The following is excerpted from a chapter in film critic Adam Nayman’s new book “Ben Wheatley: Confusion and Carnage,” which is now available.
“Nobody fucks with you like [Ben] Wheatley,” wrote Cinema Scope’s Robert Koehler in a dispatch filed from Cannes in 2012, the year that “Sightseers” premiered in the Director’s Fortnight and shifted the critical perception of its director to a global figure. If Cannes is historically the proving ground for auteur directors, then the presence of “Sightseers” on the Croisette suggested that Wheatley was emerging from his niche as a UK genre specialist. For Koehler, “Sightseers” was one of the titles at Cannes that seemed “eager to play outside boundaries within which most of the other films were all too willing to contain themselves.”
Trying to break away from the everyday—or, put another way, the search for transcendence—is the secret theme of “Sightseers,” a film that,...
“Nobody fucks with you like [Ben] Wheatley,” wrote Cinema Scope’s Robert Koehler in a dispatch filed from Cannes in 2012, the year that “Sightseers” premiered in the Director’s Fortnight and shifted the critical perception of its director to a global figure. If Cannes is historically the proving ground for auteur directors, then the presence of “Sightseers” on the Croisette suggested that Wheatley was emerging from his niche as a UK genre specialist. For Koehler, “Sightseers” was one of the titles at Cannes that seemed “eager to play outside boundaries within which most of the other films were all too willing to contain themselves.”
Trying to break away from the everyday—or, put another way, the search for transcendence—is the secret theme of “Sightseers,” a film that,...
- 6/14/2017
- by Adam Nayman
- Indiewire
With a different take on the typical crime family drama, Down Terrace takes a slightly more laid back approach to the genre with plenty of tea-drinking and casual smoking to tone down the underlying tension brought about by trying to identify the unknown informant responsible for sending Bill (father) and Karl (son) to prison.
Immediately after being released from jail for unknown reasons, Bill and Karl return home to Maggie–the mother of the house. Confusion erupts when the dysfunctional family struggles to identify the unknown informant. Could it be the family friend? What about the dirty cop they pay for intelligence?
As the plot unfolds Karl’s ex-girlfriend, Vilda, shows up at their doorstep pregnant with his child. Unhappy about the thought of being a grandfather, Bill does his best to trick Karl into thinking that the kid isn’t his. Maggie is the quiet one in the family...
Immediately after being released from jail for unknown reasons, Bill and Karl return home to Maggie–the mother of the house. Confusion erupts when the dysfunctional family struggles to identify the unknown informant. Could it be the family friend? What about the dirty cop they pay for intelligence?
As the plot unfolds Karl’s ex-girlfriend, Vilda, shows up at their doorstep pregnant with his child. Unhappy about the thought of being a grandfather, Bill does his best to trick Karl into thinking that the kid isn’t his. Maggie is the quiet one in the family...
- 3/2/2011
- by Trevor Hollis
- JustPressPlay.net
2010 has kind of been an astonishing year for films. And most of you won't know that until well into the middle of next year. The major studio tentpole films -- the huge summer releases, the bloated "comedies," the formulaic rom-coms that all your family members have been lauding while you sit in the corner silently seething -- have all been pretty much uniformly shit. (Show of hands, how many of your relatives were gushing about how much they can't wait for either Little Fockers or The Dilemma?) But the smaller films have been fucking champion.
Most of this list is going to seem incomplete, and that's because a majority of films have been included on the best documentaries and the general top ten lists. Also, because with the spotty release schedules and the vast majority of films, I'm not even sure what's actually eligible. Hell, as much as I pared down this list,...
Most of this list is going to seem incomplete, and that's because a majority of films have been included on the best documentaries and the general top ten lists. Also, because with the spotty release schedules and the vast majority of films, I'm not even sure what's actually eligible. Hell, as much as I pared down this list,...
