It's no quite Scum but this it is more of an updated version for the 21st Century.
Alright, it's nothing like that in Borsral (YOC), you simply just don't wander a prison like that. You can clearly tell that the building is made up and done for film impact.
Joe Cole is the shiner here, he carried it all off with an element of realism (I know people like him) but English Frank character is very strange indeed. He has a very unusual gait that makes him walk around like a penguin and speak like he has golf balls in his mouth and spends the whole film pouting. I am not sure that if the directors filmed him like that or it was a chosen style but in some places it's a bit ridiculous and comical.
The filming style is very good though, some shots seen to over exposed or frame dropped to give it that technique first seen in 28 days Later. It's the mixture of this and standard shots that makes it good to watch.
The violent scenes are well done and the attack on the jewellery shop is excellent as I have seen this happen on the Roman Road in East London.
The other actors are pretty good as well and having wandered around estates in London people really do talk like that. I think someone took a bit of time studying accents and mannerisms and for once didn't hold back no matter how strange this talk may seem to middle class UK.
Its a good twist on the Scum, but if you are trying to get parallels to Scum you won't. It's different, more realistic albeit the sets and locations are totally false. It also didn't stay clear of issues like Muslims been Muslims just to get extra facilities which was good. Although I was surprised they stopped short of a rape scene that is seems mandatory for this genre but you can assume it happens with the shots of Tommy in the solitary confinement.
Worthy of a Blu Ray.....
