Bullet Boy

Produced for the BBC, this gripping drama takes place in London but could just as easily have been set in East Harlem or South Central Los Angeles, as Bullet Boy has the flavor of American-made, urban-based films that explore the “gangsta” experiences of young African Americans (in fact, aside from the accents, you'd scarcely know you were watching a British TV movie). The film begins with 18-year-old Ricky (Ashley Walters), fresh out of juvenile detention, looking after his 12-year-old brother, Curtis (Luke Fraser), while trying to stay on the straight and narrow. That goal is jeopardized when a minor street fight escalates into an all-out war between rival neighborhood gangs—a war that will force the boys to take sides, drawing them into a world of violence. Director Saul Dibb seems to know the milieu he's depicting—the film abounds in realistic but understated touches, and the characters' dialogue has the ring of authenticity—and he coaxes subtle performances from a talented (if largely unknown) cast. A tense, powerful movie that compares favorably to such homegrown products as Boyz in the Hood, this is recommended. (E. Hulse)