LONDON TOWN: A Coming Of Age Tale With A Punk Rock Savior

This is a coming-of-age tale that meets The Clash, literally. Jonathan Rhys Meyers portrays a young Joe Strummer in 1978’s London. He meets an adolescent boy, Shay, played by Daniel Huttlestone, at the crux in his life between childhood and adulthood, with the weight of responsibility on his back. IFC presents London Town. directed by Derrick Borte; a Killer Films production written by Matthew Brown, based on the original screenplay by Sonya Gildea and Kirsten Sheridan.

A Boy’s Life

London Town concerns a boy named Shay (Daniel Huttlestone). Shay’s mom, Sandrine (Natascha McElhone), has left the family and his overworked father, Nick (Dougray Scott) has an accident with a runaway piano, leaving Shay to look after his six year old sister, Alice (Anya McKenna-Bruce). Early on, he meets a young punkette named Vivian, played by Nell Williams, who introduces him to the music of The Clash and further waters the seed that his mother already planted when she mailed him a mixed tape of punk rock music.

Things become overwhelming for him soon after dad’s accident, so he goes in search of his mother. Wandering London, unable to find the two women in his life, both of whom seem to represent turbulence and unrest – he doesn’t find the help he’s seeking. Our young hero manages to keeps it together pretty well, a little too well to be realistic or relatable.

Vivian seeks him out and gives him a friend, as he grasps with all his new responsibilities in the absence of his parents. The scenes between these two young actors were enjoyable to watch. They played off one another well. The bonding shown here between the characters was a nice touch to see some lightheartedness in this kid’s life, however brief.

To earn money, he has to drive his dad’s cab. In drag. His first night of driving dressed in drag also happens to be his fifteenth (15th) birthday and his last fare of the evening is Joe Strummer, frontman of The Clash. Thanks to Vivian, The Clash also just happens to be his new favorite band. As you can imagine, he’s a little embarrassed making his acquaintance for the first time dressed as a lady.

Where Things Fall Short

Early in the film, Sandrine sends Shay a mixed tape with a letter. We get the sense that he idolizes her while he holds resentments towards his hard working dad, who has to make up for the absent parent. But when we actually meet her, we, along with Shay, are disappointed with the reality of her life. Instead of tending to her sick daughter, she’s more interested in having her son watch her perform.

After her gig, the two of them sit down and have an uncomfortable heart to heart talk. The estranged mother-son relationship isn’t believable here. Although the acting itself was done well, it’s the writing of the characters and their relationship that doesn’t feel fleshed out enough nor does it feel realistic even when he does go off on her. There should be a lot more emotion and hostility than what we got in that scene. A few things in the story-line bring up questions such as: why are no adults noticing that a fifteen year old is raising himself and a six year old with little to no help?

Shay’s exposed to sex and drugs, but has no reaction to speak of when it comes to either. Even his own reaction to losing his virginity is nothing more than a smile. He didn’t seem at all interested in sex or curious about drugs even when exposed to it by the women in his life, making it a little too idyllic for a punk rock-themed story.

Some of the dialogue in London Town could have been written to flow a little better. The cinematography was mediocre, but it also fit as a period piece set in the ’70s, giving it a pass there. However, the film was a little too dark in certain scenes, particularly when they’re in the cell together. The lighting could have been a bit brighter and better done, at least illuminating their faces. I get that it’s meant to be a dark and gritty era and perhaps it was even an artistic choice by the director, but it wasn’t a kind strain on the viewer’s eyes.

This is a period piece in a specific setting, set to London in the late ’70s. The feel, look and tone are right. The music accurately matched the era, which was full of political unrest. The sound of The Clash can be heard echoing through the film, with Strummer’s brand of punk rock ethos being woven into the fabric of the background itself.

The acting is strong in this piece overall, with a well rounded cast of characters. All the portrayals felt authentic and no one missed a beat. The weaknesses could be noted in the script and story itself, not the acting. The facial expressions said exactly what the lack of words implied. Delivery of the lines from the extras at the punk show to the main ensemble cast were on point. Sandrine is an easily dislikable character, while Nick is a likable guy who works too much to support his kids.

Huttlestone did a good job of carrying London Town. There’s chaos all around, in his home life and the world around him, yet Shay’s character doesn’t come off as an emotionally unstable kid like many punk themed characters would under circumstances like this. Considering all that’s being thrown at him during a hormonally raging time in a person’s life, his reactions are quite within the range of that of an everyday kid dealing with everyday happenings in his life during a turbulent era for society. I felt that as a character, his reactions to things should have been bigger, but again this is the fault of the writer, not actor.

Meyers portrayal of Strummer was well done with what felt like an authentic touch, only roughly polished. The only other film I’m familiar with him in is Velvet Goldmine, a fictional story based loosely on the true life friendship of David Bowie and Iggy Pop, in which he played the character of Brian Slade, the glam super star, heavily inspired by another hard-living rebellious singer, Curt Wild. He does the rockstar role well.

Strummer To the Rescue

Everything seems to be falling apart around young Shay, but as an emotionally stable and mentally untroubled kid, with all the chaos unfolding in the world around him, he doesn’t know who to turn to or talk to. Despite life’s happenings, he’s not turning to drugs or a life of crime to solve his problems or deal with his emotions. But aside from the occasional punk rock show, he doesn’t seem to have any outlets to deal with everything he’s dealing with either. Nor does he have any guidance counselors, teachers, wise neighbors or friends he can turn to when shit hits the fan.

Dad’s laid up, mom’s a disappointment, and he just found out his girlfriend is a poser. By some twist of fate and while he’s feeling at the lowest of the low, he ends up with Strummer in a jail cell after they’re grabbed by the cops, busting up another punk rock show. Shay admires Strummer, and The Clash singer seems to take a liking to the boy as well, seeing as how he invites him to sit in on a jam session the next day. Strummer shows up in this boy’s life like a punk rock fairy godfather of guidance.

He tells off his mom, loses his dad’s cab, and sells off all the inventory in the piano store, transforming it into a rock shop, stocked with guitars, drums and electric keyboards; updating it to the modern times. At a loss for what else to do, he and Alice hatch a half-c*cked plan and just when it seems all hope is lost, Strummer comes through for the boy again, with a happy ending to this story.

In Conclusion

London Town is a feel good coming-of-age story with a punk rock twist and rescue fantasy by a punk rocker. I’m sure many of us imagined what it would be like to have had one of your favorite musicians or actors, someone you admire, come rescue you and make you look cool to all your peers. I know I used to have those types of fantasies throughout middle school and early high school, when I was about the age of Shay and Vivian.

That’s what makes this movie work for me. Aside from my love for ’70s punk rock, the story shows connections to the other people in his life and how they strengthen or deteriorate (the idolization of his mother) through the obstacles they face rather than push him into some deep dark dreary abyss of depression.

If one of your favorite rockstars could have rescued you during your teen years, who do you wish it was and why? 

London Town was released in the US on October 7. No international release dates are yet known.