reason....

Faith+1

Faith+1 wrote: »

Very good movie OP but I preferred Kidadulthood and Adulthood for some strange reason....

I prefer Ill Manors though recognise that all three are very good films. I think that Ill Manors suffers in comparison due to Ben Drew's lack of experience, the script relies far too much on coincidence and the ending is straight out of Eastenders but over all it's a much more visually inventive and entertaining film. I really respect Drew for what he accomplished, he got the initial 100 grand budget from some scheme and then pumped his own money in post production and it really shows. I think what's most impressive about the beyond the way it marries film and music are the performances he got out of a largely nonprofessional cast.

Faith+1

Deleted User wrote: »

I prefer Ill Manors though recognise that all three are very good films. I think that Ill Manors suffers in comparison due to Ben Drew's lack of experience, the script relies far too much on coincidence and the ending is straight out of Eastenders but over all it's a much more visually inventive and entertaining film. I really respect Drew for what he accomplished, he got the initial 100 grand budget from some scheme and then pumped his own money in post production and it really shows. I think what's most impressive about the beyond the way it marries film and music are the performances he got out of a largely nonprofessional cast.

Think your onto something there....

ricero

very good film. one of the best of 2012 and the most harrowing british film since this is england