A UK production based on the journals of Pavel Teterskky and Sergie Sakin about two Russian “pieces of scum” that dodge the military draft by immigrating to London. They arrive with little money, which they soon spend, and then set out to rip off London and become rich. They meet a guy named Arkash (Ovidiu Matesan) who shows them how to rob supermarkets, and cook up heroin. Cobakka (the fictional representation of Pavel; Ben Barnes) chooses to live a somewhat more conventional existence (getting a legitimate job, staying clean from drugs, and paying bills).  Spiker (the other fictional representation; Andrei Chakov) attempts to work, and then becomes a junkie after finding out his girlfriend back in Russia is cheating on him.

 

I thoroughly enjoyed this film. There were bits of animation throughout the movie, with a particularly funny piece showing items in a grocery store being put in a person’s pocket. Another one has a monopoly board displaying the different places in London to go to get different drugs.

                                                  

Barnes gives an excellent performance here. Having seen him in Stardust and The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian, it was nice to watch him in a modern role. Chakov (who is already well known in his native Russia) is an actor I’m not familiar with, but he gave a fine performance as well. The two friends struggle together and individually in their quest to get the money. Watching the one attempt to do “right” (while doing “bad”) was just as stirring as watching the one who falls apart.

 

At only 85 minutes in length, the film never drags. You don’t realize you’ve sat there that long at all. If Bigga Than Ben gets a wide theatrical release, it’s worth a look.

 

Four trees out of 5