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FOUR LIONS Christopher Morris Starring Riz Ahmed Kavyan Novak Nigel Lindsay Arsher Ali For those unfamiliar with Chris Morris' work, he is a relatively controversial figure in British television - not for any particularly whacky or outlandish antics but for his ability to produce scathing satirical comedy that completely divides audiences. Personally, I believe he is an incredibly gifted and talented individual with a unique ability to mercilessly parody subjects others would deem too risky; the exceptional Brasseye being a prime example. Four Lions is Morris' first foray into feature length film and I cannot think of a better representation of his keen insight. The plot follows four radicalised men from the North of England who have set out to become suicide bombers. From the very get-go the atmosphere of the entire film is split between ridiculous antics and exchanges, very much in vain of Monty Python and This Is Spinal Tap and an extremely subtle emotional undertone of those who are outraged and desensitised but essentially wanting to do little more than 'the right thing'. After a trip to an Al Qaeda training camp in Pakistan goes badly, Omar [Ahmed] and Waj [Novak] return to find their rather unhinged colleague, Barry [Lindsay], has recruited a young, impressionable fifth member. Withholding information of what exactly happened in Pakistan, Omar explains to the group that they have been called upon to send a message by blowing something up. Barry continually protests that the best way to rally the masses is to attack themselves and bomb a Mosque. It is later decided that the most memorable spectacle would be to detonate their homemade explosives during the London marathon. As the film progresses, Omar has doubts, not so much for himself, more for the simple but well intentioned Waj. The whole thing amounts to what should be an incredibly offensive and risqué piece but ends up littered with gut-wrenching moments of absolute hilarity mixed in with a curious portrayal of a young man desperately trying to make his family proud by standing by his beliefs. Morris has made an interesting transition from television to film; whilst shows like The Day Today and Brasseye perfectly mirrored the inept and sensationalist newsreaders of the time, Four Lions employs a more guerrilla documentary look and even manages to put a human face on all extremist causes. I'm not in any way agreeing with any fundamentals or fanatics claiming to represent any religion but rather than simply poking fun or portraying these men as evil imbeciles, this film actually manages to shine a critical light on the tragic effects on everyone involved in these incidents. In addition to this, the audio, technical and other visual aspects all pull their weight in producing a very believable and incredibly surprising release. Release Date: UK - 7th May 2010 US - TBA (though it is my opinion this will never see a US release) The Scene To Look Out For: There are far too many standout moments to list but two of the most memorable points would have to be the mosque argument and the false raid. At one point, Omar and Barry are fighting over their target. To prove his point, Omar says that bombing a mosque to rally the masses would be no different than if they were having a punch up and Barry hit himself in the face mid-brawl. To prove his point Barry does just this. The second is the false raid. It's a tad predictable but essentially the lads are gearing up to execute their mission and the police burst in on Omar's brother's peaceful prayer group instead. Typical stab at the incompetence of police terror units but also incredibly funny. Notable Characters: It's actually quite difficult because each member of the group brings something to their characters, making them all extremely entertaining to watch but without a doubt, Barry is expertly played by Nigel Lindsay. His outlandish and outspoken methods prove to be a continual source of great comedic conflict from start to finish. An absolutely standout performance. Highlighted Quote: SNIPER 1: The bear is down SNIPER 2: That's not a bear, you shot a Wookie SNIPER 1: What's a Wookie? In A Few Words: "An incredibly intelligent and witty satirical comedy filled with excruciating but wonderful black humour from beginning to end" Total Score: 
8/10Matthew Stogdon |
