Adulthood - the 'Hoodies strike back' review

Adulthood (15)

Dir. Noel Clarke

Reviewed by Matt Adcock


As Carter USM once sang: “The kids playing gangster wars, they don’t believe in Santa Claus, the baseball bats are soft of course, the blood is just tomato sauce…”

Would have been a decent track to include on the soundtrack to this hip and street sequel which plays like a ‘Episode III: The Revenge of the Kids’ to the original ‘Episode I : The Hoodie Menace’ (Kidulthood – DM review here: Hoodies ate my childhood ).

So six years have past since bad boy Sam (Noel Clarke) killed a young kid and we get to join him as he gets released from jail after doing his hard time. The film tracks him over his first day of freedom but all is not well in the hood and it’s going to be a miracle if he survives even 24hrs thanks to the revenge plans of the kids on the streets.

Director and star Clarke manages to effectively keep the feel of the first film but also to inject a deeper harshness which works in delivering the message that the world isn’t a nice place for you whether you’re a kid or an adult… or somewhere in between… Sam has undergone a kind of metamorphosis in jail, he’s still a bit of a wrong un but now he’s the closest thing we’ve got to a hero as the lovable scallywags whose mate he killed have degenerated into criminal scum partly due to losing their pal. Adam Deacon should get special mention because his character Jay, often the comic relief of both films, manages to bring real presence this time as he fights to make sense of his feelings.

The cast are mostly strong overall – as in decent for ex-EastEnders at least - even Danny ‘did you call me a ****’ Dyer chips in with his patented hard lad cameo. Those looking for a contemporary Brit thriller should find what they’re after, youth and social workers looking for case studies and learning reference points might be less delighted as this is fiction ripped from the Daily Mail view of lower classes ‘street life’ but it probably does reflect the lives of some. Sure Adulthood has a maturity missing from the original and explores the hard to vocalise feelings of young adults who just don’t feel ready for their role… Have they ‘grown up’ or are they still kids just reacting to their circumstances? The original was described as ‘a brutal assessment of inner city impoverished teens’ – whereas Adulthood is basically ‘hoodie porn’ for middle class viewers at heart.


DARKMATTERS RATING SYSTEM (all ratings out of maximum 10 but '-' is bad whereas '+' is good):

Endorphin Stimulation: ööööööö (8)
+ Pick this to immerse yourself in an amoral world where the normal rules of society don't apply

Tasty Action: öööööööö (8)
+ There’s hoodie fuelled panic on the streets of London

Gratuitous Babeness: öööööööö (7)
+ Scarlett Alice Johnson is hot but I missed Jamie Winston

Mind Blight / Boredom: öööö (4)
+ might be too ‘yoof’ for some…

Comedic Value: öööööö (5)
+ Couple of amusing scenes but mostly grim

Arbitrary final rating: öööööööö (8)
A tasty follow up which makes for a superb double bill!

Liable to make you:
"carry a baseball bat with you at all times"

DM Poster Quote:
“violence really isn’t big or clever – it just looks big and clever here"

Teeth - the 'that's got to hurt!' review

Teeth (18)

Dir. Mitchell Lichtenstein

Reviewed by Matt Adcock

Here’s a freaky little oddity / horror to get your teeth into which is liable to enjoy ‘cult classic’ status before long. Written and directed by Mitchell Lichtenstein (whose dad is a famed pop-art purveyor) Teeth takes the bizarre legend of ‘vagina dentata’ – or for those whose Latin is rusty ‘teeth in the female nether regions’ and plays for equal parts body horror and black comedy.

It’s the unhappy tale of repressed teenage virgin Dawn (Jess Weixler doing a great job with very tricky material), who finds that she can bite at both ends. Cue a suspenseful build up to her first time via a heavy handed ‘chastity is the answer’ religious abstinence group at which she speaks. Of course it’s only a matter of time however before members and digits are in jeopardy so boyfriends, evil stepbrothers and gynaecologists beware because they may be feeling a lot less of a man after meeting Dawn.

