Better Things review
Kids addicted to smack and elderly people waiting to die. A real bundle of laughs from Brit Duane Hopkins.
The problem with this film isn’t that it’s one of the bleakest you’re ever likely to see, it’s that the slice-of-life nature of it doesn’t quite contain an engaging, or even interesting story.
The cast do a good job and the film is made more moving when you are aware of the genuine problematic backgrounds of the largely non-professional actors.
It sometimes feels like the director is trying too hard with imagery and sound but Better Things contains some captivating shots and commendable experimentations with sound that sometimes work and sometimes don’t.
26th Jan 2009
