Shoplifters of the World
write and manoeuvre by Stephen Kijak , with a story by Lorianne Hall , Shoplifters of the Worldfollows a group of American teens who are ravage after The Smiths , a British band , break up . artistic and The Smiths ’ music are at the nub of the film ’s history , with Kijak setting up a Hellenic coming - of - age story for its fundamental characters , who are fall behind and contend with their place in the earth . The Smiths ’ music helps them along , but the film relies too hard on the band ’s repertoire without doing much else . Overly long , superficially sentimental , and dull , Shoplifters of the Worlddisregards its graphic symbol , miss depth , and remain stagnant throughout .
It ’s 1987 and The Smiths have recently break up . The band has played a major role in the lives of Cleo ( Helena Howard ) , Sheila ( Elena Kampouris ) , and their friends — so much so that they dedicate the rest of the nighttime to make up tribute to them . A big part of their tribute come into romp when Dean ( Ellar Coltrane ) , who work at the local record fund , heads to the township ’s radio place , holding a gun to DJ Full Metal Mickey ( an out of spot Joe Manganiello ) in a bid to squeeze him to play The Smiths ’ music to the masses . Dean and Cleo are especially put off that no one is really mourning the loss of the circle , whose influence , Dean tells Mickey , ca n’t be overstated . What results is a night that none of the characters expected as they fix to to the full acknowledge the ending of an era .
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Shoplifters of the Worldoffers its deep , passionate appreciation and love of The Smiths . It ’s so focused on the band ’s music and fracture - up , in fact , that it leave to turn any of its attending on the role , who are nothing more than thinly developed pilot . There ’s an attempt to apprehend deeply into who these people are beyond their love of The Smiths ; there are even a few scenes that tease a bit more beyond Earth’s surface - level characteristics , including one that sees Sheila face a rejection and uses The Smiths ’ medicine to relinquish her torture . However , Kijak pulls back almost as soon as he bewilder too close . It ’s as though he ’s afraid to delve too deep into who they are lest the attention slip out from The Smiths , a band the film never once let the audience forget is the main subject of the film .
What ’s more , the screenplay is incredibly dim , leaving the story rather directionless , with the characters and plot struggling to decent move frontwards beyond the initial setup . It ’s enough to provide little satisfaction in anything that happen . While the 10000 of ‘ 80s medicine address provide a nostalgia inShoplifters of the World , raise by Kijak ’s own love for The Smiths and other bands , it ’s intemperate not to think that the cinema would have been far stronger as a docudrama as it ’s rather obvious there was n’t much care or effort put into these characters who adore the circle and their legacy . They ’re more mouthpieces for the film maker than fully formed mass with realized arc .
The film has touch of a right coming - of - age story , but the characters are scantily developed enough to muster any care or investment in them or their life . What do they strive for ? What are their single ambitions ? What are their personalities outside of loving The Smiths ? The film does n’t have any answers to any of these doubtfulness and even their love of the lot ’s music comes off as trivial when there is barely any time spend establishing or explore their characters . The subplot of Dean holding Mickey at gunpoint if he does n’t play the Smiths is terribly put together as well . The two lead up bond , but it ’s forced and poorly palm . The consultation is meant to feel sympathetic towards Dean , who is desperate to impress Cleo , but it ’s rather frustrating to watch play out , especially look at how histrionic the state of affairs becomes .
The end of the film is mean to inspire , but it feel empty and emotionless . Kijak attempt to infuse the screenplay with significance and nub , but there is no cause made to in reality create situation and bit where they ’re effective . There is no proper worldbuilding or organic conflicts that justify much of anything really . By the clip the film reaches the end , nothing has been carry out . The want of a strong narrative and characters , pair with tempo government issue , flex the picture show from an challenging premise to a boring , hollow , and overall slow spotter .
Next:10 come - Of - Age Movies You Probably Have n’t Seen
lifter of the Worldis now uncommitted on DVD and Blu - Ray from RLJE Films . The film is 90 minutes long and is not rated .
