Strictly Sinatra (2001, R)

 

PC pulls double duty in this film, writing and directing but not actually appearing.  As with Soft Top Hard Shoulder, the offbeat gangster flick bears some resemblance to the man himself – let’s see, an Italian-Scot with artistic aspirations wants to make his showbiz dreams come true and get out of Glasgow?  Sounds familiar.

 

Strictly Sinatra tells the story of Toni Cocozza, an old-fashioned crooner struggling to eke out a living in Glaswegian clubs.  When the wife of a local mob boss becomes his fan, Toni finds himself being courted by a number of tough customers.  He’s flattered at first, and it quickly occurs to him that his new “friends” could help him find the success he’s so desperate for.  However, as you can imagine, palling around with gangsters isn’t the safest activity, and Toni gets in a bit over his head.

 

It’s a nice little story with some good twists and well-written scenes.  PC has a knack for quirky detail, like the café owner who, having gotten off the boat from Italy an ocean too early, is convinced he’s in New York and not Scotland.  I enjoy Toni and his love interest Irene, both of whom are some of the nicest movie protagonists I’ve come across.  Their awkwardly-sweet budding romance is a delight.  Admittedly, the plot trajectory is somewhat standard, and there’s a little fat in the dialogue, but it’s a fun, engaging film to watch.

 

The directing is a treat, a good mix of stylish and playful.  Toni’s first outing with the gangsters is excellently filmed – he never gets out of the car, but the way he just catches half-glimpses of the criminal activity conveys an effective sense of menace.  PC also makes good, humorous use of hard cuts, and all the central performances are very watchable.

 

I should mention, this is the first time I’ve seen Ian Hart (Harry Potter’s Professor Quirrell) in a lead role, and I think he’s great here.  The film also features Brian Cox, who I saw most recently on the BBC’s An Adventure in Space and Time, and the lovely, wonderful Kelly Macdonald.

 

Recommend?

 

In General – I think so.  I had a lot of fun with it, and Ian Hart and Kelly Macdonald are fantastic together.

 

PC-wise – This is the only feature-length film PC has both written and directed, so that makes it worthwhile.  It’s not the greatest thing out there, but it’s a perfectly respectable film that plays with the expectations of its genre.

 

Warnings

 

Language, a handful of sexual references, and lots of criminal activity.  There’s not much actual violence, but the threat of violence is very prominent.