iLL Manors Film Review

Plan/Notes

Director: 

• Benjamin Paul Ballance-Drew most commonly known as Plan B, who is a rap artist. He's produced an album named ill Manors alongside the film.

Main Stars: 

•  Ed Skrein is an English rapper and actor, he also played Daario Naharis in Game of Thrones. Riz Ahmed is an English actor who has also appeared in other films before starring in Ill Manors. He won awards for starring in Shifty, which is a British urban thriller. He won the award for being best actor. 

Plot: 

• The film is based around six short stories that all mix together to make one big story, Also, The main focus of the film is about the lives of the drug dealers and the struggles that emerge from taking drugs and selling drugs, also being involved in gang violence and the wrong company. The main character Aaron realises that as a young boy who grew up with no parents, he comes to know that there is an ongoing relationship and cycle with children who are abandoned at a young age, and for this reason, he changes his lifestyle for the better. 

Characters:

• Aaron - Riz Ahmed: The main character of the film is acquainted to the rest of the core characters. He is a drug dealer but he has particular principles which make him a moral character, compared to characters like Ed. Aaron is a character who see's people for who they are and wants to help others, this is shown in the scene when he helps Michelle.
•  Ed - Ed Skrein: Ed and Aaron are friends; Ed is also a drug dealer but is narcissistic and heartless, this is shown through a particular scene when he makes Michelle prostitute herself in order to get enough money to buy a new phone, even when he knows that she did not steal it.
•  Kirby - Keith Coggins: Kirby is the infamous drug dealer in the neighbourhood, although he appears to be small he is still a strong man and shows his dominance, this is highlighted through a particular scene when Kirby makes Marcel run home naked.
•  Chris - Lee Allen: Chris was taught by Kirby and therefore became dominant and superior to him as he grew older. He is also a drug dealer but he seeks revenge as his half-sister Chanel is murdered.

Genre:

• The genre of the film is urban, crime and drama. It accurately portrays the harsh reality of the situation and also reveals an ever further brutal picture of the truth. It also includes sexual and criminal activity. 

Soundtrack:

• One specific thing I noticed with the soundtrack was that most of the songs, reflected the narrative that was occurring. For instance, when the Russian woman was leaving her baby on the train, the song represented her history with her abusive boyfriend/husband. These were very effective, as not only did they tell a story, but they also allowed the audience to become more engaged with the concept through the music. The use of narrative and music linking in one sequence, was effective as I could understand the problems in the film and in society nowadays. The atmosphere the songs created, in particular the song 'Ill Manors', was very sensitive, as we knew there would always be a segregation between the council bred children and the 'rich boys', as said in the song.

Audience:

• The film is aimed at the youth market and the young adult market as the subject matter is relevant to them, causing them to relate to the film and understand the film. The film is also aimed at the working class as it is a low budget film yet acts as a powerful film with a strong message of urban life and the rapid downfall of infamously superior individuals.