Sorted (2000) User Reviews

Not much of a story, but excellent music

[bsinc · 6/10 · 22 January 2002]

I was very surprised at the rating of this movie. I just loved it (the last half hour excluded). "Sorted" has a surprisingly high production value and it easily looks like an expensive movie. There are some great club scenes that really make you feel like you want to be there, accompanied with nice music, and Matthew Rhys did an excellent job.

There is however a weak script and the previously mentioned ending which ruins all the potential this movie had of being a cult classic. Tim Curry in a bizarre and unnecessary role that screams of stupidity and predictability, the whole thing is just so unbelievably bad it physically hurts. Sad, could have been much more. 6/10

Sorted is. . .sordid (but in a good way)

[Rogue-32 · 7/10 · 9 September 2002]

The club scenes in this film are extremely believable, Tim Curry is in his most venal mode, and there are enough drugs and violence here for two movies, maybe even three. What more do you require from an evening's entertainment? Pump up the volume.

It has its faults, but it is not a bad film

[TheLittleSongbird · 7/10 · 16 May 2010]

Sorted certainly could have been better, but it was not bad in my opinion. It does have its problems, but it also has its high points too.

The problems:

1. The script does have its weaknesses. There are times when it wants to go somewhere but it doesn't. And you also get the sense you've heard it before. That said though, it does also have some nice touches.

2. I liked the idea of the plot, but when it came to on film it felt predictable and convoluted.

3. The ending or shall I say the last 30 minutes could have been much more, it left me somewhat frustrated. This is the sort of film that starts off really well, but meanders in the second half. Compared to how well done most parts were in Sorted, the ending was seemingly devoid of tension.

The good things:

1. The soundtrack is the obvious one. It is one that really makes you want to get up and dance and join in with the fun. I admit I am not a huge fan of techno, but surprisingly I found that my foot was tapping in time to the beat.

2. The club scenes are mesmerising, very nicely shot and captures the feel of dancing in a club very well.

3. The pacing is surprisingly well done. The film does move quite briskly and has a lot of energy and verve, and very rarely does it lag.

4. In terms of filming, it is very stylish. The cinematography is crisp, the landscapes are dazzling and the lighting is inventive. The effects were also very good, I liked the fast moving clouds and the morphing backgrounds, it did add to the gritty atmosphere and tone of the film.

5. Alexander Jovy's direction is very efficient. Sometimes direction in this sort of film can plod or become unfocused, but Jovy ensured that the film moved quickly and it was very focused.

6. Personally I thought the acting wasn't that bad. The characters are somewhat clichéd, the naive girlfriend, transvestite DJ and Shakespeare-mangling drugs baron are in a sense not exactly unfamiliar territory, though it is not everyday where a drugs baron mangles Shakespeare. The actors regardless do an adept job I feel, for Matthew Rhys gives a strong and charismatic lead performance. Sienna Guillory looks gorgeous and acts convincingly, while Jason Donovan comes close to stealing the show.

But I for one do not understand the criticisms of Tim Curry's performance as Damian Kemp, his character is unexceptional to a degree, but Curry's performance is better than people give credit for. He is a wonderful and underrated actor and shouldn't be dismissed as a ham(Vincent Price was hammy and I like him too a lot); his roles in Rocky Horror and Three Musketeers were quite slimy and over the top, then again the former was MEANT to be, but Legend, It and Captain Hook in Peter Pan and the Pirates were not hammy, quite the contrary, It especially he was very frightening in and Peter Pan and the Pirates is one of his best voice overs in a very complex character role.

Overall, this was a flawed but decent movie, well made with a great soundtrack and a good atmosphere but it could have been better with a more focused script, plot and ending. 7/10 Bethany Cox

Not sorted, just frustrated...

[kevgill · 11 April 2002]

Who am I, a meagre spectator and wannabe film critic, to suggest how this film could have been better? No one really, but given this film's promising premise, it is quite frustrating that the ultimate result is so full of avoidable flaws.

