Cherry Tree Lane

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2010 | |

Director:

Starring: , , , , , , , ,

PM rating: ★☆☆☆☆

Written by Neil Rolland

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For how long can Paul Andrew Williams ride on the coat tails of his debut film From London to Brighton? On the evidence of this, his third feature film offering, the novelty is wearing thin.

A couple argue over dinner, she slept with someone else a long time ago and he hasn’t gotten over it. None of this exposition matters as it’s just there to pass the time and never developed. The doorbell rings and a gang of three teenagers force their way into the family home, tying the couple up and then sitting down on the sofas to wait for the couple’s son to come home as they are seeking revenge, claiming the son is a snitch.

For about thirty minutes (or what felt for a lifetime) they sit in the living room and, every so often, a bit of torture would happen, some bad language would be spoken or a spliff would be smoked. Then the characters start moving around the house and we are left in the living room with the bound and gagged husband. New characters are introduced far too near the end and, finally, the son comes home and is taken upstairs to be given what was coming to him. Will the husband untie himself in time to save his son’s life and, by that time, will the audience care?

The film is set solely inside one suburban home which, while it is a financier’s dream as it means the film won’t cost a lot, the story needs the legs to run at feature length and keep the audiences interest. It can be done; The Disappearance of Alice Creed nailed it but, unfortunately, this film does not. The characters are completely one dimensional; from the middle class couple to the gang of “hoodies”, you never really care what happens to any of them as you never get to know them.

The film is built on the audience feeling closed, claustrophobic, locked inside this house with the couple never knowing what might happen next. It’s every family’s worst nightmare but, here, you never feel anything that bad will happen. There is no menace, no real threat – it is literally seventy-eight minutes of torture for the audience.

This film could easily be marketed as a British remake of Michael Haneke’s Funny Games but without any tension whatsoever. While Haneke ramped up the threat but never put anything gratuitous on screen, Williams falls flat and lashes on the red coloured syrup.

It’s a shame, there has been some hype around this film at the festival, which was also the place which showcased London to Brighton and, as a result, Williams to the world in 2006, but those days seem to be long gone and it will be interesting to see where Williams goes from here; you can’t live off the reputation of one film forever.

Cherry Tree Lane was screened as part of the 64th Edinburgh International Film Festival


Last edited: 11th September 2010

  • Paul

    It is very rare indeed that I feel like commenting on a review but there are things in this one that really frustrate me. As the reviewer, Mr Rolland has published this I feel I have to respond.

    Some people hated London to Brighton, I know the majority of feedback was very positive and I was extremely grateful as it launched my career, enabled me to start a family and make more films. But it goes to show how peoples opinions differ on each project.

    In terms of my new film the same is happening. Some people think it’s poor and lacks tension, others have had to leave the cinema and have found the experience too tense. I know once I’ve made a film I cannot not control peoples reactions or thoughts on it, so you give it up.

    However when reviewers make bold statement like the coat tails comment or the days of LTB are long gone, that goes a bit more personal. You may not have found the film tense Mr Rolland but I can assure you that other people do. I am hoping they are not deluded or easily pleased, perhaps they just find different things frightening than you do. I am grateful that at least some people are riding on those coat tails with me.

    I have no issue with you not liking my film, or you liking it, but I am not living on any reputation or making any claims on anything, I am merely making films that some people like and some people don’t.

    If you feel like I’m riding on coat tails or directing one note performances, please come and find me at the festival and I will gladly listen to where you think I went wrong, or why EIFF picked up my film and asked Ashley Chin to be on the trailblazers due to that one note performance. I’m totally approachable, like my work or not.

    But don’t take a very easy way out and make comments on my reputation and my days being numbered from the anonymity of a website.

    Emotional rant over.

    X

  • Paul

    It is very rare indeed that I feel like commenting on a review but there are things in this one that really frustrate me. As the reviewer, Mr Rolland has published this I feel I have to respond.

    Some people hated London to Brighton, I know the majority of feedback was very positive and I was extremely grateful as it launched my career, enabled me to start a family and make more films. But it goes to show how peoples opinions differ on each project.

    In terms of my new film the same is happening. Some people think it’s poor and lacks tension, others have had to leave the cinema and have found the experience too tense. I know once I’ve made a film I cannot not control peoples reactions or thoughts on it, so you give it up.

    However when reviewers make bold statement like the coat tails comment or the days of LTB are long gone, that goes a bit more personal. You may not have found the film tense Mr Rolland but I can assure you that other people do. I am hoping they are not deluded or easily pleased, perhaps they just find different things frightening than you do. I am grateful that at least some people are riding on those coat tails with me.

    I have no issue with you not liking my film, or you liking it, but I am not living on any reputation or making any claims on anything, I am merely making films that some people like and some people don’t.

    If you feel like I’m riding on coat tails or directing one note performances, please come and find me at the festival and I will gladly listen to where you think I went wrong, or why EIFF picked up my film and asked Ashley Chin to be on the trailblazers due to that one note performance. I’m totally approachable, like my work or not.

    But don’t take a very easy way out and make comments on my reputation and my days being numbered from the anonymity of a website.

    Emotional rant over.

    X

  • John

    I really enjoyed the film. To tell the truth, I had issues with From London to Brighton, But I feel as though Paul Williams has matured as a film maker. Its not often that a film that is set within limited locations can be so engaging. This film made me feel claustrophobic at times. The acting and direction are well adjusted to the narrative of the film. I guess its not for people who like easy to watch films, but I found it engaging.

  • John

    I really enjoyed the film. To tell the truth, I had issues with From London to Brighton, But I feel as though Paul Williams has matured as a film maker. Its not often that a film that is set within limited locations can be so engaging. This film made me feel claustrophobic at times. The acting and direction are well adjusted to the narrative of the film. I guess its not for people who like easy to watch films, but I found it engaging.

  • Swineshead

    I think the rant was justified. Just saw the movie – different genre to London to Brighton but thoroughly enjoyable.

    Tense, brutal and thrilling movie.
    Snide, pompous and duff review.

  • Swineshead

    I think the rant was justified. Just saw the movie – different genre to London to Brighton but thoroughly enjoyable.

    Tense, brutal and thrilling movie.
    Snide, pompous and duff review.

  • Sonia

    Paul said “But don’t take a very easy way out and make comments on my reputation and my days being numbered from the anonymity of a website.”

    Firstly,the reviewer’s name is at the top of the article. Secondly, is a website any more anonymous than a newspaper or magazine? Reviews, whichever medium they are published in, are one person’s opinion and perhaps you should accept that rather than complaining them.

  • Sonia

    Paul said “But don’t take a very easy way out and make comments on my reputation and my days being numbered from the anonymity of a website.”

    Firstly,the reviewer’s name is at the top of the article. Secondly, is a website any more anonymous than a newspaper or magazine? Reviews, whichever medium they are published in, are one person’s opinion and perhaps you should accept that rather than complaining them.