Man Dancin'

When I first heard about Man Dancin', I was told it had parallels to the story of Christ. This worried me slightly because, trying to give a message often becomes contrived, but the amazing thing about this film is, it was able to combine a strong and well-structured storyline with a thought-provoking message. It doesn't faff about trying to please the churched and, in my opinion, paints a pretty believable gang environment.

There is a gripping drama, with great humour and a gut-wrenching finale. It is well-acted, well-directed and WAY under advertised.

In my opinion, a must see! Well done Norman Stone and co! Leah

I saw this film at a test screening in Glasgow. Personally i thought it sucked big time, but then again "gangster" films aren't really my kinda thing. It was good to see a Scottish film for a change, in a setting which is really familiar to me, especially the Garage!! Haha. However, i don't think that people from anywhere other than Scotland would understand most of it!!

I thought however, that in the version we saw, the whole passion play part of it wasn't explained very clearly, and that it was a little far fetched in parts.

It's also good to see Scottish Talent being used because i think we don't see enough of our talent on the screen.

STAR RATING: ***** The Works **** Just Misses the Mark *** That Little Bit In Between ** Lagging Behind * The Pits

Just released from prison, Jimmy Kerrigan (Alex Ferns) wants to stick to the terms of his parole and stay out of trouble. But no sooner has he arrived back at his front door than his typically erstwhile younger brother Terry (Cas Harkins) is being hounded by a couple of local drug dealers who are unhappy he's been operating on their patch and Jimmy is left to take a beating for him. Also, his mother's at death's door, he's struggling to find work and he's being hounded by an uncompromising local gang boss (James Cosmo) and a persistent copper (Kenneth Cranham) who are both convinced he'll go back to his old ways. The only one who sees any hope for him is the local priest (Tom Georgeson) who gives Jimmy a part in a church play. This small act of kindness comes to be something Jimmy really throws himself into and uses as a lynchpin to turn his life around. But this new-found happiness cannot last forever and it's only a matter of time before Jimmy is dragged kicking and screaming back into the life he'd vowed to leave behind.

You'll certainly see worse 'gangster trying to go straight' flicks than Man Dancin'. It's comedic where it needs to be, touching where it needs to be and brutally hard where it needs to be. In his first notable role since leaving East Enders, Ferns provides a good, solid leading role who handles his material well, and he has good support in the shape of Cranham (the best of them), Harkins, Cosmo and so.

It loses it's way a little at the end and becomes a little rambling and incoherent but, like I said, you'll see far worse. ***

Good flick...

This is much more than a Glasgow gangster movie.

It's much more.

This is about redemption, the cost of redemption, integrity, honesty, integrity of a message, what happens when you water down a message, you have to keep lying to cover up lies, what price are you prepared to pay for integrity? And that you can't kill off truth because it will rise again.

It is well acted. The music is Scottish without being poxy. (You know what I mean...corny bagpipes). The music works well.

I have no idea the lead actor was in Eastenders, so I had no preconceived ideas. He did well in taking his character away from being one dimensional.

It obviously was not a high budget movie, but don't let that put you off. It actually gave it a down to earth feel.

A very good movie. Look below the surface and be very rewarded.

12 years ago Man Dancin' came out and it was luckily enough an amazing film about how much involvement there was in Gangland Glasgow. Many people working on the film as extras came from a couple of the locations used. However it is looking back on it now much much of the film can be used to describe Glasgow's culture now. Having been involved with the film it is remarkable how well crafted Sergio Casci's writing played to convey Glasgow's historical problem with Religious sectarianism and how much has been done to reduce this. Another brilliant craft is and was the usage of actors who have since been stalwarts in Scottish television. Frank Gallagher is the undisputed and underrated actor in the whole production and his verve to provide comic relief in a somewhat serious film about life and death proves invaluable to the audience's experience of Glasgow's culture.