SoulBoy (2010)

A coming-of-age drama set in the 1970s Northern Soul underground music scene.

Director:

Shimmy Marcus

Writer:

Jeff Williams

Stars:

Martin Compston, Felicity Jones, Alfie Allen

2 wins.

Cast

Credited cast:
Martin Compston	...	Joe McCain
Felicity Jones	...	Mandy Hodgson
Alfie Allen	...	Russ Mountjoy
Nichola Burley	...	Jane Rogers
Craig Parkinson	...	Alan
Brian McCardie	...	Fish Shop Bobby
Jo Hartley	...	Monica
Pat Shortt	...	Brendan
Huey Morgan	...	Dee Dee
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Kelly Marie Auttenberg	...	Club Goer
Lorraine Cheshire	...	Art Teacher
Hannah Crighton	...	Purple Onion Lass
Bill Fellows	...	Billy Mcain
Rosemarie Gibson	...	Extra
Alexander Harding	...	Divvy Punter

Storyline

A coming-of-age drama set in the 1970s Northern Soul underground music scene.

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Plot Keywords:

northern soul | 1970s | record collector | soul music | dancing | 

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama | Music

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Details

Official Sites:

Official site

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

2010 (UK)

Also Known As:

Soulboy

Filming Locations:

Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, England, UK

Box Office

Budget:

£400,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Ipso Facto Films, Dreamfinder Productions, Screen West Midlands

Technical Specs

Color:

Color

Did You Know?

Trivia

Filmed in 2008.

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Quotes

Mandy Hodgson: Art college Joe, I've been accepted - and you're not going to stop me.
Joe McCain: Why would I stop you? I think you're amazing, like that guy mattress.
Mandy Hodgson: Matisse.

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Connections

Featured in The Wright Stuff: Episode #13.46 (2010)

User Reviews

Despite all of the problems with this film, it is enjoyable. If you enjoy Northern Soul then this film will get you yearning for the Casino Club.

Northern Soul is back, it's being pumped into bars and clubs with rising regularity. Understandably with every resurrected craze, it had been converted into a film last year. The story is bland at best, with a predictable and formulaic path. The saving grace is a good performance by Martin Compston and the great soundtrack.

Soulboy is branded as a comedy drama, the comedy it speaks of is provided by various cheap jokes throughout, nothing showing real wit or craftsmanship. Cringe worthy dialogue and scenes abound with fairly wooden character acting providing the backdrop for see through storytelling.

Joe, as the likely lad, gets mixed up in drugs and the plot takes a dark turn. As it's a light hearted drama, no real harm comes of the actions. I don't want to bash the director and producers of the film as it is brilliantly shot, the dance scenes are a real treat to watch (except for the painful dance off) and everything is set up perfectly for the 70's from the platforms to the flares and the god awful red tank top. Regarding the dance off, maybe I'm wrong, but it seems to me that in Wigan in the 70's it would've been a fight not a dance. The film didn't need that scene but obviously someone had the bright idea of a big Hollywood style ending. This isn't what the audience wanted from a Northern Soul tribute.

Despite all of the problems with this film, it is enjoyable, mainly because of the music, some of which I've now added to my collection. If you enjoy Northern Soul then this film will get you yearning for the Casino Club, if you don't then there isn't a great deal else to draw you in as the script and predictability make it a no brainer of a watch. Without the music, this is a poor man's An Education.