Wasteland

source: Wasteland

My byline up there pretty much sums it up. It an intriguing story, set in motion by a highly resourceful and intelligent lead, to rob a Men's Club, home to illicit drug funds squirrelled away there by the evil villein, whom has greatly wronged the lead. The soundtrack had good uplifting late 90s style rock, plenty of montage (which worked a treat), and the story was told using an easy to follow, and fresh, flashback technique. All the actors gave outstanding performances, working with a fast and often emotional script. It a well written, well put together movie, where all aspects are playing their part to perfection. Yes, there is a little confusion of understanding when, toward the latter half, details are delivered at a probably too quick a clip. But that doesn't dilute one's anticipation and enjoyment. Outstanding, and original, British drama.

Harvey is sitting in a police interview room facing interrogation, and Detective Inspector West has no doubt in Harvey's part in a foiled robbery, and the attempted murder of local thug Steven Roper. Denying everything, Harvey agrees to tell his version of events, from his initial release from prison, right up to the point of his arrest.... Even though the film has good intentions, and for a low budget Indie movie, it looks wonderful, it's basically just ripping off the interrogation from The Usual Suspects, and to rip off such a prolific movie with such rich narrative and characters, you have to have something special up your sleeves..........this really doesn't deliver anything new though. It's not a bad film though by any means, Treadaway is good as the main protagonist, and the superb as always Maskell is unsettling as the antagonist. But other than that, it's just another run of the mill crime drama about someone who's fed up of his life and wants to be somebody, and wouldn't you know it, resorting to crime is the only way. His gang are the usual rag tag team of Ne'er do wells, and if you want to find out what happened to Neville Longbottom when he graduated from Hogwarts, look no further than this. Spall as good as he is, is just there to listen to the story and to be the ears of the subliminal confession, until the tables are turned in the most predictable way imaginable. So it's a watchable movie, about ten minutes too long, but you'll be yearning for Keyser Soze come the end.

I missed this film and caught up with it on Netflix.. What a decent film this is...Lots of twists and turns bit hard to follow but it all comes out at the end... Bit like Pulp Fiction the plot line.. Well worth watching and you would watch it again.. Its on my ship wreck list

This review contains spoilers - hard to point out the flaws without a few spoilers! Firstly, I liked the cast and location... and I generally liked what they were attempting with the story. However, there seemed too many points that were either very unlikely or didn't make sense. For example: We're told that Harvey was just an ordinary, everyday guy who Steven Roper randomly chose to plant drugs in his flat - why would the police and courts convict someone of drugs offences (heroin no less) when they have no prior convictions? Wouldn't they look at the evidence as a whole and suspect foul play? Just doesn't seem likely. And why would Steven Roper plant drugs on an innocent person anyway? Wouldn't it be better to plant them on someone who the police already suspect? And if Harvey (and his friends) are just ordinary, everyday guys, why are they suddenly good at pulling off a heist? Being clever and having the guts isn't enough surely. The first time Harvey bumps into Roper in the street he gives him loads of lip and attitude. An ordinary guy who's been in jail for something he hasn't done and he mouths off to the likes of Roper (who was the person who got him sent to jail)? Make yourself noticed for the sake of the plan, maybe. But being tough and cocky? No. When it comes to the robbery, why did Dempsey take time to break in through one door but then also take time to break out through the roof? Surely going back out through the door would have been quicker. Sure, it was so he could fire the arrow from the roof... but why was he doing that anyway? I must have totally missed that part. Some money needed to fired through the air and hit a dart board because...? Did he need to get that money to Charlie quickly? Was that the money Charlie planted in the security room? If so, fine, but running the money over to him would have been almost as quick surely? Especially if he doesn't have to spend time breaking out through the roof. Factor in the possibility that he could have missed with the arrow and left Charlie searching for it. Seems like a flashy idea that is all flash and no benefit. Another point, the money is in a safe... in a basement... a basement with no windows... a basement that is alarmed. But when they put the safe in, they placed it over a drain cover? A cover that covers a drain large enough for someone to fit in? Really? No-one thought that was a bad place to put the safe? And why does a basement have an opening to a storm drain anyway? Finally, a minor point really but when characters in films are trying to be clever but that cleverness doesn't stand up then it sticks out. When DI West notices that the tape recorder is still running and listens to it, Harvey (on the tape) says "You can either run after me and bring me back or you can sit down and listen to this tape". All I could think was, he could pause the tape, run after Harvey, bring him back and THEN listen to the tape. The tape isn't going anywhere.

