Kicks

Kicks is a film about celebrity obsession and escaping from a dead end world. Nicole and Jasmine are two teenage girls obsessed with footballers particularly one Liverpool star, Lee who is about to transfer to a big club in Spain.

Nicole is working class from a broken family background. Jasmine lives a more affluent life yet both are determined to live the life of a football WAG and hang out at nightclubs frequented by footballers.

One night they encounter Lee for what they think would be a night of sexual passion but instead find out about the perversions of young rich, famous men who are more interested in humiliating these women. Nicole takes revenge by tying up Lee and finds that her obsession was unhealthy and has left her crushed.

This is a micro budget film with hints of social realism. Some of the acting especially by the actor playing Lee is wooden. The story is slight even padded out although there is more than a hint of the film 'Misery' in the later part of the film. An intriguing film but not always interesting.

I found this film to be a gripping one. it took some of British culture's stereotypes "chavs" and "wags". and portrayed them as people with depth and culture. globally people will enjoy this film as the roles of gender are examined , and the influence they have on celebrity,longing and teenage humanity. the film is set in liverpool , home of the beatles , a coastal town. ad mist the dysfunction families in the movie is an affinity with the liverpool docks, the movie shows that the heart of liverpool is as much in the docks as it is on the soccer field. all of this is set to a romantic soundtrack by the band "ladyhawke" who add a high quaility soundtrack to the movie. this film is recommenced to people who enjoyed : "monster" ,"the disappearance of alice creed " and even "8 mile "

The premise of Kicks intrigued me. Two girls who obsess over a Liverpudlian football player (Lee) take their obsession too far. It sounded like a cross between The Loved Ones and Misery (which I both love) although I knew it was more of a dark drama than a horror film. However, I believe it would've benefited delving into straight, crazy horror!

Kicks does begin with intrigue, it sets up two characters nicely and the Liverpool setting is something different and rarely used in films. I thought the obsession was brilliantly done, often chilling with make-shift tattoos and a picture of Lee under the quilt. I also thought that the characters were explored in-depth and with a sense of ambiguity about them. Unfortunately Kicks lacks the narrative drive that it desperately needed. It begins to ponder after half an hour and once it does look like things are getting thrilling, they quickly become repetitive and dull.

The first half is very realistically done, whereas the second half turns into something over the top, which is fine, accept that it presents itself as something believable and so lacked the crazy fun The Loved Ones was able to offer. I believe that it should've indulged itself in horror to make it extremely twisted and more entertaining. Instead the ball runs to a stand-still and you end up feeling as fed up as Lee.

The acting is quite shaky with an extremely wooden performance from Lee, but that shouldn't worry you too much. What you must appreciate here is the brilliant central relationship and the message about celebrity culture. My sister has an unhealthy obsession with Helena Bonham Carter and Lady Gaga, making it all the more chilling for me as I believe she would do something like this! However, it does become too far-fetched without making anything fun out of it. It's worth a watch but is unfortunately a piece of wasted potential.

My sincerest wish for the two girls in this movie, is by the end they've GROWN UP. I understand they have rubbish home lives and little future prospects, but come on... obsessing over a footballer to the extent of carving his name into your skin, and breaking into his car to steal his Ipod? Please, have SOME dignity. Of course, it goes without saying they stalk him relentlessly too... as well as plan to get boob jobs to further cement their position as brainless future WAGS. What are they teaching young ladies in schools these days? Is HEAT magazine the national curriculum?

The situation comes to a head when, hearing the guy they live for may be transferring to a club in Spain, they kidnap him under the pretense of a one night stand... to try to get him to stay. Yeah, that'll work. And it's in this secluded bungalow, as they hold a gun to this tied up soccer player, a few home truths start to emerge, which show how pathetic this hollow culture of celebrity worship we live in really is. Why revolve your life around someone you only know from the gossip column, when they see you, at best, as a notch on their bedpost? Far better to actually WORK HARD towards a goal, rather than make a fool of yourself in front of someone who scores them for a living. Pretty slick phrasing there, yes? Perhaps I should sell framed pictures of those pithy words for a fiver each. Now, there's a plan...

Anyway, there are a few credibility issues here... namely, the ease in which two young girls can gain access to a top footballer without any security being present, and somehow convince him to put a blindfold on as they truss him up like a turkey. I know soccer stars have a reputation for not being the sharpest knives in the drawer, but we're talking I-can't-dress-myself levels of stupidity here. Still, it's an admirable little British independent feature which a great message. Even if it may fly right over the head of most of the target audience... 6/10

KICKS is a virtual three-hander about a couple of teenage girls and their obsession with a handsome young footballer. To this end, they arrange to spend a night with the man, only for the ugly truth about him to emerge during the course of a torrid few hours.

To be fair, the premise isn't a bad one with plenty of potential for drama and intrigue, but KICKS does nothing with it and the film as a whole soon fizzles out. The low budget is apparent in the poor quality of the performances coming from Jamie Doyle (wooden) and Nicola Burley (no presence). Kerrie Hayes is by far the best thing in this, delivering a real star-making turn, and it's no surprise that out of the three she's the one who's gone on to the likes of TV miniseries THE MILL.

In the end, though, it's the almost overwhelming boredom that brings KICKS to its knees. The characters are unlikeable and while there's some fun to be had from the rather nihilistic look at celebrity in the modern age, it all feels weak and afraid to follow through with the set-up. KICKS is one of those films where absolutely nothing happens and you'd be far better off doing something else than watch it.