Change Your Image
nickysmithgirl
Reviews
Running in Traffic (2009)
Well made drama with some great performances
I don't often make a point of watching low budget dramas, especially British ones that constantly seem to dwell on misery and hover between bleak and self-loathing - but I gave this one a try. It was a screener so I apologize beforehand if it wasn't the best viewing experience for those of you considering buying this title. The opening of the film is as powerful of any drama you'll ever see. Literally no dialogue and a great setup of the central characters keeps you watching and waiting for the conclusion. That said, it takes an interesting turn as things settle and we are introduced to the protagonists, Cullen and Kayla two people coping with loss. It's a slow burn for the next thirty minutes and it doesn't become apparent immediately what this story is about or why you'd continue to watch two people grieving as they try to get their lives together but then it picks up pace and all the subtle little moments you've been observing start to make sense. The ring, the tattoo, the criss-crossing of lives and six degrees of separation in there keep you interested. What the film does have, if not an overly entertaining story is a highly observed sense of it's characters and their situation. Cullen and Kayla need to find each other but they can't. Life is getting in the way. Running in Traffic is a sad film but it does have a happy ending. Some beautiful cinematography and great acting by all the key players. The score was particularly beautiful and suited the mood of the film very well.
This Is England '86 (2010)
Brilliant
This is one of the best UK TV dramas in years. Shane Meadows and his team have really went all out. With each episode getting more and more grittier and complex for the characters than the last. Some of the sequences were not only atmospheric but deeply observed and put you right into the time and era of England, but also the characters dilemmas. I want to see more of this quality on our TV's but it would be too much to expect such a quality show every week. I respect that this kind of quality takes months and in many cases years to put together. I love Shane Meadows and I think that he deserves a huge break now. He has surpassed himself with this show. Brilliant.