- 1/4/2011
- by Dustin Rowles
Down Terrace
Directed by Ben Wheatley
Written by Robin Hill & Ben Wheatley
UK, 2009
A good movie that could very easily have been a great one, Down Terrace, a very black comedy with a dash of arthouse ambition, has all the ingredients necessary for a truly distinctive feature but bungles the proportions, making for a peculiar viewing experience – one worth partaking in, provided a strong inclination towards gallows humor.
Writer-director Ben Wheatley is already somewhat of a commodity in his native UK thanks to a BBC comedy series he created, The Wrong Door, and his comedic pedigree certainly shows through here. Terrace, his first feature, revolves around a clan of two-bit criminals whose professional ties might actually be stronger than their blood ties. Father Bill (Robert Hill) and son Karl (Robin Hill, Robert’s real-life son and the film’s co-writer) are fresh off of a stint in the clink, and...
Directed by Ben Wheatley
Written by Robin Hill & Ben Wheatley
UK, 2009
A good movie that could very easily have been a great one, Down Terrace, a very black comedy with a dash of arthouse ambition, has all the ingredients necessary for a truly distinctive feature but bungles the proportions, making for a peculiar viewing experience – one worth partaking in, provided a strong inclination towards gallows humor.
Writer-director Ben Wheatley is already somewhat of a commodity in his native UK thanks to a BBC comedy series he created, The Wrong Door, and his comedic pedigree certainly shows through here. Terrace, his first feature, revolves around a clan of two-bit criminals whose professional ties might actually be stronger than their blood ties. Father Bill (Robert Hill) and son Karl (Robin Hill, Robert’s real-life son and the film’s co-writer) are fresh off of a stint in the clink, and...
- 12/4/2010
- by Simon Howell
- SoundOnSight
[As it is getting its Us Release today, here is my Review of Down Terrace, go see it, especially if you are a fan of the deadpan Coen Brothers sense of black-humour.]
Upon being released from custody for some petty larceny, Ben and his son Karl, small time gangsters both, return home more or less in silence for an awkward couple of beers and stale pound-cake with their mates. Karl's girlfriend comes by to celebrate, but her belly belies a quite pregnant figure. Karl's reaction is perfect in its purity: "Fuck!" The following, well that's that then on the surface, panic very much underneath, encapsulates the dysfunction and overall incompetence of the men in the family, and how they project their issues upon themselves and their kin. Nobody does people behaving badly towards one another with a low key passive-aggressive narcissism (played for pathos and laughs, naturally) quite like the Brits. Equal parts sitcom-from-hell and verite-family-drama, Down Terrace makes the most of its low budget and limited location by virtue of a wonderful collection of actors and non-actors ripping each other to shreds (both figuratively,...
Upon being released from custody for some petty larceny, Ben and his son Karl, small time gangsters both, return home more or less in silence for an awkward couple of beers and stale pound-cake with their mates. Karl's girlfriend comes by to celebrate, but her belly belies a quite pregnant figure. Karl's reaction is perfect in its purity: "Fuck!" The following, well that's that then on the surface, panic very much underneath, encapsulates the dysfunction and overall incompetence of the men in the family, and how they project their issues upon themselves and their kin. Nobody does people behaving badly towards one another with a low key passive-aggressive narcissism (played for pathos and laughs, naturally) quite like the Brits. Equal parts sitcom-from-hell and verite-family-drama, Down Terrace makes the most of its low budget and limited location by virtue of a wonderful collection of actors and non-actors ripping each other to shreds (both figuratively,...
- 10/15/2010
- Screen Anarchy
Director: Ben Wheatley Writers: Robin Hill, Ben Wheatley Starring: Bob Hill, Robin Hill, Julia Deakin, Sara Dee, Mark Kempner, Kali Peacock, Kerry Peacock, David Schaal, Michael Smiley, Gareth Tunley, Tony Way Karl’s (Robin Hill) mother, Maggie (Julia Deakin), and father, Bill (Robert Hill), run a crime syndicate in Brighton, England. (Apparently, Bill is a middleman of sorts between the big wigs in London and the small time crooks in Brighton.) This not-so-average middle-class family has issues on a normal day -- Karl has severe anger management issues and throws tantrums that would make a 2-year old blush, Bill is overtly patronizing and condescending, and Maggie is the queen of passive-aggressiveness -- so when the additional stresses of a possible snitch and an unplanned baby are added to the mix, their already fiery personalities begin to combust. Down Terrace commences as Karl and Bill return home after a frustrating court case involving Karl.
