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The Age of Commercialism

The performances transcend the film's tropes, grounding it in characters that feel more complete than this subgenre often produces.

This is a coming of age storyline that you've seen in one form or another for decades. It takes a truly unique voice to make yet another one worth watching.

This movie feels like it was made purely to piss off people who want good shows

This is a decent film. Riz Ahmed shows he's worthy of a lead role. He's definitely the best actor in the film. The writing has a few issues and the sub plot feels a little over worked but it's definitley entertaining.

I get that mumbling dialogue is somehow a thing now. But combined with the terrible sound mixing and overbearing music this film is incomprehensible.Yes, I am a "yank", but I spent 18 months in the UK so I usually don't have a hard time with London accents.But really this film comes off as a music video or advert for the sound track, the dialogue is pretty much pointless.

Private eyeing in present day Britain is a rough proposition. Guns are illegal, and then there's the whole immigration tension going on. Tommy Akhtar (wild eyed Riz Ahmed) is a typical, hard-drinking, tough talking, fistcuffing gumshoe with a heart of gold, trying to solve a missing Russian escort case whilst his very complicated past comes back to further cloud the perpetually rainy skies of London.Ahmed is perfect in the lead, offering equal parts macho and empathetic soul; the gutsy dick able to take a beating, romance a good woman, and stand loyally by his loved ones. "City of Tiny Lights" uses interesting political bents with religious, racial and drug tensions seething in the background, showing England for the explosive melting pot it truly is. Beautifully shot in wet, dark London, sparkling with Christmassy bokeh lights popping out of ominous shadows, this is one gorgeous looking film. A little messy and cacophonic at times, this stab of celluloid is saved by a splashy, vibrant style that is pure eye candy.

Me and many others rushed out of the premiere frustrated that the dialog was both in comprehensible and overwhelmed by background noise. Much of the film takes place on London streets, nightclubs and other noisy places. The thick London accents together with all of the background noises serve to frustrate the audience's ability to understand the dialog and with it, the plot. The lack of audible speech limits us to follow the actors using visible cues, this doesn't work because the film of course is a mystery. I wondered if the digital print that the film festival received had subtitles attached - it might have saved the movie for many who attended. I think the next time I see a premiere that is so audibly frustrating I will cry out for subtitles and hopefully the projectionist will do something.Unfortunately, I recommend everyone wait for a DVD version with subtitles.Very disappointed.