Le Donk & Scor-zay-zee
Encyclopedia
Le Donk & Scor-zay-zee is a 2009
British
mock
musical documentary film
written and directed by Shane Meadows
. It follows the fictional character of Le Donk, played by Paddy Considine
, a roadie
working for the Arctic Monkeys
, and Scorzayzee
, a young rapper
playing himself.
Similar in format to This Is Spinal Tap
, the film blends fiction and reality. In addition to Scorzayzee, director Meadows, editor Richard Graham, and the Arctic Monkeys all appear as themselves. Shot in five days in 2007 with a budget of £48,000, the film is the third Meadows feature to star Considine.
documentary film crew, including real life director Meadows, at his Nottingham
home. Scorzayzee is an aspiring rapper who Le Donk is mentoring. Le Donk and the film crew visit the home of his former girlfriend Olivia (Olivia Colman
), who is pregnant with Le Donk's child. Le Donk becomes irate when he learns Olivia's new boyfriend is to be her birth partner.
Le Donk, Scorzayzee, Meadows, and the film crew drive to Manchester
in a Bedford Rascal
, where Le Donk has been hired to assist at the "Arctical" Monkeys'
gig at the Old Trafford Cricket Ground. Le Donk intends to use his contacts to attain a supporting slot for Scorzayzee. Leaving the seemingly hapless Scorzayaee to practice on his new electronic keyboard
, Le Donk goes backstage and speaks to the Arctic Monkeys' guitar tech Nigel "Big Nige" Reeks. Scorzayzee, unable to operate or even power on the keyboard, wanders through the cricket ground, eventually ending up on the stage, which Le Donk has left. Big Nige the helps Scorzayzee hook up the keyboard to the sound system and shows him how to get some "beats." Scorzayzee then freestyles
, impressing those present. A short time later Le Donk confirms that a short support slot has been granted. After this it is revealed that Le Donk is to accompany Scorzayzee, playing the (obviously automated) loops
on the keyboard and singing in between Scorzayzee's rap verses.
Later in the evening, Le Donk receives a call from Olivia's boyfriend, as she has gone into labour
. Le Donk is at first reluctant to let Scorzayzee play the gig on his own, worried that he would not be able to handle the keyboards. ("It's a lot of beats") Le Donk then admits he is not required and that Scorzayzee is "the talent." Le Donk drives back to Nottingham and meets his baby son, and Olivia convinces him to travel back to Manchester to play.
The following afternoon, the two take to the stage at Old Trafford and play one song with the crowd reacting well to Scorzayzee's rapping but seemingly bemused by Le Donk's lyrics, which begin "Just calm down Deirdre Barlow
, just calm down Stephen Hawking
."
, he searched for a stripped-back, corporate-free project. He initially considered making a film under the Dogme 95
rules, but decided the strict style was too constraining. Instead, along with producer Mark Herbert, he devised the "Five Day Feature." The film was shot in the five days leading up to the Arctic Monkey's gig at Old Trafford on 28 July 2007. Matt Helders and Nick O'Malley from the band appear in the film, playing themselves, while talking to Le Donk about Scorzayzee's initial performance the day before the gig. The full band is glimpsed briefly, walking past Scorzayzee as he searches for a place to plug his keyboard. The band had been introduced to Meadows and Herbert prior to the release of their debut album in 2006. After this, Considine was featured in the video for their third single, "Leave Before the Lights Come On
".
Only a loose script was written, with most of the dialogue being improvised.
reported that 94% of critics gave the film positive reviews, based on 19 reviews. The film's reviews tended to be mixed, but positive overall.
Kevin Maher of The Times
called the film "ebullient" and Considine's performance "an enthralling piece of improvisation that carries the entire movie." Dave Calhoun of Time Out London found the film "an endearing effort with enough heart to fill the gaps where the gags dry up or fall flat" and added, "When Considine really gets going, he’s as funny as he’s ever been." In The Observer
, Philip French
observed, "Considine is outrageously funny and never steps out of character, but the film hardly adds up to an evening's entertainment," while Anthony Quinn of The Independent
noted, "Throughout you get the impression that Meadows and his cast are having a lot of fun, which is unfortunately not the same thing as being funny. Even with a short running time . . . this scrappy, unendearing squib outstays its welcome."
2009 in film
The year 2009 saw the release of many films. Seven made the top 50 list of highest-grossing films, and the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced that as of this year, their Best Picture category would consist of ten nominees, rather than five .- Highest-grossing films :Please note...
British
Cinema of the United Kingdom
The United Kingdom has had a major influence on modern cinema. The first moving pictures developed on celluloid film were made in Hyde Park, London in 1889 by William Friese Greene, a British inventor, who patented the process in 1890. It is generally regarded that the British film industry...
mock
Mockumentary
A mockumentary , is a type of film or television show in which fictitious events are presented in documentary format. These productions are often used to analyze or comment on current events and issues by using a fictitious setting, or to parody the documentary form itself...
musical documentary film
Documentary film
Documentary films constitute a broad category of nonfictional motion pictures intended to document some aspect of reality, primarily for the purposes of instruction or maintaining a historical record...
written and directed by Shane Meadows
Shane Meadows
Shane Meadows is an English film director, screenwriter, occasional actor and BAFTA winner.-Background:Meadows grew up in the Westlands Road area of Uttoxeter, Staffordshire. His father was a long distance lorry driver and his mother worked in a fish and chip shop...
