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The A Team review by Junior Smart {Film}

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Bet you didn’t know that “Hannibal” Smith loves it when a plan comes together. Almost every single middle aged person on the planet knows those words and the theme tune that it almost instantaneously brings to mind and what it means. The A-Team was an iconic Saturday morning show of the 80’s, and brings back lucid memories of ‘family time’ huddled round the TV set and school playgrounds where every kid would pretend to be in the van and involved in epic shoot-outs. It is also the latest film to get the movie update treatment by film studios that seem to be fast running out of original material and are looking to entice film going audiences back into the cinema.

I would have loved to have seen the CEO of 20th Century Fox’s face of when they brought this plan to the table. You can almost hear his words ‘What – you only want to bring the biggest TV show of all time to the big screen? – Are you for real? Damn we better get this one right – if we screw this one up even my grand kids grand kids won’t forgive me!!! Hell – let’s go ahead but let’s throw the kitchen sink at it!’

Bringing this to the screen was either going to be hit – or a miss and they knew there was going to be no second chances, no reboot in five years time, no nothing. Screw up on any aspect, have the wrong actors, have a crap script and you can forget it. Little wonder then that the film was in development since the mid 1990s, having gone through numerous writers and story ideas, being put on hold numerous times. In the end the film was directed by the accomplished Joe Carnahan and produced by Stephen J. Cannell, and legendary brothers Ridley and Tony Scott. This talented group act almost like an A-Team in their own right and bring the story bang up to date with enthusiasm.

The story follows the principle of the original series. For those of you who didn’t know The A-Team are a crack group of soldiers who go on the run after being framed for a ‘crime that they did not commit’ who now exist as soldiers of fortune… The movie belts along at a cracking pace but with a few twists along the way and thoughtfully the directors decided to create the origin story for the first half of the movie. This I thought was a superb idea because at the very least it gives the action compulsion. By the end of the first half of the film you know why they are all together, and more importantly why B.A.Baracus ‘will not get on no plane’.

The actors’ success in portraying their characters is a major factor in the film’s triumph and is second only to the fantastic script. As an 80’s A-Team fan my initial apprehension was that this would be a shoddy remake that unfortunately we have become accustomed to over the past decade, with paper thin characters that not only did not look like their counterparts but were going to be unable to carry them. However Liam Neeson steps sturdily into the role of John “Hannibal” Smith. He breathes life into the guy with a smile yet plays him as an individual rather than try to imitate the now legendary role made famous by George Peppard. As a result you appreciate him far more. The same goes for the rest of the cast. Bradley Cooper as “Face” gives the character his own suave inventive spin and also worthy of note is Sharlto Copley as “Howling Mad” Murdock. He conveys the character as being genuinely off his head yet also a hotshot talented pilot and he creates some real laugh out loud moments.

You can tell that the entire cast fully enjoyed making this film because the level of authenticity in the camaraderie, as a result you feel for their disappointments and whoop for their success. Liam Neeson said in a recent interview that it was the script not memories of the 80’s show that made him sign on the dotted line and judging from the script who can blame him; the script is very strong. Indeed you could take the title away from this film and still have a great action movie in its own right. Yes it is clichéd, yes it action focused but it also fun and does definitely have a heart. For example B.A.Baracus (played by a very driven UFC Champion Quinton “Rampage” Jackson) ends up in jail he finds faith and decides that he doesn’t want to kill anymore. An interesting idea considered that he is a solider ‘of fortune’ and that their adversaries seem to stop at nothing until the A-Team is taken out of the picture for good. The rest of the team play out this potential ‘conflict of interest’ as great friendship in real life would allow and for me this is a nice touch on the 80’s series.

Just as good as the actors were those working behind the scenes with the special effects. Whilst there is nothing here that is ‘new’ so to speak, the film is big budget and well executed, some of the scenes are incredible if not totally unbelievable but still worth seeing. Want to see a tank fall out of a plane? It’s here. Want to see a helicopter take on missiles? It’s here. Want to see a twist of romance in the middle of breathtaking action? It’s here.
This story, complete with the performances in both acting and special effects is a powerful concoction especially for those in need of a testosterone built blockbuster of the summer. “Hannibal” Smith loves it when a plan comes together – Trust me by the time the credits roll – you will too.