If you’re at all squeamish Teeth is certainly not for you, there are things here that will haunt you such as the sight of a detached male organ getting munched by a Rottweiler!? In fact there were more audible cries of distress in Teeth from the hardy males in the audience than I witnessed in Sex and the City… which is saying something. Leg crossing whilst watching this is pretty much involuntary as my mate Simon and I found out, the females in the cinema however seemed to be finding it all a whole lot funnier…

Apparently the legend of the toothed vagina appears in the mythology of many and diverse cultures all over the world. In these myths, the story is mostly the same - a hero must do battle with the woman and overcome her toothed creature… Yep it’s seriously alternative viewing that’s on offer here.

But despite the weirdness of the plot, the cinematography is excellent if a little purposefully 'matter of fact' – from cool Simpsons like opening shot that takes in the sinister backdrop of twin nuclear power plant cooling towers just behind the family home, you can see that this is a director with a vision. And whilst there is on screen gore and nudity, it takes a backseat to the character interaction and genuinely funny moments of dark humour such as when returning home after emasculating her befriend she is asked by her dad if she’s hungry? “No I’ve had a bite” she quips…”
Ouch!

DARKMATTERS RATING SYSTEM (all ratings out of maximum 10 but '-' is bad whereas '+' is good):

Endorphin Stimulation: öööööö (7)
+ Lots to ponder and discuss

Tasty Action: öööö (4)
- Not really an ‘action’ flick

Gratuitous Babeness: öööööööö (8)
+ Jess Weixler is pretty darn hot

Mind Blight / Boredom: ööööö (5)
- So ridiculous that it can be hard to take seriously

Comedic Value: ööööööö (7)
+ Very dark comedy moments throughout

Arbitrary final rating: ööööööö (7)
Approach with caution but it works for what it is…

Liable to make you:
"keep it in your pants forever!"

DM Poster Quote:
“When Dawn says ‘no’ you better listen… "


"cult classic oddity status assured"

Matt Adcock Jumps, sorry, Meets Rachel Bilson

Matt Adcock Meets Rachel Bilson

Rachel Bilson burst onto the acting scene aged 20 as Summer Roberts on the enormously popular TV hit: The O.C. Now she follows up her first jump to the big screen in The Last Kiss, with the part of Millie in the new sci-fi action adventure Jumper alongside Samuel L. Jackson and Hayden Christensen. I caught up with her when she was in London promoting the film.


How would you describe the film?

RB: “It is great fun and such a cool concept – imagine having the power to teleport from place to place – whether it is into a bank vault or across the world to Rome. The possibilities are endless and I think it really fuels the imagination. It is a really good movie for girls too because it is so romantic and there is a wonderful love story which is an important element in the film.”

So how was it playing Millie? What’s kind of girl is she?

RB: “She is a strong girl. She sticks to her guns and will not be pushed around by any boy. She is a good role model. She won’t put up with anything that doesn’t work for her. I think she is admirable. Millie is definitely the love interest, but she is a major part of the movie, the main female in the story. She is David’s close childhood friend; he has always had a crush on her.


It’s easy to see why, what was the most exciting moment for you?

RB: “Filming in Rome was amazing. I had been to Rome before myself, but this time was very special. We
were actually in the Coliseum with no one else there but us doing the filming and it felt like an amazing privilege. It was so exciting and atmospheric. I remember how beautiful it was with the sun coming up – then going down at the end of the day. They were magical moments.”

I guess being whisked off to Rome by a Jumper sets a pretty high bar for a date?

RB: “Yeah being taken to Rome is impressive but you know it really depends on the person taking you. I’d be just as happy to stay in and snuggle on the couch with the right person!”


You have a pretty ‘hot’ scene with Hayden, how was that?

RB: ”Those scenes can be uncomfortable but I was lucky enough to have someone as handsome as Hayden. He’s a ten out of ten kisser!?”


So having kissed Darth Vader are you a fan of sci-fi films?