. It follows the fictional character of Le Donk, played by Paddy Considine
Paddy Considine
Patrick George "Paddy" Considine is an English actor, filmmaker, screenwriter, musician and frequent collaborator with Shane Meadows. Best known to audiences for his portrayals of dark, troubled, morally or mentally ambiguous characters...
, a roadie
Road crew
The road crew are the technicians or support personnel who travel with a band on tour, usually in sleeper buses, and handle every part of the concert productions except actually performing the music with the musicians...
working for the Arctic Monkeys
Arctic Monkeys
Arctic Monkeys are an English indie rock band. Formed in 2002 in High Green, a suburb of Sheffield, the band currently consists of Alex Turner , Jamie Cook , Nick O'Malley and Matt Helders...
, and Scorzayzee
Scorzayzee
Dean Palinczuk, better known as Scorzayzee or a slew of aliases including Scorz and Scorzilla The Gorilla, is an English rapper.-Biography:...
, a young rapper
Rapping
Rapping refers to "spoken or chanted rhyming lyrics". The art form can be broken down into different components, as in the book How to Rap where it is separated into “content”, “flow” , and “delivery”...
playing himself.
Similar in format to This Is Spinal Tap
This Is Spinal Tap
This Is Spinal Tap is an American 1984 rock musical mockumentary directed by Rob Reiner about the fictional heavy metal band Spinal Tap...
, the film blends fiction and reality. In addition to Scorzayzee, director Meadows, editor Richard Graham, and the Arctic Monkeys all appear as themselves. Shot in five days in 2007 with a budget of £48,000, the film is the third Meadows feature to star Considine.
Plot
Aging failed musician and roadie Le Donk is introduced to a fly on the wallFly on the wall
Fly on the wall is a style of documentary-making used in filmmaking and television production. The name derived from the idea that events are seen candidly, as a fly on a wall might see them...
documentary film crew, including real life director Meadows, at his Nottingham
Nottingham
Nottingham is a city and unitary authority in the East Midlands of England. It is located in the ceremonial county of Nottinghamshire and represents one of eight members of the English Core Cities Group...
home. Scorzayzee is an aspiring rapper who Le Donk is mentoring. Le Donk and the film crew visit the home of his former girlfriend Olivia (Olivia Colman
Olivia Colman
Olivia Colman is an English actress, best known for her supporting roles in various comedy shows, such as Sophie Chapman in Peep Show and Harriet Schulenburg in Green Wing. She trained at the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School, and has appeared in radio, television and theatre.-Personal life:Colman...
), who is pregnant with Le Donk's child. Le Donk becomes irate when he learns Olivia's new boyfriend is to be her birth partner.
Le Donk, Scorzayzee, Meadows, and the film crew drive to Manchester
Manchester
Manchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Manchester was 498,800. Manchester lies within one of the UK's largest metropolitan areas, the metropolitan county of Greater...
in a Bedford Rascal
Bedford Rascal
The Bedford Rascal , also built as the Suzuki Supercarry is a microvan that was developed as a joint venture between General Motors and Suzuki. It was sold under GM's British-based Bedford marque as well as in Suzuki form...
, where Le Donk has been hired to assist at the "Arctical" Monkeys'
Arctic Monkeys
Arctic Monkeys are an English indie rock band. Formed in 2002 in High Green, a suburb of Sheffield, the band currently consists of Alex Turner , Jamie Cook , Nick O'Malley and Matt Helders...
gig at the Old Trafford Cricket Ground. Le Donk intends to use his contacts to attain a supporting slot for Scorzayzee. Leaving the seemingly hapless Scorzayaee to practice on his new electronic keyboard
Electronic keyboard
An electronic keyboard is an electronic or digital keyboard instrument.The major components of a typical modern electronic keyboard are:...
, Le Donk goes backstage and speaks to the Arctic Monkeys' guitar tech Nigel "Big Nige" Reeks. Scorzayzee, unable to operate or even power on the keyboard, wanders through the cricket ground, eventually ending up on the stage, which Le Donk has left. Big Nige the helps Scorzayzee hook up the keyboard to the sound system and shows him how to get some "beats." Scorzayzee then freestyles
Freestyle rap
Freestyle rap commonly refers to rap lyrics which are improvised through a acapella or with instrumental beats, i.e. performed with no previously composed lyrics, or "off the top of the head"...
, impressing those present. A short time later Le Donk confirms that a short support slot has been granted. After this it is revealed that Le Donk is to accompany Scorzayzee, playing the (obviously automated) loops
Music loop
In electroacoustic music, a loop is a repeating section of sound material. Short sections of material can be repeated to create ostinato patterns...
on the keyboard and singing in between Scorzayzee's rap verses.