- 10/15/2010
- by Don Simpson
- SmellsLikeScreenSpirit
Down Terrace, an unusual gangster film from U.K., opens this Friday, October 15th at Laemmle’s Sunset 5 in West Hollywood. Directed by Ben Wheatley, written by Robin Hill (who stars in the film) and Ben Wheatley, and produced by Andrew Starke, the film's cast includes Julia Deakin, Sara Dee, Robert Hill, Robin Hill, Mark Kempner, Kali Peacock, Kerry Peacock, David Schaal, Michael Smiley, Gareth Tunley, and Tony Way. The film has been described in the press as "The Sopranos if imagined by Mike Leigh and Ken Loach."Synopsis: Father and...
- 10/11/2010
- by Win Kang, Orange County Movie Examiner
- Examiner Movies Channel
Apple has debuted the trailer for the British gangster thriller Down Terrace, which, according to The Playlist, has been quietly racking up the accolades during its festival run. The film will be released in New York and Los Angeles on October 8, and will expand in the weeks after.
Down Terrace is directed by Ben Wheatley, and its principal cast members are Julia Deakin, Sara Dee, and Robert Hill. The trailer certainly makes it seem to be an genre-leaping effort, and even though I’m not very familiar with the talent involved, I’m looking forward to giving this one a shot.
Plot: Down Terrace stars real life father and son Bob and Robin Hill as Bill and Karl, the heads of a crime family struggling to keep their business together as infighting and a police informant in their midst threaten to unravel it completely. Featuring stars of such beloved British TV shows as “Spaced,...
Down Terrace is directed by Ben Wheatley, and its principal cast members are Julia Deakin, Sara Dee, and Robert Hill. The trailer certainly makes it seem to be an genre-leaping effort, and even though I’m not very familiar with the talent involved, I’m looking forward to giving this one a shot.
Plot: Down Terrace stars real life father and son Bob and Robin Hill as Bill and Karl, the heads of a crime family struggling to keep their business together as infighting and a police informant in their midst threaten to unravel it completely. Featuring stars of such beloved British TV shows as “Spaced,...
- 9/17/2010
- by Danny King
- The Film Stage
This is the trailer for Down Terrace, directed by Ben Wheatley and starring Robin Hill, Robert Hill, Julia Deakin, David Schaal, Kerry Peacock, Tony Way, Mark Kempner, Michael Smiley and Gareth Tunley. Taking the best elements of The Sopranos and giving them a very British twist, Down Terrace focuses on the kind of issues faced by all families. Can Uncle Eric dispose of a body without making a mess of it again? And what should mum Maggie (Spaced’s Julia Deakin) make for tea? When Bill suspects there’s a mole in his criminal operation, he decides it’s time to clean house and recrimination, betrayal, murder and a spot of redecorating are quick to follow. But as Bill and his family soon discover, you’re only as good as the people you know…...
- 8/13/2010
- by Dan Higgins
- Pure Movies
The A-Team (12A)
(Joe Carnahan, 2010, Us) Liam Neeson, Bradley Cooper, Jessica Biel. 119 mins
Versus
The Karate Kid (PG)
(Harald Zwart, 2010, Us) Jaden Smith, Jackie Chan, Taraji P Henson. 140 mins
Who should you put your money on in the clash of the 1980s remakes? In the red corner, a meat locker full of wisecracking testosterone; in the blue, a Hollywood brat chop-socking it to the Chinese. Both bring their stories up-to-date (the A-Team are now post-Iraq special ops; the Karate Kid is set in Beijing, and more of a kung fu kid), while playing on the old shtick, and both overstay their welcome by a good half-hour. The A-Team strikes the right cartoony tone, but then bludgeons you into boredom with action. The Karate Kid at least earns its predictable payoff, despite the nepotism and tourist-brochure China. It's no knockout, but the Kid wins this bout on points.
