Crooked Features (2005)

User Rating:

8.1/10   

Director:

Mike Peter Reed

Writers:

Mike Peter Reed (writer)
Kevin Turrell (writer)

Release Date:

3 May 2005 (UK)

Genre:

Comedy

Plot:

Cast

Julian Lee	...	Rod Shuffler
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Christopher Dunne	...	William Barclays
Sanjiv Hayre	...	Silas Daley
Navid Hegan	...	Dave B
Rachel Martin	...	Missy Magdalena
Pano Masti	...	David Goliath
Ben Mealing	...	Gerald DeCourcey
Kate Naughton	...	Tanya Hyde
Jacqueline Oceane	...	Sandy Shores
Peter Saracen	...	Freda Hiscock

Runtime:

UK:85 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Colour:

Colour

Certification:

UK:15

Filming Locations:

Portsmouth, Hampshire, England, UK

Company:

Harp28

A great romp, slightly Ealing, slightly Python ... slightly different!

A somewhat quirky British comedy, with (if I may be as bold to suggest) shades of Day For Night meets This Is Spinal Tap. Shot as a documentary it follows Rod Shuffler (director) and Freda Hiscock (producer) in their attempt to break into the Hollywood market with a production called "Attack of the Clowns". Tongue firmly in cheek and with some very subtle references this film has been described as "a jewel encrusted Mickey Mouse watch". The enthusiasm of the cast radiates from the screen and all deliver Shafta winning performances. Technically it's par for the course in terms of documentary style, but this film's vision boils away the visuals to give you an intimacy and immediacy within those constraints. It's very difficult to talk about the story without giving too much away, but basically the production descends into chaos as the investors insist on some changes which would steer the production into the realms of pornography.