Brand new Brit flick Turnout makes Chris Sullivan proud to be a Londoner. Take it away, guv'nor...
I was intrigued by first-time director Lee Sales' Turnout, mainly because the title is one of my favourite bits of London slang – as in 'right old turnout' – which covers a wide range of scenarios. In this case it refers to the proper two and eight (state) that an out-of-work-and-proud Hoxton council estate habitué named George (superbly rendered by co-writer George Russo) finds himself in.
It begins with George trying to find the necessary bunce (£2,000) to pay for an upmarket vacation for him and his middle class girlfriend Sophie, who works in the city and lives in a la-de-da terraced house.
But George is short of readies and so decides to go into the skunk business with his half of the holiday money. From there on in, very little goes to plan. But to avoid spoiling your enjoyment of this utterly splendid film, I'll saying nothing more – only that it's one of the finest and funniest depictions of the life of a London wide boy that I've seen.
The cinematography, by James Friend, captures London like few other films. And every single performance, especially those from Francis Pope (who co-wrote the screenplay) and Neil Maskell, is spot on. So much so that you never once doubt the authenticity of the film's premise.
'This is one of the finest and funniest renderings of the life of a London wide boy that I have seen to date'
The script is so bang on the money that it couldn't have been written by anyone but two lads born and bred in Hoxton. They pick up on the area's every nuance (for example: ‘F**king trendies with their skinny jeans; they got all the other pubs, why do they want ours as well. F**king c**ts’). Indeed, this is a perfect slice of kitchen sink comedy-drama and it had me howling with laughter one minute, empathising with poor George the next. Take my advice: go and see it.
After the screening, it was off to the Groucho Club where GQ magazine were hosting their Men of The Year Awards afterparty. What a fine bash it was too. In attendance were Kylie Minogue, Kelly Brook, Pixie Lott, John Legend, Lara Stone and Hugh Laurie. Even George Osbourne and Sebastian Coe were there.
I met up with my old mate Jon Baker, hip hop pioneer and former label boss of Queen Latifah and The Jungle Brothers now turned Jamaica hotelier, and bumped into our old college mate Dylan Jones, now GQ's editor. We tried to persuade him that he needed a holiday in Jamaica. ‘Would I josh you Dylan?’ I asked. 'Of course I bloody well would!'
Later on I had a chat with another old chum, Nellee Hooper, a man who's produced Soul II Soul, U2, No Doubt and a host of other massive-selling artists. Incidentally, he started his DJ career at my club 30 years ago.
It was one of those nights – from Turnout's East End wit and colloquialism to the posh private party – that made me glad to be a Londoner.
Turnout opens nationwide Friday September 16
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