> REVIEW
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Acts Of Godfrey (2012)
A film in verse…
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By Helen Adkins | January 2012
DIRECTOR: Johnny Daukes
WRITER: Johnny Daukes
Johnny Daukes’ Acts of Godfrey, a black satirical comedy written entirely in rhyming couplets is certainly a brave effort.
Victor (Iain Robertson), an honest, salesman arrives at a country house hotel to take part in a motivational sales course. There he meets the other delegates, a group of corrupt and ruthless counterparts, including a couple of gangsters, an insurance salesman who cons widows out of their money, a pop star and a bent funeral director.
Overseeing proceedings is the all seeing eye, Godfrey, played by Simon Callow, who appears in variety of disguises (including white suit) and delights in meddling with the lives, loves and fate of his guests.
The characters are what make this a joy to watch and it’s clear that Daukes has carefully and diligently cast his film with actors who are able to deliver their rhyming lines authentically.
And it is stellar cast. Harry Enfield almost steals the show as the morose and sinister conman Malcolm, but must also compete with the likes of Doon Mackichan, Callow, Celia Imrie and Shobu Kapoor amongst others. Other standout performances include Myfanwy Waring as the alluring, screwed-up Mary, a teasing yet frigid, saleswoman, and Jay Simpson, who is terrifying as the crocodile smiling gangster Phil.
When it works, it’s easy to forget the dialogue is in rhyming couplets. Lines sizzle, pop and surprise but there are also moments when they feel contrived and fall flat. It does lend unevenness to the film as a whole, with slow, static scenes at the start where dialogue alone is used for exposition, to the slightly rushed, albeit satisfying, climax. It feels that Daukes concentrates so hard on getting the lines right, he appears to have found less time for conveying narrative through imagery so that the few times when the camera lingers on a face or scene without words comes as blessed relief.
Script…………………………………………………………………………………………….
Compelling and riotously entertaining. It falls a little flat and sags in places, but
only in contrast to the best, most inspired, lines. 3
Direction………………………………………………………………………………………..
Overlong and static scenes used to accommodate the script lead to moments
when this feels more like theatre than cinema. Yet, a stellar cast keeps the pace
going, particularly towards the end. 3
Verdict…………………………………………………………………………………………..
For sheer ingenuity and guts, this is a cinematic curiosity that shouldn’t be
missed. 3
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