Adulthood

I had not watched Kidhood, the prequel to this movie but was so damn moved by Adulthood. I later realised that you don't need to watch the part 1 of it. Sam , the character was strong and genuine and in-your-face types and the movie, for sure, portrayed the underground life of the youngsters in the UK.

Worth a watch for sure and recommended for a critics award. The violence scenes were brutal at times but am sure the movie demanded the same.

Hats off to the director for bringing out raw talents out of these young actors and highlighting the growing problems of young crimes in this country.

"Adulthood" was the sequel to "Kidulthood". "Kidulthood" was certainly not a subtle movie and neither was "Adulthood".

"Adulthood" was low budget, rough around the edges, harsh, brutal, and totally engrossing. Sometimes the acting of the young cast was variable, but it's best performers - writer/director/lead actor Noel Clarke, Scarlet Alice Johnson (in the role obviously originally intended to be Jamie Winstone's 'Becky' character from "Kidulthood") and Adam Deacon - managed to imbue their roles with a ring of truth.

"Adulthood" got by on relevance (the debate about gang culture and gun crime is constantly in British newspapers at the moment), raw power and energy. In fact "Adulthood" had enough raw power and energy to silence an unruly audience of mobile phone carrying teenage boys, wearing baseball caps and trousers that were too big for them. At least it did in the screening that I attended. Maybe they were shocked at seeing versions of themselves up on the big screen?

I thought that "Adulthood" was as good as "Kidulthood", if not better.

There is so much more to Noel Clarke than being known as a "Doctor Who" companion. You mark my words, he is a name to watch.

In 2006 a little film called Kidulthood was released in Britain with a lot of media controversy with it bleak look at inner city life for teenagers. I personally didn't rate the film but people really love it, helped the careers of Noel Clarke and Jamie Winstone. Two years later Noel Clarke has gone back to his creation in an unpredicted sequel.

Sam (Noel Clarke) is released from prison after a 6 year sentence for murder of Trife at the end of Kidulthood. Straight away he visits Trife's grave and is attacked by a man, claiming that people want Sam dead. Sam is thrown straight into his mission to find and stop the people hunting him before they hurt him and his loved ones. He starts by appoarching people he went to school with, including Claire (Madeleine Fairley), his ex-girlfriend, one of Trife's old friends Moony (Femi Oyeniran), now a uni student, Lexi (Scarlett Alice Johnson), Becky's cousin and Alisa (Red Madrell), Trife's ex-girlfriend. One of Trife's friends, Jay (Adam Deacon) has become a drug dealing, and a low level gangster. He had a particular grudge against Sam. So does Trife's uncle who is a leading gangster in West London and the Jamaican community. Sam has to fight off a number of attempted hits in the space of a day on his first day out of prison.

Adulthood can easily be put in the sections of unexpected sequel and unnecessary sequel. Adulthood is a better film then Kidulthood, but it doesn't mean it's a good film. Plus Kidulthood did at least have a good first 10 minutes. My problems with Kidulthood were that it had a very negative portrayal of British youth, and is very unrealistic. Adulthood has a similar problem, that it's very unrealistic that all that happens in the film happens in one day and there are moments that are so stereotypical with it's portrayal of a Middle class man and his girlfriend, and of students that it's unbelievable. I thought the middle class bloke was too stupid and a bit insulting. There are other moments that were also unrealistic, like when Claire attempted to shout, with people looking at her and Sam and did nothing.

Adulthood does improve in other areas. The acting is better, even with cast members from the previous film. Sam also is a more realistic character, and even likable character, despite what he did. I thought he was the most pathetic 'hard man' in the previous film. Noel Clarke is a pretty good actor. Noel Clarke also moves into the director's chair, and he is an improvement to Menhaj Huda. Noel Clarke has a better visual style, with some good shots and editing tricks. He get better performers out of his actors, and avoids the mistakes Huda made with the pacing of the film. I however did not like some of the slow motion and still tricks that he used, and he did use a bit too much shaky cam for my liking. Clarke has potential as a director, but his weakness is his writing. He needs to make his characters, even minor characters, and his premise more realistic.

** out of *****

This is a good British film and a good follow on from brotherhood. Noel Clarke does brilliantly well also.

I found ADULTHOOD to be a decent film and one which actually surpasses the original. The reason is that I prefer the plot: I find the story of a sole character's redemption on the mean streets of London to be more focused and compelling than the multi-character narratives of the first film, KIDULTHOOD. At times, ADULTHOOD feels like nothing less than a modern-day western, with characters forming alliances and battling it out in a virtually lawless society.

Noel Clarke goes from strength to strength, undertaking not one, not two, but three separate roles here. First and foremost he directs, giving the movie the kind of gritty realism it desperately needs. Secondly he writes, crafting an interesting tale populated by engaging characters. Finally he acts, and delivers a fine performance as a man struggling to come to terms with his identity and place in society.

The supporting cast are fine – some delivering over-the-top performances, others more restrained and heartfelt, as the script requires. Overall, ADULTHOOD has a refreshing honesty about it that stems from the lives of the people it depicts: it tells their story in an unpretentious, almost documentary style, with plenty of natural humour and a great deal of emotion.