The Grind (2012)

Surprisingly incoherent and boring

Save your money for something good and enjoyable

Great Film overall

Wow! What a bizarre film! Unfortunately the few funny moments there were were quite overshadowed by it's completely weird and random vibe throughout.

Of course this is a lousy picture, as are most of recent crime films from UK, all from the Guy Ritchie's fashion. Lousy, lousy and lousier one than the other. But this one is far better if you consider the story and the characters, especially the ending which is totally unpredictable and in the pure film noir tradition. very brutal and shocking. Yes, I love this film especially for its ending that saves the whole thing. But besides this, the directing is absolutely awful with such lenghts, such as in the night club when you see people dancing in the dark long, long minutes long. I don't know if the director wanted to copy the DEER HUNTER mariage sequence between Meryl Streep and John Cazale - if my memory is good - but this night club sequence is totally useless. But to summarize, this little film noir is very weird in the fact that it is awful, lousy and very good in the same time.

I had lost sight of how bad a film could be. I am genuinely lost for words and would not know where to begin describing how appalling this film is. However, I'll give it a shot: It is a plot-less mess, that hopes to somehow redeem itself in the 'arty' (read sh*te) editing.Suffice to say this film could be used as torture mechanism, water- boarding would seem like a month in the Maldives. Please spare yourself the need to have to write a review by avoiding at all cost.'The Grind' really does plumb new depths of badly shot banality. It also re-defines what can be called a 'film'I like gritty, I love 'Deadman's Shoes' (9.8/10 for me) but for f*ck's sake, don't expect anything remotely watchable or anything with a semblance of cohesion or meaning.

A truly tedious and pointless bit of mockney tripe.I only give it 2 marks because of the 'gritty' camera-work, but thats about its only redeeming feature. Full of the usual "do-what-leave-it ahht" suspects who have been excellent in so many other Brit gangster movies, but sadly in this one, well, they didn't exactly lose the plot because there wasn't one frankly.Add to that the massive suspension of disbelief; bloke robs supermarket with zero attempt to disguise himself. Gangster not only kills a bloke that owes him 'ten fairzan pairnd' (presumably in the hope that he has life insurance I suppose?) but does so with a crowbar in broad daylight.The characters are poorly developed in most cases and their relationships to each other never properly explained. "I owe you, you know that" is never explained, nor is what "do-what" did with the ten grand.All in all not recommended and a poor advert for a genre usually well populated with some quality films. 'Lock Stock' it ain't me old mush!

I saw this at the Apollo cinema and I have to say it was visually very impressive. Very nice grade similar to Heat for the nightclub scenes and reverting back to a desaturated look for the urban scenes.It was especially rewarding to have the writer, producer and director (Rishi Opel) in attendance for the Q&A after the film.The performances were good, the lead was cast right as the debt ridden, out of control, Bobby who's quiet and lonely and the director keeps it real by not giving the audience too much information about Bobby and his past dealings with his best mate Vince. It kept me interested in the character of Bobby and wanting to know more about him.Vince, Bobby's best mate runs the club for Dave (Jamie Foreman) and Vince comes across as the ambitious, loud, thuggish, violent types who wants it all including running a casino for Dave. The performance of Vince was poor and let the film down in some aspects. The casting was just wrong. It was an unusual choice of having the two stories running parallel and this slowed the film down in parts. Perhaps this was the original part of the story and it did come across as intentional. Jamie Foreman plays it straight, as the guy who wants his money and if he doesn't get it, then something is going to happen. His performance is great and keeps the film moving. Danny-John Jules (Cat from Red Dwarf) turns in a good performance as the wheeler dealer mate and surprised me with an unusual role I've not seen him play before. During the Q&A, I found it interesting to hear the experience Rishi Opel had throughout the process of making and completing the film and problems he encountered. It was clear to see that The Grind was his life story and solely his vision. His story was tampered with from the people involved, and problems with dealing with negative people, but all he wanted to do was just make a movie and entertain an audience. His knowledge of the early 90's dance movement showed he had experience in the rave culture and his enthusiasm came across well and was certainly infectious. It was good to hear that he hold no grudges against anyone and that he'll be behind the camera again for his second feature!Overall it was astonishingly impressive to see what an independent, enthusiastic, Writer, Producer & Director can achieve. A really interesting debut!