Clubbed (2008)

Thanks for the memories!

SERIOUSLY. This is what the crap Hollywood still puts out?

One of the worst movies I've ever seen

Disappointment for a huge fan!

Tired of endless 'Mockney' gangster flicks? Fed up with Danny Dyer? Bored with the same plots and dialogue recycled time after time (think Essex Boys anyone)? Then Clubbed is just the antidote you need.Set in Birmingham in the early 1980s, a meek factory work (with a shaded backstory) re-establishes his pride, confidence and even masculinity in the dangerous world of nightclub security. The acting, direction and production values are simply first class; characters are brought to life as three dimensional people with challenges, values, beliefs and problems like everyone else; and, yes, the violence is frequent, messy and sudden - again, just like in real life - but like every other life lesson and action (beneficial or otherwise) contained within this morality play, its use is never without consequences.

This film is directed by famous Short film Director Neil Thompson(that's Thompson with a 'p') and written by famous boxer and philosophical genius, Geoff Thompson and stars talented Brit, Mel Raido as a factory worker in the 1980s dealing with divorce and fear in his own ways until he meets a boxer Louis, played by Colin Salmon, after which his life gets a new meaning.To put it in a nutshell, this movie isn't your usual Brit Gangster flicks in the lines of Lock, Stock…. or Layer cake or Britain's Godfather, Get Carter. This movie is more of a redemption story and the changes the main character faces. Though this movie sticks to the drama/crime genre and has nothing new to offer, this movie works because of it's in depth character analysis and the director takes his own time to develop the main character on who's life the entire story is focused upon.Unlike other British films which usually have tons of movie references, this one has tons of Literary references, mainly in the form of voice overs or visual aids in the form of books(written by Geoff Thompson himself!!). There is also a parallel track about Sparky, one of the boxers played by Scot Williams who doesn't follow the gang's discipline and will go any distance to make easy money.Though the film is mostly uphill, it has its own downsides. Well, for starters, the beginning and the ending of the movie is a paradox and doesn't make sense no matter how you look at it. Also, after the movie shifts focus on the other characters, after, half-time, the movie loses it's grip and becomes somewhat predictable. To top it off, the director who has struggled and succeeded throughout the movie to avoid clichés has broken the deadlock and given us a very predictable and clichéd twist.On the technical front, the editing is crisp and the camera-work captures the very surroundings of Danny's life with cinematic elegance. Though this movie takes its own time to unfold, you wont be bored because at the end, you feel sympathy for the character and you welcome the change in the him. The director has done well in establishing the depthness of the protagonists and also the other characters.VerdictI'm going with three out of five for Neil Thompson's Clubbed. It is not your usual British Gangster flick but is a great tell of redemption and change.

I'll be honest, I wasn't expecting much from this one, but I thought it might be o.k - So I was pleasantly surprised, as I found myself gripped within the first 10 minutes.This film is fast paced, so you won't get bored. It just gets on with it and flows nicely throughout. No filler, no overly long dialogue, and no corny subplots.Not one for the faint hearted, as adrenaline is sure to pump throughout. Not many movies manage to hit the right spots at the right time, so these guys did a good job.The soundtrack is great, and really compliments the action. The acting is realistic, and the casting was superb. You become quite attached to the characters throughout this short journey.With action, violence, drama, crime, comedy, and touching moments, this film should appeal to a wide range of people.As far as British film goes, this movie is right up there, and possibly in a league of its own.A very enjoyable and touching flick, which I'd recommend to anybody - especially fans of British cinema.9/10

Went to see Clubbed mainly out of curiosity. I'd seen it compared to Trainspotting, Goodfellas, This is England and everything by Guy Richie. Couldn't work out how it could be like all this lot at the same time, and it isn't. It's not like anything else really, and I think that's why people have struggled to pigeon hole it. Just when you think you've got it sussed as you recoil in horror at some pretty graphic violence it throws another emotion at you, as you struggle with the lump in your throat, only to have that demolished by a laugh out loud moment. As if that wasn't enough, you're forced to think about what it really means to be a man - to face fears and stand up and be counted. There are no trite solutions here, just difficult questions with no back and white answers. All this is wrapped up in a tense, gripping story acted out in some of the best performances you'll see, and overlayed with a stunning 80's soundtrack. Definitely not to be missed!