Pimp

STAR RATING: ***** Saturday Night **** Friday Night *** Friday Morning ** Sunday Night * Monday Morning

Soho pimp Woody (Robert Cavanagh) tries to run as tight a ship on his business as he can, but rival competitors are always on edge to spoil his game. Still, he gets by as well as he can, but when he starts receiving snuff tapes that appear to show his girls being brutally murdered, things get heavy.

Another film where Danny Dyer is mis-sold on the front cover, this time as the main star when more time is given to Cavanagh. Like a lot of modern films, Pimp is aiming to be clever, with it's use of the camera and style of story-telling, but the result is unsuccessful. The frequent new character introductions are disconcerting, especially as many are never heard from again, and the camera style wavers around in an uncomfortable manner. The mock documentary style gets in the way of a decent, coherent story, which fails to hook you in and get you following it in any way, only being able to vaguely make anything out. In more competent hands, this could have been pulled off wonderfully. As it is, it's quite a jumbled mess. **

I find it hard to write something about this movie. Because all I can say is that it's really bad. Probably the intentions were good, but the end result is lamentable. The actors, Robert Cavanah (who is also the director of the film), Danny Dyer, Billy Boyd, Gemma Chan, Barbara Nedeljakova, they all do everything they can, they try their best, but the script is close to zero. Just a waste of money and some talent. Two stars because it can fool you, making you think it's really a documentary. But only in the first 5 minutes. After that, you realize they are actors, not real characters in real life.

Well not exactly, but this pseudo documentary does try to shine light behind the scenes. I think it is daring to go places a normal movie wouldn't go and the idea as it is, is interesting. But while the commentaries seem forced (and like a bad cliché), what really drowns the movie, is the fact that it tries to put a fictionalized story behind it all.

In other words, it tries to give the whole thing a meaning. Which goes completely against the mood/goal it set out to do. It is profane and will not be for those easily offended. But while there is also (some) explicit footage, this anything but exciting (pun intended). Of course, if you'd be looking for a special kind of excitement, you'd know where to look for it. That's not what I'm referring to. The movie as it is, is a drag. It feels just too long (but then again, that's just me ... try it out, but if you're not hooked after the first minutes, I highly doubt the movie will win you over by the end)

This is a film about prostitution seen through the eyes of one guy Woody who has cams following him about his work as a Pimp in downtown London England. It is realistic because this is how a Pimp works and how he is likely to be treated and respond to the dangers of his environment. Actually this is more of a drama and there are few scenes which will offend in a sexual way, mostly only the extreme blasphemies which is a common feature of British films of this kind.

Don't be put off, for example if you saw 'This is England' or 'Green Street Hooligans', then you will be at home with the raw material of this movie. I was never convinced however with the choice of the actress playing the Chinese girl who was the pawn in the sexual politics of the story but perhaps it doesn't matter in the overall relativity of the story.

It is a sort of 'paranormal activity' movie except the cam follows the pimp wherever he goes and whatever he does.

The film for me is obscene and offensive but at the same time I found it curiously entertaining. It is uncomfortable viewing but this is life and the world of prostitution. Other films such as 'Trade' and 'Human Trafficking' addressed the issue in a different way, it begs the question whether we can feel sympathy for a 'pimp'.

the same sentiments crossed my mind a couple of years when I watched a film called 'Hustle and Something' when I heard a song called 'its Hard out there to be a Pimp' won best Oscar music.

Cant rate the film above 6 but don't be put off. its a lot better than some of the American garbage dished out recently.

Written and directed by Robert Cavanagh, who also plays the lead role of Woody, an underworld pimp who moves amongst the shadows, dealers and whore that work the streets of London's Soho.

Being a big fan of British films, and the London gangster genre I had high hopes and expectations of this film. I was very disappointed.

A mix if faux documentary and crime/drama/love story, Pimp seems not to know it's own identity and Cavanagh as a director is completely lost. Throughout the entire film there is a barrage of clichés and heavy handed influence from far superior films.

It takes too long to get into it's stride and when it finally does the premise is just nonsensical. Danny Dyer, who has impressed in previous vehicles was poorly cast and somewhat contrived rather than convincing. Really, I'm struggling to write a review about this film because I was so disappointed.

In short, Avoid.