Johnny Was (2006)

Although it has its amusing moments, in eneral the plot does not convince.

The movie's neither hopeful in contrived ways, nor hopeless in different contrived ways. Somehow it manages to be wonderful

It is an exhilarating, distressing, funny and profound film, with one of the more memorable film scores in years,

This is one of the best movies I’ve seen in a very long time. You have to go and see this on the big screen.

An aging Vinnie Jones stars as a former convict and IRA-type terrorist keeping a low profile after getting out of prison. His past catches up with him in the form of Patrick Bergen, an old terrorist crony who has also gotten out of prison and is looking for some action when he should be retired and gone fishing. The two stumble across a low-level drug lord, nicely played by Eriq LaSalle, and the three make some half-baked plans that eventually come to naught, thanks to the two-timing and still deadly Bergen. While there are some action scenes, mainly having to do with Belfast in the 1970s, the movie is largely a talker and character study of people either trying to do the right thing -- or maybe not. A great surprise ending. For adults only.

Johnny Was does precisely what it says on the tin. Drama, comedy, politics, music and a fair splattering of original twists and turns all vie for your attention in a genuinely inventive take on the classic caper format.It's clearly not the biggest budget big screen fest, but it's such a refreshing change to see something resolutely un-Hollywood: thoroughly entertaining, un-sanitised, ambitious.In a nutshell, Johnny Was is a well-built UK crime caper with an utterly brilliant dub reggae soundtrack. And, to be honest, that says all you need to know. But you can read on if you like.Lennox Lewis' Rasta DJ character is superb - and well realised by the big man - while Vinnie Jones is settling down quite nicely into this whole acting lark. The dub-laden soundtrack's utterly brilliant (it was overseen by Adrian Sherwood), Eriq La Salle (ex of ER) delivers an excellent and nasty villain while Samantha Mumba is, well, Samantha Mumba (but she plays a junkie so is kept quiet and prone quite a bit). Mark Asante's great and graced with a number of quality one-liners while Patrick Bergin is every inch the derailed, unhinged whirly-gig you need to drop in the middle of films like this in order to shake things up and get people reaching for their guns, big knives and really, really angry eyebrows. Get the idea? So, this weekend, why not spend your DVD dollars on a UK-made, UK-funded twisty-turny, crime caper with genuine charm, comedy and invention, and forgo, just this once, Hollywood's hideously homogeneous hokum.

Attended Rebelfest in Toronto where this won the Sony Audience Award and as a fellow filmmaker enjoyed meeting some of the guys involved in making it.The mix of voices in the movie was really different - Jamaican, Irish, English and a lot of people have commented on the soundtrack of reggae, which was well used.Some aspects were not so great - technical production left a bit to be desired, but I suppose this is low budget indie problems always.Acting wise I think Vinnie Jones was good and while I read some comment about him not doing a good Irish accent, unless I've completely missed the point I thought he was supposed to be a Londoner whose family came from Ireland, which would mean he spoke like a Londoner - which to my ears he did.Another small grumble is that Roger Daltrey is very good but should have had a bigger role. He has an interesting character, but it just comes and goes.I agree with the comments on Samantha Mumba - a bit too healthy looking for a junkie. On the other hand, Lennox Lewis, who I was expecting to be just a celeb cameo did really well in an interesting role as a DJ running an illegal music station.Anyway - we enjoyed it, so congrats to cast and crew from someone who knows how hard it is to get indie movies made.

Just saw this slightly mad little movie at Toronto and LOVED it.It has one foot in B Movie land and the other in smart thriller. The soundtrack is incredible if you like reggae and dance music.It reminded me a bit of Lock Stock (but with more brains) and a bit of Ronin (but less slick). About London-Irish gangster Vinnie trying to get out of the life but ending up at war in London with Jamaican drug gang and his former Irish mates. I liked the fact that there were good guys and both guys on every side in this free for all.Acting-wise Vinnie Jones is very strong. Patrick Bergin plays an over the top but somehow likable psycho. Roger Daltry is good, but needed a few more scenes to get going. And Lennox Lewis is great "Beamin owt to Babylon" as a Rastafarian DJ and unofficial king of the neighborhood.Anyone expecting some great life-changing experience should stay at home, but anyone with a pulse who likes little action/thriller movies with something to say, with a bit of heart and some grit, should take a look. I think it is due out in the next few weeks on DVD in US anyway.