First Take: Cardboard Gangsters- get real.

SYNOPSIS:

A group of young Cardboard Gangsters attempt to gain control of the drug trade in Darndale, chasing the glorified lifestyle of money, power and sex.

Last year I proudly did a small bit of coverage on the Manchester Film Festival, and while I can’t join them for a second year, it felt right to review what arguably became the most successful film from last year’s programme. The indie scene is proving to be quite interesting nowadays, and this neat Irish gem is not only brutal in terms of its subject matter, but feels like it was made on a much higher budget.

Mark O’Connor directs it with ease, pacing it damn near perfectly and taking the script he has crafted with the film’s lead John Connors to the screen very well, and considering how realistic this film is (it is an 18 certificate for a very good reason), telling a story like this in 1 hour 32 minutes is quite the achievement. It is shot brilliantly by Michael Lavelle, and, well, it’s obvious to see why it got picked up by a distributor last year.

This trailer contains strong language and violence- so it’s probably not safe for work. Don’t say I didn’t warn you.

Performance wise, John Connors absolutely kills it. And it isn’t just because he co-wrote the film- he literally puts every last emotion into the character of Jason, making the film’s ending even more of an emotional gut punch (and that’s all I can say, because spoilers obviously), and working alongside Fionn Walton, Kierston Wareing and Jimmy Smallhorne alongside a fantastic cast of up and coming talents, they manage to create a film worthy of the honours MANIFF bestowed upon it in March last year.

THE VERDICT

Gritty and full of truth, Cardboard Gangsters is a film that is an acquired taste- but for a film like this to be made so well on a tiny budget, it’s certainly worth looking at, but be warned- this film does get brutal.

RATING: 5/5

Cardboard Gangsters is available to watch now on Netflix, and if you’re reading this post in the week it comes out, the Manchester Film Festival officially kicks off on Thursday at Odeon Manchester Great Northern- there’s plenty of tickets left for a good portion of the features, shorts and documentaries on offer, so head to maniff.com for more information.