Director: James Marquand
Starring: Chris Mason, Hannah Britland, Lucien Laviscount, Elliot Gleave, Mark Womack, Charlie Anson, Wallis Day, Bethan Wright, Ryan Muldoon, Molly Taylor
Running time: 99 mins
Rating: 15
Release date: 23.10.15
BETWEEN TWO WORLDS directed by James Marquand (ONE NIGHT IN ISTANBUL) is in short, a tale of a struggling writer, his friends and his love life. Needless to say, all of which are in a bit of disarray.
The film begins with our main character Ryan (Chris Mason, LEGEND) attempting to move on from his breakup with his girlfriend and struggling to pin down the words for his next novel. His friends John (Elliot Gleave, otherwise known as Example) and Connor (Lucian Laviscount, WATERLOO ROAD, SCREAM QUEENS) attempt to help their friend with the assistance of flashy cars, women and the London nightlife. The film has slow beginnings with Ryan’s cynical narration over the London – it feels like as an attempt to lift the mood, John is used as the comedic element of the film, which unfortunately seems out of place. John gets a bit tiring after 5 minutes, lacking wit, humour and originality to his swipes and take on his friends love lives. His answer to his friend’s heartbreak is the laddish/womaniser approach. John sticks out from the film, his character has a big personality and doesn’t suit the flow of the film. His character is an exaggeration, it’s too much, and uncalled for. Every line seemed like a desperate attempt for a half-hearted laugh out the audience – and it doesn’t pay off.
Not when it’s compared to Connor Matthews, famous actor, romance life splashed across the papers and star to a Hollywood franchise. On the offset it feels like he should be the ladies’ man but instead we are introduced to a more welcomed character. At the start of the film his relationship with another fellow Hollywood star goes long distance as she moves to America. During the course of the film his relationship is tested via the press coverage, and Connor struggles with the attention. We see the two worlds of the public and the private clash with each other as the high London life is viewed through a sceptical lens. The nightlife is dark, Connor finds solace in late night parties and alcohol, which lead his private and public life the subject of gossip and media scrutiny. Marquand draws us into the life behind the cameras and allows us to see the other side to the Lad image. This is said in regards to a particular scene when we see Connor crying in the toilets over his girlfriend and the prospect of his failing relationship. This deeper, honest reflection of character is exactly what’s missing from a character like John.
Even with Ryan – a struggling writer, broken hearted and all the rest but he’s not pinned down to the archetypal Hollywood leading man. No, he’s a flawed character or more importantly, a believable character. His relationship with Anna (Hannah Britland, FRESH MEAT) brings a much needed lift to the mood of the film. The narrative starts to come into its own and Marquand begins to spend more time on the realism of the film, as the setting moves over to an alternative London surrounding – one that Ryan feels more comfortable in. Marquand draws the audience attention to whole other part of London, which in comparison to the earlier scenes of the London nightlife, feel like another world – a cultural London.
This is where BETWEEN TWO WORLDS slots together, when it’s not trying to be funny or flashy on purpose – when things are natural and realistic, the two worlds sit comfortably aside each other, making it easier to watch.
Overall, it’s a promising film with shaky beginnings, but as the narrative develops it really comes into its own.
Verdict
