Sundance Review: Idris Elba's YARDIE is an Intense Film About the Price of Revenge
Ok, so we know that Idris Elba is a phenomenal actor with amazing charisma and charm that goes for miles, but can he direct? Survey says…. yes. He manages to give all these things to each of his actors in his film Yardie.
I went into this movie feeling unsure. I’ve seen plenty of crime movies and revenge movies, and I wasn’t exactly sure what to expect from this that I hadn’t already seen done before. Well, I’ve seen the light. The actors are all incredibly talented with the lead actor Aml Ameen, having great turns of being both charming and stone cold.
Everyone felt this way in the movie though, which was either an attribute to the great actors picked or the great direction… or both. The most remarkable thing that I noticed is that everyone in this movie knew how to give that thousand yard stare that stops folks in their tracks. You know the look. The look Idris Elba gives when he’s “serious”. The criminal does something wrong and Idris looks at him and says no and the criminal just bows down to the power of his stare. Well, he infused all his actors with this stare, even the young actors. These all seemed like people who have gone through hell and back.
It was beautifully shot, with incredible recurring themes and messages. I know revenge has been played out, but I felt the take was fresh and also not too blatant. The Jamaican culture mixed into the film also was so interesting to learn about. It gave the characters such depth and charm. The accents did occasionally get a little hard to understand EXACTLY what was said, I was never lost as to what the story was or what people’s intentions were. Also, there is some great Reggae music throughout, which is big for me, because I don’t even care about Reggae, but the way it was put into the movie was smart and powerful.
Sincerity, Passion, and Heartbreak are all very present in this amazing film. I absolutely love this film. Although Idris Elba, himself, doesn't appear in it, you can feel his presence throughout. Each of the actors have that calm, cool, stoic demeanor he is known for. It's remarkable. It had great cinematography and sublime acting. I especially thought the story was done in such a creative and interesting way. It blended well with Reggae and the Jamaican culture that made what could be a by the books revenge story fresh and new. It is definitely one I'm glad I watched. While there were no huge action scenes that were overly memorable, the intensity of emotion each actor gives makes this movie feel so powerful. Check this out. Idris Elba, I don’t know where you sprung from, but it is obvious you have great powers, and I look forward to more movies both directed by and starring you.
