Rancid Aluminium

I'm often amused, and sometimes amazed, at the negative reviews given for films which I enjoyed, and where I think the reviewers missed the point of the whole thing. This was roundly criticized by several reviewers who evaluated it entirely as an attempt at serious action/drama, and overlooked the satire and tongue-in-cheek nature of the whole thing. The story was not only unbelievable, but fantastic. The characterization were shallow because they are caricatures; the bumbling son and heir, his avaricious and disloyal "friend" and partner who engages in an absurdly elaborate scheme to gain control of his business; the type cast Russian "Mafioso," their "femme fatale," whose bizarre actions go beyond the absurd. I think the scenario where our hero tries to establish an airtight alibi by producing a condom with DNA material from both him and her (despite the fact he could have produced the real thing a few hours earlier) is one of the funniest sequences I've ever seen in a movie. Lighten up out there! You missed a very funny movie.

Quite frankly I thought I was alone in having seen this appalling movie. Words almost fail me as to how truly dreadful it is. I left the cinema fuming with anger - having been robbed of two hours of my life.

In some senses it is truly remarkable; it has absolutely no redeeming features - whatsoever... incomprehensible plot, wooden acting, awful direction, dreadful script, baffling editing... it is difficult to know wehre to stop....

Often I would say, watch it and make up your own mind. But quite honestly, I wouldn't wish this movie on anyone. It would be funny if it wasn't so buttock-clenchingly awful.

Now for its good points... Nope. Can't think of a single solitary one.

Now for the love of God, run like the wind if somone offers to show it you.

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

Rancid Aliminium,like most gangster type films of it's ilk,did,of course,have the potential to be great.There are some intriguing and exciting new ideas to be explored here,but unfor -tunately,they are mostly squandered by what is mostly the film's biggest downfall,the frenetic and ill-explored pace at which it sets itself into action.It seems like a hodgepodge of ideas from each of the different genres:Comedy,thriller,Gangster Movie,action,all of which are concocted together at various different points to make up for a confusing and too fast paced for it's own good story.Most of the performances were very disappointing too:Rhys Ifans,in the lead role,was the best thing on offer,obviously trying to make his role stand out more than it could have,maybe even taking sympathy on the over zealous screenwriter so that his electric work could not fail ('I was obviously born to mow lawns ,and look after goldfish!')

But Josepth Fiennes emerged as routinely cold as his villainous brother,not really standing out as to why he was any worse than Rhys,whilst Sadie Frost as a russian bad girl babe clearly thought she was starring in the new James Bond film.

The title did'nt make an awful lot of sense,either.

And yet,as ever,any IMDB members who are situated in Britain like me who play the national lottery know exactly who is ultimately responsible for the making of this kind of film:us.**

This film is about a man's life going wrong. His business is failing, and he cannot impregnate his wife despite multiple attempts.

The plot is complete chaos. It simply does not make sense. In fact, nothing in the film makes sense. The story is so poorly told that I simply could not understand it. It is a shame, because the sets and costumes are done well, and are visually stimulating enough. The shots are well composed throughout the film. However, these redeeming features still cannot make up for the bad plot and poor story telling. I am amazed by the big names who agreed to star in this film. It is such a waste of their talents. This film is very bad. Avoid it!!

Just before I saw this film, I met James Hawes at a book signing. He seemed pretty upbeat about the release of the film however reading an interview with him later he knew at the time that the film was rubbish.

An brief, Rancid Aluminium is a good book, it followed on from his debut (White Merc With Fins) which was probably the best book I have read for a long time. But when he came to make the film he rewrote the book to fit the character of Rhys Ifans which was a big mistake.

The old main character was a suburban, early 30s guy, they changed this to a twenty something urbanite and the whole premise for the story was broken.

Add to this some major twists in the plot which have no explanation, holes you could drive a truck through and and ending which leaves you thinking 'what the f**k happened there then..?'.

Also they made a major mistake adding in a scene to get the only funny bit of the book (the fight on the motorway) into the film which only seemed to disjoint the film even more.

I was a big fan of James Hawes books, but this film (and also his latest book) have really dampened this enthusiasm. I only hope that his other book (WMWF) which is being shot now continues and makes a better picture than this.