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" :-)

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.

This film is a kind of ensemble piece but not in that talking loud verbal battles in one room kind of way. It's rather that here are distinctive personalities instead of everyone being cool (or being the ones the cool ones pick on) as is the way in so many films. These characters are very fallable. There's who Frank still lives with his Mum on the dole and when she finally throws him out, the sons at his boarding house, one who'se life was wrecked in a violent attack and the other who, with little conception of reality, was too scared to anything when it happened. It's not heavy though, but very warm and funny, just stripped of the glamour and glitz of most films out there. It turns into a sort of thriller and doesn't fall flat as these films can that start by observing with humour then try to hold onto the humour while adding suspense. Alongside Gregory's Two Girls and Stiff Upper Lips, another very enjoyable, well-made British comedy.

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.