Ill Manors Film Review

Planning

3 Adjectives- Realistic, (self-)destructive, struggle

Review

Ill Manors is a British crime drama film directed by Plan B also known as Ben Drew. He is an English rapper, singer-songwriter, actor and film director from Forest Gate, London. The script for Ill Manors was partly based on true stories that Plan B had heard when he was young, such as a woman prostituting herself so as to repay a drug dealer. Personally, I think the director did a good job in creating his vision and representing the plot in the way that he did. The film is very much to do with the stereotypical view of young people, especially those who are struggler's, who play a dangerous life. This links to Tessa Perkin's theory that some stereotypes can be true and Plan B clearly displayed this. However, Plan B also wanted to get his opinion out that these young people know what lives they are doing but because society keeps labelling them as bad people and don't take great interest in them just because they dress and talk differently to the upper class. They don't care about society and continue to act immorally. This can link to Dyer's theory that people with power stereotype those with less power than them, so lower class people.

The actors in the film were really a great aid in making this production. The fact that these characters were unknown was very intriguing as well as effective. The audience is able to relate to the actors because they are not celebrities and could be average people who have been or are living in the situation that Ill Manors portrays. Also, the actors played out they role really well. The quality of the actors made the characters come to life because they dressed, spoked and acted as people would expect young ones to. They recreated Medhurst's theory which suggests that stereotyping is shorthand for identification which can be negative and that is exactly what the film represents. Not only were the actors able to convey this to the audience but young people could relate to them as they acted in ways that young people see all around them. Therefore, the actors were key in making this film successful. 

Ill Manors is a multi-character story where everyone is fighting for respect and trying to survive on the streets. In order to understand the plot, it is essential to watch the whole film. This is due to the way Plan B has directed his film. The plot focuses on 8 characters and they all have different stories that weave together as you go further into the film which then creates an overall picture of the plot. The prostitutes, violence and drug life outlines the realistic besides self destructive world that revolves around us. The way the film was presented makes it more interesting because the plot itself is unique. There are films that do consist of people taking drugs however Ill Manors tells the whole story and includes the lives of 8 different people in it. It is almost like it is a documentary hence why I find it different.

Due to the high level of violence and drama, Ill Manors falls under the genre of crime drama. There were gun scenes, sex scenes, violent scenes and scenes of people taking drugs. These were quite vivid images also, so I think it definitely fit the criteria well. Also, as you watch the film, you are always surprised as well as shocked at what happens next which is why it is always a drama film. However, I feel that the film had a depressing mood because of all the deaths that happen in the film. It can be an upsetting film to watch especially if you consider the fact that it is a realistic film and to see people who may have to struggle to survive. 

As you watch the film, you notice that each story is represented by a different rap song performed by Plan B. The lyrics also relate to the different stories so that the audience can not only see what's going on but also rely on the music to aid them in creating a vivid picture in their heads. The rap music adds effectiveness to the film because it is the music that you would expect struggler's to listen to. The soundtracks were non-diegetic and they were constantly parallel to the plot making the film seem even more realistic.

The target audience is aimed at the age group of 15-25. This would be people who enjoy watching channels such as Channel 4 or E4 and Ill Manors would have a similar genre as the shows shown on these channels. Also the target audience would be struggler's and mainstremer's who watch typical drama shows. They would be in the lower class section, Class E, and would either be unemployed or in education. It would attract these kind of people because they would be able to relate to the film. Even though the age group is said to be 15-25, due to the high level of swearing, sex scenes and violence, I would consider that it should be for 18 and overs unless used for educational reasons. 

Overall, I would recommend this film especially to those who take interest in reality films to do with young people because Ill Manors gives an amazing glance of that. I would suggest that to like the film you have to watch all of it.