Obey

Didn't know what to expect watching this but it opened by eyes to that side of London life and culture. For an unknown cast, some brilliant performances.

Obviously this film has good intentions in telling the story that it wants to tell but unfortunately it falls flat with a way to familiar story I have seen told in films way to many times about how rough it is to be young living in an urban ghetto side of town. It was predictable mundane and at times a bit boring.

I saw that another reviewer compared Obey to La Haine and I can get that if you base it on rebelling youth without any future against police brutality but Obey is more about a young guy searching for love whilst living with his alcoholic mother and her bad relationship choices. A good job done by Marcus Rutherford playing the young and desperate Leon. The London riots just add to the dark story, where the people live day by day without any hope of a brighter future. La Haine on the other hand was purely about ghetto youth against the whole corrupt system. A movie that I preferred to Obey if I have to be honest but to me it's a totally different movie. That said, Obey isn't a bad movie.

I really enjoyed this. Had no expectations and it delivered a reasonably realistic portrayal of street life in 2011. Worked for me.

An impressive debut film from Jamie Jones which is beautifully shot with two outstanding performances from T'nia Miller and Marcus Rutherford. I was living in London at the time of the riots and this film not only captures the tension of the time very well but the insight into life in inner city London is spot on. Highly recommended.