Gainsbourg (15)
(Joann Sfar,...
(Joe Carnahan, 2010, Us) Liam Neeson, Bradley Cooper, Jessica Biel. 119 mins
Versus
The Karate Kid (PG)
(Harald Zwart, 2010, Us) Jaden Smith, Jackie Chan, Taraji P Henson. 140 mins
Who should you put your money on in the clash of the 1980s remakes? In the red corner, a meat locker full of wisecracking testosterone; in the blue, a Hollywood brat chop-socking it to the Chinese. Both bring their stories up-to-date (the A-Team are now post-Iraq special ops; the Karate Kid is set in Beijing, and more of a kung fu kid), while playing on the old shtick, and both overstay their welcome by a good half-hour. The A-Team strikes the right cartoony tone, but then bludgeons you into boredom with action. The Karate Kid at least earns its predictable payoff, despite the nepotism and tourist-brochure China. It's no knockout, but the Kid wins this bout on points.
Gainsbourg (15)
(Joann Sfar,...
- 7/30/2010
- by The guide
- The Guardian - Film News
A cracking British gangster film that's crying out to be seen, Michael checks out Down Terrace...
It seems that every couple of months, we're presented with a new, independent, British film, a small-budgeted hopeful that puts a new spin on crime, drugs, and inner-city violence. Be it Harry Brown, Shifty or Shank, these films are getting made, and offer oddly occluded entertainment, halfway between ambition and blandness, edginess and political naivety.
At their best (Shifty), these films are starkly personal. At their worst (the end of Harry Brown, the whole of Shank), it comes off as committee-led Broken Britain bumbling.
And so, into the breach steps Down Terrace, another modestly budgeted crime flick from an up-and-coming filmmaker, namely director/co-writer/editor Ben Wheatley, who graduates from television work with this debut feature.
So far, so similar, but the big difference here is that we get a twisted, bold and fresh...
It seems that every couple of months, we're presented with a new, independent, British film, a small-budgeted hopeful that puts a new spin on crime, drugs, and inner-city violence. Be it Harry Brown, Shifty or Shank, these films are getting made, and offer oddly occluded entertainment, halfway between ambition and blandness, edginess and political naivety.
At their best (Shifty), these films are starkly personal. At their worst (the end of Harry Brown, the whole of Shank), it comes off as committee-led Broken Britain bumbling.
And so, into the breach steps Down Terrace, another modestly budgeted crime flick from an up-and-coming filmmaker, namely director/co-writer/editor Ben Wheatley, who graduates from television work with this debut feature.
So far, so similar, but the big difference here is that we get a twisted, bold and fresh...
- 7/30/2010
- Den of Geek
Upon being released from custody for some petty larceny, Ben and his son Karl, small time gangsters both, return home more or less in silence for an awkward couple of beers and stale pound-cake with their mates. Karl's girlfriend comes by to celebrate, but her belly belies a quite pregnant figure. Karl's reaction is perfect in its purity: "Fuck!" The following, well that's that then on the surface, panic very much underneath, encapsulates the dysfunction and overall incompetence of the men in the family, and how they project their issues upon themselves and their kin. Nobody does people behaving badly towards one another with a low key passive-agressive narcissism (played for pathos and laughs, naturally) quite like the Brits. Equal parts sitcom-from-hell and verite-family-drama, Down Terrace makes the most of its low budget and limited location by virtue of a wonderful collection of actors and non-actors ripping each other to shreds (both figuratively,...
- 7/13/2010
- Screen Anarchy
Down Terrace is yet another entry in the British crime caper genre, only it puts a substantially different spin on it. That doesn't mean it's a good film, although it almost is. When it works, it's wonderfully effective. Unfortunately, the sum of its parts do not equal a fully realized film -- Down Terrace fits the definition of close, but not quite.
