Low-budget comedy-drama One For The Road signals the arrival of a new British filmmaking talent in writer/director Chris Cooke. Much like its principal characters, the film walks a fine line between humour and pathos as it highlights the perils of looking at life through a pint glass. Aided by strong performances by newcomer Gregory Chisholm and the little-known Rupert Procter - and fuelled equally by alcohol, testosterone, and desperation - this is a real contender for best British film of 2004.
The story centres around four men convicted of drink-driving offences. They are ordered to attend a rehabilitation centre ("the networking opportunity of a lifetime") run by the disturbingly driven Ian (Jonny Phillips). Self-delusional strangers thrown together in an unusually soul-bearing setting, the men are united by their alcohol addiction and varying stages of despair.
"GLENGARRY GLEN ROSS DIRECTED BY MIKE LEIGH"
Young Jimmy (Chisholm) has recently lost his father but gained a derelict warehouse; salesman Paul (Procter) is struggling to keep both his self-belief and marriage together; and Mark (Mark
Devenport) is a slacker who runs a dodgy cab racket with pal Vague Tony (Tony Claassen). The only person who finds the glass more than half-full is property tycoon Richard Stevens (a suitably corpulent Hywel Bennett). Even he's not entirely happy, though, trying to bounce back from a messy divorce. As the course progresses, an increasingly stressed Paul pressures Jimmy to sell his warehouse to Richard...
Although the drama in One For The Road is slightly underdeveloped, it's rare to see 'real' British men portrayed in such a believable yet twisted fashion. With its heady cocktail of humour and shattered dreams, this is Glengarry Glen Ross as directed by Mike Leigh, with the visual and editing flair of Steven Soderbergh thrown in for good measure. We'll drink to that.
One For The Road (2004)
