The Last Yellow

This film is a kind of ensemble piece but not in that talking loud verbal battles in one room kind of way. It's rather that here are distinctive personalities instead of everyone being cool (or being the ones the cool ones pick on) as is the way in so many films. These characters are very fallable. There's who Frank still lives with his Mum on the dole and when she finally throws him out, the sons at his boarding house, one who'se life was wrecked in a violent attack and the other who, with little conception of reality, was too scared to anything when it happened. It's not heavy though, but very warm and funny, just stripped of the glamour and glitz of most films out there. It turns into a sort of thriller and doesn't fall flat as these films can that start by observing with humour then try to hold onto the humour while adding suspense. Alongside Gregory's Two Girls and Stiff Upper Lips, another very enjoyable, well-made British comedy.

I think it's funny that the director claims the press ruined this movie, because the point where I gave up on it was roughly the point where I noticed that the supposed northern locations have London Evening Standard signs scattered about the place... I'm guessing that "KAM2" below was part of the production crew or was paid to write the review because I really can't imagine *any* other reason someone would claim that this deserves ten stars. It's hard to single out exactly what makes this such a miserable slab of offal, but if I had to plump for one thing, it's the 'big red London bus' montage where Addy and Creed-Miles ride around central London on an open-top tourist bus. It's almost as if the producers felt they needed a bit in the middle they could hack stuff out of or pad out as needed without affecting the actual plot in any way.

They don't make 'em like that anymore! The old ones are still the best ones. Following the Carry On model where low budget is the natural home of traditional Brit humour The Last Yellow blends a fine ensemble cast of believable actors in a far fetched plot. I applaud the use of vernacular working class natural dialogue, sentimental twists and touches here and there, and a strong central performance by Mark Addy. Kenneth Cranham makes an appearance as a cantankerous bitter grandad while Charles Creed-Miles gives a delightful sensitive foil to Addy's bravado.

The story maybe a bit stretched and slender but the editing is smooth and well paced. In particular the trip to London and sightseeing scenes are extremely well done. The musical numbers are well chosen and Engelbert Humperdinck's vocals add a deliciously ironic background to Addy's acting.

Highly enjoyable and entertaining.

This is a very dark and entertaining story about two no-hopers from the North of England who travel South to attempt a murder. Very dark, and very, very funny.

10 to make the score higher. Real score 7. It's very subtle movie on every level and involves some recognition of the world portrayed, or else the characters may be too bland. They do after all inhabit a boring world. I thought the dialogue was OK, despite people saying otherwise. It was natural and did the job. It provided a dead pan humour as lines were played straight. It did have space for more interesting plot and some twists and turns but the padding was OK. It was a little predictable and nothing new or interesting is to be found. The ending could have been better. Seems to split people down the middle. I've seen a lot worse. Mark Addy did a good job. I don't know why it wasn't more successful. Maybe after lock stock people seen this as an inferior version of that style.