Inception Review. Leonardo Dicaprio shines. {Film}

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What people do when they are asleep eh? We all know what happens when people talk in their sleep. Some people that I know have had to come up with some insane excuses for explaining what they have said. And if you think that is bad I have even had the pleasure of knowing one young female that would be walking through her favourite high street store doing her shopping of all things. As a young kid I used to love watching my pet moggy sleep – and cackle with laughter I saw her legs kick as if she was chasing a squirrel up a tree.

The sleep state remains a mystery to most of us. It holds the happy times the bad times and even our darkest, deepest secrets. No wonder so many movies have been about it. What would happen if someone could come into your dream – not like the Freddy Krueger variety but a normal average man, a friend perhaps? What if they could steal your secrets? Take your ideas? Or even implant new ones? That is the exciting idea behind Inception.

Leonardo Dicaprio is Dom Cobb, a master dream thief who enters the dreams of others to obtain information that his targets for one reason or another keep hidden. His skills and abilities have cost him everything that is dear to him, but one day he is given a second chance to turn the situation to be turned around by doing one last job. However, it is not going to be easy. Typical of Christopher Nolan’s style of direction there are unforeseen enemies, critical moments where everything matters. In a world where reality and dream are the same this mind bending film not only pushes Cobb and his team of specialists to the limit but the viewer as well.

So how good or bad is the film? Well in my opinion the film is great. Dream films have been around for a while, check Nightmare on Elm Street, The Cell, even Supernatural has done it. But none so well, the dream world is truly expansive. Warner Bros and Legendary Pictures reportedly spent $160 million on this film and trust me – it shows.
Not since the Matrix have you been able to appreciate a virtual world like this.

Being a film by Chris Nolan you have all the tight camera shots and compelling characters that you would expect. The storyline according to some reviewers is that it is too mind boggling – and yes it is to some degree, sometimes it is just a bit too confusing, I would have had better luck trying to explain the offside rule to my girlfriend than trying to explain the film to her after wards, I think she had eyes for Caprio more than the movie itself, but thankfully being a matrix fanatic I found it amazingly easy to grasp.
For me though this is a no brainer, it is one of the must see films of the summer.

Go and watch it.

By Junior Smart.

How to stay street – savvy by John Collier – Keywood

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If new reports are to be believed then most people are probably afraid of becoming a victim of crime. It is a sad fact that many people get a kick out of preying on the weak but contrary to common beliefs there are many different things you can do to keep safe out on the streets. Junior Smart of the SOS Gangs Project offers the following advice to any young person who desires to be street savvy:

1.Walk with assertion – Even if you’re just out for a jog or to get some exercise, walk with confidence and intent and more importantly know where you are going. Walk upright, take your hands out of your pockets, and look where you’re going, not down at the pavement. This sends a strong signal of confidence and assertiveness. If you are walking aimlessly or an in an unfamiliar environment you stick out like a tourist and hence can be seen as a potential victim.

2.Only have what you really need– Are you heavy laden down with big name brands? You know what we mean – Monsoon, New Look, Topshop, Miss Selfridge? Does your purse or wallet stand out? If so you are an easy target. Instead when you ‘Next’ go out only take necessities and what you really need with you. Only take the important things like keys, identification and money. Try to avoid taking big wads of cash with you, instead take a debit card, which you can cancel quickly if it goes missing. What do you mean you feel naked? At least you will be a lot more safe.

3.Have success in your dress – Bags and holdall’s slung over one shoulder are easy to snatch. If you must carry a purse, sling it crosswise over your body. If you have long hair, avoid wearing it in a ponytail or in a braided way that trails behind you. If you must wear them, drape it over your shoulder to the front. The same rule applies if you’re wearing a scarf—try not to trail the ends behind you…and no matter how ‘street you feel’ avoid wearing hoods that obstruct your peripheral vision.

4.Have 60 60 vision – You have to be observant of your surroundings. Know what’s going on, where you are and what everybody is doing. Put your multi-tasking ability to the test and at the same time avoid looking like a nutcase. People who display an awareness of their surroundings are much less of a target.

5.More than a feeling – The hairs on your neck is the best radar – If you feel unsafe, go with the instinct. Change your route slightly or cut your walk short, if possible. A great tip if you can is to make a phone call while you walk. You’re far less of a target when you’ve got someone with you on your walk—even if they’re just on the phone.

6.Remember you are not to blame – If you become a victim of a crime. It is very easy to blame yourself, think of things you could have done differently or even beat yourself up mentally. Please remember though you are never to blame. Take time out, think things through rationally, call the police and speak to someone you can trust. People who prey on the weak rely on their silence. Don’t be the quiet voice.

