'DIARY OF A BAD LAD' DVD review

Here's the cover image for the forthcoming dvd release. This film is getting rave reviews, and here's mine:

DIARY OF A BAD LAD

Review by Brian Gorman

Made on a shoestring ‘without compromise, about people without principles, by people without money’ (as it states proudly on the poster), ‘Diary Of A Bad Lad’ is a prime example of sheer raw talent triumphing over lack of resources. Astonishingly, this 90 minute film cost under £4000 to make, which really throws down the gauntlet to aspiring movie-makers everywhere. Forget Hollywood, make your own movie on your own doorstep, and talent will carry the day. Taking the classic Belgian black comedy ‘Man Bites Dog’ as its roadmap, this is the tale of Blackburn-based frustrated film-maker Barry Lick (played by the film’s writer & producer, Jonathan Williams) attempting to make a documentary about local gangsters, and soon finding himself getting deeper and deeper into hot water. Using the format of such recent movies as ‘The Blair Witch Project’ and ‘Paranormal Activity’, the film unfolds through a series of video tapes edited together by the 'bad lad' himself (and the fictional movie’s ‘executive producer’) Tommy Morghen, played by Joe O’Byrne. Performances are uniformly excellent, with Williams’ hapless chancer Barry Lick eliciting sympathy and loathing in equal measure. The real ‘bad lad’ of the story is the amoral hardman Tommy, and O’Byrne’s steely-eyed take on what could have been a one-dimensional gangster part echoed the screen charisma of Steve McQueen (yes, he’s THAT good!). Michael Booth’s direction is confident and assured, allowing the action to unfold without the use of gimmicky camerawork or tricksy editing. A Jon Ronson style voice-over by Williams (in character as Barry) works superbly in conveying the simple-minded and naive approach Barry takes to his work, and manages to make every scene that little bit more disturbing. A tip of the hat to actor James Foster as a desperate man forced to film himself and his wife having sex in order to avoid Tommy calling in a debt. His straight-faced performance whilst attempting to get an erection during a full-frontal to camera is a truly brave one. ‘Diary Of A Bad Lad’ should be required viewing for anyone who wants to make movies, and a shot across the bows of the struggling British film industry.


'Diary Of A Bad Lad' gets a much deserved release on dvd at the end of June. Certificate 18.

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