Trafficking

I was drawn into this film, as Dirty Den appears at the very beginning. What was that about, answers on a post card please, as I'm none the wiser? But it worked, and the film just about made it, to keep me more or less interested.

In any event not a great, yet not a bad film. Bit of over acting by some (well most in fact) of the cast. Perhaps that's the directors fault. However it's got a solid beginning, middle and very good end.

The development of the characters is very and often, over stated. Yet, if suspending reality and just wanting to watch a bit of easy watching, contemplating what the British criminal world maybe get up to. Add in alcoholic beverage and your Friday night curry bag, from the supermarket, this is an excellent choice.

Nicolas Ball, you may recall him from his prime, in and as Hazel. He hasn't been doing a great deal of significance work over the recent years. That's a surprise as his role is brilliant. Clearly the best performance in the film. However Evie Hughes makes a sterling performance throughout. She is very young, yet produces a virtual masterclass in acting. I suspect young Evie has a long and generous career ahead of her brilliant self.

I can see a Hollywood producer using this film as a basis to invest heavily in a lavish production built around what has been accomplished here. Trafficking deals well with a dirty aspect of criminal life, a bit more polish, less spitting and lots more money, a remake could well become a major motion picture. Yet, no role for Dirty Den. Real name Leslie Grantham who made a splash when Eastenders first hit our little screen in the 80's, sadly died in 2018, having left Albert Sq after 20 years.

Before I review this, I just wanna say, my shock of finding out the great Nicholas Ball, had died yesterday, which is when, I watched this impressive, entertaining vehicle. I pass on my condolences to Nicholas's family, easily the best actor in it, stealing every scene. Though there is some bad acting in this, most people aren't at fault. Cool, well structured film, has a good script, excluding all the F and C words, which a bit trying, but for laughs, very entertaining, as in it's first 30 minutes, where it kind of lessened after. I loved the repentant stocky hero, a tired ex hitman, who's just been told some very bad news. He's someone I vouched for, and really understood. When he and his colleague go to collect on a debt, at the request of their boss, they inadvertently collide with some real drug dealing scumbuckets, also there to collect, but in a different way, for they're also involved in human trafficking, and the daughter of the soon to be slayed couple, looks mighty fine. But repentant Requiem returns to snatch away from her traffickers, and so begins a hunt down. I made this film for a big action one, which it really wasn't, but it's story, really got me in, with some really beautiful and potent scenes. The ones with Ball, who just owns his scenes. The main, was really good too, as well as young Hughes as the trafficked daughter. Liked the slow zoom in shots too, and a much appreciated, and unexpected last scene, where I cheered on the victor. It has a real coolness. The pre start featuring late Eastenders Leslie (Dirty Den) Grantham, although weird, as though trying to promote the film's company, was a cute little starter. Tight recommended drama. Films slap on title, doesn't befit story.

When I watched this movie it had 500+ ratings and stood at 7.5. I have not the slightest idea how anyone that is not biased due to being involved directly or indirectly with the production of this movie could rate this at 7.5!?

The story is pretty simple but of course a movie does not necessarily need a complicated story to be good. It's the acting where it falls short. The characters themselves are hard to like. The worst are the action scenes. The fighting is sub par. The car chase laughable.

With some good will I can see the deeper story that the lead male actor tries to rectify past mistakes from his life. And admittedly there are some nice country side shots. But that's about it. The classic music pieces would be nice but here feel like putting lipstick on a pig.

I could and will not recommend my friends watching this. I just can't. Save your time for something else.

Honestly i just made an account to say just how bad this film is. There's a youtube video of just white noise that's more entertaining than this.

There is next to no story, a london 'gangster' with the name 'Requiem' yeah right.

Do yourself a favour and skip this trash.

Honestly i just made an account to say just how bad this film is. There's a youtube video of just white noise that's more entertaining than this.

There is next to no story, a london 'gangster' with the name 'Requiem' yeah right.

Do yourself a favour and skip this trash.

Honestly i just made an account to say just how bad this film is. There's a youtube video of just white noise that's more entertaining than this.

There is next to no story, a london 'gangster' with the name 'Requiem' yeah right.

Do yourself a favour and skip this trash.

I'm surprised at how well some users rated the film. Either you have seen a different film or you have completely different expectations of the quality of a film. Sure, the story can be quite nice for a movie night.

But the actors don't even call up the possibilities that lie in such a story. The acting is really bad for the most part. There is a lack of gestures and facial expressions to show how they are feeling. The profile of the individual figures also offers no depth. It almost looks like amateur actors.

And then a 7.3 (11.08.2023)? Where do all the stars come from or what were they given for? Not even the camera work deserves 7 stars. Really disappointing.