A cast made up partially of newcomers and non-professionals; another story about the depressing side of Scottish culture; a workshop-like approach that sounds very similar to the Irish film HELEN, which I was not entirely convinced by. All in all, the new Scottish film WASTED did not sound promising - in the end it was neither as bad as I expected nor as good as I hoped.
I should accentuate the positives to begin with. The film boasts striking, vibrant photography, a beautiful score and stellar performances from every member of the cast, be they experienced pros or unknown newcomers. Unfortunately the title refers not just to the characters' predicaments but also to the talent involved.
Despite all these aspects of the film falling into place, what emerges is yet another morbid combination of homelessness, alcohol abuse and drug addiction that seems to go nowhere except a one-way journey into Scottish cinema cliche.
I found it depressing. Not just the subject matter, although it's certainly no laugh a minute, but the fact that so much talent was clearly at the top of its game only to be crushed by a lack of inventiveness in the writing department. Novel approaches to filmmaking are all very well but sometimes there's something to be said for a good old fashioned script. Who knows, one day it might even be one that doesn't revolve around junkies.
I should accentuate the positives to begin with. The film boasts striking, vibrant photography, a beautiful score and stellar performances from every member of the cast, be they experienced pros or unknown newcomers. Unfortunately the title refers not just to the characters' predicaments but also to the talent involved.
Despite all these aspects of the film falling into place, what emerges is yet another morbid combination of homelessness, alcohol abuse and drug addiction that seems to go nowhere except a one-way journey into Scottish cinema cliche.
I found it depressing. Not just the subject matter, although it's certainly no laugh a minute, but the fact that so much talent was clearly at the top of its game only to be crushed by a lack of inventiveness in the writing department. Novel approaches to filmmaking are all very well but sometimes there's something to be said for a good old fashioned script. Who knows, one day it might even be one that doesn't revolve around junkies.
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