RB: I wasn’t really a fan of the genre before and hadn’t even seen Hayden in Star Wars but my dad is very into comic books and sci-fi. Now having done a sci-fi film myself I respect and love it, and I’ve seen all the Star Wars films too – those Ewoks are cool.


Erm, okay. You get involved in several action scenes in Jumper, what was that like?

RB: “This film was so challenging physically and mentally - it has been the best experience I’ve ever had. I got some bruises and scratches doing the action stuff and I got to slap Hayden plus when he was down I kicked him too – I’m not sure if you see that but it was fun.”

This week if you’re looking for something a little less mushy than the usual Valentine’s Day romances, might I suggest you take a 'jump' with Rachel.

Read my review of Jumper here: Jumper Review

Darkmatters: H O M E

Juno - review

Juno (12a)

Dir. Jason Reitman

Reviewed by Matt Adcock

Teenage pregnancy is certainly no laughing matter but cool indie film Juno manages to deliver plenty of sharp comedy as well as a refreshing edginess in tackling a difficult subject head on. Jason ‘Thank You For Smoking’ Reitman directs this poignant and excellently written insight into world that is taboo to many and uncomfortable to most.

Juno MacGuff (the lovely and unbelievably talented Ellen ‘Hard Candy’ Page) is a cool sixteen year old who finds herself pregnant after an ill advised one off liaison with her friend Paulie Bleeker (Michael ‘Superbad’ Cera). Eschewing the option of having a termination, Juno decides to have the baby and to give him/her up for adoption to a successful childless couple. Wannabe parents Mark (Jason Bateman) and Vanessa (Jennifer Garner) seem to have it all and Juno’s surrogate child looks set to complete their lives – but life itself has a funny way of throwing a curve ball into any situation and Juno turns out to be no fairytale.

Page has been Oscar nominated for her performance as Juno and it’s easy to see why. Juno is a girl who sparkles with a spiky clued up subversive attitude – a mature acceptance of how her life has fundamentally changed and the repercussions of her foolish actions. Juno’s parents (a brilliant combination of dad - Mac J.K. Simmons and step mum Bren - Allison Janney) are fantastic in their relationship with their daughter offering unstinting support and a tangible feeling of parental love.

Juno has so much going for it, a fantastic cast, a rich and kookily left field comic vein and even a cool soundtrack. Respect must be given to the filmmakers for not shirking the difficult issues faced by the characters and packs sufficient dramatic complications to make this absolutely compulsive watching. It is also possibly important to note that this is the film where a torch of being the new ‘hot upcoming actress’ is passed from Jennifer Garner to Ellen Page.
I freely confess that I wasn’t really ‘expecting’ a lot from Juno despite it being up for the Best Picture Oscar, just goes to show that sometimes it might be worth taking a risk on a young pregnant girl – because she might just blow your socks off, um, you hopefully know what I mean!? This is a comedy about growing up... and the bumps along the way, I’d say that it’s also potentially the best comedy of the year already. Treat yourself, go and check it!

DARKMATTERS RATING SYSTEM (all ratings out of maximum 10):

Endorphin Stimulation: öööööööö (8)
- wild and wacky things to ponder here...

Tasty Action: öööööö (6)
- No gunfights or kung fu but emotional sparring aplenty

Gratuitous Babeness: öööööööö (8)
- Ellen Page is gorgeous in a cool 'off beat' way

Mind Blight / Boredom: öö (2)
- No dull moments

Comedic Value: öööööööö (8)
- Quality and smart funny stuff

Arbitrary final rating: ööööööööö (9)
- A perfect storm of superb writing and great performances

Liable to make you:
"reconsider how smart teenagers can be"

DM Poster Quote:
“You'll fall for Juno... ”


"please note - it's not the shaking hands that gets you pregnant"

Read: Matt meets Ellen Page - (click here)

Darkmatters: H O M E

Amber Heard - New film hottie on the scene...

"she's got the looks... and her film career is taking off - hold tight!?"

