Sex & Drugs & Rock & Roll (15)
- Starring: Olivia Williams, Ray Winstone, Andy Serkis, Naomie Harris, Noel Clarke, Mackenzie Crook, Toby Jones, Luke Evans, Bill Milner
- Director: Mat Whitecross
- Duration: 113 mins
The colourful and fantastical story of Ian Dury, one of England's most original and influential singer-songwriters of the last 30 years. Crippled by polio as a 10-year-old boy and told he would amount to nothing, Dury's dogged determination, perseverance and wit led to him becoming one of the founders of the punk movement in the 1970s.
Reviews
Paul Greenwood's Review
Punk pioneer Ian Dury is the subject of this lurid and theatrical biopic that goes through the major events of his life like a checklist.
In the style of last year’s Bronson, Dury (Andy Serkis) recounts episodes from his life on stage in front of an audience, pinging between shambolic gigs and his equally chaotic personal life, from contracting polio as a child to the women in his life.
But it doesn’t sit still for a second and by constantly having to come up with bells and whistles to compensate for story inadequacies, it smacks of a shortage of ideas.
Serkis is a terrific piece of casting and he gives a compelling performance, while one British star after another (Ray Wintsone, Olivia Williams, Toby Jones) gets wheeled out without having anything to do.
The title is certainly indicative of the content but just because someone has an interesting life doesn’t necessarily mean it’s going to make for an interesting film.