"London" reunites almost the entire cast of "Cellular" (Chris Evans, Jessica Biel, and Jason Statham) as well as Isla Fisher (Wedding Crashers) and Kelli Garner (Thumbsucker) for this underappreciated and, in my opinion, very well done movie. The movie got terrible reviews and was even called "boring" by Richard Roeper. When a film critic calls a movie boring, you know there's something up. I knew I would like this movie, but I saw myself giving it a B- or even a C. Oddly enough, I loved this movie. The movie stars Evans as Syd. Syd is a cokehead who is suffering from the breakup of his girlfriend of two years, London (Biel). They've been broken up for a little over 6 months and Syd has become a sort of empty shell; He frequently dreams about her and such. Then, Syd recieves a phone call and finds out that London is having a going away party...Apparently, she's moving to L.A. to live with her new boyfriend. Shocked by the news, Syd meets up with a guy named Bateman (Statham) who sells him some blow and Syd insists that Bateman tag along with him to the party. When they arrive, Syd and Bateman head up to the bathroom and talk about their problems, God, and love. This is pretty much what 3/4 of the movie is. The other 1/4 of it is the flashbacks Syd has about London and when he finally confronts her at the party. The biggest complaint from critics was the bathroom scene...It was too long and the conversations were dull. Well, if you're going to see it and don't know about the long bathroom sequences...Yes, maybe they are long and dull. If you're going to see and know about these scenes, however, they might not be as bad. I found the scenes to fit perfectly in the movie. The dialogue in the film is really good and has an improvised feel to it. Statham and Evans are great and really get to show off their acting skills. Even Biel is good as London. The end of the movie isn't necessarily what you hope for, but it's realistic and in that sense is perfect. I'm not guaranteeing everyone will like this movie, most people will agree with Ebert & Roeper. I'm not using this review to convince anyone, but am merely sharing my opinions. Hope you like it.
GRADE: A-
NOTE TO JESSICA BIEL FANS:
There is sex scenes in the film, but as far as showing Jessica Biel naked; The director teases you. The camera will move upward right as she gets out of bed or the place she's standing will be darkened. So, if you're renting this movie for the sole reason of catching a glimpse of a nude-Jessica Biel. This movie is definitley not for you. London
I enjoyed the hell out of this movie. It was about a guy who was in a relationship with a girl for 2 years and then gets dumped and can't move on. Then she ends up getting ready to move in with her new beau 6 months later, and the entire movie consists of flashbacks of the good and bad of their relationship. It also has some excellent supporting characters with some interesting stories. My favorite is the main character's dealer, who is mentally scarred over losing his wife because of things that are beyond his control.
The movie makes you walk away with several things to think about. First of all, you're not the only one who knows pain, everyone has their own story and your personal hell is no more painful than the next guy's. Secondly, it shows you that whatever you're going through, chances are you're not going through it alone. Sometimes you have to reach out to that other person so that they can hear you say I need you. Or, I love you. And the most important lesson of all is that Life will move on with or without you, and sometimes the best thing you can do for yourself is to just let go.
I loved this movie. I loved everything about it. Watch it. You will too.
Hunter Richards makes his writing and directing debut with this quirky, odd, strenuous, frustrating, noisy...but pretty polished little low budget movie LONDON. While this film will not garner a big audience, for those who see it there will be keen anticipation of Richards next outing.
London (Jessica Biel, a beautiful and talented screen presence) is a frustrated lover of Syd (Chris Evans, likewise a hunky and very fine actor): Syd is strung out on coke and though passionate as a lover he is unable to verbalize 'I love you' to fill London's needs for intimacy. All of this information we receive trough flashbacks and dream sequences as the film takes place in one day - the day London is leaving after a farewell party in her honor. Syd is self-destructive as well as actively aggressive, and while not invited to London's party, he crashes it with his dealer Bateman (Jason Statham, who sports hair here and an even more impressive acting outing). The crux of the story takes place in an extended bathroom conversation during which time both men do lines of coke and swigs of tequila and compare notes: Syd bemoans his loss of London and his regrets while Bateman violently compares his loss of potency to be a far greater problem. All manner of topics arise, not the least of which is Syd's atheism and his lack of belief in just about everything. His sole reason for attending London's party is to win back her love, but coke and the shallowness of Syd's character prevent that.
Interesting situation, here: Evans, Biel, and Statham all give fine performances but their characters engender absolutely no empathy from the viewer. Perhaps this is Hunter Richards' concept: drugs destroy the minds of otherwise very strong people, that temporary highs prevent appreciation of the immediate matrix that can grow into something lasting and valuable. Yes, the script is preachy and full of gross dialogue, but the underpinnings of good filmmaking are evident enough to make us aware that Hunter Richards has talent. And it is always a pleasure to see actors heretofore accepted as eye candy prove they can take on beefy tough roles that stretch their acting abilities. Grady Harp, May 06 - Adventure - Thriller - Jet Li - Action'
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