9mm: O Preço da Vingança

Like 'Scarface' 'Rollin with the Nines' is set to be a cult movie. This Movie is all about a very hotly debated topic which is spiralling out of control namely "Black on Black" Gun Crimes in the UK. It's not about white cop's even though they play a small part. Let it be know this Movie is about Urban-Life in the UK, what we call "The grime". In the same way that movies like 'Boyz in the Hood' and 'Menace to Society' awoke the general American psyche this film is destined to do likewise. 'City of Gods' told a story which the general World-population was totally oblivious to and 'Rollin with the Nines'will no doubt have the same affect. The Lead is prodigiously played by VAS BLACKWOOD(Rory Breaker, Lock-Stock and Two Smoking) Who delivers Machiavellian style performance. Robbie Gee(Snatch)Commands the Screen with such poetic intimidation that he reminded me of a Young Samuel L. Jackson. The third male lead is played by Newcomer Roffem Morgan and trust me given the right breaks this Kid will become a Star. The Female lead is played Naomi Taylor. This is also Naomi first film debut and for her Stardom is only a plane ticket too Hollywood away. 'Rollin with the Nines' is a gun slinging, crime don't pay Hit Movie. Finally the soundtrack left me Breathless. Go see this movie.

Within the first five minutes it wasn't the nines I was rolling but my eyes . Oh dear I thought yet another British film where some white middle class posh boys straight out of film school produce a movie that tells what life is like in da ghetto where life is cheap short and brutal and the inhabitants speak in a unique language which makes no sense unless you're Ali G . Despite this I did give it a chance since it was directed by Julien Gilbey who did the very under rated RISE OF THE FOOTSOLDIER . I'm glad I did because this film is very engaging though perhaps not in a good way

Okay guv I confess . It's a fairly terrible movie . After the first five minutes we're treated to a drive by killing followed by a rape followed by a revenge killing . This all happens by the ten minute mark and the film has to pad out the next hour and a half by having gangland executions more retaliations and every sentence filled with the F and C words . At least I could understand the F and C words though , probably because I'm a white working class Celt . I didn't have a clue what the black characters were talking about and even if you're Brixton born and bred I guess you'd have no understanding of what this street lingo is . It goes way beyond parody and no matter who says what none of the dialogue sounds natural in anyway . We have a couple of corrupt cops and you'd be forgiven for thinking you're watching a comedy sketch show where a couple of comedians lampoon American cop shows . Their superior is referred to as " Captain " but as far as I know the Metropolitan police force don't have such a rank though they do in America . In more than a few places you think the action is taking place in an alternative universe where the Battle of Stalingrad meets South Central LA where the cops and the drug dealers engage in bitter house to house fighting

Yet despite all this or maybe because of all this ROLLIN remains very watchable . As I said it's a terrible film and is so over the top you worry the film might end up in orbit around Jupiter , but it's this deranged quality that keeps you watching similar as to watching a car crash . Some of the cast do deserve some praise such as Terry Stone for keeping a straight face as they spout their dubious dialogue , though some of them such as Roffem Morgan as Rage are guilty of some painfully obvious wooden acting . Watch the scene where Rage has sex in a toilet and I've got to admit I've shown more passion doing a crossword puzzle . Gilbey also has a strange framing technique where everything is shot in medium close up but I guess that might be down to a lack of budget . He does deserve some credit in crafting a film that is thoroughly unpleasant , populated by universally unlikable characters that has not an ounce of realism and yet it's a film I enjoyed in a sleazy sort of way . Not something I'd admit to in a hurry

This movie lacks all the proper elements that make a good gangster movie. In fact I can say that this movie is proof of the fact that violence alone doesn't make a good movie. There are too many scenes that are just too much that story wise easily could have been avoided. One scene with Naomi Taylor did give some motive of her actions following the crime she is subjected to. Only I could not shake the feeling that almost everything in the movie was illogical and unrealistic. "Rolling with the nines" is a beautifully choreographed mess. With no real main character it is very difficult to invoke sympathy for any lead. The movies goes from one event to another,from one character to another and it never gets clear who we are supposed to follow. Maybe it was me but I couldn't sense any good in any of the characters. Almost all of them did repulsive questionable things. There is one action scene that stands out and is one of the highlights of the movie. The other good thing was the very brief appearance of Billy Murray. Other than that I would suggest to ignore this movie since it is one of the worst gangster movies ever made!

This debut deserved a lot more praise than it got.

Excellent foundations to launch from marred by the fact it didnt launch anyone.

Terry Stone shows that when he's not shouting his lines can actually give a decent turn. A very honest performance that for whatever reason he left on this set and took the Danny Dyer approach to acting instead. such a waste.

I watched this film last night and although i enjoyed it, i was left feeling a little disappointed as well. There is no need for me to explain the plot again, as this has been covered by other users. OK, so it isn't the most original story line, but it was carried off rather well. Naomi Taylor as 'Hope' was particularly good, as were most of the actors (with the exception of the wooden Police officers, especially Dominic Alan-Smith with his mono-tone voice).

The well commented on rape scene was disturbing and uncomfortable to watch and the night club assassination and Yardie crack den shoot outs were fantastically done and electrifying to watch.

What disappointed me were the little details. An undercover cop driving around a predominately black council estate, in a top of the range Range rover with a private number plate? Not very undercover really is it? I also got the feeling that the film had made compromises to suit the American market (a Captain in the British Police? and misdemeanour offences??). Some of the Police station scenes felt more 'Midsomer murders' than Yardie gangsta. Inexcusable really....

Call me picky, but little details can make or break a film and i was left feeling slightly disappointed that such obvious compromises to the overseas market had tainted what, in all other respects, was a very good film.