The Great Ecstasy of Robert Carmichael DVD

This is one of the worst films I have ever seen and I am a huge fan of gritty British films. This isn't gritty - gritty films by the likes of Dominic Savage and Ken Lo... Read on

This is one of the worst films I have ever seen and I am a huge fan of gritty British films. This isn't gritty - gritty films by the likes of Dominic Savage and Ken Loach are gritty because they smack of truth. They are rooted in truthful characters and situations, improvised or scripted brilliantly. The script for this awful attempt at a film is so weak I find it hard to believe it was ever made. Who funded this? What were they thinking?
It is clear this director knows nothing what so ever about kids living this sort of life, nor does he have the first idea about gang rape. Rather than ripping off A Clockwork Orange and presenting his limited view of what gang rape might be like, he should have done some research into the realities of this sort of rape. The rapes seem to be there for the sake of controversy - a way of getting the film talked about. If that is Clay's aim - he achieved it. The character of Robert is so badly written and acted that his role in the events throughout is unconvincing. I just can't believe that this talented Cellist would ever hang out with this bunch of losers let alone become the most violent of the bunch. Robert's final violent act is just beyond unbelieveable. We are never given any insight into why he becomes violent. watching a few news items on the Iraq war and taking a few drugs just isn't enough I'm afraid!
As if the script and direction weren't bad enough, the acting throughout is appalling - not one good performance - even the brilliant Danny Dyer struggles to make the terrible dialogue sound good. Overall - absolute rubbish. Hide