Imperial Dreams

Saw this at the Leiden film festival 2014 (LIFF), where is was selected as part of the American Indie Competition. It offers a depressing view on what an ex-convict can expect immediately after his release. He can try to choose for an honest future, but all circumstances work against such a resolution. It is too easy to fall back on less honest work that however brings easy money on the short term. All the people around him, be it his wife, uncle, or mother, make it very difficult to stay on the right track. All this is demonstrated very well. We soon get the feeling what his dilemma's are all about.

I have only one minus point, but relatively trivial. The relationship between father and son is heart warming and powerful, but I have my doubts it's for real: normally a son would soon be fed up with moving around, and he should have protested at least once. I'm not sure this is realistic.

The actors performed very well and were convincing in their respective roles, even the less sympathetic ones were allowed to grow on us. Recidivism is is very well explained. From our comfy chair we can easily talk about starting with a clean slate, to continue along the line of the fresh starting position offered after being released from prison. The circumstances, however, do not always cooperate. Showing this in itself is a major contribution of this movie. It presented us a window on a part of society outside our view.

John Boyega stars as Bambi. He's fresh out of prison and, for the sake of his child, determined not to get sucked back into the old life of crime but you know how it is; when you're around the same people and places you were before, how are you going to change?

There's a reason this films poster image is Boyega. He is this film's biggest asset. He shows once again that he has charisma to burn, and he turns in a well-played portrayal of a young man who could easily be a leader, the man the other criminals would turn to, but a man who knows where that life leads.

The problem with the movie is that it is trying to do way too much. And the film does not have the time or the insight to deliver on all of those parts.

There's a strand straight out of a Ken Loach movie about how hard it is for a person to get a job and go legit when they're an ex-con.

There's a part right out of a John Singleton movie about the lure of violence in a community which is offered few other ways to make money.

There's a sub-plot right out of movies like "Good Will Hunting" about a man from the wrong side of the tracks with a talent that could get him out. (Bambi is an aspiring writer, recording life in the 'hood.) There's another strand that is all about the impact of environment on a child, and the efforts of a father to get the child away from all of that.

Any one (okay, maybe two) of these parts could have made a great movie but there's a feeling that writer/director Malik Vithal poured everything he wanted to say into this, his debut feature, and ended up saying too much, but not enough.

It's a shame because the direction is top notch. We get a real sense of the neighbourhood, and the walls that have been built around its citizens, not just the ones in prison.

Didn't know what to expect with this. Just saw Boyega doing a drama and thought of giving this a watch. I don't live in the same world as Bambi, so I wouldn't know what it is really like to be in his shoes. But I assume the writers knew what its like, and wow, my mind was shook. What a sad reality it can be for someone like Bambi. The system was created to fail people and it takes a lot for someone to rise above it all to find some peace and ultimately life away from crime.

This is a slow burn, but a wonderfully crafted film, probably a hint of reality and Bambi is a reflection of this life.

The only thing that irks me with this film is the supporting casts. While Boyega was amazing as Bambi, the rest was just floating by.

John Boyega embodies this true character in every sense of the word. The acting from everyone, even the child acted as Ethan and Justin Coach. Acting and writing to me in a film is the most important because if it's done right, it can draw you in so much that you don't even realize you're watching the film, but feel as if you're living it. In this film, I absolutely felt that. The film in it's core is about how far a father will go to give his son a good honest life, even if that means going down the harder roads to get there. I don't have a great relationship with my father, so watching a film about a dad working so hard to be there for his son made me upset but that's because it was done so well and was so believable; which I loved. The story is a sad one as it's the struggle of a father who just got out of jail and has very limited options on how to get his life on track. You watch a man who tries so hard to get on track but because of the messed up system, it's almost impossible. I would compare this film to The Pursuit of Happiness(Yes that's how it's spelled) but I personally enjoyed this more. Ironically, this felt more real to me than The Pursuit of Happiness even though that's based on a real story. This film was so much more raw, real, and held up by acting more so than story that it's so incredible to watch. The film, being a drama, of course, is very sad. With everyone who worked on the film they really did a great job. It's a perfectly paced film and exactly what you would expect. Absolutely give this film a watch and hold high expectations because it's an incredible film. Thank you John Boyega!

Watched Imperial Dreams Featuring John Boyega(The Whale) as Bambi , Rotimi Akinosho(Divergent) as Wayne , Keke Palmer(Joyful Noise) as Samaara, Glenn Plummer(Sons Of Anarchy) as Uncle Shrimp,De'Aundre Bonds(Gangster Squad) as Gideon ,Sufe Bradshaw(Bones) as Detective Gill, Jernard Banks(The Hangover) as Cornell, Nora Zehetner(The Brothers Bloom) as Janine, Anika Noni Rose(Half Of A Yellow Sun) as Miss Price, Maxmiliano Hernandez(Sicario) as Detective Hernandez . also Amazing Performance once again from Boyega .This was a great Drama also got perspective on life in the Hood also its not Easy to change your stripes if your from the projects but it was cool he tried live and Honest life despite his rough upbringing Great Perspective On Life in The Streets.Amazing Producing from Jonathan Schwartz(The Way Back) , Score By Flying Lotus(Cove Road), Costume Design By Chasia Johnson(Walk This Way) & Chasia Kwane ,Cinematography By Monika Lenczewska(Difret) ,Screenplay & Direction By Malik Vitthal(Watts And Volts) Great Perspective On Life in The Streets 9/10