LondonFilmFestival's blog

The people at the LFF want you to believe that 1234 is going to be the next big cult British movie and they might be right. It contains all the elements of cool that could catapult it to Trainspotting status; largely unknown but excellent cast, fantastic soundtrack, of the moment fashion and a rock ‘n roll plot. In fact 1234 is really a rock ‘n roll movie, in which Ian Bonar forms a band with best-mate and classic simpleton drummer, Matthew Baynton, unstable/alcoholic guitarist Kieran Bew and gorgeous, artistic bass player, Lyndsey Marshall. 1234 makes it all look like really hard work with gigs to 6 people, constant rehearsals in what looks like a church hall, hundreds of rejections and the suspicion that even the longed for contract won’t be the salvation they are looking for. There are some absolutely stand-out moments (a dungeons and dragons style fantasy battle game, the exploration of Baynton’s dark side and the call centre training session being the best comic moments) and the performance are all strong – Marshall being the highlight of the film by a long way, she is simply effervescent on screen in her Primark/vintage outfits, it’s no wonder Bonar’s Stevie falls for her.

1234 was written and directed by first-timer Giles Borg and he clearly knows a thing or two about his subject matter. Borg gives his viewer a fresh view of London; its obscure music venues, magical night-time views and real streets. It is refreshing to see a London film in which the characters live like actual Londoners! Their homes are bed-sits rather than massive Notting Hill apartments that only super successful film stars could afford and they work in a terrible, soul destroying call centre. Unlike so many so called London movies, 1234 is all so depressingly real. In fact, that’s what I think my problem with it was; 1234 doesn’t really offer a lot of hope! Everyone involved has tried so hard to create something magical that I really wanted it to succeed, but I left feeling old and miserable and without the warm glow that a great film can leave you with.

Great!

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Mon, 10/20/2008 - 13:45.

Really great

• reply

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