What this film could have been was an exploration of our capital's club and drug culture with the classical narrative of a detective movie. In this scenario, we happily discover, through the investigations of our central character, exactly what circumstances led to the sinister happenings at the film's outset.

Alas though, this does not happen. We start to find things out that our detective does not know, thus dispelling the sense of mystery that was (well) established earlier.

This frustration, added to the unfathomable casting and actual existence of the Tim Curry character, ultimately makes the film almost a chore to watch. How did this guy ever become an actor? His mere presence makes the skin crawl and his acting style redefines the word hammy.

Our hero also starts to make some strange and uncharacteristic decisions, like taking drugs with a woman he does not trust and immersing himself in the culture of which he knows his unfortunate brother was a victim.

Attempts at quirkiness, which are so typical of recent British fare, also fall flat and miss the tone of the film. Namely, the femme-fetale calling our hero by the name of his home town Scunthorpe throughout, and a martial arts "expert" inspired by the Streetfighter video games.

Whack on a farcical James Bond style ending and what you've got is a complete bodged job of a movie - a great shame when you consider what it might have been.

Messy

[Ethan.H.Field · 6/10 · 17 October 2000]

The club scenes, probably filmed in the Ministry were excellent, although the context, being a poor northern boy from Scunthorpe wandering into an alien world, was a bit over-played. Some of the best clubs in England are in Yorkshire these days! The clubbers we are introduced to are caricatures. Tim Curry as the villain was dreadful and the plot meandered and lacked credibility. All up the film tried to do too much. "Human Traffic" may have been a bit silly but was much more true to club culture. The thriller component in "Sorted" echoed a little of "Usual Suspects", but certainly was not in the same league. The acting from Matthew Rys and Sienna Gullory, as the leads, was excellent and hopefully a leg-up for them to get better roles. Special mention for an almost unrecognizable Jason Donovan, who played an excellent drag queen, very convincingly!

Good club atmosphere but flawed

[Chris_Docker · 5/10 · 8 October 2000]

If Human Traffic was daft teenagers on E, this is grown-ups taking the enjoyment of the whole club scene quite seriously. The chemicals almost seep out from the sprocket holes and entrance your brain as the pumping house music raises the adrenalin. Contrasting the warm and caring side of clubbing with the dark underside of mafioso controllers makes for a good thriller. Somehow the tension in the latter half doesn't quite match anticipation, and the clubbers are rather caricaturesque Londoners, but the whole thing is worth it for the mesmerizing re-creation of trance and techno (a word to people not into this music - you don't *have* to take E to enjoy it or enjoy clubbing to it.)

Bad as a movie, good for having fun

[whaq · 7/10 · 1 December 2000]

I just saw this movie in a sneak preview and before reading my comment you have to know that it is very subjective because I love Techno, Trance, Club, House and music like that.

The movie deals with Carl, whose brother Jason (or whatever his name was) died in an accident: he fell off a rooftop, "drunk". Carl meets his brother's girlfriend Sunny and the two of them quite unmotivated some kind of private investigation about Jason's death and Carl gets involved in Jason's ex-life that was filled with clubs and drugs. The movie itself, seen from an artistic point of view, is nothing more than a big pile of s**t. The plot is predictable, all of the characters are extremely cliched and two-dimensional (stupid boy from a small town, young good-looking innocent girl, big bad drug king... the list is endless) and most of the acting such as the plot are just not credible. Matthew Rhys' performance of the stupid boy coming to big London and sudden taking drugs from people he does not even know does not seem very credible, unlike his female counterpart Sunny, performed by Sienna Guillory, whose behaviour seems more realistic to the spectator. Nothing more than a joke was Tim Curry's performance of the drug king Damian: a phony caricature, too "eeeevil" and just too ridiculous to be true.

