London Road (2015)

Thanks for the memories!

If you like to be scared, if you like to laugh, and if you like to learn a thing or two at the movies, this absolutely cannot be missed.

All of these films share one commonality, that being a kind of emotional center that humanizes a cast of monsters.

Exactly the movie you think it is, but not the movie you want it to be.

If you watch this film not expecting a musical I can understand the confused reviews. I don't find it disrespectful in the slightest, it's verbatim and represents the views and words of the people at the time. I saw London Road when it was at the National Theatre and it blew me away. This film captures everything I loved about that show. Not to everyone's taste, but undeniably creative, fresh and heaving with talent.I loved every second of it.

A musical about the inhabitants of a road where a serial killer murdered 5 prostitutes. Inappropriate? Maybe, but that doesn't mean it has to be bad. Just because subject matter is dark doesn't mean the end product can't work, That said, nothing in London Road works at all.The writer of the musical decided to take the actual words of people interviewed after the murder, which is a neat concept. Until that is, you realize that includes every umm, erm, pause, stutter, etc. The lyrics needed to be cleaned up to actually fit to music. Which brings us to the point of the music. It's not musical, it's words spoken in an ALMOST sing-song-y way, but not quite. Every now and then some of the words are put to actual song, and it's... interesting, but still far from good.The sad thing is that there probably is a strong story in there. Whether about the murders, the investigation, or the people affected by it, something could be told based off that. But not this. Never this.

This musical is based on the National Theatre stage production which is based on actual events that took place in London Road Ipswich.In 2006, London Road had a problem with prostitutes who had moved into their street. Not only were the working girls touting for business but they were having sex in view of the residents. Then five of the women's bodies were found and one of their neighbours was charged and convicted of the offence. This is the story of the residents' thoughts and feelings during the incident and their attempt to recover from the stigmatism which was caused.Musicals aren't my favourite type of movie though I did like the classics. Though the music and songs are more contemporary in this film. Unfortunately, it's that same music and songs that injure the film. I liked the idea of the songs encompassing and including the tenants' actual comments, however, there just isn't enough of them and the lyrics end up being repeated too much. This repetition is very annoying and nearly had me turning it off a couple of times. It would have been nice if Adam Cork, who composed the music, had spread his wings a little more as most of the songs are very similar and add to the monotonous feel.Luckily the filming by director Rufus Norris is interesting and well crafted to suit the music and songs, as well as the narrative when you have the residents speaking. It's also these acting sequences that hold the film together as the are very well skilled at their craft. It's these elements and not the musical ones that make you relate to the characters and understand just what they were going through.If it hadn't been a musical then I believe this would have been a much greater film.If you like contemporary musicals this may be for you. If you're thinking about watching this for members of the cast - Olivia Coleman or Tom Hardy, be aware that they are not in this film for long. In fact, none of the cast is, and I like the movie more because of this. Each actors playing the residents appear to have the same screen time. Though, if you're a studying filmmaker or you're just interested in well-made and shot movies then I'd recommend this for you.

Making A Mockery Of Murder ~ This is a film about the Suffolk Strangler/Ipswich Ripper murders. Steve Wright is currently serving life imprisonment for the murder of five young women in Ipswich,Suffolk.The film focuses on the local community and how it pulled together and recovered from the shock of his grotesque spree killings. It features the real and unscripted words of the local residents put in the mouths of actors.It's presented in the form of a light hearted musical which is bizarre and slightly disturbing.These killings took place during the winter of 2006 which is only nine years ago - it's very insensitive for the film industry to exploit this tragedy & disregard the grief of bereaved parents in the pursuit of entertainment.