SpuffyWeb Sadly Over-hyped

Smartorhypo Highly Overrated But Still Good

ShangLuda Admirable film.

Josephina Great story, amazing characters, superb action, enthralling cinematography. Yes, this is something I am glad I spent money on.

Jason Daniel Baker "Not bad for a boy from Liverpool who arrived with 5 bob in his pocket" Liverpudlian spiv Paul Raymond (Coogan) becomes the world's most uptight and stodgy strip club owner/pornographer finding his way around British obscenity laws - among the most absurd and bizarre censorship regulations anywhere and makes a fortune many times over. Destined to be Britain's Hugh Hefner in every sense the Scouser does so in the most dry, laconic and business-like way possible.As depicted here Raymond (nee Geoffrey Quinn) was at one point very attached to projecting an image of a self-made businessman who cherished family and country. In his own mind there was no contradiction between that and the outsiders view of him as a libertine/smut peddler. With the demeanour of a middle-aged drip perhaps he really was more the former than the latter. But he rather comically resisted the classification 'pornographer'.The viewer can kid themselves that this real life figure was a flake or a creep. But the film captures Paul Raymond's normalcy in ways which don't conflict with the very human eccentricity on display that enabled him to live a lifestyle few could even imagine. It is not easy to illustrate the shocking things the man did without sacrificing that sense of human frailty which helps the audience relate to the character.It is with self-effacing wit and charm that he publishes porn, has dalliances with several strange women at a time and bonds with his daughter Debbie by sharing the same cocaine - a disgusting drug with a disgusting method of use that two generations of party people have deluded each other and themselves about.

christopher-underwood Finally caught up with this film and felt that it began very strongly, beautifully evoking those early Paul Raymond days as he dragged Soho and indeed Britain out of the drab post war 50s and into what would become known as the 'swing sixties'. Steve Coogan is excellent but after abut twenty or thirty minutes and we have seen the early shows recreated and the neon light red light district come alive we are drawn further into the private life of the man. This is interesting enough, at first, but the real story here is what Raymond did in terms of liberating us inhibited Brits and in building his property and sex empire. In the end this degenerates into simply one more line of coke. We are also asked to become involved in the tragedy of the life of his daughter but we don't care. The weak script has not allowed for the necessary empathy to develop and we are left to watch despairingly as all comes depressingly undone.

SnoopyStyle The life of Paul Raymond, the controversial entrepreneur who became Britain's richest man. I guess that's the tagline. The guy is surrounded by naked girls. But why is this so boring? I found the most truthful line in the movie. During Debra's wedding, one guest comments "This is more like a f**king funeral." Well that's the whole movie.Michael Winterbottom directs this and it's professionally done. It looks good. There are great actors here. Steve Coogan is Paul Raymond. Anna Friel is the wife. Imogen Poots is the daughter. Tamsin Egerton is the new love interest. They are fine in their roles. But there is definite lack of drama here.Part of the problem is that the story is told in chronological order. His rise to the top is as boring as can be. There is one dramatic relationship in his life. The only relationship that truly mattered to him in this movie was to his daughter. There is a good dramatic story there. Too bad it's only secondary in this autopilot version. Winterbottom needed to find the most dramatic and compelling part of his life and concentrate a laser on it.

stemal-1 3 of my favourite films have been directed by Michael Winterbottom and starred Steve Coogan. A Cock And Bull Story, 24 Hour Party People and The Trip (in the UK we were lucky enough to see the full TV series, but the movie version was great as well).This isn't as good, but still entertaining. When I was pubescent, Paul Raymond's Men Only magazine was a must-read if you could get an adult to buy it for you, and Fiona Richmond was someone you thought you might just have a chance with if you got to meet her. In short, this film meant a lot to me.My problem with this is that it's all far too glossy. Soho in the 60/70/80's and there isn't a villain in sight and everything going on is fairly innocuous? And I really liked Paul Raymond, but to survive in that environment there must have been more to him.Anyway, an enjoyable film overall. And I went away with that final close-up on Imogen Poots as Debbie singing the title song almost breaking my heart.