BUT: If you like club music (the club scenes such as the selected tracks are simply brilliant), if you enjoy a simple lovestory with a sweet girl like Sunny (yes, I confess, I lost my heart ;)... that makes my comment even more subjective, I guess) with some (predictable) twists and turns you will definetely enjoy this movie.

Anybody else: F.O.R.G.E.T.....I.T.!

3 out of 10 (objective view)

7 out of 10 (my personal view and also my final vote)

Nice but controversial

[deelkar · 8/10 · 19 October 2001]

This movie has one of the best club scenes, very good soundtrack (if you like techno/trance music)

some situations (As the main character Carl begins to take drugs for example) are a little off reality, but the plot is entertaining, but the characters are all a little shallow...

I'd not recommend you to see this film if you don't like techno music

For the plot/acting alone this movie is a 4/10, with the really cool special effects and the club scenes and soundtrack it's a 7/10, but if you would want to go to the movies just to hear nice tracks and grab a little club feeling, it's a 10/10.

the special effects are sometimes hidden, sometimes clearly visible. (i.e. fast moving clouds/sun/moon, morphing background, morphing cuts)

I for one enjoyed it very much, a shame there was no dancefloor in the cinema ;)

Surprised I enjoyed it

[wideopenvision · 7/10 · 2 April 2008]

Didn't have much aspiration for this film, but was pleasantly surprised. Very well made film, very well cut, doesn't really get to the height that Human Traffic did, but it's a very good effort. Well directed, and I thought the lead actor put in a superb performance! In fact the only really bad performance in the film was from Tim Curry, who is supposed to be the name.

Cool Film surprised it hasn't done better than it has. I'd never heard of it until I saw it at a mates.

I'm not a raver, but I imagine people who are will really like this film.

This movie had so much potential but never delivered

[stubhall · 3/10 · 11 November 2003]

There were so many reasons why this movie could have been great. I'll give you three.

1. Sienna Guillory. She is extremely hot in this movie and was the reason I chose to watch it in the first place.

2. Tim Curry. Amazing bad guy and I always get excited seeing him in movies (even Home Alone 2).

3. Jason Donovan. For all you Aussies and Poms out there, this is a rare treat. Former Neighbours star 80's heart-throb dressed in drag selling drugs.

However none of these things nor the fact that the movie is about the drug/rave culture managed to make this movie even remotely interesting. The script was dull, the performances ordinary and despite the scenes with J.D and any scene with Sienna I found everything about this movie pretty passe.

3 out of 10.

Superb British Thriller

[rocknrelics · 9/10 · 15 November 2009]

How on earth this film isn't more widely regarded is beyond me.

I picked it up for £1, and I'm not exaggerating when I say it's the best pound I've ever spent on a film.

The thing that usually lets films about the club scene down is either the music or the actual scenes filmed in clubland.

Here, the music and club scenes are completely credible,using some big tunes of the time, and filmed in real clubs, with people actually looking like they want to be there.

The performances from the actors are of a high standard all round, although Jason Donovan in particular for me stands out (he was playing Frank N Furter in The Rocky Horror Show in London at roughly the time this must have been filming, so his drag phase was in full flow!), and of course Tim Curry who's eloquent drug land boss is convincing.

Simply put, if you're a fan of British film you have to see this, it matters not a jot if you're into clubbing as the film is strong enough as a story anyway.

Highly recommended.

Bad Only Begins To Describe This Mess

[Geeseherder · 1/10 · 26 May 2020]

Mediocre acting, except for Tim Curry, who is just pathetically hammy. Stupid quotes with every side of dialogue, that just make you want to stick daggers in your ears.

Tired directing, 360, 720, 1080, and more Steadicam tortures. Subtle it is not at any point. Every turn is telegraphed a mile ahead.

Cheesy writing. No, just crappy writing.

You wouldn't have a hard time finding a better movie than this. Just click on any other movie and you'll do better.

