Rhys Ifans as South London-based Welsh heavy Mathew
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Jonny, now frustrated with the North London gang’s lack of interest in ‘real’ crime, sparks a gang war with the South London mob by stealing their secret stash of coke. The South Londoners are headed by Sean, played by Sean Pertwee, for whom this was his first experience of working with Anciano and Burdis. And, although he was initially dubious about the process, he now has all the zeal of a convert.
“It’s incredible,” he says. “They latch onto traits that you as a person maybe aren’t too aware of, then pull them out of you. It’s made me fall in love with this job again because, for the first time in ages, I really feel like I’m flying by the seat of my pants. You show up on set not quite knowing what’s going to happen, and that’s extraordinarily liberating.”
Denise Van Outen as Ray the bouncer's girlfriend Maureen
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Peace is eventually reinstated between the rival gangs - a process shown through a series of very funny sketches. The ‘Jonny’ problem is resolved and equilibrium restored, resulting in the inevitable return to harmony, as Ray invites both sets of hoodlums to get back to what they really enjoy in life: ie karaoke.
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LOVE, HONOUR & OBEY |
BBC Films presents a Fugitive production of a Dominic Anciano and Ray Burdis film.
Prod/Dir/Scr: Dominic Anciano, Ray Burdis; Exec prod: David M Thompson, Jane Tranter, Jim Beach; Ph: John Ward; Prod des: Nick Burnell; Cost des: Ali Brown; Ed: Rachel Meyrick; Mus sup: John Beckett.
With Sadie Frost (Sadie), Ray Winstone (Ray), Jonny Lee Miller (Jonny), Jude Law (Jude), Sean Pertwee (Sean), Kathy Burke (Kathy), Denise Van Outen (Maureen), Rhys Ifans (Mathew).
International
distribution: UIP.
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The movie is peppered with vignettes of the various characters performing their favourite songs, and we are treated to the delights of British actors exposing a side of themselves hitherto unknown. “We discovered that all the cast have great voices,” says Burdis, who dresses up as an Elvis clone for his duet with Kathy Burke. “We all sing the title song, which is the greatest song ever written,” says Anciano. “It’s called ‘Avenues and Alleyways’. We do a line each, like that ‘Perfect Day’ video that the BBC did.”
For Anciano and Burdis, however, the best comedy is found in the most unlikely places. “We’re not interested in people in funny situations, but how people are genuinely funny in the most terrible situations. That’s more realistic,” notes Anciano. “Real life is much funnier than comedy.”
Sadie Frost as Ray the boss’ fiancee Sadie.
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