The Rise isn't bad, considering the low budget and actors most of us have never seen perform before. The plot is coherent and acting on par but casting was very poor. It's probably due to financial reasons but these people, lead included, just don't have the character and cinematic presence that we've gotten used to see in British movies. I have utmost respect for British TV and cinema production but bearing in mind the excellence of especially Korean, but also Chinese and even Indonesian or Filipino movies these days, The Rise just doesn't make the cut to invets one's 90 minutes in when one has so many brilliant TV shows and movies to choose from.

Certainly reminiscent of Lock Stock, with the neat dialogue, polished even, well acted and directed. I was happy with all the performances, and it is largely a young cast. It's not lighthearted, with some excursions into working class (ie unemployed class) despair and poverty, thus Wasteland I suppose, and it might be this that led to the hiccups in its release, not quite knowing where to pitch it. If that's the reason, well that's just another illustration of the institutional uselessness of the management in the film business (nobody knows nothing), because the movie is self evidently a pearl. Never quite seen anything like it before is a recommendation, not a problem. Some pretty graphic violence (realistic, not overblown, and it injures the victims), lots of swearing. Finally it's a caper, The Sting comes to mind.

Having watched a number of British crime/gangster/hiest films has led me to a simple conclusion...we just don't do them so well (with the exception of a notable few). Flimsy story lines, flimsier plots and character development to name just a few of my gripes. Very few stand up against what the rest of the world has to offer. I went into this film with very little expectation, and up until the last 30 mins it seemed I was to be proved right yet again....not so! A great watch in the end. Yes, the storyline doesn't tread any new ground. But what it does, it does very well I think. It seems to plod along quite nicely with some decent enough character development and acting (but to be honest nothing spectacular). But the plot and the twists towards the end are well worth the wait. And kudos to the director/writer to leave in a 'did he/didn't he' scenario, where it is left to the viewers imagination as to what happens next. Far too few film makers do this in my opinion, preferring to spoon-feed the audience every bit of detail. I was also impressed with the soundtrack. Very contemporary (with the odd golden oldie thrown in), and which was actually quite emotional at times. I must admit I have been rather generous in rating this a 7/10. But that is because I am just so pleased that something of this quality has been produced in Britain. Would definitely recommend this.

As the credits rolled at the end of this movie I felt a sense of surprise more than anything. Surprised that 'The Rise' was a very good film, exceeding my expectations in every way. A hidden gem almost, a film that I had not heard of until I saw it on Netflix. I am a fan of the genre; the British 'indie' scene is one that I usually enjoy. This movie is marketed as a heist & revenge movie, which is exactly what it is, but it is not your run of the mill heist flick. It is a powerful, gripping & gritty drama with a great solid plot, good characters & superb acting. It starts very well, throwing you into the story, the lead character is being interviewed by a detective and he begins to tell the story, showing the viewer how he came to be in that situation. The movie does go down a few gears through the middle of the film but then picks up pace and the final 30-40 minutes are fantastic. I won't ruin anything, but the end of the film is very, very enjoyable. The acting is superb; you genuinely feel for the characters and certainly take sides between the good and bad. The 4 main lads are all convincing and portray their own characters well. There is definitely chemistry between the 4 leads and they do have a realistic, relatable relationship. One negative I have is that I thought the relationship/girlfriend storyline was a little unnecessary but it is something we have come to expect in almost every film nowadays. To give credit though, it was kept to a minimum and acted more as a sub plot rather than taking centre stage throughout. I'm not going to say much more as I don't want to give anything away. I'm not sure why this film is so hidden, it never took off and never went mainstream. I know there was a delay in releasing it and it also underwent a title change from 'Wastelands' to 'The Rise'. Overall it is a very impressive film from a novice director/writer with good acting from all the young and upcoming British stars. 8/10

I gave this film a chance having read the 10 + positive reviews herein. However, I feel I wasted my time watching it. It reminded me of St Trinian's - the film about the 'mischievous school girls causing havoc''. Nil character building depth - I would go as far as to say that the building of the characters is nestled within the costuming, and the viewer is expected to believe that the characters are urban clever hipsters, with a hoodlum leader who happens to be a criminal mastermind. A rather dizzy & twirling background soundtrack seems to turn itself on every now & then, adding unnecessary noisy to the scripting. It was difficult to take the characters seriously and the plot was ridiculous. A film for teenagers huddled up for a sleep over with crunch sounding popcorn.