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Friday 9 January 2009

Thin on the ground

Ben X
15, Key cities

Now, although the end of this film is seriously satisfying in terms of bullies getting their comeuppance — hurrah! — the journey is pretty bleak, rarely varies in tone and as for Ben, just as he struggles to relate to the world, how are we meant to relate to him? True enough, the computer visuals are neatly integrated, but as he increasingly morphs into his online character, we lose him more than we find him, if you get what I mean. It’s the kind of film that, if on telly late at night, and you found yourself in one of those inert states whereby climbing the stairs to bed seems too much trouble, you might be intrigued enough by its rawness to see it through to the end. But I’m not sure it is more than that.

Still, September next week, and better times ahead, surely. In the meantime, I’ll leave you with some further words of top-rate wisdom: beware the restaurant menu that is bound in leatherette and involves a tassel. You are not going to have a good time.

More articles from: Deborah Ross | this section

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