Film review: Le Donk and Scor-zay-zee

Published on Thursday 8 October 2009 19:55

LE DONK & SCOR-ZAY-ZEE (15) **** DIRECTED BY: SHANE MEADOWS STARRING: PADDY CONSIDINE, DEAN PALINCZUK, OLIVIA COLMAN

IS there a better, more innovative and more entertaining British film-maker than Shane Meadows around at the moment? I don't think so. Once again refusing to rest on his laurels or be constrained by budgets, resources or schedules, this film was shot in five days for about 50,000 with an improvised script, conditions that he manages to make seem irrelevant thanks to his relaxed handling of the material.

A faux documentary about a rock 'n' roll roadie called Le Donk (Paddy Considine) and his sublimely-named rap prodigy Scor-zay-zee (Dean Palinczuk), it's a film rich in comic observations about life's disappointments and its unexpected joys. Most of these emerge in heartfelt, hilarious ways, as Le Donk's delusions of grandeur slowly start to crumble as he tries to live vicariously through the incongruous "Scorz" while coming to terms with the fact his ex-girlfriend (Peep Show's Olivia Colman) is about to have his baby.

Considine reveals himself to be a fine comic actor here and, while the fly-on-the-wall format is no longer fresh, the emphasis on generating actual laughs, as well as pathos, is. The titular pair's impromptu support slot at a genuine Arctic Monkeys gig is priceless, too.