I didn't mind this film too much. It isn't the greatest film and there are noticeable shortcuts that have been taken. Say, at the end of the film when the main character wins, he is simply handed a trophy?! There's no suspense, no waiting for an announcement...it was a lazy ending in that respect.
On the plus side, I know what freestyle basketball is now. Very skillful and a lot of talent required. Watching what could be done with a basketball was pretty phenomenal. The film got me out of bed on a Sunday morning, I LOOOOVE screen 1 at the Empire cinema and the chinese new year celebrations in London were pretty cool.
I'd give this film a 4-5/10
P.S. Anyone notice Cat out of Red Dwarf is in this film?!
Freestyle
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Beate
- The Modfather (& Three-Time Prediction Master!)
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Re: Freestyle
From today's Metro:
"Well-intended, but atrociously acted British "urban" drama that co-stars Alfie (brother of Lily) Allen. Made for just £100,000 and looks it."
"Well-intended, but atrociously acted British "urban" drama that co-stars Alfie (brother of Lily) Allen. Made for just £100,000 and looks it."
Member No. 1 of the "100 free films in 2020" club. 7 seen 
Member No. 1 of the "100 free films in 2009 - 2019" clubs. 826 seen 
Member No. 1 of the "104 free previews in 2008" club. 92 seen -
Beate
- The Modfather (& Three-Time Prediction Master!)
- Posts: 22013
- Joined: Fri Jun 19, 2009 4:26 pm
- Old post count: 6588
- Preferred Cinemas: West India Quay, Greenwich, Surrey Quays + Central London (Vue Islington, Apollo, Odeon Covent Garden, Cine Haymarket, Leicester Sq/West End)
- Location: London
- Contact:
Re: Freestyle
http://www.empireonline.com/reviews/rev ... FID=136686
Plot
Teenagers from very different sides of the tracks bond through the medium of hip hop dance/basketball hybrid.
Review
Privileged schoolgirl is torn from her studies when a hot urban guy introduces her to a hip new dance-sport scene… It’s a familiar story, but get this — this is British. And it’s about competitive hip-hop street dancing with a basketball. That hasn’t been done before. It’s a shame, then, about the perfunctory script, wooden dialogue and wildly variable performances.
Newcomer Arinze Kene holds the attention as the charismatic Leon, but Lucy Stanhope-Bosumpim fares less well as heroine Ondene, albeit trumping her painful on-screen mother (Suzann McLean) in every scene. Colin Salmon and Alfie Allen pop in to p*y their respects, but ultimately, this is too amateurish to win over anyone past puberty. Not even the final tournament scene can deliver: the elusive dream move is — wait for it — a handstand.
Verdict
Apart from Arinze Kene, the male lead, the stilted performances here, are enough to put anyone off.
Two Stars
Reviewer: Anna Smith
Plot
Teenagers from very different sides of the tracks bond through the medium of hip hop dance/basketball hybrid.
Review
Privileged schoolgirl is torn from her studies when a hot urban guy introduces her to a hip new dance-sport scene… It’s a familiar story, but get this — this is British. And it’s about competitive hip-hop street dancing with a basketball. That hasn’t been done before. It’s a shame, then, about the perfunctory script, wooden dialogue and wildly variable performances.
Newcomer Arinze Kene holds the attention as the charismatic Leon, but Lucy Stanhope-Bosumpim fares less well as heroine Ondene, albeit trumping her painful on-screen mother (Suzann McLean) in every scene. Colin Salmon and Alfie Allen pop in to p*y their respects, but ultimately, this is too amateurish to win over anyone past puberty. Not even the final tournament scene can deliver: the elusive dream move is — wait for it — a handstand.
Verdict
Apart from Arinze Kene, the male lead, the stilted performances here, are enough to put anyone off.
Two Stars
Reviewer: Anna Smith
Member No. 1 of the "100 free films in 2020" club. 7 seen Member No. 1 of the "100 free films in 2009 - 2019" clubs. 826 seen Member No. 1 of the "104 free previews in 2008" club. 92 seen 
: Freestyle
Serves my right for judging the book by its cover, I did not read the synopsis or see the trailer for this one so was going purely by the poster which looked OK. I gathered that it was about basketball but I also though that it was an American film otherwise to be honest I probably wouldn't have bothered to go.
The film wasn't very good, more "made for (children’s) TV" than something that I would go to the cinema to see. As has already been said it was very predictable, very! very! badly acted and just didn't add up - I mean come on...Please!...the lead actress…are we supposed to believe that in the real world she could possibly win a place, heat or anything else in any Freestyle competition she was so rubbish!
All in all it was OK for what it was, I wouldn't recommend it to anyone (or tell anyone that I got up so early on a Sunday!! to see it) but looking on the bright side, it whiled away a few hours before I got to enjoy the Chinese New Year festivities in central London that I had not known about, so I'm not complaining.
A generous 4/10
The film wasn't very good, more "made for (children’s) TV" than something that I would go to the cinema to see. As has already been said it was very predictable, very! very! badly acted and just didn't add up - I mean come on...Please!...the lead actress…are we supposed to believe that in the real world she could possibly win a place, heat or anything else in any Freestyle competition she was so rubbish!
All in all it was OK for what it was, I wouldn't recommend it to anyone (or tell anyone that I got up so early on a Sunday!! to see it) but looking on the bright side, it whiled away a few hours before I got to enjoy the Chinese New Year festivities in central London that I had not known about, so I'm not complaining.
A generous 4/10