Interesting start let down weak second half

[pkpoker · 5/10 · 19 June 2001]

Starting like a hitchcock style thriller with shades of Get Carter and good use of music and effects ( to represent the effects of drugs) the film peters out to a very poor finish with an unconvincing climax Tim Curry should not be allowed in another film intended for anyone over 12 years old.

I spit on this (g)rave!

[Elain-ee · 3/10 · 10 January 2012]

If you want to know how London's 1999 club scene would have looked to a square, middle-class director who presumably loves every style of music except for techno then by all means, go ahead and watch this film!

The mixes in the club scenes sound like they were put together by a dodgy vinyl-touch program (I think even Judge Jules would have turned his nose up at them). The club crowds are portrayed as hopelessly thrilled, ironically overdressed, chronically overjoyed, continuously boogeying and mind-blowingly high. They are so over the top that, in the end, they are just boring. I've gone to tons of clubs, raves and underground parties in London and if I would have ever walked into a party like the ones shown in this film, I probably would have assumed that someone was shooting a bad movie there and left. I probably would have been right, too, and that bad movie probably would have been Sorted.

I am fully aware that Sorted shows London's techno scene the way that it might look to outsiders but that does nothing to improve my opinion of it. I cringe to think that this is how the finest days of London's club scene are being portrayed in foreign countries (I picked up my copy of Sorted in Germany). No wonder Europeans don't go clubbing in London anymore!

As of now, I am still waiting for someone make a good film about London's club and party scene. And as for Sorted, it's going in the bin. Pah.

mesmerising club scenes-

[aropner · 10/10 · 28 March 2000]

Best club scenes that i have seen in a long time - atmosphere mesmerising - matthew Rhys's performance is impeccable and faultless. i would recommend this film to any age group. watch out for wonderwoman!

Disappointing

[IanQuigley · 4/10 · 13 August 2001]

A rather disappointing film. The club scenes were ok, but over done. The plot was thin and boring. It's only redeeming features were some of the characters. The Chemist and The DJ were pretty fun characters. Tim Curry's character was just bizarre and stupid.

cool movie

[laciusplutus · 10/10 · 11 November 2005]

it's a super movie!!!! i only seen it once but it's very good if you like music like in disco's and don't have problem with drugs.... It's fantastic movie!!!! it's only a little bit to short! but when you watch the movie make sure your sound system is at 100%!!! then you will love the music in the film and the funny things that a guy from the country comes never drink any alcohol and then he is under drugs in the biggest disco's and love the music!!

the only problem is that i want to buy it and i can't find it! so if anyone knows where i could buy the movie pleas mail me!!!

greets me from Holland

pleas reply me!!

wow!

[vodka_lover · 10/10 · 16 May 2002]

I have rented this film out about 6 times! it is very well directed and the story is unique and grabs your attention from the beginning. Big up to Jason Donovan whose acting in this film was wicked and i loved the guy with the st fighter moves - goood!

Not worth having an epileptic fit over if your an epilepsy sufferer.Just not worth watching if your not

[wellthatswhatithinkanyway · 7 October 2000]

STAR RATING:*****Unmissable****Very Good***Okay**You Could Go Out For A Meal Instead*Avoid At All Costs

Intriguing the potential viewer with an invigorating trailor,Sorted is sadly yet another poor example of how a lot of British films are stuffing their own industry up very bad.The worst out a lot in fact.The first film I ever saw in the new UGC cinema on Broad Street in the centre of Birmingham,if I can't convince anyone else not to see the film (which I certainly hope I can),I would certainly hope any epileptic critics heed my warning and stay away from it,as some of the scenes in the nightclub are very loud and flashy indeed,and sitting in the cinema auditorium would be quite a nightmare.

