Watch Johnny Was For Free

The Worst Film Ever

If you don't like this, we can't be friends.

The film creates a perfect balance between action and depth of basic needs, in the midst of an infertile atmosphere.

This is a dark and sometimes deeply uncomfortable drama

I used to live in SW9 so it was good to see some of the market and shops - blakker dread musik!!! The cast is interesting and I can see why it won a lot of festival awards - Vinnie Jones is more low key than usual, though Patrick Bergin who was so good in Sleeping with the Enemy makes up for him by playing it over the top.I don't agree with the guy who says the accents were no good. I think the film was trying to say something about different identities, black white, Irish and British. Most of them seemed to be using their own accents - Bergin and Mumba are Irish, Jones and Daltrey (who has a small part but who was very good as a gang boss) are both playing London Irish. The only accent that was a surprise to me was ER's Eric La Salle, and I thought his was pretty good - he was playing a Londoner pretending to be a yardie.The only thing I didn't like about the movie were that the train station didn't look like anywhere in central London, but I forgive that because the story was good and the reggae soundtrack was the best I've heard, though a pity they did not have Johnny Was by Bob Marley. A good DVD.

What a complete surprise and what a great story. I went to the screening with a bunch of friends knowing virtually nothing about this other than the cast, which was very celeb-driven.It looks like a little low key action movie, and in some ways it is, but the story, the quirky characters and the subject matter - about race, national identity and gangster morality - is much smarter than most of the britflicks of recent years. It is like a strange hybrid of Long Good Friday and dark almost comic-book B Movie, and the low key dialogue plays well against the violence in the background.It completely pulled me in. Vinnie Jones had one foot in his usual hard-man act, but the other was as a much more thoughtful guy, running away from his past.Patrick Bergin plays a larger than life veteran psycho and is responsible for most of the dark laughs. La Salle is great and the opposite of his old ER character. Talking with my friends afterwards, there was disagreement about Samantha Mumba the former pop singer. Some thought she was too low key, but I thought she played the character of a junkie gangsters girl very well. Everyone agreed that Vinnie and Lennox Lewis were the best performances. Old Rocker Roger Daltrey was also good in a smaller role.Some of the action looked a bit wobbly, but London came out looking well, especially Brixton Market.Our verdict: if you are looking for a big budget action movie, this isn't it. But if you are sick and tired of movies which are all flash and no substance, this one with its unusual settings and great characters that stay with you after the movie is over might be for you.

Just saw this slightly mad little movie at Toronto and LOVED it.It has one foot in B Movie land and the other in smart thriller. The soundtrack is incredible if you like reggae and dance music.It reminded me a bit of Lock Stock (but with more brains) and a bit of Ronin (but less slick). About London-Irish gangster Vinnie trying to get out of the life but ending up at war in London with Jamaican drug gang and his former Irish mates. I liked the fact that there were good guys and both guys on every side in this free for all.Acting-wise Vinnie Jones is very strong. Patrick Bergin plays an over the top but somehow likable psycho. Roger Daltry is good, but needed a few more scenes to get going. And Lennox Lewis is great "Beamin owt to Babylon" as a Rastafarian DJ and unofficial king of the neighborhood.Anyone expecting some great life-changing experience should stay at home, but anyone with a pulse who likes little action/thriller movies with something to say, with a bit of heart and some grit, should take a look. I think it is due out in the next few weeks on DVD in US anyway.

I liked this film, I thought it was very entertaining and the soundtrack was great! As a bit of a "gangsta film phobe lady" I was afraid the movie would have too much violence and gore and gross me out but it wasn't disturbing as much as it was exciting and very interesting. Women could see this film and enjoy it. All of the actors worked very well off each other. This was also the first time I saw Patrick Bergin in a movie since SLEEPING WITH THE ENEMY, where he played Julia Roberts' abusive husband, and here again he takes on the role of a despicable escaped IRA paramilitary trouper with a BIG mouth. Vinnie Jones and Eriq LaSalle delivered strong performances even though it's funny that the explained away Jones' lack of Irish accent to the fact that he was a London-raised Irishman (adding to the conflict, but sure seems like an easy out). The reggae music is legendary.I'm sure all of their acting careers will benefit from being in this thrilling drama. I would highly suggest seeing it.