Legacy

I was shocked when I looked this movie up to see that its rating. For a film with a smaller budget it is excellent. Fans of The Wire will be pleased to see Idris Elba in a challenging role. Fans of Batman Begins/The Dark Knight, will recognize Joe Chill and Detective Ramirez. Eamonn Walker plays a sympathetic antagonist and brother to Idris Elba.

The film itself takes place after a failed mission and Malcom Gray (Idris Elba) holds up in a dingy apartment alone. As the film proceeds it becomes clear that not everything is what it seems. For a low budget psychological thriller, there is quite a lot of action.

Sadly, I think this movie is destined to be under-rated and under- appreciated. Give it a chance, you won't be disappointed.

It seems like for most people this movie is anything but "Legacy" building. But taking the performance by Idris Elba alone this should merit and have been scored higher. Add to that an unusual story that has more to deliver than the obvious and you actually should have a winner. Maybe people felt this was marketed like an action movie (when it's more a thriller with some guts and especially something worth to think about too), I can't tell.

What I can say, is that the movie delivers on its thriller element and on being not only claustrophobic but getting you into the mind of Idris character. Not an easy feat, but achieved almost seamlessly by the movie. So while you might have issues with some of the directors choices in the story department, you might want to give this movie a chance! It deserves one

In the interest of full disclosure, I let any reader know that I know the writer and director of the movie. However, what I aimed to provide here is an unbiased review based on our thoughts and observations as a person who has a great appreciation for cinema. I think generally speaking when you have relatively small films, which have not been distributed widely there is a reliance on those who actually saw the film to give their input. I was lucky enough to be able to attend the Tribeca premiere of the film and will try to provide my impression and humble opinion. First of I think it is quite difficult to pigeonhole the film, but since most people ask for some kind of points of reference when talking about a film, I'd say it's the Manchurrian Candidate, meets Phone Booth, meets Fight Club with some Hitchcock flair. Yea, I know not very succinct, but the best I can do. The movie relies heavily on the solid script and acting prowess of the lead, Idris Elba since the majority of the movie takes place in a rundown hotel room. Since it's a psychological thriller, which deals heavily with the distortion of reality, the success or failure of the movie lies squarely on Mr. Elba's shoulders. He showcases his potential as leading man and ability to be a commanding presence on screen. Overall, I think he did a very good job, even though I didn't fully agree with all of the choices he made with the character. The twists and turns and attention to detail with which the script was written require a good deal of concentration from the audience, but I think challenging content is something popular cinema has been extremely short on in recent years. I think working within the budget constraints ( the equivalent of less than 3 seconds in any Michael Bay chase sequence), well written script, tight acting and compelling story line make this an enjoyable movie, especially for anyone starving for intelligent and ambitious film making.

"Legacy" stars Idris Elba as Malcolm Gray, a Special Forces operative. It's really fun to watch. It's the first feature from the writer/director, Thomas Ikimi...and a good one at that.

Story & Plot: The story was personal and touching. As a plot, it developed plausibly and in a compelling manner. It took a lot of twists and turns that I did not expect. Suspense, romance, action, buddy scenes...they were all there and they were all done well.

Acting: Great performances from the cast. Really like seeing Clarke Peters (The Wire). However, the weakest link was Idris Elba. His Malcolm Gray role was meant to be vulnerable, but Elba doesn't always achieve that. That difficulty makes sense since he's on top of the world: women drool over him, men respect him. Plus he's minted. Not exactly a guy in a vulnerable position. Still, he gave a solid performance in a role in which I'd never expect him.

Characters: The characters were three-dimensional and fun to watch. Malcolm Gray's military buddies (including Clarke Peters) were very fun to watch. They all had some great scenes.

Dialogue: Mostly natural. However, there were a few lines that came out of Malcolm Gray's mouth that didn't seem consistent with his character or with the actor playing him.

Cinematography/Editing: Great cinematography and editing. Helped to keep things tense and interesting.

I was lucky enough to have seen Legacy at its world premiere closing the 2010 Glasgow Film Festival, where it was introduced by the producers and the writer/director Thomas Ikimi. The audience was informed of an intriguing production history – Ikimi had to source funding from personal contacts in Nigeria, the film was entirely shot in Scotland but mainly set in New York, and Idris Elba, who was also the Executive Producer, took advantage of his connections in the US to acquire much of the cast. Despite a seemingly infeasible gap between the ambitious aspirations and the miniscule budget, it largely succeeds in sustaining a credible and engaging dramatic narrative centred around a 'Black Ops' soldier dealing with the consequences of a failed mission and his earlier actions.

Elba plays Michael Gray, and his compelling central performance (he is in almost every scene) begins with an armed encounter in which his unit's attempt to tackle a Ukranian-born arms dealer ends catastrophically. Following ten months in a military hospital to overcome the torture that he is subsequently subjected to, he returns to Brooklyn and moves in to a run-down apartment for a period of reflection and contemplation. The impressive, elaborate plot that unfolds comfortably melds action sequences and art-house elements, and moves in a range of directions that simultaneously focus on psychological deterioration, the nature of political success (Gray's older brother is a senator on the verge of announcing a presidential campaign) and the responsibilities of the media.

Elba's robust performance aside, the film also features strong supporting acts (including his Wire co-star Clarke Peters) and some outstanding technical flourishes. I particularly liked the vibrant sound effects, from the deafening explosive gunfire to the subtle resonances that perfectly complemented the claustrophobic apartment setting, and the minimal but effective score. My one minor criticism is common to this sub-genre – an unreliable narrator who blurs the lines between the imagined and the real can lead to occasional frustration/confusion for the audience. It is, however, highly recommended, and a very welcome development for film-making in Scotland.