Jack Says (2008) Poster

(2008)

User Reviews

Review this title
7 Reviews
Sort by:
Filter by Rating:
3/10
could have been good
colinhawksby28 May 2009
Warning: Spoilers
I'm not sure what it is with indie film-makers that they all want to make films about cockney wannabe gangsters.In the last few days I've watched Ten Dead Men and this. Ten Dead Men was a martial arts movie that looked as though it was filmed on a mobile phone but contained some amazing action scenes.

Jack Says has more of a brain. Based on a comic (?)it begins, like 10 Dead Men, with the scene of someone being tied up and tortured by thugs. Apparently all low budget films have to have this.

The set up is interesting..Jack wakes up surrounded by dead bodies with no memory.OK so its Jason Bourne but a good idea is worth stealing.. the problem is that eventually you have to stop leaving clues and solve things.This is where most films fail and JS is no different.Too many coincidences, quirky bits that seem out of place.

The photography looks good, the costumes, music and locations are good which makes the film look more expensive than it probably is.

The film would have earned more than 3/10 if it had better actors.The idea of Jack as a fearsome force in the underworld, or an undercover cop is ridiculous.He is short and pudgy. I'm sure there are lots of short plump hard men but the guy playing Jack doersn't work at all. When he keeps his shirt on in the love scene to hide his spare tyre you know something is wrong.He is dull and seems to be reciting his scenes rather than acting them.

The girl who plays Jack's girlfriend is pretty.She is a better actor than Jack but still not quite good enough. The french singer is plain and can't sing. MIke Reid as a hardman???? Could have been a good film but needs better actors
17 out of 19 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink
2/10
Weird Characterisation
danlizard11 July 2009
Warning: Spoilers
I found the characterisation in this film rather odd. Too many times, the central characters acted very strangely and it felt like the script had been written in stages by several different writers. The acting was poor in places too - you could tell the girls were cast for their looks, not their acting ability... which turned out to be a bit of a wasted opportunity because we never really got to see anything. Shame, cos it probably would have been worth the money if we did. The storyline's a bit weak too - and the ending was terrible contrived and oh-so-slightly unbelievable. Eric Cantona was good though. If only he had a bigger part... Still, despite all this, it was much better than Churchill: The Hollywood Years.
14 out of 16 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink
1/10
Oh dear lord.......
jonmccann14 April 2011
OK, let me start by saying, i love gangster flicks and I love gritty thrillers, neither of which this is. The only chance of this being a good movie is for you to suspend belief, imagine the world is like a James Bond set, and think the Scottish are the baddest dudes in Europe.

The acting is not the best I have ever seen and thats OK, there are not many stars in this film, however, the actual footage is unrealistic, from Eric Cantona befriending a Scottish stranger (really the french being generous and buying whiskey?!), to the sudden appearance of a cigarette smoked by the main actor about 30 mins in, in a dead end alley that resembled Brixton rather than France. Oh and see how much is smoked in that five mins of scenery, its a full cigarette when thrown!! This film feels like the scriptwriter wrote down all the things that made a good gangster flick and threw them into a blender, letting them land here, there and everywhere, sadly you cant make a film this easily or I would be the next scorsese to! It's sad in a way, because this had the opportunity to be a trainspotting, it could have worked, if only there had been more thought as to the characters, there were too many 'this will do' in this film, and that totally messed it up! A little more attention to detail would pay off in the long run!
5 out of 7 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink
7/10
Mike Reid Steals The Show
adamsmithe198022 August 2008
I saw this film at the Swansea Bay Film Festival in July - and it's well worth the wait to come to DVD! I'am not gonna tell you what happens - but put it this way Mike Reid steals the show, which seems fitting as it's his last ever film! What a legend. Rula Lenska also plays a gangster in this film - she was in Gypo as a nutter as well so no change there then! The legend Eric Cantona is in there as well! He plays a french philosopher - bet that was his idea. The film is really well acted by everyone, and is gritty underground story of lust and betrayal set between London and Paris - pretty good in my opinion and well worth a watch. Music is catchy, and i have been trying to find out what music they use on the trailer?
11 out of 27 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink
9/10
Graphic Novels AND Film Noir? - Excellent!
Knarlinggrimbob1 September 2008
As a fan of film noir and graphic novels, I had to see this film, so I went to Swansea when it was on at the film festival. I'm glad I did.

I'd already read the prequel graphic novel Jack Said, so I guess I kind of had an advantage over the rest of the audience, as I knew the back story. I'm pleased to say the film was as good as the comic.

The lead, Simon Phillips, reminded me at times of a mix between Daniel Craig and Clive Owen, and the female lead Rita Ramnani was great as the... I don't want to give too much away, but let's just say it's nice to see someone actually portray emotions rather than just pouting (Knightly, I'm looking in your direction). The french girl who played Girl X was really good too.

This was such a great story with a REALLY good twist that I genuinely never saw coming. Mike Reid was excellent as The Guvnor and I'm glad his character features in the graphic novel Jack Said too.
12 out of 31 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink
8/10
Watch Out Guy Ritchie!
lastsevenmovie25 August 2008
This film is one of the UK's best indie features to come out in a long time, and Guy Ritchie had better watch out - because these guys have got plenty of raw talent to back everything up! Not to sure about the detective character in the film, but then perhaps I am not meant to be sure about him - there's a lot going on in here! Stunning women, extreme violence and Mike Reid and Eric Cantona - can't really ask for a lot more from these guys really. I hear the film is based on a graphic novel entitled JACK SAID - but haven't read it as yet! But will do after seeing this excellent first time effort from Bob Phillips - I take it that it is his first time, as I couldn't find anything else online about him? All in all good stuff.
12 out of 33 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink
8/10
A Brit Noir Sin City
jackadelth29 August 2008
I too saw this at the LIFF which was great fun to be part of. We too had a film that was being screened there. This film was on just after ours, so i decided to stick around and give it a go - supporting my fellow filmmakers and all that stuff, and I tell you that I wish i hadn't. These guys spent less money then me, but somehow achieved bigger production values and a named cast for the most part. probably to do with a slick story and good production management - these guys were on form and knew how to tell a story. Support them, as I will, when the film hits the shelves - as they're going to be big. I wish you guys all the best here!
7 out of 26 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink

See also

Awards | FAQ | User Ratings | External Reviews | Metacritic Reviews


Recently Viewed