To Be Someone

Dig a hole and bury it deep. A shoestring budget doesn't need to determine the quality of a film but in this case it does. Everything about this film is inept. Woeful script, cardboard cut-out characters, bizarre music interludes. The original Quadies appear to have been promised a few lines if they turned up on set. They shouldn't have bothered. The highlight is pantomime villain 'Mad Mike' whose facial contortions have to be seen to be believed. Try 'The Pebble and the Boy' before this, I've not seen it but it can't be worse than this tosh.

Ok, I admit it, as an old scooter riding mod I was suckered into buying the DVD. Within 5 minutes of watching it I regretted that decision. Despite the obvious potential of having a number of the Quadrophenia cast this film is possibly the worst film I have ever seen. And that includes the 10 minutes of "the sex lives of the potato men' starring Johnny Vegas.

Nothing to do with the mod or scootering scene, just a shameless attempt to cash in on the history of Quadrophenia with a 'comedy caper' that, simply, stinks.

Shame on everyone connected with this film.

Quite frankly the worst film I've ever seen, and I watched Cats. The acting is laughable at best and the green screen for the car driving scenes looks like it was done on a zx spectrum.

The true shame is I wanted to enjoy a bit of quadrophonic related nostalgia. This isn't it.

Firstly, to be someone, has nothing to to with Quadrophenia. The book, from which it gets its title, is a sequel to the famous Who film, but the movie (while using some of the actors) is not connected in any way, and shares none of the characters.

They storyline follows the main character, Danny (Sam Gittins), who gets in some trouble with Gangsters. He gets together his friends in a plan to stitch up the criminal element that threatens his family.

Overall, the movie is pretty lightweight. None of the drama is serious enough to provide any threat to the characters. The plot is pretty unbeleivable, and some of the characters are pretty thin.

That said, for a lightweight gangster film, with mods and scooters, it was ok. Its sort of interesting to see people like Toyah Wilcox and Leslie Ash , though their roles are fairly short. There's some pretty average attempts at humour, and the films budget is stretched at times, though its not cheap looking and the production values aren't too bad. The film is shot well with some good band scenes and great shots of scooters. There is some pretty over the top product placement, to the point where the film at times looks it has commercials inserted into it... though cheekily, its actually referenced in the film.

Kudos to Sam Gittins who was actually really decent in his role... almost channelling a touch of Michael Caine - and definitely lifted the film. The soundtrack by the band featured in the film, The Ks is great as well.

Definitely watchable for those into scooters, and people who like Guy Ritchies work (though its not anything that should worry him as king of the English gangster genre.

6/10.

So much potential, but it failed to deliver.

The music was good in most parts, but the story was let-down by the script. Some great stars in this, such as Leslie Ash, Toyah Wilcox and others, but it was just poorly written.

As a Brit myself, I was thoroughly disappointed with this movie.