Svengali (2013)

I waited with eager anticipation of this film, I myself have been a MOD for 40+ years and the build up surrounding this film it was being likened to Quadrophenia it was nowhere nearHow disappointed i was, the main character 'Dixie'although wearing a Parka and MOD T-Shirt and telling us he was a MOD resembled no genuine MOD i have ever seen scruffy unkempt hair and walking around thru out the whole film with a tatty Tesco shopping BagOK to the film the plot was very thin Scruffy Mod comes to big city to manage a band any band don't matter that its not a MOD band again hard to believeI could not connect with any of the characters there was nothing to them very superficial i couldn't empathise with any of them sorry 4/10 for me

SVENGALI tales a straightforward tale of a would-be band manager Dixie (Jonny Owen) traveling up from his home in the Welsh valleys to manage a band. The band achieved a certain notoriety (pace the Sex Pistols) and secure a BBC recording session as well as numerous offers of recording contracts. Dixie tries his best to keep them under control, but finds the strain too much and eventually returns home with his girlfriend Shell (Vicky McClure). This film is very much a one-person show: Owen not only stars in it, but wrote the script and produced it. Director John Hardwick keeps the action going at a brisk pace, and there is some atmospheric cinematography by Catherine Derry, contrasting the lonely Welsh and Scottish rural locations with the urban squalor of central London. The film makes some trenchant points about the difficulties of surviving in the Smoke, especially when Dixie and Shell have to deal with a formidable central European landlady (Katy Brand). There are some memorable cameos by Martin Freeman as a record-shop owner and Maxine Peake as his long-suffering spouse desperately trying to prevent her husband from losing his temper. The story is a familiar one, but Owen turns in a winning central performance as Dixie: after what he experiences in trying to keep the band together, as well as dealing with a series of rapacious characters including loan-shark Teddy (Eddie Webber) and vamp Natasha (Natasha O'Keeffe), it's not surprising that he wants to return to the comparative security of home. In his final film before his untimely death, Brian Hibbard turns in a memorable cameo as Dixie's Dad; the scene where father and son talk to one another on a wind-swept Welsh mountain is particularly affecting.

The story of bands "making it" is always interesting, though this movie is more quirky than dramatic or inspiring of course since it is fictional. The "Svengali" in this story is a socially awkward weirdo with a dream of representing a promising band, which is a somewhat easy way of setting up a comedy, though the character is sympathetic enough, and his banter with his girlfriend is amusing. It's not really clear if he has any ability nor if the band does so the movie really comes down to the character's development. But instead of the oddball finding strength, he finds weakness, basically degenerating into a little boy who wants a mommy. I suppose this is a something of a twist, and the sappiness may appeal to some, but it's particularly pathetic variation on the theme of the Weak British Male.

The film is brilliant, so absorbing, great characters and storyline, awesome soundtrack and great British feelgood factor film! Great to see.Jonny & Vicky for the BAFTAS The film deserves massive success which I am sure it will gain. Can't wait for the sequel This is so the must see film of the year so far, if its coming to a town near you, you HAVE to get out and see it!!! Fantastic night, fantastic film. Gonna be a huge success. Well done all, you smashed it!!Great picture , nice touch the black and white. Great soundtrack as well, with tracks by Jake Bugg, Miles Kane, Mott The Hoople, The Stone Roses, Small Faces, Georgie Fame, The High Numbers, The Jesus and Mary Chain and many more!