Release Date (UK) – 27th January 2012
Run Time – 84 minutes
Director – Johnny Daukes
Country – UK
Certificate – 15
Starring – Simon Callow, Iain Robertson, Myfanwy Waring, Harry Enfield, Doon Mackichan, Michael Wildman, Ian Burfield, Jay Simpson.
Acts of Godfrey is a unique film because it is the first to have an original screenplay written entirely in verse (rhyming couplets). Unfortunately, in spite of this quirk, Acts of Godfrey deserves to be forgotten. Godfrey, played by Simon Callow, is God himself in this highly theatrical film. We watch as he manipulates eight apparent strangers at a bizarre two-day sales course. Or as Godfrey put it…
‘…at our hotel and just checking in
for a two day conference called ‘Win Only Win’’
‘in truth you’re all cards in a game I control,
performers, obediently playing a role’.
The salesmen and women are an eclectic bunch and each ply their trade immorally. There are gangsters, gazumpers, flirts, fakes and killers in the group. The only exception is the unhappy Vic (Robertson), our protagonist, who objects to such dodgy tactics. As the drama unfolds it becomes apparent that their lives are intertwined in unexpected and unpleasant ways. Amongst all this, Godrey tries to pair Vic with the sexy Mary (Waring) .
You would think that the ambitious rhyming verse would let this film down but, surprisingly, it does not. The dialogue is, for the most part, natural and believable. At times, the rhythm of the language brings whole scenes to life – particularly when comic gangster duo Terry and Phil (Burfield and Simpson) are involved. There are too many occasions, however, where writer/director Johnny Daukes’ linguistic talent does not stretch far enough; where the search for a rhyme leads to lines which ring false, either through their eloquence or simplicity. Overall, the dialogue is just good enough to justify the experiment with verse. It’s the rest of the screenplay which is the problem.
Johnny Daukes’ concept is a good one – a Shakespeare-esque exploration of fate written in accessible verse. However, his execution is not so good. For all the talk about fate vs free will vs randomness, it is never explored in anything other than a superficial way. Such an oversight could have been forgiven had the story been interesting. What starts as an interesting scenario quickly descends into a predictable yet, at the same time, nonsensical affair. In the final act all of the plot threads are pulled at the same time and any trace of tension is lost.
As a director Daukes draws good performances from a cast which includes, alongside Callow, Harry Enfield, Doon Mackichan and Celia Imrie. His insistence that they play it almost completely straight is a good one and lends the piece some credibility. Yet all this good work is undone by some of Daukes’ stranger choices. A fantasy dance number and an animated flashback break the relatively naturalistic tone unnecessarily. And a long-awaited sex scene spoiled by narration about movie cliches and stock footage of trains going into tunnels (etc.) leaves the viewer frustrated and annoyed.
Acts of Godfrey is an interesting experiment and contains some good moments but fails as a whole and does not warrant your consideration.
Acts of Godfrey is released in cinemas, but if its not showing near you you can stream it via distrify:
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