Sorted

STAR RATING:*****Unmissable****Very Good***Okay**You Could Go Out For A Meal Instead*Avoid At All Costs

Intriguing the potential viewer with an invigorating trailor,Sorted is sadly yet another poor example of how a lot of British films are stuffing their own industry up very bad.The worst out a lot in fact.The first film I ever saw in the new UGC cinema on Broad Street in the centre of Birmingham,if I can't convince anyone else not to see the film (which I certainly hope I can),I would certainly hope any epileptic critics heed my warning and stay away from it,as some of the scenes in the nightclub are very loud and flashy indeed,and sitting in the cinema auditorium would be quite a nightmare.

But hopefully not as much a nightmare as having to see such a senseless plot that only even begins to comprehensibly unravel until the end.And Tim Curry gave an abysmally stupid performance as the head bad guy,adding an edgy comedic touch to a film that was'nt trying to head in that direction.One can only assume the scriptwriters had themselves been taking drugs at the time of writing this,and probably been hit very hard over the head with a steel hammer too.*

The club scenes, probably filmed in the Ministry were excellent, although the context, being a poor northern boy from Scunthorpe wandering into an alien world, was a bit over-played. Some of the best clubs in England are in Yorkshire these days! The clubbers we are introduced to are caricatures. Tim Curry as the villain was dreadful and the plot meandered and lacked credibility. All up the film tried to do too much. "Human Traffic" may have been a bit silly but was much more true to club culture. The thriller component in "Sorted" echoed a little of "Usual Suspects", but certainly was not in the same league. The acting from Matthew Rys and Sienna Gullory, as the leads, was excellent and hopefully a leg-up for them to get better roles. Special mention for an almost unrecognizable Jason Donovan, who played an excellent drag queen, very convincingly!

If Human Traffic was daft teenagers on E, this is grown-ups taking the enjoyment of the whole club scene quite seriously. The chemicals almost seep out from the sprocket holes and entrance your brain as the pumping house music raises the adrenalin. Contrasting the warm and caring side of clubbing with the dark underside of mafioso controllers makes for a good thriller. Somehow the tension in the latter half doesn't quite match anticipation, and the clubbers are rather caricaturesque Londoners, but the whole thing is worth it for the mesmerizing re-creation of trance and techno (a word to people not into this music - you don't *have* to take E to enjoy it or enjoy clubbing to it.)

How on earth this film isn't more widely regarded is beyond me.

I picked it up for £1, and I'm not exaggerating when I say it's the best pound I've ever spent on a film.

The thing that usually lets films about the club scene down is either the music or the actual scenes filmed in clubland.

Here, the music and club scenes are completely credible,using some big tunes of the time, and filmed in real clubs, with people actually looking like they want to be there.

The performances from the actors are of a high standard all round, although Jason Donovan in particular for me stands out (he was playing Frank N Furter in The Rocky Horror Show in London at roughly the time this must have been filming, so his drag phase was in full flow!), and of course Tim Curry who's eloquent drug land boss is convincing.

Simply put, if you're a fan of British film you have to see this, it matters not a jot if you're into clubbing as the film is strong enough as a story anyway.

Highly recommended.

Sorted certainly could have been better, but it was not bad in my opinion. It does have its problems, but it also has its high points too.

The problems:

1. The script does have its weaknesses. There are times when it wants to go somewhere but it doesn't. And you also get the sense you've heard it before. That said though, it does also have some nice touches.

2. I liked the idea of the plot, but when it came to on film it felt predictable and convoluted.

3. The ending or shall I say the last 30 minutes could have been much more, it left me somewhat frustrated. This is the sort of film that starts off really well, but meanders in the second half. Compared to how well done most parts were in Sorted, the ending was seemingly devoid of tension.

The good things:

1. The soundtrack is the obvious one. It is one that really makes you want to get up and dance and join in with the fun. I admit I am not a huge fan of techno, but surprisingly I found that my foot was tapping in time to the beat.

2. The club scenes are mesmerising, very nicely shot and captures the feel of dancing in a club very well.

3. The pacing is surprisingly well done. The film does move quite briskly and has a lot of energy and verve, and very rarely does it lag.

4. In terms of filming, it is very stylish. The cinematography is crisp, the landscapes are dazzling and the lighting is inventive. The effects were also very good, I liked the fast moving clouds and the morphing backgrounds, it did add to the gritty atmosphere and tone of the film.

5. Alexander Jovy's direction is very efficient. Sometimes direction in this sort of film can plod or become unfocused, but Jovy ensured that the film moved quickly and it was very focused.

6. Personally I thought the acting wasn't that bad. The characters are somewhat clichéd, the naive girlfriend, transvestite DJ and Shakespeare-mangling drugs baron are in a sense not exactly unfamiliar territory, though it is not everyday where a drugs baron mangles Shakespeare. The actors regardless do an adept job I feel, for Matthew Rhys gives a strong and charismatic lead performance. Sienna Guillory looks gorgeous and acts convincingly, while Jason Donovan comes close to stealing the show.

But I for one do not understand the criticisms of Tim Curry's performance as Damian Kemp, his character is unexceptional to a degree, but Curry's performance is better than people give credit for. He is a wonderful and underrated actor and shouldn't be dismissed as a ham(Vincent Price was hammy and I like him too a lot); his roles in Rocky Horror and Three Musketeers were quite slimy and over the top, then again the former was MEANT to be, but Legend, It and Captain Hook in Peter Pan and the Pirates were not hammy, quite the contrary, It especially he was very frightening in and Peter Pan and the Pirates is one of his best voice overs in a very complex character role.

Overall, this was a flawed but decent movie, well made with a great soundtrack and a good atmosphere but it could have been better with a more focused script, plot and ending. 7/10 Bethany Cox