2019 Directed by Brian Welsh
1994, a small town in central Scotland. Best mates Johnno and Spanner, despite being total opposites, have a deep bond. Now on the cusp of adulthood, life is destined to take them in different directions – Johnno’s family are moving him to a new town and a better life, leaving Spanner behind to face a precarious future. But this summer is going to be different for them, and for the country.
‘I mean, just look at his hair. That’s a crime against... his head’
Awesome!
Party movies have a lot of potential, but mostly they’re executed in a silly, commercial way just to appeal to the average teenager. Luckily Beats has a great execution in its genre.
First off, the setting is awesome: the 90’s ravescene. I love the clothes, the haircuts, the big fat accent and the whole vibe of it. It all feels authentic for that time period.
The music is without a doubt almost perfect. Classic after classic techno song is passing by. Although I feel like the mixing could’ve been a bit better, whereas in certain scenes the songs could’ve been brought more to the foreground.
The…
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OEvery generation has that moment right before they’re forced to grow up and everything goes to shit — before society herds them into the adult lives they never wanted, but had to accept in lieu of a better stable. For the former ravers and ruffians of mid-’90s Scotland, whose already fading dreams were squelched out completely by a government decree that criminalized public music characterized “by the emission of a succession of repetitive beats,” that last gasp of disobedience has now been re-crystallized in all its raging glory.
So convincingly set in 1994 that it feels like it was made 26 years ago, Brian Welsh’s “Beats” is a burn-it-all-down bildungsroman about a country…
Capturing the rave scene in Scotland in its dying days, Brian Welsh’s spirited Beats is a slice-of-life portrait of the kids that won’t go down without a fight. It’s 1994, and best friends Johnno (Cristian Ortega) and Spanner (Lorne Macdonald) are on the phone chatting excitedly about the new EDM track they’ve discovered. “I waited two days on the radio to tape it,” Spanner says, immediately evoking a nostalgic romanticism when music was discovered like treasure.
So-called 'illegal' raves and rave culture in general was seen by many as a protest against Thatcherism and, when Thatcher finally and thankfully fucked off, a celebration that she had gone. It would only stand to reason then that the Tories would find some way to stop the fun thereafter.
The Criminal Justice and Public Order Act of 1994 had numerous parts to it. One of them was the legalisation of anal sex for heterosexual couples, which was very nice of them. I'm sure there was an absolute outbreak of arse fucking across the country after Michael Howard told us it was alright now.
One of most noted aspects of it though, certainly at the time, was the attempt to…
things that make me cry in films:
• male characters expressing platonic love for one another
• slice of life portraits of characters during their last summer before adulthood
• good use of music
things that this film had:
• male characters expressing platonic love for one another
• slice of life portraits of characters during their last summer before adulthood
• good use of music
The first hour of ‘Beats’ is a great time! Amazing music, an introduction to a pair of ‘odd couple’ best friends who are ready to risk it all for a night to remember, and a memorable asshole antagonist in the character ‘Fido.’ It felt like a low budget version of the movie ‘Go’ only without the late 90’s cringe.
However, once the group arrives at the destination, the pace slowed considerably and I didn’t feel that Director Brian Welch was able to capture the exuberance of an underground rave as well as he did the anticipation of the event. Also I was hoping for a bigger payoff for the Fido/Spanner storyline.
Still, ‘Beats’ is worthy of your time, especially if you have some nostalgia for the 90’s electronica scene...just make sure you keep those subtitles on, otherwise you won’t have a fucking clue what these Scots are saying!
Still glorious, sweaty, pulsating fun - if a coming of age is about the frustration and hurricane confusion that comes with your life either being stifled or manipulated by what any one random exterior force is making you do, then this is truly as good as it comes! And Jesus Christ do I just want to go out and RAVE 💔
i love the ACAB cinematic universe!!
also parts of this reminded me way too much of y tu mamá también yes i’m sad
one of the prettiest films i've seen in a while. i'm not usually a fan of b+w, but it worked so well. the characters were believable and it felt so good - almost like a scottish version of this is england '90. the tripping scenes were really cool and didn't feel too out of place. i also really enjoyed the relationship between Spanner and Johnno, however i did think it was gonna go a different direction at one point. this is the kind of film i'd like to make (don't let this poster deceive you, it is beautiful).
I was born five months into Thatcher's eleven-year premiership so damn right I am, for better or worse, one of Thatcher's children. But I was just too young (little more than a junior baggy) to truly experience at first hand the acid house and rave scene. That's why Beats emphatically struck a chord with me, because it's the story of the fag end of the scene, 1994. Our two lead characters, Johnno and Spanner, are, like I was at the time, two teenage boys of around fifteen. The film sees these two Scottish lads sample this great grassroots expression of community and rebellion among Thatcher's children only once, before the then Tory Home Secretary Michael Howard introduced the Criminal Justice…
Oh cool, another movie that makes me miss going out, being with friends. and making mistakes.
Pequeno grande filme sobre amizade, prazeres sintéticos e as aventuras que orbitavam a cena eletrônica escocesa no início dos anos 90. Longe de ser um Trainspotting ou mesmo Human Traffic, entrega aquele gosto de transgressão juvenil.
A tale as old as time: youth in revolt, rebellion against The Man, authoritarian ignorance.
A clear homage to La Haine but instead of displaying racial inequity, Beats decides to focus on the dichotomy of social classes through the relationship of two boys, one from a drug dealing family, the other whose household is about to move into a yuppy new construction home.
I appreciate the effort to show the bonds of friendship and what it means but I think the class themes are a bit heavy handed at time and third act rave sequence goes on a bit too long.
The 90s aesthetic and costuming is top notch.
Scottish Ferris Beuller’s Day Off where the director got super high for like 15 minutes in the middle of the movie.
I enjoyed this for most part and thought the acting especially from the leads was solid, but what I wanted more of and I can't believe I'm saying this is the emission of the succession of repetitive beats.
Reciprocated male intimacy, a bittersweet ending, and a fantastically immersive series of rave scenes that will make you wish you were cradling your best mate's head in the 90s while EDM thumps all around you. There's some uneven tonal whiplash as the film's genres shift back and forth, and definitely more police brutality than I expected from a Scottish coming-of-age movie, but overall: a pretty good watch.
A lovely, heartfelt dip into the ups and downs of a tight but complicated friendship that's unfortunately soon to be divided for reasons out of their control.
Good cast of wild and colourful characters, with two particularly convincing performances from the leads which did well to make their strained but endearing relationship feel genuine and believable. (Also good to see my wonderful home country on screen as always!)
Generally keeps a good and entertaining pace throughout, with enough events and mishaps to keep things fresh until the eventual rave scene which is deservingly one of the main highlights of the film. Particularly enjoyed the fast, abrasive and kinetic approach to capturing the rave scene and atmosphere - even if my…
In the 90s, the U.K. banned parties with repetitive beats as part of their Criminal Justice Law. Naturally people revolted and had secret parties anyway. There are many bullies in this, but you know when the cops show up, it’s not going to end well. Is it necessary to beat kids because they’re listening music? The two boy buddies get in some scrapes. Also who knew there are hotdogs sold in jars!
what an EXPERIENCE
the stylistic choices in this were bold yet pulled off really well!! the aesthetic just WORKS and I really enjoyed the visuals
i think I just found a new favorite omg?! that was SO good,,, the love the two leads had for each other,,, yes sir i will be watching this again
The best way to pick up women is to tell them you’ve heard that their current bf is a pedo.
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