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Shifty (2009)

Director: Eran Creevy

Time Out rating

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7 reviews

Movie review

From Time Out London

Just as French realist cinema latterly needed a shot in the arm from such uncompromising, hard-edged banlieue thrillers as ‘La Haine’ and ‘L’Esquive’, so this promising writer-director debut from former commercials and pop-promos director Eran Creevy shows how a knowing eye and a sympathetic vision can reinvigorate the stale conventions of our own recent cycle of (sub)urban dramas such as ‘Rise of the Footsoldier’ and ‘Kidulthood’.

Set in the council estates of fictional Dudlowe (standing in for Creevy’s native Harlow), ‘Shifty’ traces the reacquaintance of two friends: humorously laconic Chris (Daniel Mays, excellent), visiting home for 24 hours after four long years in Manchester quietly recuperating from moral and romantic wounds inflicted by an old girlfriend; and Shifty (Riz Ahmed), an intelligent and once ambitious school pal of Chris who has become progressively hardened, boxed in and self-justifying by a life spent supplying drugs. The dealing is an occupation that Shifty is keen to keep secret from the more orthodox Muslim older brother (Nitin Ganatra) with whom he shares a house.

So far, then, all seems familiar. The scene is set for a clash of loyalties and a contrast of destinies between the sobered, returning hero and the bad egg, with the rules and tropes of the old westerns ready to be played out in the new concrete battlegrounds of our housing estates. But, some minor hiccups aside (not least the role of Jason Flemyng as Shifty’s boss Glen), what Creevy delivers is something far more seductive, witty and involving: a non-deterministic portrait of a friendship that’s allowed to emerge organically and suggestively through the subtle, enjoyable interplay, mannerisms, body language and banter of the principals. Creevy’s fine ear for dialogue, sensitive and productive direction of actors and confident control of tone is all the more impressive for being delivered under the short schedule and tight budgetary exigencies of Film London’s Microwave initiative.

Author: Wally Hammond

Time Out London Issue 2018, April 23-29, 2009

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User reviews of this film

vel said...

Posted on Jun 05 2010 14:27 It was such a refreshing change for someone to completely keep it real and avoid the usual obvious, unimaginitive route to cliched and tired climax. Superbly directed, with such understated and emotionally powerful acting, this kept me tense and involved from start to finish. The relationship between Daniel Mays and Riz Ahmed's characters was so organically natural and subtle. All through the film, the two of them say so much without words and you feel a genuine affection for them both. I grew up in the place that Dudlowe was based on and have known many people like those in the film. I think there are even a couple of names in there that are real. It made me feel quite proud that someone from my town created this and made me feel for the characters, without ever glamourising what was going on in any way. A great film.

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jonny rlow said...

Posted on Aug 24 2009 15:36 im from harlow and grew up with shifty.good film all round..big up shiveak

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raggiodisole said...

Posted on Jul 01 2009 23:20 cracking little film. 85 minutes just right to sum up a bad day. the way the tension was ratcheted up throughout the last third of the film was masterful.

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ARCHGATE said...

Posted on May 01 2009 19:54 Very engrossing from beginning to end. What makes this film work is the meloncholy soundtrack. Most directors would have gone for the easy option for the music ... Rap, drumNbass etc. The performances are excellent and the ending was a small delight. I look forward to this director's next film.

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mike said...

Posted on May 01 2009 12:42 Good film - tense,raw,grim and gritty, so not for the lighthearted !

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Marsellus said...

Posted on Apr 27 2009 11:02 Don't listen to the silly crticism below. This is a small film with a lot of heart and is a surprisingly refreshing Brit-drama in the wake of previous Brit-crap like Rise of The Footsoldier, Outlaw and The Business. If you're a Shane Meadows fan this film is for you.

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Madison said...

Posted on Apr 26 2009 18:14 Critically overrated! If you've seen the trailer, then dont bother to see the film cos there really isnt much else going on here. It might have made a mediocre 60 min tv drama instead of 85 minutes of yawnsome geezerish dialogue. Its only saving grace is that they didnt have the budget to cast Danny Dyer.

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