Blue Story
BLUE STORY - PARAMOUNT
Andrew Onwubolu, otherwise known as Rapman, writes and directs a hard-hitting and immensely profound tale of gang-on-gang postcode violence in the compelling directorial debut Blue Stroy. Based on the Onwubolu's immensely popular and acclaimed YouTube series of the same name which chronicles the deteriorating friendship of two childhood friends in gangland London, Onwubolu details a gritty and captivatingly authentic underworld of real-life hoodlum and the tragedy that goes with it.
Blue Story is a film that does not present the highlife and richness of such a journey much like a multitude of its contemporaries but instead showcases the horror and consequences of such a life in a similar vein to Noel Clarke's critically acclaimed 'Hood' series. The dialogue and depth of the characters are dynamic and authentic to their respective lives on either side of this gangland fence, crafting an engaging and genuine aesthetic present for a more immersive experience. Such an instance makes the turn of the characters even more tragic and saddening knowing their lives — of which are oppressed continuously due to the colour of their skin and place of birth.
To see these characters function in high school and interact in a wonderfully naive attitude to the criminality surrounding them, even under their noses at times, only for destructive actions to strike and their respective worlds burning around them causes a genuinely uncompromising and haunting feeling for the viewer.
The resulting performances are incredible. They are gritty and rough around the edges, with an almost documentarian feel inhabited for authenticism. Both performances from Stephen Odubola and Micheal Ward as Timmy and Marco are the films most substantial features. The parallel paths their lives take in almost a twist of fate has the two lead actors showcase a profound level of range and emotional turmoil through not only the delivery of dialogue but a strong screen presence throughout.
The only element here that is undernourished, or underwhelming per se, is the occasional cut back through rap that Andrew Onwubolu as Rapman injects after each act. While the delivery and injecting of such an element does not derail the feature, it undeniably slows the pace down to a disappointing halt and repeats the pivotal scene as if the audience does not understand the scenes gravitas or need it spelling out for them in a patronising manner.
Blue Story is released November 22nd, 2019
