Beats

Beats

This was a very carefully crafted movie, on the face of it is was just about two close friends growing up in 1994 on the wrong side of the tracks. When the parents of one child move away to a more affluent area the boys decide to have one last adventure and go "large" before they go down different paths.

However the writer and director want to say so much more beyond this simple idea and this is the brilliance of this movie. It explored:

1, the deprivation created by de-industrialisation following the Thatcher years and the time of new labour.

2, the nature of friendship and peer pressure.

3, social mobility of children within the UK and familial support needed to progress.

4, disaffection with society in poverty and the search for escape.

The key achievement of this movie was its capturing of 1994 in a northern town. I loved it.

I was lucky enough to attend the UK premier of Beats which was the closing gala film at the Glasgow Film Festival 2019. Tickets sold out so fast for this film that they eventually had to accommodate four showings instead of one. There has been a buzz around this movie ever since it was publicised that they were making a film about the rave scene in the 1990s, based in West Lothian. Steven Soderberghs name was connected with the project it sounded like they were taking the music seriously. A well known face on the Scottish techno scene JD/DJ Twitch of Optimo and Pure fame was down to advise on the music. The story focuses on two friends who attempt to attend an illegal rave at the time of the Criminal Justice Bill being enforced in the UK, which made any gathering where repetitive beats were played prohibited. While the story is straightforward its the eye for detail and characters which make this film stand out. It has already been compared to Trainspotting, its about youth/music/drug/working class/Scottish culture in common. However its a very different film, the time is different, the music is different and so are the drugs. Its more similar in tone to the Irish movie Young Offenders and is shot in a way that reminded me of Rumble Fish, black and white with a few things shown in colour for contrast. Its very funny in places and the chaos of illegal drug use is well represented here. The characters are well rounded, believable and if you are from around these parts, recognisable. The cast were simply excellent. Where this film stands out is in its authenticity of showing the Scottish working class experience and the rave experience. This film will be very big in Scotland and with anyone who ever attended a rave, especially during the 90s. I was there at the time and the film makers have nailed it. I spoke to others in the audience and they agreed. Its probably the most realistic a film will get to that experience, its that well done. The soundtrack deserves a special mention as they have chosen some of the best tracks around at that time but they didn't stick to massive commercial hits all the way through. How well you know the music of the time may influence how you experience some of the scenes. The only downside of the experience was that theatre I watched it in did not have a great sound system, that would make a big difference however I will happily see it again in a multiplex once its released in May. Attending a Scottish premier usually raises mixed feelings, you want to like it but in many cases they sadly don't deliver. This is one of those rare occasions when the high expectations were met with reality. The last time that happened? Well that was Trainspotting. Highly recommended.

Absolutely loved every second somehow so vibrant yet in black and white. Love, laughter and great music felt connected to everyone involved throughout and left me wanting to rave the night away. Almost perfect.

This film had all the ingredients but didn't work for me.

This is tartan Dazed & Confused territory - one last BIG night fare. And Trainspotting hangs over affairs, with one of the main characters a double-take for Spud and a PoundLand Renton in the tale.

The trouble is it chucks all the ingredients in: Criminal Justice bill, coming Blair; closing down of the mines; police brutality. But they all seem muddled (or incorrect). And many of the characters incredibly one-dimensional.

However, it ends on a tender note as two young men whose bond is strengthened through their shared love of music.

Probably one of the best original Scottish films since Trainspotting. Well acted and an excellent soundtrack too.

Made me wanna drop an E, find a rave and get my 3rd degree gurn on.