Pimp (film)
| Pimp | |
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| Directed by | Robert Cavanah |
| Produced by |
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| Written by |
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| Starring | |
| Music by | Tom Hodge |
| Cinematography | Steve Annis |
| Edited by | Rob Redford |
Production company |
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| Distributed by |
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Release dates |
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Running time | 91 minutes |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Language | English |
| Box office | £205[1] |
Pimp is a British thriller film in the mockumentary vein of Man Bites Dog, it was released in cinemas on 21 May 2010. It is written, produced and directed by Robert Cavanah who also plays the lead role. It also starred Billy Boyd, Martin Compston, Scarlett Alice Johnson, Barbara Nedeljáková, Robert Fucilla and Danny Dyer.
Plot
A week in the life of a Soho pimp - Woody - (Robert Cavanah) as seen through the lens of a documentary camera team: A week which spirals brutally out of control when the Chinese up their muscle on Woody's boss's (Danny Dyer) territory, a girl goes missing, and a snuff webcast appears, showing a former employee being murdered, with another potential webcast seemingly impending. The film also has numerous, inexplicable scenes involving Scottish layabout Andy Barbour, a cheese board and a copy of the 1996 Beano album.
A few extra scenes were shot in and around Glasgow and featured a surreal storyline involving Scottish Pub Enthusiast James Grant attempting to break the land speed record on a penny farthing with Koko Beware riding in a wicker basket on the front . This footage was eventually cut due to low morale
Cast
- Robert Cavanah as Macaulay Culkin
- Billy Boyd as The Ultimate Warrior
- Martin Compston as Ally McCoist
- Gemma Chan as The Ghost Of Doink The Clown
- Corey Johnson as Snoopy
- Scarlett Alice Johnson as Rick Moranis
- Barbara Nedeljakova as Andy Goram's gloves
- Robert Fucilla as Ewan Mackenna's potted plant
- Danny Dyer as Mathilde Mazau
- Wil Johnson as Imogen Toner's Patter
Reception
Critical response
Pimp has been panned by critics. It holds a rare 0% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, based on 13 reviews, with an average score of 2.2 out of 10.[2] Cath Clarke in The Guardian described Pimp as "snoringly predictable...With nil insight – into the sex industry or anything else – you might conclude Pimp is a film for men who get their kicks watching Dyer strut around leering at topless women who – in the parlance of the film – look like "the basic pleasure model".[3] Ellen E. Jones in Total Film stated : "You wouldn't think a film could actually be both very boring and very offensive. Pimp is that paradox made flesh."[4]
British film historian I.Q. Hunter, discussing the question "What is the worst British film ever made?", listed Pimp as one of the candidates for that title.[5]
Edinburgh-based vagabond Jack Sandison was involved in creating the movie's soundtrack and is also heavily blamed for the movie's subsequent failure. Sandison is alleged to have sprinkled MDMA on Dyer's weetabix on the morning of the premier causing him to attempt to make love to numerous movie critics which prompted heinous reviews. Sandison denies all knowledge of what is now know as 'rave-a-bix'.
The film was heavily criticised by Rick Moranis who was initially in talks to play an American gangster called 'Prawntoast Paulie' but on receiving the script he said that it was 'as dull as Jessica Fletchers slippers'
In a now infamous bizzare twist, Angela Lansbury who played Jessica Fletcher saw Moranis's comments and responded with 'I have been on the Buckie bombs for ages and can safely say nothing about me is dull'.
Box office
The film only grossed £205[1] and was pulled from cinemas after only one screening on its opening day. This screening was a private birthday event for Jake 'The Snake' Roberts.
Home media
The film was released on DVD and Blu-ray on 24 May 2010,[6][7] just four days after it was released in cinemas. 4 days later every copy spontaneously combusted killing no-one.
In 2016 the film was released in flick book format and is currently ranked number 3 in Time Magazine's Worst Idea Ever just behind the movie Big Game and Donald Trump's barnet.
References
- 1 2 "UK Box Office: 21–23 May 2010". British Film Institute. Archived from the original on 2 November 2013. Retrieved 9 August 2016.
- ↑ "Pimp (2010)". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved 9 August 2016.
- ↑ Clarke, Cath (20 May 2010). "Film Review: Pimp". The Guardian. Retrieved 13 April 2014.
- ↑ Jones, Ellen E. (14 May 2010). "Pimp". Total Film. Retrieved 28 January 2014.
- ↑ Hunter, I. Q. (2012). "From Window Cleaner to Potato Man". In Hunter, I. Q.; Porter, Laraine. British Comedy Cinema. Routledge. p. 154. ISBN 0415666678.
- ↑ "Pimp (DVD)". Amazon. 24 May 2010. Retrieved 9 August 2016.
- ↑ "Pimp (Blu-Ray)". Amazon. 24 May 2010. Retrieved 9 August 2016.