Later in the evening, Le Donk receives a call from Olivia's boyfriend, as she has gone into labour
Childbirth
Childbirth is the culmination of a human pregnancy or gestation period with the birth of one or more newborn infants from a woman's uterus...
. Le Donk is at first reluctant to let Scorzayzee play the gig on his own, worried that he would not be able to handle the keyboards. ("It's a lot of beats") Le Donk then admits he is not required and that Scorzayzee is "the talent." Le Donk drives back to Nottingham and meets his baby son, and Olivia convinces him to travel back to Manchester to play.
The following afternoon, the two take to the stage at Old Trafford and play one song with the crowd reacting well to Scorzayzee's rapping but seemingly bemused by Le Donk's lyrics, which begin "Just calm down Deirdre Barlow
Deirdre Barlow
Deirdre Anne Barlow is a long-standing fictional character in the UK television ITV Granada soap opera, Coronation Street...
, just calm down Stephen Hawking
Stephen Hawking
Stephen William Hawking, CH, CBE, FRS, FRSA is an English theoretical physicist and cosmologist, whose scientific books and public appearances have made him an academic celebrity...
."
Production
Following the lengthy production of Meadows' previous film, 2006's This is EnglandThis Is England
-Track listing:#"54-46 Was My Number" - Toots & The Maytals#"Come On Eileen" - Dexys Midnight Runners#"Tainted Love" - Soft Cell#"Underpass/Flares" - Movie Dialogue From This Is England#"Nicole " - Gravenhurst...
, he searched for a stripped-back, corporate-free project. He initially considered making a film under the Dogme 95
Dogme 95
Dogme 95 was an avant-garde filmmaking movement started in 1995 by the Danish directors Lars von Trier and Thomas Vinterberg, who created the "Dogme 95 Manifesto" and the "Vow of Chastity". These were rules to create filmmaking based on the traditional values of story, acting, and theme, and...
rules, but decided the strict style was too constraining. Instead, along with producer Mark Herbert, he devised the "Five Day Feature." The film was shot in the five days leading up to the Arctic Monkey's gig at Old Trafford on 28 July 2007. Matt Helders and Nick O'Malley from the band appear in the film, playing themselves, while talking to Le Donk about Scorzayzee's initial performance the day before the gig. The full band is glimpsed briefly, walking past Scorzayzee as he searches for a place to plug his keyboard. The band had been introduced to Meadows and Herbert prior to the release of their debut album in 2006. After this, Considine was featured in the video for their third single, "Leave Before the Lights Come On
Leave Before the Lights Come On
"Leave Before the Lights Come On" is a song by English indie rock band Arctic Monkeys. The song was released on 14 August 2006 as the band's third single in the United Kingdom...
".
Only a loose script was written, with most of the dialogue being improvised.
Critical reception
As of December 2009, the review aggregator Rotten TomatoesRotten Tomatoes
Rotten Tomatoes is a website devoted to reviews, information, and news of films—widely known as a film review aggregator. Its name derives from the cliché of audiences throwing tomatoes and other vegetables at a poor stage performance...
reported that 94% of critics gave the film positive reviews, based on 19 reviews. The film's reviews tended to be mixed, but positive overall.
Kevin Maher of The Times
The Times
The Times is a British daily national newspaper, first published in London in 1785 under the title The Daily Universal Register . The Times and its sister paper The Sunday Times are published by Times Newspapers Limited, a subsidiary since 1981 of News International...
called the film "ebullient" and Considine's performance "an enthralling piece of improvisation that carries the entire movie." Dave Calhoun of Time Out London found the film "an endearing effort with enough heart to fill the gaps where the gags dry up or fall flat" and added, "When Considine really gets going, he’s as funny as he’s ever been." In The Observer
The Observer
The Observer is a British newspaper, published on Sundays. In the same place on the political spectrum as its daily sister paper The Guardian, which acquired it in 1993, it takes a liberal or social democratic line on most issues. It is the world's oldest Sunday newspaper.-Origins:The first issue,...
, Philip French
Philip French
Philip French is a British film critic and former radio producer.French, the son of an insurance salesman, was educated at the direct grant Bristol Grammar School, read Law at Oxford University. and post graduate study in Journalism at Indiana University, Bloomington on a scholarship.He has been...
observed, "Considine is outrageously funny and never steps out of character, but the film hardly adds up to an evening's entertainment," while Anthony Quinn of The Independent
The Independent
The Independent is a British national morning newspaper published in London by Independent Print Limited, owned by Alexander Lebedev since 2010. It is nicknamed the Indy, while the Sunday edition, The Independent on Sunday, is the Sindy. Launched in 1986, it is one of the youngest UK national daily...
noted, "Throughout you get the impression that Meadows and his cast are having a lot of fun, which is unfortunately not the same thing as being funny. Even with a short running time . . . this scrappy, unendearing squib outstays its welcome."