Review of Freeze Frame

Lee Evans (best known as stand up, rubbery-faced comedian in the UK) pulls off an astounding performance, and not just for leaving behind the relative comfort zone of comedy. Any 'serious' actor would be similarly lauded, I think. I won't rehash the plot - there are more than enough summaries on here - but what I will say, without spoiling anything, is that the film drives on its plot twists. It's just that at a certain point about 3/4 in, there is almost a twist too many, and the characters appear to be taking longer to work out what the hell is going on, who did what to whom, and why, and then they realise that they were really lying about one thing, and not the other, which drags the film down, with some rather tedious explanations - that still remain thoroughly necessary - which grate after a while. The sense one is left with is that the filmmakers are almost learning the plot along with US, and there isn't a sense of control in the narrative. I mean, obviously they knew what happened, but the tone was of constant uncertainty about how to end it, and who to make the bad guy. So instead of making choices, they choose instead to make EVERYONE the bad guy at one time or another until they hit upon a convenient enough resolution that will satisfy the most amount of people. It is, however, beautifully lit (a scene with Evans leaving his house/warehouse/prison which is backlit with multiple shadows is extraordinary) and the CCTV footage style is never excessive or derivative. The one feeling I was left with having bought it online second hand for about £2.50, was: cool, but I doubt I'll watch that again. At least a year's time before I consider it. It would only be worth it for Evans' performance, as unfortunately, the makers just couldn't get a classy enough backup cast; the Rachel character is a particular weakness, when her role is critical to the narrative, yet she remains the weakest performance here, verging on high school incompetence at times. The notion that British law would ever allow such a blatant miscarriage of justice, when the evidence is SO SO flimsy against Sean, further upsets things. You tend to let it go, though, thanks to Evans brilliant portrayal as a man condemned to fight for his right to innocence. Worth checking out, but don't go out of your way.