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Adulthood (2008)

Director: Noel Clarke

Time Out rating

Average user rating

136 reviews

Movie review

From Time Out London

When ‘Kidulthood’ came out in 2006, I was put off by the over-ambition of Noel Clarke’s screenplay, which tried to cram every hot-button teen issue into a melodramatic 90 minutes of violence, sex and drugs on London’s streets. It had an impressive energy and a little insight but the acting was ropey and the directing superficial. Its follow-up, ‘Adulthood’, is again written by Clarke, who had an ensemble part in ‘Kidulthood’, but now he directs and reassumes the role of Sam Peel, a lad fresh out of jail after serving six years for the manslaughter that brought the first film to a close. There’s barely a scene without Clarke skulking about the streets of Ladbroke Grove and he has several brooding close-ups that make you wonder if he has ever heard of humility.

The story has a tighter focus than its predecessor: Sam spends a busy day trying to avoid being dragged back into a cycle of revenge and violence. He fails – and much chasing and cursing follow. There’s a thoughtful side to this maturer sequel as Clarke ponders the struggle of growing up: a plot involving a lonely young woman (Scarlett Alice Johnson) scarred by her past offers a welcome, maudlin aside from the gun and knife play. But there are bum notes that will have people chewing the arm rest: a posh guy buying drugs is the worst sort of cartoon, and the location of a late showdown – Compromise Avenue, W11 – is a distraction. It’s a film with its target audience – teenage boys and the youngest of men – firmly in mind and we’re never far from a rapid edit, a loud tune or a fight.

Author: Dave Calhoun 2008-06-17 11:44:06

Time Out London Issue 1974, June 18-25, 2008

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User reviews of this film

john said...

Posted on Jun 27 2008 16:50 shittest film ever there were 2 much people sayin blood ridiculous now that doesnt happen on a london estate and if it does it shows you how retarded they are and remember geeks your not like them in the film you all weirdos

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real talk said...

Posted on Jun 27 2008 16:01 alot of the comments made are not sensible, the state of society and council estate are bad because cultures other than white are not catered for because you were only brought here to help build the econmy. now when we see films of this kind we can relate to it, but if u ask me it was a poor low budget british film. everything that happened would not happen within 24hrs of coming out of prison, it upset's me to here people say it was good. there are elements of reality init but it was a let due the time frame of events, the guy that plaed mooney needs to find another career his acting was rubbish plan b was better an i swear he's a spitter! noel clarke is a great actor he carried the film all the way to the end big up! if where gona portrait london life i think you need to have a bigger budget cos alot goes on in london more than these critics can imagine. im 26 an have been tru an seen alot of crimal activity in london an outside of it so from that point of view the film was a let down to poor acting an rushed events in that film.

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jon said...

Posted on Jun 27 2008 14:34 In response to Amipon's shockingly writen review I'd just like to say that it was not 'sik' as that is not a word, i am outraged at the way it portrays young british teenagers as i know for a fact it is not actualy like this, and those who think it is should come round to mine and il give them a talking to over a nice cup of tea and rich tea fingers!

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amipon said...

Posted on Jun 27 2008 14:31 I FINK IT WAZ SIK MAN I LYKD THE PART WEN HE DIES AT DA END IT WAZ SIK
SHOUT OUT 2 MY MAIN MANZ AT CINEWORLD 4 NOT KIKIN ME OUT DIS TYM LUV YA LONG TYM
KEEP IT LOKD DNT GET SHOT (LIKE WAT HAPND AT THE END)
PEACE
-1-

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Emma said...

Posted on Jun 27 2008 13:48 the best film ever

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tom said...

Posted on Jun 26 2008 19:49 i didnt like it one bit i would ov rather gon and watched narnia

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Maya said...

Posted on Jun 26 2008 19:16 Dat first review! seriously firstly its sterotypical. u tellin me that all posh ppl dont buy crack? dey probably have more den any otha person der noses are so fuked up and stuck in the air! Secondly if you didnt like the film, you shouldnt have wasted your time writing two hole paragraphs of crap u clearly dont know much about life for teenagers like dem and if u fink skulking arond on streets trying to protect your mum is stupid den dont ever live in a london council estate. you didnt even credit the film one bit! the film has some amazing scences and if kidulthood was so rubbish den why did you bother watching adulthood? i fink the film was amazing and it was good if you got nothing good to say dont bother next time ayt?

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usman said...

Posted on Jun 26 2008 16:08 i think the debate here is not about the virtues of this movie but rather about the class divisions in british and that is sadly true ,that this movie in some ways is glorifying a pathetic way of life is tragic in itself and sad for this country ,as it is not just an observation but an affirmation of the society it portrays -a real pity

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Taye Taye said...

Posted on Jun 26 2008 15:52 I think the person that wrote the review needs a slap!
lol
I aint even watched it and I KNOW he's chatting shit!
so what u think posh people don't smoke crack? at least 7/10 posh man smoke charlie so I think u need a reality check ye lol
The film is real, just coz ur from some posh private school u dont knwo what irs like growing up in the hood so why not keep your opinions to yourself!

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Jayde said...

Posted on Jun 26 2008 10:52 Phatty Film _>

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voivoivoivoi said...

Posted on Jun 25 2008 17:38 usman khawaja: he did show ppl smokin crack in the film u thik dikhed! and ye im not from london and im not pretend i know this happens but wen u hear reports in the news and stuff it quite clearly does. why dont ppl jus see the film as a bonus for british film, where the film domain is dominated by awful american comedies, whcih most of you lot find funny! quality film, entertaining, i think u lot have looked into it abit too much ye? safe to all me breddas yo! eaziiii currrrtiiisssssssss

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the purple crayon said...

Posted on Jun 25 2008 15:42 oh yh, and cordy is a god/goddess.

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the pureple crayon said...

Posted on Jun 25 2008 15:40 hahahahahahaha!!!!!
point and laugh at some of the retards on here . they range from the ridiculously stereotypical ‘obviously the person who wrote this review is sum posh snob who thinks that all that shanking and beefing happens only in movies...i thought the film was amazing..its reality for us london teenagers...so next tyme you pass sum silly jibe abt the film....first go live in London..preffereble a council estate....then yu can write a proper review.....’
or pretend to be jamaican ‘Dis a badman film.., not fo fassio dem 2 watch. Life aint eezy in the ghettoe yagetme? All Wasteman move on go watch Brijet Jones Dairy or sumfin’
and my personal favorite ‘ryt im not being funny orr ewtt but yy you all saiii ahh stereo typicall shitt n all that !! ??.. its a sikk filmm yee....
thiss shitt happens ite !!!....
i would definatly advise yaa all too goo n see thisss shitt !!its rpopaaa sound !!
all you people hating this film you all lil diks like!!... you couldnt makea film forr shittt itee!!...
this is a sikkk filmmm yeeee !!!´
on another note the film was pretty good.

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jessjam said...

Posted on Jun 25 2008 14:26 welll gud mannnn defo go see bleddd very scaryyy thoughh!

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LADDD said...

Posted on Jun 25 2008 14:05 to 'budd' - your talking shite in all honesty - the wound 'appeared' to be on the other side coz he was lookin in a mirror u thick fock! how annoyin really

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