Karl Collins Movies
A South London DJ battle serves as the backdrop for this hip-hop flavored tale of star crossed lovers headlined by So Solid Crew rhymer Ashley Walters (aka Asher D) and former Precious vocalist Rose. By day Danny (Walters) works in a specialty record store, but when the sun goes down the aspiring music producer and The Motion Crew set the local club scene ablaze. When Danny meets middle-class law student Carmen (Rose) he is immediately smitten. A soulful-voiced singer who has given up her musical career to study law, Carmen is currently being courted by Hard Cash Crew leader Money Man (Karl Francis) - who wants the talented vocalist to perform with his posse at an upcoming competition and won't take "no" for an answer. Unfortunately The Motion Crew and the Hard Cash Crew are bitter rivals, and as the upcoming war of words draws near tensions between Danny, his best friend, his well-educated love interest, and the two feuding crews threatens to come to an explosive head. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Ashley Walters, Louise Rose, (more)
- 1997
- R
In this debut feature film from young British writer-director Shane Meadows, an unemployed ex-boxer, Alan Darcy (Bob Hoskins), borrows money from a gangster to set up a boxing club in his small, gritty English city. Darcy narrates the story from his diary notes. Boxing saved him from a wasted youth, and Darcy promotes the idea to the town fathers as a gang-prevention strategy. The town's economy is in shambles and the young men have nothing to look forward to. Darcy gives them a reason to live and a dream, converting their violent energy to sport and fostering a sense of camaraderie and sportsmanship. First he wins them over by playing soccer with them, then he lures them into his lessons on boxing. He drives them hard to prepare them for their first match, against boxers from a rival local team. Darcy has the team poised to win when one of his best fighter's parents threatens to pull him from the match. ~ Michael Betzold, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Bob Hoskins, Danny Nussbaum, (more)
- 1996
Ten years ago Oxford archaeology professor Robert Rylands suddenly and mysteriously left the college and the town to embark upon a long journey. His sudden return creates quite a stir, and most of this English-language Spanish drama, based on a novel by Javier Marias, centers on the effect it has upon those who know and love him. As soon as he arrives, Rylands heads straight for the police department and sits down to tell a policeman and good friend about his adventure. The plot then moves to Alfred, a fellow lecturer who lives with Jill, his sister and her daughter, Sue. Juan, a Spanish guest lecturer is also staying with them. Jill is worried about Alfred who has been suffering from a bizarre illness that causes him to faint and makes it difficult for him to use his left hand. She finds Rylands' sudden reappearance most distracting. Somehow the lives of Rylands, Jill and Alfred are connected, and both Sue and Juan decide to find out how. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1991
- R
Screenwriter Hanif Kureishi marked his directorial debut in this slice-of-life chronicle about a collection of drug-dealing slackers in London. Centering on a band of delinquents calling themselves "the posse," the group is led by an ambitious male hustler named Muffdiver (Steven Mackintosh). His friend, Mr. Clint Eastwood (Justin Chadwick), begins to wonder about Muffdiver when he announces that he will no longer sell drugs for the gang. But soon Clint is wondering about himself, and after being beaten and stripped naked, he decides to go legitimate and look for a real job. He applies to a chic restaurant for a job as a waiter. The owner, Hemingway (Brad Dourif), promises to hire him if he comes back to the restaurant wearing a good pair of shoes. Obsessed with landing the job, he tries any way he can to get the pair of shoes. Impressed by the efforts of Clint and Muffdiver to get normal jobs, Sylvie (Emer McCourt), a drug addict who lives with the two, is inspired to leave the street life behind herself and pursue a more ordinary vocation. ~ Paul Brenner, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Justin Chadwick, Steven Mackintosh, (more)
