Hotly Anticipated Svengali As Sinister As Title Suggests

Splitting popular opinions, jaunty music-focused comedy
Svengali is simultaneously showing in select cinemas nationwide as well as being available to download online.

Initially developed as a well-received web-series, it must be conceded that
Svengali’s transition to the big screen leaves a lot to be desired. The source of both projects, the likeable Jonny Owen, stars as Dixie, the film’s protagonist, who leaves his settled life in Wales and departs to London in an attempt to live his dream as a band manager. Armed with the knowledge of unheard stars-in-waiting ‘The Premature Congratulations’, Dixie bumbles his way about the music business in a bid to launch them to the higher echelons of meow meow and Soccer AM guest appearances. The film is based around the struggles that Dixie encounters during his endeavours, with a faint love story entwined within the script between him and Shell, played by the excellent Vicky McClure. It spite of its entire endeavour, the film simply falls flat because of a threadbare script. Vague moments of interest arise when waiting to hear what the “UK’s hottest new band” sound like, but through a similar guise to the golden suitcase employed in
Pulp Fiction this ends up as an anomaly.
There are a few saving graces, notably the impeccable soundtrack, but on the whole there’s very little to differentiate
Svengali from being an elongated BBC Three comedy – obscure cameos inclusive. Admittedly I was unjustifiably sold on watching the film courtesy of promoted appearances from Matt Berry, Alan McGee and Martin Freeman. In spite of my whining above, there have actually been some positive opinions on
Svengali. Shane Meadows called it a “fucking gem of a film”. Usually I wouldn’t argue with him, both through respect and fear in equal measure. But in this instance he’s wrong; it’s shit. 2/10   https://www.facebook.com/svengalipage http://www.blinkbox.com/movies/svengali  

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