100 Streets

Netflix suggested I watch this after seeing 'Brighton Rock' and I can see why. The intensity of the characters' demise and their struggle to make sense of what happens makes for compelling viewing.The setting is everything, from the local football club to Battersea Bridge and all streets in between. While the characters don't cross over too much (which might make it a bit of a soap opera) they make subtle references which keeps the viewer guessing. I guess the theme is around disintegration and how we all cope when things seem to deteriorate. A really absorbing film, well worth a watch.

Right, so this is a sappy film. But, not cause of the acting in my opinion. Looks at the choices people make and how they deal with the realities that life presents them. The acting is good all around. Idris, Gemma, Franz Drameh and Ryan Gage put in good performances. Yes, it's stereotypical and predictable. The stories do not intersect are separate stories taking place at the same time. What throws it off and makes it sappy is the writing and the score/music. Seeing as Idriss Elba was the music supervisor this is kind of disappointing. I know his music chops are strong but the music made the whole film melodramatic. This is what gives it the syrupy feel. The screenplay is not interesting at all and presents characters in a particular light with little context. It's a good idea for a film, whose story structure has been done before. It lacks more the depth in writing to really draw you deep into the characters whose lives are on edge.

I realize the title does suggest a anthology of stories, In fact the movie technically should be called Three Streets as it contains three stories about three different people who you could say live on three different streets in London (talking more socially and culturally) .

From the trailer, I was expecting just one street with Idris Elba and Gemma Arterton. That could have been just me knowing who these two people are and just focusing on that part or it could have been a trailer met to draw in Americans with two faces we would recognized.

Either way, Elba and Arterton's street take a side step for me, as the most interesting street was about a guy named Kingsley (Played by a British face that I've seen before but can't place) who just got out of jail and does not want to go back into the life of a drug dealer so he gives acting a try after befriending one, but the streets keep trying to pull him back in (Oh wait, this dude is Firestorm on the series, The Flash).

The other story was a touching love story about a loving couple who are having trouble extending their family though adoption.

But I say all this not to suggest that Elba's performance as an Ex-Rugby player dealing with life off the field, which causes him to screw up royally with his wife (Played by Arterton), was not a great moment in the film, I mean it's Idris Elba, but it was not my favorite.

100 Streets three stories work very well as a whole movie and it's worth seeing.

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I can simply state up front that I was not impressed with this depressing dramatic film. I was half expecting the good looking hunky actor Idris Elba who plays a retired soccer star and who is estranged from his wife and two children to meet up with his medical doctor who would then advise Elba to take two sleeping pills and four laxative pills. Now that would at least provide one funny scene would it not?

I am not saying that I want to only watch comedies but from the opening scene right through to the very last scene this film was depressing. These four seperate stories that were indirectly connected each contained misery for one or more of the men and the film just continued to get more depressing as it dragged on.

Mrs. Shullivan left the room after watching the first 45 minutes and did not even bother to ask if it got any better......which it did not, it got worse.

I can only give the film a 5 out of 10 rating and I would not recommend it to anyone.

Fine cast, great potential here but ultimately 100 Streets just didn't do it for me. I usually enjoy this type of movie, but found it too pedestrian and a wasted opportunity, because Londoners would be great subjects for a film like this.

It might be OK to pass the time if nothing else is on...but it could have been so much better.