Going Off Big Time

Having endured the horrors of the recent spate of cockney crime capers I had equally low expectations of this scouse crime caper but it proved to be one of the best British films of the year.

Neil Fitzmaurice's screenplay doesn't do anything radically different, let's be honest, but he manages to bring a fresh eye to a tired genre. The film follows the life of an innocent who is transformed by prison. This is told in a narrated flashback - and you even get flashbacks within flashbacks - which is difficult to pull off but somehow Fitzmaurice manages it. This framing device is usually a lazy way of keeping the audience interested during the boring bits but each section of the film is interesting in its own right and leads logically to the conclusion. Although there are a couple of plot contrivances I had to take with a pinch of salt there is nothing that damages the movie too much. While I'm sure authentic Liverpool gangsters would have spotted lots of mistakes, to a law-abiding citizen like myself it seems quite realistic. And the screenplay does a better job than most of marrying the comedy with the drama.

Fitzmaurice also acts in the film in the lead and that's probably the key to its success. All drama should begin with believable strong characters and while writers often overlook this, actors are less likely to. So Going Off Big Time has the treat of character motivations you understand and can follow without being annoyed. And actors also know how to write dialogue, which in this movie is excellent. The dialogue manages to be authentic without alienating those from outside Liverpool, which is always a help.

The original release date was September, about the same time as Snatch, but only arrives in my local multiplex in November. Timing is obviously everything and while they had bad luck with the theatrical release it should prove a video rental hit. While this was always going to be second best to Snatch, it isn't as far behind in quality as one might think.

Saw this film on late night TV the other night and was entranced by

its sheer awfulness. Alas it surely must be added to the future

cult movie genre 'bad British gangster films' .

Right from the word go it was terrible, the clichés coming thick and

fast. The strippers, the snorters, the shooters ('did you bring it ?'),

the pretty blond lawyer, the flashbacks, the jail, the bully, the wise

old con, the predatory homosexual, the fights, the rise to the top,

the gay crime lord, the thick coppers........it just went on and on... It

is a crime film where the writer has been influenced by the genre

rather than any real knowledge of - or insight into -criminal

behavior. The end result is a rubbish plot and bad dialogue. The title itself

is a clue. Very poor.

The best I can say about it is that it was OK. Not a huge plot, probably realistic (not being an expert on prison life or gangster culture) so whilst it wasn't gripping, it was ok as a "whilst I am doing something else" film.

Mercifully short.

Typical story of a gangster who after going* to prison Learns that you have to get tough to get ahead! It kept me interested as I like gangster films (Hence 6 stars is probably generous) but the plot is basic and the film reeks of low budget from start to finish. Acting is pretty good especially from the main character. All in all worth a watch if you like violent films about gangsters from a Liverpool. I guess I do!

This is another in the line of Brit gangster flicks that seem to be attracting backers money. To be honest, it doesn't add a lot to the genre apart from the fact it is set in Liverpool. Naturally this means that the script is given a scouse flavour and tinged with the humour that this city is renowned for. Some of it works, but other times it appears that what makes a good story in a pub doesn't quite transfer to the screen. I found it mildly amusing sometimes and other times cliched. The part with the bouncy castle should have left the laughter to the cinema audience and not the actors.

The main actors are believable as budding hoods and the scenes in the jail were well worked, albeit a little predictable. The story seemed competent till it got to the part where he met his girlfriend's father, I found this corny. Also I found it hard to believe that they would be so incensed by their arch rivals actions to react in such a heavy-handed manner, let alone kill him. Liverpool can be a tough city, but to execute someone for pouring a drink over you was a bit over the top. I felt overall that the script could have done with a more development before going into production.

Still, Going Off Big Time is worth seeing, especially if you have an affinity with Liverpool, and it was interesting to note that no one had a perm and a moustache and was drinking tea in times of crisis, which at least avoided one stereotype of the city.

Not as good as any of Guy Ritchie's, but still a credible addition to the Brit Gangster genre, which must surely be close to running its course.