My Old School

Rather boring as it could all be condensed Into 30 - 45 minutes. The film producer and his fellow classmates were obviously enjoying themselves retelling the story. As there is not 90 minutes worth of story it was very repetitive. The first hour was like a teaser until the supposed big reveal. As if we hadn't guessed? The animation was poor, irritatingly so, I don't know why the film makers didn't either use better quality graphics or actors. My recommendation is don't watch it just google the main character and you'll read all there is in about 5 minutes. It's not even a very interesting story - certainly not as jaw dropping as we are lead to believe at the start of the film.

That the film maker was a former school mate of this outrageous fraudster gives it its charm and sense of fun, its best parts come from this past and yet it is the source of its weak points. Jono the film maker lazily settles with ''it was a laugh'' ''Oh I was completely taken in, omg''. The viewers would say ''Didn't you wanna do some more digging? We have got more than we want to know about his, Bearden? School days, but how did he manage at Dundee University after successfully duping everyone at school? Did he fool medic students up until he didn't? How did he get caught in the end?

Dundee is only 90 min drive away from Glasgow. Why didn't you go and interview his tutors at the medical school or his university friends, for example, yes, his nemesis Cheryl? Also, a decade previously he allegedly failed at Glasgow medical school. Was he dumb? Then his whole pursuit of medical career seems risible, or was he simply unlucky? Come on, Glasgow University must be a few bus stops away from you, Jono. How it didn't interest you to know more about Brian McKinnon the man, your friend and neighbour, instead of settling down with ''Brandon Lee' what a laugh he was''? The film maker is lacking in curiosity.

It would've been easy for this documentary to follow the current trend of stitching up it's protagonist, in this case Brandon Lee, and to haul him over the proverbial coals for the duration..

However, Jono McLeod has taken a much fresher approach to this than most people would perhaps have expected.

Rather than be patronised and led in an all too obvious direction, the viewer is trusted to draw their own conclusions from the interviews given throughout, by McLeod, Lee, and their grown up classmates.

And therein lies one of the beautiful things about My Old School. Although the main story is already known, any preconceived notions or views are quickly dispelled, as we're introduced to a variety of Lee's former school chums - some closer to the man during his ruse than others.

It's these former classmates that keep this documentary grounded in reality, as they recall the many, and at times bizarre, encounters with Brandon during their penultimate year at high school.

Another major plus of this documentary is, just when you think you've got the whole story worked out, McLeod reveals another twist or turn. Some coming so far out of left field that you'll wonder just what has happened, and more importantly, why?

The director gently opens the many doors of the story, revealing surprises with an ease that keeps the viewer almost enchanted by Lee's growing deceptions. It's this brilliantly paced, and deliberate, drip feed of information that helps the narrative grow from straightforward, if somewhat bizarre scam, to one of almost Machiavellian proportions.

At times funny and exciting, others sad and poignant, My Old School provides many different and diverse points of view, and gets to what's essentially the untold truth of this 27 year old story.

However, a second watch will be more than intriguing, with the benefit of having all the information to hand, as the story unravels again.

As Lee only granted an audio interview, in a master stroke of genius, he's healthily portrayed on screen by Alan Cumming, who performs Drag Race levels of lip-syncing, and captures the essence of the real life Scottish Walter Mitty whom he was meant to play in a film two decades before.

A potential serious story is made extremely funny by the pupils that experienced it. The way the documentary is shot is different to others of the same nature and helps the viewer experience all forms of emotions throughout. Plenty of laugh out loud moments!

This is a hella story about a spoiled man who will stop at nothing to get what he wants - which is to become a medical doctor.

It would have been a brilliant hour long program, but at 1:50, it was painfully long.

Let's face it, Brandon Lee, or whatever name(s) he is using today, tomorrow, next week, is a sick human being who cannot understand the word nor tolerate the word "No."

And he admits that he still has "some tricks up his sleeves" in order to get into a medical school. Scary mf.

Sadly, his grand/mother was in on everything so he had help in this vile deception. Just what you want in your doctor.

The only good thing he did was to help Stefen become a pharmacist.