 Amber Heard - smokin hot!!A friend asked me the other day when I was going to post some new 'film babe shots' - I said "as soon as I came across a new hottie worth taking notice of..."

I think you'll agree that Amber Heard fits that bill quite well!?

Catch the delectable miss Heard this Summer in:
Horror flick - All the Boys Love Mandy Lane

or in drama flick -
 H O M E Day 73 with Sarah

or in comedy flick - The Beautiful Ordinary (which also features previous 'Darkmatters babes of note' - Leighton Meester and Marne Patterson)
"These shots are the from the short lived 'Hidden Palms' which tried to replace the O.C."
As Cmndt. Eric Lassard would say in Police Academy:
"I think this picture speaks for itself!!"
"Not sure who that bloke is in the background... nice hair mate..."

These great shots of Amber and her sister can be found here

Darkmatters:

"And soon the darkness - quality acting!"

"Amber Heard can sunbathe with the best of them!"

Kidulthood - the 'Hoodies ate my childhood' review

Kidulthood (15)
Dir. Menhaj Huda

Reviewed by Matt Adcock

Kids today eh? Fifteen year olds shagging, fighting and doing drugs – and that’s just in the playgrounds… If you’ve already written this off as exploitative nonsense then you’re probably still of the mind that the worst excesses of childhood were depicted on screen by the BBC in Grange Hill… Blood - you’re in desperate need of a dose of Kidulthood…

Welcome to a West London drama that's torn straight out of the pages of the hoodie hating tabloids. Written by Noel Clarke - yes he of Dr Who softy boyfriend of Rose (Billie Piper) fame… Soft he ain’t though bro, he be the top boy, he the man wif da rispect… Oh and a baseball bat and nasty temper… See as well as writing this he also stars as Sam, the hardnut bully bad ass sixth former, the school playground gangsta, the one what is so hard that he’ll nick your GBA off ya, shag your girlfriend bareback and beat you half to death for the privilege…

We join bad boy Sam (Clake actually does a great job with this character, showing his vulnerability only in glimpses which reminded me of Presley Chweneyagae in Tsotsi) as one of his victims is pushed over the edge by one happy slapping too far and takes her own life… Her classmates get a day off compassionate leave but compassion is the last thing on their minds. Think more - sex, drugs, shoplifting, partying and beatings and you’re in the right place!

Menhaj Huda doesn’t flinch from showing the compromised lives of these young pups. Jamie Winston (yeah daughter of sexy beast Ray) is good as the heartless slut of the piece - spouting pick up lines to her classmates like “you can put up my ass, it hurts but I don’t mind” when not sucking off older men for drugs… her parents are nowhere to be found (they’d be so proud too?).
Aml Ameen is also worthy of note as the charismatic but tortured Trife who is torn between his mates funnyman Jay and wannabe respected but it’s going to be tough with his nickname: Moony.

Ever wise Chris Curtis sums it all up like this:
“Young people whose lives have become so small and tribalistic that life-threatening conflicts arise out of minor arguments; where sex is a commodity so common that it can happen in the corner of a bedroom whilst other teenagers sit around playing computer games; and where life is dominated by the need to indulge in every hedonistic excess conceivable. The truth is that this film captures a slice of teenage life that really does exist and which is shaping a generation before our eyes.”

Overall Kidulthood is worth watching, especially if you liked Bullet Boy from a couple of years ago which makes a nice companion piece alongside this.

In an interview Noel said: "Bullying, happy-slapping ...whatever you name it, it is happening already, the film is highlighting that, not promoting it. It's saying, 'This is going on. Deal with it.’” Good point I say!!

Read the DM review of the sequel 'Adulthood' here: The Hoodies Strike Back

Darkmatters rating system (out of 5):

Action ööö – Beat dis
Laughs öö – Dark comedy man
Horror öö – Add two stars if you've a teenage son or daughter
Babes ööö – Jailbait all the way

Overall ööö1/2 (Tough and mildly shocking - very watchable)

"Miss Piper... not actually in the film"

Darkmatters: H O M E