Mobile phones

Mobile phones are an amazing invention, used by pretty much everyone. They are a useful tool to catch up on gossip, twitter like mad, and go facebook crazy all at the same time. When you are out alone, you can let others know your whereabouts and they are also for your own peace of mind. However, unfortunately they are also an easy target for street robbers – 38% of all robberies involve the theft of a mobile phone.
What can you do to keep your phone safe when you’re out and about!!!

Use a PIN code to lock your phone.

Make a note of the mobile’s serial number – you can find it by typing *#06# on your phone. The serial number can help to track the mobile if it’s ever stolen.

Register your mobile phone at www.immobilise.com

Be aware if you are walking and texting at the same time – you need to keep alert!

Security mark your phone with a postcode and house number. The best place to do this is underneath the battery near to the SIM card.

Keep your phone out of sight and safe. Many mobiles are stolen in public places like cinemas, pubs and nightclubs when they are left on a bar, table or on a seat.

Only give your number to your friends.

Avoid using your phone in the street and try and keep it on silent or vibrate so you don’t draw attention to yourself.
If someone is prepared to hurt you to get your phone, let them have it. It’s easier to replace the phone than you!

St Giles Trust: SOS Project. Creating Positive Futures by rehabilitating young offenders.

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‘Young Person (18) stabbed’ ‘16 year old girl robbed at gun point’ ‘Knives have become a fashion accessory among teenagers’ ‘Young person killed in cross fire’

It seems we can’t escape shocking headlines that are becoming standard fare for society’s media. If the headlines are to be believed then we are dealing with an issue that is out of control and one where there is no help or way out for young people involved.
According to recent Police reports there are around 200 gangs in London alone and according to a recent news report as many as 4 in ten young people have admitted to carrying a knife for protection.

Whilst this might be a gloomy picture there are projects out there that make a difference.
I spent the morning with Junior Smart; Team Leader for the ground breaking SOS Gangs Project under London Charity St Giles Trust to find out why his project is successful and what can be done to turn the tide concerning young people, gangs and violence.

Junior Smart is softly spoken thirty something male. An ex-gang member, his offence led to a ten year sentence inside prison and a meeting with St Giles which operate in a number of prisons around the country. Thanks to St Giles and initial funding by Southwark Council, The SOS Gangs project was born; the first complete ex-offender led project in the country. That was back in 2006, since then the project has been seen as best practice four years running and received critical acclaim. Even more importantly thanks to the project he set up around 300 young people involved in or at risk of gang involvement have seen their lives transformed as a result. This has earned him the nickname ‘the million dollar man’ by his contemporaries for the millions his project has potentially saved society.

He sits opposite me smiling – “Some people think that the best idea is to just lock these young people up, but they either forget or don’t know how much it actually costs. It costs around £40,000 to keep just one offender in custody for a year, multiply that by the current prison population (which is 86,000 and rising) and we literally are talking billions of pounds of tax payers money. When you think that 75% of young people who leave prison go on to re-offend within 2 years its just jaw dropping to think just how much money is wasted.

He chuckles – it actually costs more money to send a young person to prison than it does to send them to Eton college, can you believe it?”

I nod my head in absolute amazement; it is true that we are living in times where we are reminded consistently that there are cutbacks because every penny counts. But I am interested to know what the project is and how it works.

“SOS Gangs project is a tailor-made, holistic support scheme which is proactive in prisons and the communities” he explains, “Our core goal is to reduce re-offending by creating opportunities for change. We engage young people with the aim of helping them build realistic goals for the future and assist them to get back into education, training and employment. It needs to be tailor made because when you think about it, every individual has their own unique reasons for offending. It might be financial, it might be peer pressure, it might be grounded in their lack of self identity or embedded in where they live. The problem with common punitive punishments is that it adopts a blanket approach to all and never addresses any underlying issues, whereas with the project we take the offence as just a small part of a bigger picture.”

It is this core goal that has been the SOS Project’s prime area of achievement. In the four years that the project has been running over 300 young people have been reached with just 12% being recalled for further offences against the national average of 75%.

“Where there are underlying issues we address them, working with other agencies as necessary. So for example we might assist with helping them find accommodation or to move to a different area to get away from old associates, we might assist them in breaking free of their drug habits or in being violent to their partner.”

