The Last Yellow

To many viewers this film will have little resonance. But it taps into a now little known, and increasingly forgotten, side of English life of the 1980s and 1990s. Back then there was mass unemployment and loads of "spare" blokes without much purpose. I knew this world well, lived it, and so did many of my mates mooching between pub, bookies and high street or just sitting on a bench somewhere having a laugh, making a few quid last for hours. This film made me laugh out loud, especially the hapless pizza moped bloke, I'm ashamed to admit. "On Her Majesty's social security" a wonderful play on the 007 franchise and true to the Walter Mitty-esque world of the main protagonist. Great soundtrack as well, "just the two of us" :-)

I got this out of my local video shop, having read an article by the director defending the film and saying the press had killed it. I felt sorry for him. All I can say is, if the press destroyed this film they must have done it by changing all the words of the script before it was shot, forcing all the actors to be as unlikeable and stupid as possible, and getting behind the camera to make sure it was never quite in the right place. There's a montage of "Swinging London" in this that would not be out of place in Summer Holiday. If it's supposed to be ironic, it doesn't work. It just makes you yearn for Cliff.

Paul Tucker's debut into film (from theatre) was a delight to watch. The movie had me laughing (and cringing) from the outset, with Mark Addy's character (Frank) trying to get attention from other drinkers in a Working Man's Club. You quickly get an idea of Frank's lonely character from this scene. The double-edged humour continues throughout the film, often making the audience laugh out loud, although I found myself tearful during a poignant black and white 'flash-back' looking back on Kenny's (Charlie Creed Miles) childhood. Frank and Kenny form an unusual friendship which comes close to breaking point when Jackie (Samantha Morton) comes into the frame. Jackie is a hard-nosed Londoner who uses her feminine charms to try and foil Frank and Kenny's plans of revenge on her boyfriend, Donut. The Last Yellow is a great Brit hit, I recommend you all see it. The movie also has a great soundtrack! Due for release on Friday 10 December 1999.

A very pleasant surprise. I caught the trailer awhile ago and thought that this film looked good. Poor reviews put me off and I only recently saw it on video. It was very entertaining and far better than most of the dross that the revived UK film industry is churning out. It is very dark in its humour and all the performances are good, especially Addy who is excellent as the lying nobody who takes on the job as hitman. Well worth ninety minutes of your time if you appreciate harsh,dramatic comedy. Fans of "Maybe baby" steer clear!

I think it's funny that the director claims the press ruined this movie, because the point where I gave up on it was roughly the point where I noticed that the supposed northern locations have London Evening Standard signs scattered about the place... I'm guessing that "KAM2" below was part of the production crew or was paid to write the review because I really can't imagine *any* other reason someone would claim that this deserves ten stars. It's hard to single out exactly what makes this such a miserable slab of offal, but if I had to plump for one thing, it's the 'big red London bus' montage where Addy and Creed-Miles ride around central London on an open-top tourist bus. It's almost as if the producers felt they needed a bit in the middle they could hack stuff out of or pad out as needed without affecting the actual plot in any way.