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Bookmark this pageCity Rats (2009)
Director: Steve Kelly
Movie review
From Time Out London
With about as much reliable insight into the human condition as a stack of old ‘Dear Deirdre…’ columns, ‘City Rats’ haphazardly tails a pack of tenuously linked London down-and-outs as they soul-search, emote and swear their way across the capital. It’s a terrible film, so blithely wrong-headed in its execution that some scenes are quite entertaining in an ‘is this really happening?’ kind of way. Take, for instance, the bit where shame-faced gay party boy Olly (Kenny Doughty) is looking after his autistic, deaf, dumb and latently homosexual brother Chris (James Lance) for the evening. Leading him through Soho, Olly picks up a rent boy and then – for reasons unknown – demands that he sit in as his deaf, dumb and latently homosexual brother is stripped of his virginity. The performances are mostly of the frenzied, soap-opera sort, save for Susan Lynch, who is likeable as a sass-talking ‘crippled whore’.Author: David Jenkins
Time Out London Issue 2018, April 23-29, 2009
User reviews of this film
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- nutcrackernuts said...
- Posted on Aug 01 2011 15:45 I wasn't expecting this film to be such a great film.it tells us what do we really want in life and what we chose in our life.I recommend this movie for those who have deep phylosophical thinking.
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- John said...
- Posted on Apr 23 2010 12:49 This film WILL BE a cult classic!!! I have no doubt about that. A great film for the educated viewer.
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- Bob said...
- Posted on Apr 22 2010 15:05 No one film can appeal to everyone. City Rats has been a commercial success soon to go to Germany and the US. The films investors have made a very healthy tax free return so I think that speaks volmes when some Hollywood major films have flopped and made no money. City Rats success had directly led to more films being financed which means more investment into the economy and the British film industry and of course more jobs.
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- Jiff said...
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Posted on Apr 22 2010 14:59
As said by others before a movie which doesn't adhere to the usual Hollywood format. Smacks a bit of Naked by Mike Leigh.Definately misleading in the advertising as the characters hardly 'collided' with one another. A slow drama for sure NOT a gangster style movie whatsoever.
Thought the critics comments harsh but he sounds Welsh so they don't have a lot to be happy about the best of times. - Report as inappropriate
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- Sam said...
- Posted on Mar 26 2010 23:24 An interesting concept, great cast and well produced. A little scetchy in places but a gripping and unusual must see. Its like marmite... you love it or hate it.
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- robg said...
- Posted on Jan 12 2010 09:21 One thing that should be pointed out is that City Rats has been a commercial success having recouped in 2 quarters making a serious tax free return for investors. As a low budget independent British film it has carved a new path and made people look at UK films with the right framework as a real investment alternative.
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- brian said...
- Posted on Jan 12 2010 00:02 one word SHITE
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- Jed McBubble Wrap said...
- Posted on Dec 21 2009 17:13 I would rather fist my dead grandmother than watch this movie again
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- Indigo Stevens said...
- Posted on Dec 21 2009 17:11 definitely up there with the worst films of all time. surprised I managed to stay awake. warning do not watch this!
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- Drew said...
- Posted on Nov 26 2009 22:52 enjoyed it.. dark and different .. its not meant to be ripped apart and analyzed just watched.. fed up of hollywood shine and uplifting souless crap... and middle class whinging..
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- jimmy said...
- Posted on Nov 22 2009 16:00 totally fuckin awfull wtf is that scene with the fat mans arse about? terrible
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- STEVIE SCOUSE said...
- Posted on Nov 04 2009 08:37 I thought judy Garland was marvellous in this film, I was reduced to tears by her dancing and singing. It reminded me of the very first bacon sandwich I ever had when I was a child in Montenegro. P.S, I make really nice gravy.
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- Nick said...
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Posted on Oct 12 2009 00:26
Never gripped me...
Depressing, slow moving and BADLY misrepresented by promoters.
Spent the whole film waiting for (as it says on the back of the DVD) the eight characters lives to "collide in a pulp fiction style blend." but was sadly disappointed.
Best moment was the end when Kenny Doughty and Danny Dyer almost meet. - Report as inappropriate
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- Mad Franky said...
- Posted on Oct 10 2009 14:56 London stinks of rats piss.
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- Lewis said...
- Posted on Jul 13 2009 11:30 Quite possibly the worst film I have ever seen! Nothing artistic or thought-provoking about it...utter rubbish.
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Cast & crew
Director: Steve Kelly
Cast: Danny Dyer, Kenny Doughty, Tamer Hassan, James Lance, Susan Lynch, Ray Panthaki full cast
Rated: 18
Duration: 92 mins
UK Release: Apr 24 2009
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