Wasteland (2012)

A young Englishman recently released from prison recruits his three best friends and to rob the local drug kingpin who is responsible for his incarceration. Can he get revenge and win back his fed-up girlfriend?

Director:

Rowan Athale

Writer:

Rowan Athale

Stars:

Iwan Rheon, Matthew Lewis, Timothy Spall

4 nominations.

Cast

Credited cast:
Iwan Rheon	...	Dempsey
Matthew Lewis	...	Dodd
Timothy Spall	...	D I West
Vanessa Kirby	...	Nicola
Luke Treadaway	...	Harvey
Neil Maskell	...	Steven Roper
Gerard Kearns	...	Charlie
Lewis Rainer	...	PC Nixon
Gary Cargill	...	Scouse
Lucy Fenton	...	Tracey
Paul Clayton	...	Albert
Ryan Dolan	...	Undercover Policeman
Brad Moore	...	Sgt Kendon
Andy Calderwood	...	Ropers cronie
Grant Crookes	...	Prison Officer

Storyline

Battered, bruised and under arrest, Harvey Miller (Luke Treadaway) sits in a police interview room facing interrogation. Clutching a stack of eyewitness statements, Detective Inspector West (Timothy Spall) has no doubt in Harvey's part in a foiled robbery, and his subsequent attempted murder of local businessman Steven Roper. Denying everything, Harvey agrees to tell his version of events in full. We take in his release from prison a month earlier, and the malevolent, unjust act that put him in there. We see his emotional reunion with his sibling-like best friends, and the immovable loyalty they have for one another. We see the rekindling of a lost love, a second chance for two people meant for each other. We see the ingenious planning of the ill-fated robbery, the amazing twist, the shocking outcome and the real driving force behind it - retribution. What unfolds is an exhilarating, moving and hilarious story of loyalty, jealousy, friendship, revenge and the pursuit of happiness.

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Plot Keywords:

one word title

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Genres:

Crime | Drama | Thriller

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Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

26 July 2013 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Rise

Filming Locations:

Leeds, West Yorkshire, England, UK

Company Credits

Production Co:

Moli-Mischief, Mischief Films, Head Gear Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

108 min

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

User Reviews

Director sets a high bar the first time out

Just caught Wasteland this past weekend at TIFF and was pleasantly surprised by a solid production from a first time writer/director. As a heist film aficionado I approached the film warily but my friends and I were pleased to find our fears were unwarranted. At first I was a bit non-plussed by the slower pace of the plot. But then I realized that director Rowan Athale was taking the time to tuck wayward threads back into his tapestry before they got unruly and it really paid off.

The casting was well done, Luke Treadaway and Vanessa Kirby had excellent chemistry together. Charlie and Dodds' camaraderie was excellent. It was very clear what the motivations were for the crew as well as the antagonists.

In the QnA after the show, Rowan explained that Wasteland was chosen as the title because of the hopeless locale the characters were situated in. No one can expect to have anything, to make anything of themselves. Even the character who was learning a welding trade was mocked for clinging to false hopes. Perhaps it also explains D.I. West's wry smile as he makes a decision hidden from the audience.

At any rate I am sure that Rowan Athale will use this title to leverage himself out the wasteland of indy film making. This production will turn some heads and this director/writer is one to watch.