Man Dancin'

STAR RATING: ***** The Works **** Just Misses the Mark *** That Little Bit In Between ** Lagging Behind * The Pits

Just released from prison, Jimmy Kerrigan (Alex Ferns) wants to stick to the terms of his parole and stay out of trouble. But no sooner has he arrived back at his front door than his typically erstwhile younger brother Terry (Cas Harkins) is being hounded by a couple of local drug dealers who are unhappy he's been operating on their patch and Jimmy is left to take a beating for him. Also, his mother's at death's door, he's struggling to find work and he's being hounded by an uncompromising local gang boss (James Cosmo) and a persistent copper (Kenneth Cranham) who are both convinced he'll go back to his old ways. The only one who sees any hope for him is the local priest (Tom Georgeson) who gives Jimmy a part in a church play. This small act of kindness comes to be something Jimmy really throws himself into and uses as a lynchpin to turn his life around. But this new-found happiness cannot last forever and it's only a matter of time before Jimmy is dragged kicking and screaming back into the life he'd vowed to leave behind.

You'll certainly see worse 'gangster trying to go straight' flicks than Man Dancin'. It's comedic where it needs to be, touching where it needs to be and brutally hard where it needs to be. In his first notable role since leaving East Enders, Ferns provides a good, solid leading role who handles his material well, and he has good support in the shape of Cranham (the best of them), Harkins, Cosmo and so.

It loses it's way a little at the end and becomes a little rambling and incoherent but, like I said, you'll see far worse. ***

12 years ago Man Dancin' came out and it was luckily enough an amazing film about how much involvement there was in Gangland Glasgow. Many people working on the film as extras came from a couple of the locations used. However it is looking back on it now much much of the film can be used to describe Glasgow's culture now. Having been involved with the film it is remarkable how well crafted Sergio Casci's writing played to convey Glasgow's historical problem with Religious sectarianism and how much has been done to reduce this. Another brilliant craft is and was the usage of actors who have since been stalwarts in Scottish television. Frank Gallagher is the undisputed and underrated actor in the whole production and his verve to provide comic relief in a somewhat serious film about life and death proves invaluable to the audience's experience of Glasgow's culture.

When I first heard about Man Dancin', I was told it had parallels to the story of Christ. This worried me slightly because, trying to give a message often becomes contrived, but the amazing thing about this film is, it was able to combine a strong and well-structured storyline with a thought-provoking message. It doesn't faff about trying to please the churched and, in my opinion, paints a pretty believable gang environment.

There is a gripping drama, with great humour and a gut-wrenching finale. It is well-acted, well-directed and WAY under advertised.

In my opinion, a must see! Well done Norman Stone and co! Leah

Shortly before attending the English premiere of this film, I was apprehensive about how much I was going to enjoy it. Alex Ferns, known only to me as Trevor from Eastenders, didn't seem to be my cup of tea, and I feared the film would be pretty standard artsy, violent independent movie fare.

I was very wrong, and very pleasantly surprised by the film. The direction and the acting performances - most notably from Alex Ferns and James Cosmo - were top notch. The atmosphere of the film was realistic without seeming boring, and the story was very carefully told. I thought it took a while to get going and get to the real meat of the story, but once it did, the endearing characters and tense plot made it a really enjoyable movie. It manages to create several highly amusing scenes, and also some shocking or upsetting ones. I am very pleased to say that I was moved by the film.

I feel it's going to be one of those 'love it or hate it' movies. If you get it, then you're really going to enjoy it. If you don't get it, then it might just seem like another depressing urban gangster film. Personally, however, I found it to be both uplifting and memorable, and by the end of the film I was all to happy to eat my apprehensive words from before it began.

All in all, I give it 8 stars. Truly great cinema, definately worth a watch and a great addition to any collection of British films.

Good flick...

This is much more than a Glasgow gangster movie.

It's much more.

This is about redemption, the cost of redemption, integrity, honesty, integrity of a message, what happens when you water down a message, you have to keep lying to cover up lies, what price are you prepared to pay for integrity? And that you can't kill off truth because it will rise again.

It is well acted. The music is Scottish without being poxy. (You know what I mean...corny bagpipes). The music works well.

I have no idea the lead actor was in Eastenders, so I had no preconceived ideas. He did well in taking his character away from being one dimensional.

It obviously was not a high budget movie, but don't let that put you off. It actually gave it a down to earth feel.

A very good movie. Look below the surface and be very rewarded.