But hopefully not as much a nightmare as having to see such a senseless plot that only even begins to comprehensibly unravel until the end.And Tim Curry gave an abysmally stupid performance as the head bad guy,adding an edgy comedic touch to a film that was'nt trying to head in that direction.One can only assume the scriptwriters had themselves been taking drugs at the time of writing this,and probably been hit very hard over the head with a steel hammer too.*

Double Nostalgia

[TowergateFilms · 8/10 · 26 April 2024]

Sorted gives you the vibe of life in London during the late 90s with the texture of a British 60s film. Oscar winner director, Alex Jovy facilitates exceptional performances from the legendary Tim Curry as the perfect villain, Jason Dovovan shines in his most interesting performance and Idris Elba is perfectly cast as a thug. The entire supporting cast are very good too. Virtual newcomers at the time Matthew Rhys and Sienna Guillory performances make you want to root for them as a couple in this love story, action thriller, murder mystery. Watching Sorted in 2024 is very entertaining and and the clubbing soundtrack makes even more enjoyable. It is cult classic.

Good

[Robin Kelly · 6 October 2000]

Rather lazily one newspaper review compared Sorted unfavourably with Billy Elliot. Although Sorted has its faults it is just as good as Billy Elliot and didn't annoy me nearly as much.

The most obvious difference between the films for me is that while Billy Elliot is amateurish, Sorted is written and directed by professionals whose idea of educating themselves about film involves more than simply watching Kes.

However as I said it has its faults. The film has an whodunit element whose reveal is a surprise but I don't think it was foreshadowed enough in the character development, if I'm being generous (or downright misleading if I'm not). The first two acts are nicely paced and very interesting but I have problems with the last act. It is a traditional Hollywood last act with lots of things happening and everything tied up neatly in a big finish. Unfortunately I hate traditional Hollywood last acts because they're so predictable through all the twists and turns.

The plotting is strong and well done however it does fall down in some aspects. The MacGuffin is introduced too late for something of such importance and at one point, when it is found, the finder still keeps looking for it just so they can be discovered. The hero can find out what's on the MacGuffin by using the computer in his own apartment but for story progression's sake he takes it to somebody else's apartment. When we see what's actually on the MacGuffin it's something that can be printed off or the details passed on verbally in a single sentence. From experience I know that finding a good believable MacGuffin is difficult but you've just got to do the work.

Characterisation is good, generally, although the scene at Justin's memorial where everyone was introduced was too obvious. Acting is good, generally, although Tim Curry seems as if he walked in from a completely different picture. Jovy should learn the following line for future reference, "less darling, give me less." I guess he was so chuffed to have a big star in the movie he didn't feel he could say that. Although to be fair to Curry, if you write a character as a Shakespeare quoting old-fashioned villain there are limited choices on how to play it. Matthew Rhys proves he's not a poor man's Jude Law (the director's original choice for the part) but a star in his own right.

The club scenes are convincing and work well and the music is brilliant throughout - I was dancing in the aisles. There is also a good use of locations.

Alex Jovy was featured in the Channel 4 documentary series Movie Virgins as he tried to raise finance for his film. It wasn't until the last episode of rooting for him to succeed that I thought, "hold on, I bet the script's c**p and he can't direct." Actually Villier's script is mostly good and Jovy's direction is very good.

I hope this film makes its money back and it certainly deserves to.

More camp than Glastonbury

[lishka · 2 July 2003]

*possible spoilers*

Forget Sorted as a serious analysis of club culture and you may find some entertainment. Admittedly I wasn't aware of this when I sat down to watch it, which is why I was left with that feeling of "have these people ever SEEN the inside of a nightclub?!!"

Quite obviously, they haven't.

Tim Curry - complete with cigarette holder, velvet smoking jacket etc - camps it up to another dimension, with classic gut-laughing lines like "administer the heroin - then return her to the citadel..". Oh sure, he's woeful but you can't help laughing. And some of the unlikely drug taking scenes too bear all the hallmarks of those who have no idea. "I love you, have you got any water" being a case in point.

Oh and what was the point of the dead brother being Tim Vincent? Using a photo was certainly an original way of getting a 'celebrity' into the movie without paying them a bean.

Hilarious! ...2/5