4.3.2.1. tells the story of four friends and their separate lives over a period of one weekend. Joanne (Emma Roberts) is stuck on the graveyard shirt in her local shop, Kerrys (Sanika Warren-Markland) is on a solo mission of female domination, Cassandra (Tamsin Egerton) is jetting off to meet her online boyfriend in New York, and Shannon (Ophelia Lovibond) might be on a one way trip off a bridge… However, a chance brush with some diamond thieves means the girls’ weekend gets turned into a rollecoaster ride that none of them were expecting.
Also starring Noel Clark as Jo’s night-shift manager Tee, the movie is by no means a Hollywood blockbuster. Most of the scenes are familar sights for anyone who saw Clarke’s debut Kidulthood or the more recent Adulthood. Set partly in London, partly in New York, the four stories are interlinked ingeniously. The girls are admirably not your regular damsels in distress, though for some reason all four find a way to undress to their undies at one point or another in the movie! The supporting cast (including cameos from Ben Drew of Plan B, Michelle Ryan and rapper Eve) provide excellent interaction with our leads and add to an impressive story. Kevin Smith’s all too brief appearance on a flight to New York was definitely well appreciated here at the @rcade!
The movie borrows aspects of Tarantino’s motor-mouthing, whiplash-editing style to create the necessary fast pace that’s present for most of the movie. The four-way interlocking stories meant we were kept alert and interested to see the different perspectives of the girls. The soundtrack is chock full of homegrown talent like Paloma Faith and Wiley, with a lot of the tracks written by Adam Deacon and Bashy who also star in the movie.
4.3.2.1 knows what kind of movie it is. It isn’t trying to be flashy. It’s tongue firmly in cheek, out and out entertainment like we’re starting to expect from Noel Clarke. It’s edgy and streetwise without taking it to the cheese factory. The actors all handle their parts well and provide interesting enough characters for us to actually give a damn, unlike some of their overpaid Hollywood counterparts. The story is gripping and has a few unseen spins that keeps the audience on their toes. The soundtrack makes you bop your head and get that ‘bass face’ going on. Needless to say, we were pretty impressed here at the @rcade. Another job well done Mr. Clarke. Now, what have you got for us next?
4.3.2.1. is in cinemas now!
