I was lucky enough to be invited to a pre-release screening of KKFF and where so many of these occasions have been disappointing, this was ninety-odd minutes well spent to say the least. Based on the novel by Joel Rose of the same name, it's the story is of Joe One-Way, a recovering heroin addict and convicted killer who is granted early parole due the arm-twisting, string-pulling antics of New York movie producer Markie Mann. Markie read the play Joe wrote whilst inside and wants to make it into a film. Things seem on the up for Joe until he meets Markie's wife, Fleur whose past is not unlike his own and their immediate connection seems to burn up the furniture from the off. Through a series of flash-backs, we see Joe go from being the young-and-in love occasional smack-dabbler, through to full-blown addict whose young wife can no longer bear to live with him and subsequently, the prison inmate who becomes inspired to write through his relationship with Clinique, his Jamaican cell-mate (played with a combination of cutting dry humour and eerie menace by Shaun Parkes). Upon his release Joe has to make good and combat his demons while at the same time putting them to paper as the pressure mounts for him to complete his script.
While the film is exceptionally dark in places - Director Gareth Maxwell Roberts pulls very few punches in highlighting the obviously negative aspects of drug-abuse and prison life - it's an ultimately brilliant and touching tale of a man seeking redemption for the many terrible things he's done. Gil Bellows (who we've seldom seen on the big screen as of late) really comes into his own with the portrayal of such a conflicted character, seemingly leaving behind forever the fluffy, handsome persona he'd carved out during his years on Ally McBeal. Other notable performances are from Esai Morales whose presence as Markie is electric from the minute he arrives spouting producer talk with borderline-Wiseguy attitude, and Lisa Ray as Fleur whose sole purpose for being seems to be making every man in the audience fall in love with her.
I'm told the film is being geared up for release in late 2008 and my advice to any self-respecting film lover is to see it at your earliest opportunity.
