The Low Down Details

[Highly rated reviewer]

Much Ado About Not Very Much.

In this, we eavesdrop on a group of twenty-something Londoners, but, unfortunately, they haven't got anything very interesting for us to hear. Of the central couple, we learn that she's read a lot of good books lately and is paranoid about her legs, while he doesn't want to live anywhere too posh, gets his terrible quick temper from his dad and always wanted to 'get into' Socialism, and the dialogue dribbles on like this through a series of set pieces - the party scene, the violent drunk in the pub scene, the squash court scene, etc.

Whenever he hears the sound of a plane, he thinks it's going to crash, but she thinks of going on holiday - guess what portends the end of their relationship? The group scenes, at times, give off the uncomfortable sense of a group of hungry actors trying to upstage each other. The production values are high, and seem at odds with the loose, improvisational structure. There is clearly talent at work here, behind as well as in front of the camera, but I'm afraid it looked to me like a student film which had some money thrown at it. I'll look forward to this director's next, hopefully less self-indulgent, work.

Customer Review

This is for me a film that is honest, genuine in that it has been created rather that just put together, and interesting in the development of the story. Frank is, for me, quite a sympathetic guy, and likeable, but he does suffer from one fatal flaw in his character, a flaw which is hinted at earlier in the film but which only shows itself fully in the final stages.

It is a poingnant film, and all the characters are likeable, which helps the film a lot. And, yes, I think it is like real life. A very good piece of work all round.

I think the Amazon review is spot on.