TOAD

Posted on Friday June 18, 2010, 10:38 by Sam Toy in Under The Radar The 64th Edinburgh International Film Festival got underway in style on Wednesday night, with a cracking little shindig in honour of opening night film Sylvain Chomet's The Illusionist (see Damon's words on the film), but the party was one of those events where there's so many friends and acquaintances present that you never quite get around to saying hello to everyone you see and recognise, even when you check your watch and it's 2am. Good times, good job it's only the beginning. Day one proper saw me head first to the Cameo for Outcast, a Scottish/Irish horror co-production set mostly on a run-down, modern day Edinburgh housing estate. Mary (Kate Dickie) and her teenage son Fergal (Niall Bruton) arrive and rent an apartment in the rough block, and it soon becomes evident that Mary is a witch - both she and Fergal are being hunted by Cathal (James Nesbitt) and Liam (Ciaran McMenamin, making a welcome big screen appearance - I still recognise him from TV's The Young Person's Guide To Becoming A Rock Star). To top it all off, their arrival coincides with a beastie roaming the alleyways at night. At first, Outcast really drew me in: the melding of Celtic witchcraft into the modern day context is really engrossing, and the clouded motivations of the each character makes good, curious viewing, and you're never quite sure who the good guys are. The handheld camerawork fits the story, and the performances are solid across the board (keep an eye out for Karen Gillan - Dr. Who's Amy Pond - in a small role), even when Nesbitt, McMenamin and Lothian 'laird' James Cosmo are desperately trying to deliver archaic dialogue with all the po their faces can muster. There is, however, 'playing your cards close to your chest', and then there's 'withholding information', and by the last act, the script has more loose ends than director Colm McCarthy can keep track of, which without wading into spoiler territory, makes for a frustrating finale. That said, it's well worth a watch for those with even a passing interest in the genre. Next, I headed over to Cineworld, spotting Sir Sean along the way (would it be EIFF without him?), opening a new apartment block which has just gone up on his birthplace. He seemed on very good form with the crowd, but I couldn't stay long, as I needed to see SoulBoy. I'm a big fan of soul music, and have long felt that there's a really good coming of age tale in the Northern Soul scene - working class kids of the depressed British north of the '70s blowing off steam in sweaty dance halls with an aggressive, energetic dance style. Which is essentially where director Shimmy Marcus guides his story: Martin Compston is Joe, a goalless teen living in Stoke, 1974. The moment he spots super-fit hairdresser Jane (Nichola Burley), he's desperate to start punching above his weight to win her over, which leads him to the legendary Wigan Casino and the burgeoning subculture within. Along the way, he and clumsy mate Russ (Alfie Allen) meet Mandy (Cemetery Junction's Felicity Jones), the bright younger sister of a dim schoolfriend. If you think you can see where this is going, you're right. While there's lots to like about SoulBoy - Compston holds the screen as a perfectly likeable, fallible everykid (plus he's either a great dancer, or the editing has been brilliantly managed to make him look like one), and he's backed up by a great supporting cast of familiar faces. Marcus does a fine job of evoking the era on what must have been a very tight budget, and of course the soundtrack is magnificent. But there's a problem: Jeff Williams' screenplay. Well, Williams is credited with it, but it feels like a story that's had any originality thrashed out of it by non-writers. Never once does SoulBoy's screenplay deviate from a well-worn trail of clichs, and that's a great pity, as it restricts Marcus' film to generic goodness, rather than break-out greatness; the key's in the title, folks: SOUL. Can't wait for the soundtrack, though. Share this article on:DiggFacebook DeliciousredditStumbleUpon Login or register to comment.

burning Casino Keeps On Burning....who burnt it down ???/ was there any gear fumes from the carpet Questions question

ITS ALL GONE RETRO

ok then let me explain as your newish on here...theres a lot of wind up posts...and im not the only one who thinks this may have been one intended to stir things up. youd not belive the lengths promoters go too to sabatage other events ! just out of interest has the first poster been reading this...i think not

its in refosoul but i carnt add it here for some reason

was that aimed at me ? i tell you what its sad when a topic starts and it ends up a slagging match or someone gets comments usually unfounded directed at them or even slyly promoting there choice of venue it was a stupid first post anyway answered by....TWO DIFFERANT PROMOTERS..simple yes ? lets have constructive posts

keep on topic unless the first post was wind up this bickering aint answering the question and is BORING lock it !

err same as whitby then

yes chalky but i had a great FREE NYE NIGHTER this year With a TOP GUEST DJ i think promoters work damm hard to give us value for money long may it continue, some are just ordinary guys and gals and it shows who deserves venue support imo

£20 ! its that much to get in Kings Hall on a NYE ?

WHAT CREDABILTY ???? ANYWAY THERES ONLY ONE BOOK TO READ ON THE CASINO AND THATS THE ONE BY DAVE SHAW ! SOON THIS FILM WILL ...SINK SHAME ON THOSE WHO ARE EVEN MILDY INTERESTED IN THIS CHEESE FEST.

two differant promoters

wow just plugged in a FIIO HEADPHONE AMP.. improves the volume a lot ! even on my Laptop ! well recomended

nette - viel of mystry -

yeah lets have some lovers rock....infact the more tracks posted the better, cmon start posting

kev spittles on here...munchkin (?)

BOBY BLAND -IM TOO FAR GONE TO TURN AROUND-VOCALION -

DIANA ROSS AND THE SUPREMES-TIME CHANGES THINGS-MOTOWN -

thats correct mark

Tip vestax + an I KEY = MP3s on the move without a PC

dont understand... jj barnes humdinger ext with strings funk bros gimh where only pressed in small quantitys more than 2 years ago

I DID TELL YOU MANY MANY TIMES YET YOU STILL THINK YOUR NOT BEING ...USED ! YOUR TRUE FRIENDS WHERE/ARE THERE FOR YOU 365 DAYS THE REST ONLY ON WEEKENDS

first post and straight in with a flyer

you lot wouldnt know a decent soul record if it hit you in the face

you can only play approx 20 records so no unless im on for over an hour half the requests ive had are STUPID ! ive had requests for...." You Know that record mate...the one on the blue Motown Label ! (""Give me a clue to the title /artist LOL") ahh 6ts can i have some Cliff Richards then ! Got any Bangra ? Besides you can garantee the records they want arnt in your box ! and yor a shite dj if you dont play everything they want even at a free party