George Amponsah’s feature film debut, Gassed Up is in cinemas from Friday. But does the film run smoothly or does it run out of gas?
Documentary filmmaker George Amponsah has his feature film debut opening this Friday. Gassed Up is a British crime thriller, set on the streets of London. Depicting the lives of the members of a Moped street gang, the movie is a gritty, urban drama which sadly depicts some elements that we see and hear every day on the news. Co-written by Archie Maddocks with Taz Skylar, who also appears in the film, the film has a lot to say and show during its 102-minute run time. But does the film run smoothly, or does it run out of gas well before the end?
PREMISE
Ash, is part of a moped street gang in London, using his earnings from petty thefts to support his family but struggles with the moral complexities of his actions when a jewellery heist alerts an Albanian crime family to his crew.
THOUGHTS
The film isn’t anything we haven’t seen before. But it is an enjoyable drama/ thriller that is worthy of a watch or two. With Stephen Odubola in the lead role as Ash, the film has an anti-hero that we find ourselves rooting for from the start. Although we can’t condone some of his actions (one in particular at around the three-quarters point), he comes across as a likeable young man who is on the wrong track in life. And by the climax, he learns his lesson the way you wouldn’t expect. Odubola is a charming lead, one that we will watch as he ascends the heights during his probable great career.
Steve Toussaint as Roy is equally as good. Roy is a mechanic, someone whom Ash has known for years. And he is the father figure Ash needs but doesn’t realise it. When he speaks, we listen. If anyone is only familiar with Toussaint from his work as Lord Corlys Velaryon in House Of The Dragon, you’re in for a surprise. Toussaint is a fine actor, and he shows it in spades here.
TAZ SKLER
Taz Skylar as Dubz is another enigma. Here, he is the leader of the group of thieves, and the one they all listen to. You’d be mistaken in thinking that he is a nasty, unlikeable piece of work. Not so. Dubz is actually extremely likeable but for different reasons. He is the cousin of an Albanian gangster who provides the men with their jobs. He also partakes in a copious amount of drug taking. But that doesn’t make him any less likeable throughout. Taz Skylar excels as his character and is one of the film’s highlights.
CRAIGE MIDDLEBURG AND MAE MULLER
Craige Middleburg as Roach is the real villain of the piece. Roach is the character everyone has to watch out for and be wary of. He is a drug-taking, violent psychopath whose every mood, and every movement shows what lies underneath the surface. He is someone everyone, even us in the audience has to be extremely careful around. One mistake too many see him kicked out of the gang and shunned by his friends. This will inevitably come back to haunt them all down the line, in the worst way possible. Middleburg gives us a taster of what he is capable of acting-wise in what is a superb performance.
Mae Muller as Kelly is wasted in a by-the-numbers role. Kelly begins a relationship with Ash but that is as far as her role goes. For too much of the time, she is in and out of the film. And she goes the way we expect. By the midway point, we can see how her story arc will end, leaving us just waiting for it to happen. And when it does, we are left unaffected apart from the feelings of resentment towards her. It is a simple token role that doesn’t add much to the film.
DIRECTION AND WRITING
George Amponsah makes a solid feature film debut with the film. He has a keen eye for his London locations, his sets and his actors. The way he directs the chase sequences the film contains and the way he shoots the point-of-view shots of the protagonists as they speed through the streets committing robbery is impressive. He also brings out the grittiness and decay of inner-city London and the drab lives of some of the characters with aplomb. Amponsah takes his background in documentary filmmaking and uses it to his advantage here.
The screenplay by Archie Maddocks and Taz Skylar is good for the most part. But here lies my problem with the film. The film is deftly plotted and is impressive. But it isn’t aimed at me (I’m 53). The dialogue will be understood by teenagers and those in the know. But for me, the street slang the film uses left me scratching my head in confusion. The film is for teenagers and those no older than 25. Terms like ‘Fam’ left me wondering what the characters were talking about for the most part. And that dragged the film down for me. For the age group the film is aimed at, they will pick up on the slang and have a great time with the film.
VERDICT
The film certainly doesn’t run out of gas. It has enough going for it, enough story to keep the audience interested in what is happening and what will happen during proceedings. The film is deftly handled, brilliantly directed and acted, and will leave a mark on the audience. Some scenes may upset the masses. The film does contain some ironic moments, such as the scene where Ash’s young sister falls prey to the same type of crime that Ash and his friends have been committing. These moments elevate the film up from the usual fare that we can expect with movies of this type.
It won’t break the mould or become an instant classic of the genre. But there is enough here to like and enjoy that drags the film up and away from the bog-standard fare that appears regularly. With great performances, some nice cameos (Harry Pinero, Yung Filly, and Ms Banks as themselves), and a suitable payoff for certain characters, the film deserves to be seen. It has a rewatchability that boosts it out from under the South London set of crime movies that either get a brief theatrical release or go straight to streaming. And despite being somewhat of an anti-hero at times, Stephen Odubola drags out the desperation and motivations of Ash to great effect. A worthy film that is full of gas from the first frame until the last.
Gassed Up is distributed by Vertigo Releasing and will be in UK cinemas from Friday.
Trailer Source: Vertigo Releasing
Introducing Carl! As the News Editor at Future of the Force, Carl has been an invaluable member of our team since early 2016. His expertise and dedication have made him an integral part of our editorial staff. Beyond his professional role, Carl is a fervent supporter of Liverpool F.C. and an avid follower of pop culture. He has a deep passion for Halloween, Friday the 13th, and the iconic movie franchises Star Wars and Star Trek.
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