London To Brighton
By Mal Simons, Blockbuster.co.uk
An unmissable British thriller from award winning writer / director Paul Andrew Williams; London to Brighton is without a doubt, the best British film of 2006.
Pulling no punches; Paul Andrew Williams’ London to Brighton starts with a bang as we are introduced to Kelly a call girl and Joanne, a 12 year old runaway who burst, cut and bruised into a run down public toilet. Joanne is sobbing, her makeup is smudged and clothing is ripped; Kelly’s face is bruised and it is starting to swell taking up a good quarter of her face – she can barely open one of her eyes.
After working the streets to get money for food and train fare, Kelly returns to the toilet where she has stashed her protégé. Running for their lives, the two of them jump on a train to Brighton – Kelly has friends that will hide them for a while. If they stay in London, they will be killed – but who is chasing them?
The answer to this is revealed in the next scene. London mobster Stuart Allen returns home to find his father has been stabbed to death through his genitals. He knows that his dad had a habit of requesting young girls to have his way with and he tracks down the local pimp Derek to find out what he knows.
Derek confirms that he had ‘persuaded’ Kelly to find an underage girl for Stuart’s father. The two of them were the last people to see the old man alive. Derek is told that unless he brings the two girls to see Stuart by 5am the next morning, he will be killed in the girls’ place. Derek is then stabbed in the leg and thrown out of a car. The chase begins…
Paul Andrew Williams has done a top job in writing and directing an impressive British crime thriller with some of the most nail biting scenes that have ever been committed to film. Written over the space of just one weekend and starring a cast of mainly unknown actors, working just for their expenses; London to Brighton has a raw realism feel to it – something you don’t see very often in modern British cinema.
Crafted to keep the audience on edge until the very end of the movie, but still tackling a controversial subject matter; this film bucks the trend of being either a mockney crime thriller or a whiter than white, posh picture of Britain in the tradition of
Notting Hill or
Love Actually. London feels like London and these people feel like real people. There is bad language, however this is appropriate to the character development.
Although largely unpaid, the film’s stars prove themselves to be truly tremendous in their respective roles.
Lorraine Stanley is absolutely tremendous as prostitute Kelly and definitely deserves to be cast as the lead in future films while 12 year old
Georgia Groome is disturbingly realistic as the exploited child runaway. Neither character comes across as sweet and innocent, however both have a vulnerability that allows the audience to relate to them.
The ‘villains’ of the film put in terrific performances too and London to Brighton would not be the film it is without them. Johnny Harris expresses his character’s sheer panic and fear as he desperately searches the city to save his own life while Sam Spruell is simply terrifying as the cold and furious son looking to avenge his father; he dominates every scene as the film reaches its gripping conclusion.
It’s easy to see why London To Brighton caused such a stir when it was reviewed by the top film magazines – everyone from Total Film and Empire to The Big Issue have recommended this to their readers. This is a gritty, gripping and downright perfect crime thriller guaranteed to keep you on the edge of your seat. Add this to your list now.
What Other People Say:“The best British film of the Century” -
BIG ISSUE
“A dazzling debut” -
THE GUARDIAN
“A movie out of the top drawer” -
THE INDEPENDENT
“Fantastic achievement” -
THE SCOTSMAN
“Outstanding” -
THE TIMES
“Best film of the year” -
EVENING STANDARD
“Extraordinary” -
EMPIRE
“Chilling” -
TOTAL FILM