An energetic gangster thriller, Rollin' With the Nines is a grimy piece of South London fiction which wears its heart on its sleeve and shows some promise on behalf of the filmmakers who here operate on a micro-budget. While its naivety is indicative of a first-time project and it lacks the social realism which made films such as Bullet Boy so effective, it provides nonetheless a sometimes engaging glimpse into the world of black criminal gangs, a subject ripe for filming but one which unfortunately gets overlooked on this side of the Atlantic.
This is much more realistic stuff than the cartoon violence that peppers the work of Guy Ritchie's urban action films and thankfully it drops the quirky British humour in place of something much darker: with some of the scenes pushing the boundaries of the 18 certificate.
The plot may not be the most original, but few modern gangster films can make such a boast: it's a basic tale of revenge set in the world of drugs, music and guns. An effective urban soundtrack underscores scenes of blackmail and double-dealing, leading to a violent crescendo which includes an impressive car chase sequence, one which actually appears much more authentic than many of its ilk.
Vas Blackwood impresses in a cast that also includes Jason Flemyng, while Naomi Taylor shows that strong female characters are not a thing of the past. The film picked up the Best British Feature Award at last year's Raindance Film Festival, and director Julian Gilbey deserved the plaudit. With the likes of Flemyng, Sean Pertwee and the excellent Tamer Hassan lined up for his next project, he looks set to carve out a welcome niche for himself in the years to come.
Paul Hurley
