Review: The Rise (Wasteland) @iwanrheon @LukeTreadaway @Mattdavelewis

The Rise (aka Wasteland) tells the story of Harvey Miller (Luke Treadaway), a young Englishman who has recently been let out of prison after being set-up on drug offences. In order to seek revenge against the local drug kingpin, Harvey recruits his three best friends to help him take down the man responsible for his incarceration and hopefully win back his once long term girlfriend, Nicola (Vanessa Kirby).

With all due respect this film is what some may say a British heist movie, Mainly because the entire storyline is based on the narrative story of a badly beaten Harvey Miller (Luke Treadaway) as he sits in a police interview room recalling the events to the very amiable DI West (Timothy Spall), giving him the exact detail from the conception, formulation and attempted completion of the robbery that he is being questioned about.

Set entirely in Yorkshire, the feel of the film is gritty and real, no high gloss shine of those Hollywood blockbusters but this is what makes the film even more enticing. The script is extremely intelligent; it veers away from the norm of this genre of film, making it even more refreshing from the tired, same old story you expect from a heist film. The only down point is the story seems a little stretched out and long in the middle, even though it’s needed to tell the full story it does feel like it has been dragged out a little too long. However, with a comedic and often touching script it can be forgiven.

If you’re a fan of Lock, Stock and have been longing for a British film to deliver something of the same calibre, Director and writer Rowan Athale, has been brave and tried to tackle that. Considering this is his 1st feature he has done an exceptional job and has achieved what you would think is highly impossible. Laced with quite a few funny lines and at times even quite touching Athale has delivered a breath of fresh air to the British crime thriller.

Starring Luke Treadaway (Killing Bono, Attack the Block) as the lead character Harvey, he may not be that well known but he delivers a highly convincing performance, this guy is very underrated and should be seen in a lot more bigger named films, that with being rather cute too. Also gracing this cast is the great Timothy Spall, who you’ll all know from the Harry Potter series and many other films of great note, However is role in this film was rather luck lustre and he had no way of showing any character development. Other notable members of the cast include, Matthew Lewis who played Neville Longbottom in Harry Potter, Iwan Rheon from Misfits and Gerard Kearns from Shameless all playing the fiercely loyal best mates of Harvey.

The Rise has had its share of film festival outings over the past year and with it some pretty positive reviews from film buffs and critics. This is an enthralling, clever story, the cinematography is really rather course but this add’s to the whole feeling of the working class people it represents. This film could well just be a hidden gem, It comes highly recommended.

In cinemas September 20