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Jack Said (2009)

Director: Lee Basannavar, Michael Tchoubouroff

Time Out rating

Average user rating

11 reviews

Movie review

From Time Out London

A prequel to the straight-to-DVD title ‘Jack Says’, this aims for the stark graphic look and hardboiled noir feel of ‘Sin City’, and misses by a mile. Lacking the wizardry needed to reproduce the graphic novel’s visuals, it’s just another London-set gangster movie populated by tough geezers called The Guv’nor, The Fixer and The Boss.

The eponymous Jack (Simon Phillips), a hard-drinking undercover cop, has infiltrated the gang run by The Guv’nor and his psycho daughter. Things go pear-shaped when Jack’s chancer pal Nathan (Danny Dyer, right) asks him to babysit his sister Erin (Rita Ramnani), and does a runner with The Guv’nor’s mysterious box. Compromised, Jack does what he’s told, watches as Natalie plots to usurp her father, and waits for the fat lady to sing.

If writer Paul Tanter’s voiceover and dialogue had been delivered with any conviction, it might have distracted us from the dull visuals, over-complicated flash-back/flash-forward structure and TV soap opera-style acting.

Author: Nigel Floyd

Time Out London Issue 2040: 24-30 September, 2009

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User reviews of this film

Gerald g said...

Posted on Apr 08 2011 01:17 why do people keep comparing this barrel of arse to Sin City? nothing like it! and isn't a climax meant to be unpredictable? Executing a nasty woman who has been tied up since the first scene is not a twist!!!! Noir my arse.

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Film fan said...

Posted on Apr 07 2011 00:02 God-awful, cliché-ridden, lazy, one-pass-is-good-enough script. Abysmal acting from everyone except Dyer, O'Hara and the girl Ramnani. Bland cinematography, uninventive direction and colour grading that must have been performed by a first year film student in his spare time. If you read a good review of this film you can bet it was written by one of the crew. The best thing about this film was the fight sequences, particularly the last one - so bad I had a good laugh!
If you want to spend two hours asking, "What is this film about?" then make the mistake of watching it.

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Film Fan said...

Posted on Apr 06 2011 23:56 God-awful, cliché-ridden, lazy, one-pass-is-good-enough script. Abysmal acting from everyone except Dyer, O'Hara and the girl Ramnani. Bland cinematography, uninventive direction and colour grading that must have been performed by a first year film student in his spare time. If you read a good review of this film you can bet it was written by one of the crew. The best thing about this film was the fight sequences, particularly the last one - so bad I had a good laugh!

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bigboy said...

Posted on Feb 11 2010 13:41 In fairness, I dont think you can go as far to say that Dyer and Stone give amazing performances. Dyer is clearly in need of a new kitchen or something, so did this drivell for a pay day, and Terry Stone is god awful. So cliched. Fair play for getting this film made, and distributed. the fact that David O hare turned up left m gobsmacked. Again, a+ for effort, and it clearly shows there is a willing market for this type of film, it's just been executed pretty poorly in my opinion. Boring edit chices, clunky, film student camera work, no flair to bak up the opening credits, and full of shocking performances. Most notably by the bad girl and her henchman.

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ashton Lamont said...

Posted on Oct 05 2009 15:57 i think it's sweet too. Unfortunately I have met the man in question and still get upset that i'll never get those two hours back. :))

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Filmguy said...

Posted on Oct 05 2009 15:32 Ashton Lamont - Er, my reply was to filmgal - din't see yours until mine had posted. But it's "kinda sweet" to see you following the career of someone you are clearly judging neutrally, have definately never met and have absolutely nothing against.

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ashton Lamont said...

Posted on Oct 05 2009 15:20 Filmguy, much as your love for this film is kinda sweet to see, i have, in fact viewed this, the original Jack Says and Mr. Phillips first big screen performance (reviewed here: tp://areaoftheunwell.blogspot.com/2008/05/crucifixes-custard-and-sweet-sweet-lady.html) so i feel i am qualified to comment.

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Filmguy said...

Posted on Oct 05 2009 15:14 Clearly some people who have not yet actually SEEN the film were bitter they either didn't get roles on it or jobs on making it. "Don't be fooled by these people" - they badmouth something they haven't even seen because they have yet to actually DO anything themselves.

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Beattea said...

Posted on Oct 05 2009 00:45 What is Danny Dyer doing in this sh*t flick? He doesn't need the money that much surely...

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DZ said...

Posted on Oct 02 2009 07:45 God almighty.
Avoid this film like the plague. Total rubbish, should have stayed in!

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Johhny Boy said...

Posted on Sep 27 2009 12:06 Great Low budget Gangster Brit Flick with some amazing performances from Danny Dyer and Terry Stone.

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