———-
Released 24th April 2009
——
——-
There’s no mystery left in the world of teenagers, especially not in Essex. Director Eran Creevy reveals - in his debut Brit flick film Shifty - the rollercoaster lives of Essex youths. The stereotypical capped and hoodied chavs roaming dim suburban streets are absent, instead flicked up Lacoste collars, Stella bottles and wholesome East London accents drop you running from the fed through Borehamwood’s dreary estates.
———
Shifty introduces some alarming characters to the screen, Jason Flemyng’s (Stardust) vicious Glen and Jay Simpson’s (The Holiday) desperate Trevor. On the other hand, Riz Ahmed’s (Dead Set) Shifty, with his laid-back charm and deep-set family loyalties, is an endearing and captivating central character to watch. The storyline, which pivots around relationships, puts Shifty as not the protagonist, but at the receiving end of each of the other characters’ choices. Nitin Ganatra (recognisable as ‘Mr Masood’ from EastEnders) plays Shifty’s brother Rez. Their familiar and playfully teasing relationship becomes frayed and strained throughout the film, and it’s just one of the authentically identifiable moments Creevy has created. The cautious relationship between Shifty and Chris (Daniel Mays) appears absolutely genuine, as the two actors are so well-chosen for their roles, from the flash of heart-warming familiarity between them at their first meeting, their estranged conversation around Shifty’s brother Rez, to every flicker of recognition and disappointment in Chris’ eyes at Shifty’s static life. Daniel Mays‘ (The Bank Job) fresh performance is the foundation to Shifty, as the film could have slipped into Green Street territory with uncomfortable backstreet slang.
———
Shifty also delivers a thoroughly downloadable soundtrack, from the composers who worked on Hard Candy and the TV series Dexter. The official Shifty track with Riz Ahmed has mixes by DJ Trax and Rich Beggar, there are classical pieces to contrast and rap such as the track ‘CataclysMic’.
———
As Eran Creevy’s debut feature film, shot in only 18 days, entirely in Borehamwood and on a tiny budget of £100,000, the crammed schedule brings a thrilling, tripping, pushed pace to Shifty. The film is squeezed into a 24-hour time-frame, a telescopic view of this drug-dealing businessman - from the perspective of his frustrated best friend. The film, based around Creevy’s own reunion with a friend from the past, the story deals between intimate shots of friendship and dramatic skits of drugged-up, knife-point action.
——–
Shifty, which has received five nominations, exposes a budding and talented cast and a director-to-watch in a Brit flick cocktail of drugs, wit and surprisingly loveable characters. It’s a touching semi-autobiographical film.
–
By Laura Taylor
-
Synopsis
——
When an old school friend - Chris (Mays) - appears on the doorstep of local drug-dealer Shifty (Ahmed) after four years of unaccountable absence, it tears holes in Shifty’s organised criminal life. Shifty has dealt himself into a lifestyle of designer gear and desires more than he’s willing to work for, but his quick money fixes aren’t legal. Chris’ arrival sparks an escalation of drug-induced confusion. Those Shifty thought he could trust, desperate for their own quick fix, become back-stabbing money-grabbers and Shifty must suddenly choose a new path in life.
—–
Film Facts
—-
Official site: http://www.shiftyfilm.com/
UK Release Date: 24th April 2009
Director: Eran Creevy
Writer: Eran Creevy
Cast: Rizwan Ahmed (’Shifty’), Daniel Mays (’Chris’), Jason Flemyng (’Glen’), Francesca Annis (’Valerie’), Nitin Ganatra (’Rez’), Jay Simpson (’Trev’)
Distributor: Metrodome
Certificate: 15
Run-time: 85 mins
-
Video on Real.com
-
Trailer:
-
—
