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Reviews
Rise of the Footsoldier: Vengeance (2023)
The Dilemma
Firstly Ross Powers beefy score Pat Tates the hell out of any Hollywood score you will hear this year. Nick Nevern has taken Nicholas Winding Refns Neon Noir style and bettered it .The look and feel of the film is a very different animal from the previous 5. There's a class to it. So here's the dilemma, Craig Fairbrass. You will have lost count the interviews where he says he doesn't want to make Footsoldier films because he is far prouder of Muscle (excellent btw) , Villan and A Violent man. The dilemma ,Craig Fairbrass as Pat Tate is compelling. The only comparison in cinema for me is Ridley Scott's Alien. Single minded unrelenting menace, dominates every seen it's in and captivates the viewer. It doesn't need to be anything other than the dominant force it is. Fairbrass' Tate has a certainty to it , impossible to ignore. With Nevern's mastery in full bloom now , they need to keep going. The films reaction at the premiere screening got an amazing reaction outside of the fan base. The dilemma, with this new chapter how can they not make it to footsoldier 10. So many good turns in this Kirsty J Curtis ice cold as DCI Jones , Stephen Mcole is amazing ,Josh Myers often the conscience of the franchise is excellent, Anthony Skordis charisma reaches through the screen , George Russo is a powerful return from Origins also.
Roll on part 7 Ibiza , would be great to see Terry Stone and Roland Manookian return to this world at this new level of class. Would have been 10 stars if they were in this.
Muscle (2019)
A beautifully shot compelling and original journey.
A middle aged man crying on the way to a job he hates, is one of multiple images in this excellent nightmare that remains in the mind long after the film's end. Craig Fairbrass career best departure from 2 dimensional meatheat goons ,walks a line between being tender , menacing , funny and mysterious whilst Cavan Clerkin's metamorphosis is subtle and intriguing. There were so many opportunities where this film could have gone full blown Channel 5 after the plot was established, but it holds its nerve and stands its ground to remain original to the last scene. It's a very modern story which I'm sure will gather traction and status over the next few years as it is discovered. We must remember Sexy Beast was all but binned until other countries discovered it, it later was represented to us as a well loved classic. Without A listers to attract you, dream sequences to impress you , this black and white tale reveals much in the grey area for you and your friends to discuss. Excellent.