The flipside to Olympic ‘inspirational’ spiel, Ben ‘Plan B’ Drew’s impassioned directorial debut spotlights an under-class London shaped by poverty, place and prejudice.
Crack casting (Riz Ahmed especially) and credible detail bring authenticity to the basic urban-crime ingredients of pushers, pimps, prostitutes and pay-as-you-go deals.
Like many first-timers, Drew crams too much in: the plot feels forced long before the overwrought finale, lacking the lead song’s urgency and suggesting an obsession with ’70s Scorsese.
But he has something to say, which he does with force and feeling.
DVD Extras:
- Documentary
- Shorts
- Videos
- Featurettes (BD)