Directed by Ben Wheatley, Down Terrace is about a small-time family of crooks headed by Bill (Robert Hill) and his son Karl (Robert's real-life son Robin Hill, who also wrote the screenplay). They're recently returned from jail, where they narrowly avoided serious time and are trying to get the family affairs back in order. There's a leak somewhere in their organization, and they need to figure it out. Among their list of friends and suspects are mother Maggie (Julia Deakin), and comrades Garvey (Tony Way), Pringle (Michael Smiley...
Directed by Ben Wheatley, Down Terrace is about a small-time family of crooks headed by Bill (Robert Hill) and his son Karl (Robert's real-life son Robin Hill, who also wrote the screenplay). They're recently returned from jail, where they narrowly avoided serious time and are trying to get the family affairs back in order. There's a leak somewhere in their organization, and they need to figure it out. Among their list of friends and suspects are mother Maggie (Julia Deakin), and comrades Garvey (Tony Way), Pringle (Michael Smiley...
- 4/26/2010
- by TK
The Independent Film Festival of Boston kicks off on Wednesday. If you're in the New England area, this is the best film festival around, having supplanted the fall Boston Film Festival as the one to be at after less than a decade of existence. It offers a great opportunity to see a lot of great independent films, a few of which are premieres, and several of which played earlier at Sundance or at South by Southwest. IFFBoston, however, offers a more low-key opportunity to see those same movies without having to deal with the massive crowds or the lengthy lines. Even two days before the festival begins, you can still purchase tickets and walk up, half an hour before showtime, and get a seat. Most of the films play in Davis Square (in Somerville), which is the second best neighborhood in metro Boston, save for Brookline (where some of the other films will be showing,...
- 4/19/2010
- by Dustin Rowles
If "The Sopranos" had been cooked up by Mike Leigh instead of David Chase, the result might resemble Down Terrace, an unassuming little dramedy that barely seems to mesh with the genre criteria of most other Fantastic Fest programming and yet managed to take home a handful of awards, and rightfully so.
Karl (Robin Hill) has followed in his father's footsteps, to the extent that they've both just been let out of jail, and Bill (Robert Hill) wonders who may have ratted them out. Karl has more pressing concerns, though -- namely, a girlfriend (Kerry Peacock) whose pregnancy will require more responsibility on Karl's part than he's ever known.
Sure, Bill's not terribly keen on the prospect of becoming a grandfather, just as Maggie (Julia Deakin) is wary of becoming a grandmother, especially with them all already living under one roof. But their top priority is finding the leak and plugging it,...
Karl (Robin Hill) has followed in his father's footsteps, to the extent that they've both just been let out of jail, and Bill (Robert Hill) wonders who may have ratted them out. Karl has more pressing concerns, though -- namely, a girlfriend (Kerry Peacock) whose pregnancy will require more responsibility on Karl's part than he's ever known.
Sure, Bill's not terribly keen on the prospect of becoming a grandfather, just as Maggie (Julia Deakin) is wary of becoming a grandmother, especially with them all already living under one roof. But their top priority is finding the leak and plugging it,...
- 10/6/2009
- by William Goss
- Cinematical
If you can imagine Mike Leigh directing an In the Loop-esque deadpan comedy embedded within a British version of The Sopranos, in which Tony is an embittered ex-hippie in passive-aggressive conflict with his pot-dulled but surprisingly ruthless adult son, then you might be able to wrap your head around Down Terrace, which won the juried Best Picture and Best Screenplay prizes in the Next Wave competition at Fantastic Fest on Monday. At the start of the film, 30-something Karl (Robin Hill, who also co-wrote with director Ben Weatley) and his father Bill (Robert Hill) get out of jail and set to work finding out who ratted them out to the police so they can seek revenge. That logline implies that Down Terrace is a lot ...
- 9/29/2009
- by Karina Longworth
- Spout
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