I am curious to know why the SOS project has succeeded
.
“I think our success has been down to a number of reasons, firstly we are completely ex-offender led, which always seems to be a bit taboo, but when you think about it, it makes absolute sense, who better to assist ex-offenders and young people than someone who has actually been there and done it, we are infinitely more credible because we know the challenges, and the pressures on young people; we know the terrain and its pitfalls. Secondly all the workers are passionate about what they do; they really care about making a difference. Finally we offer complete on-going support so our cases aren’t time bound. We are there until the needs are met.”

I ask about youth violence and gangs. Junior is quick to enlighten me. “I dislike the term ‘gang’ because of the way the media have blown it up out of proportion. Although the truth is quite serious, in reality it is not as bleak as the media would have us believe” he explains “for example it is not against the law to be in a gang, and in fact quite a few of the young people we work with don’t think that they are in anything more than a group of friends until things get out of hand. It’s then that they think they have no choice but to make a stand. So when we are working with young people what we are actually targeting their behaviour because it is that which creates the fear and the need to defend or protect. It is also that what creates the impression to the public that every group of young people on an estate or on the street is in a gang. The sad thing is just by fear alone a young person will carry a knife and then either end up arrested, with a criminal record or a worse still a victim.”

I ask if it possible that a perpetrator could also be a victim, Junior agrees “A lot of young people aren’t aware that around 60% of those that carry a knife end up stabbed with their own weapon. So when we work with clients, and in schools and communities we impart tools for young people to use on a daily basis for example around managing conflict so they are empowered to make better informed decisions.”

I ask about the recent headlines in the press. The room goes quiet, junior responds.
“It is the victims I feel really sorry for, it might be easy for cynics to think that because we are ex-offenders we are more on the side of the offender than anything else but that is simply not true. We do what we do to prevent victims. My first experience of crime was when I was just four years old and our home was burgled. I saw my mother go from being a top nurse to being a recluse in her own home. Part of me is infuriated at the way the system treats victims, it is almost as if they have an unspoken voice once an offender is arrested and, equally from an offenders perspective they never truly have to take into account the impact that their behaviour has had not just on people but on their community.” He looks at me seriously “it’s an understatement that not enough is being done, that’s why I am a big fan of alternatives such restorative justice and whenever possible we try to mediate on behalf of the client with the families and communities involved.”

So in this time of cuts does Junior think will there be any reduction with regard to the project I ask. Junior shrugs “You know, we are dealing with uncertain times and whilst we have been really fortunate that Southwark council and T2A have kept us going we are a charity and depend on the support of the people, charitable trusts and funds to stay where we are. It is really strange, because in times like this people always try and re-invent the wheel and instead of going with what works, they go with what does’nt. For me I am more concerned about the clients because if we are not here where do they go.”

Junior takes a strong look at the headlines and makes an acute point – “The problem is with the headlines is that it tends to make it very easy to forget that these are actually just young people. Someone’s son someone’s brother, uncle, sister or even father. Every time I hear or see a news report I am reminded of why I do what I do. These are young people with needs, with aspirations, just with the wrong motivation and they need our help.”

Case studies

Southwark case study

Client A – aged 22, this client is the eldest in a single parent family of two younger brothers.

Not typical of a criminal background this client did well at school and had ambitions of going to the army. He entered into pre-entry training in the armed forces at the age of 16. However during an exercise the client was caught in a fire and received serious burns to his hands and face. This had an emotional and psychological effect resulting in the client being medically discharged. The client became emotionally despondent and was diagnosed with depression. This became a catalyst for negative thinking and behaviour and subsequent drug use. Client A began to drift into negative circles and became involved in petty crime escalating to a street robbery, for which he received an 8 month prison sentence. He was released with no support, and then he committed another offence; burglary for which he received an 18 month prison sentence for which he was released January earlier this year. He came across the SOS Project through probation who had heard about our work. They who referred him to us because – like the last time he was released – he had no support networks and would yet again be homeless. They were also concerned that he would once more become involved in criminal activity and this time the seriousness would escalate. We began working with him in April; a credible mentor from SOS Project meeting him for the first time at his home. Since that time we have stabilised his living conditions by finding him permanent private rented accommodation. By working holistically and by networking with other agencies we engaged him with NACRO education and employment team to increase his employability skills. Client A has identified that he would like to go to college in September to study plumbing or computing. We are providing ongoing support to assist him in achieving this. Our SOS Project caseworker speaks to the Client 2-3 times a week, seeing him in person at least once a week. Our work with Client A continues and our focus with him is on self-empowerment and independent living. Client A attributes his turn around down to the caseworker he has working with him in his own words “if I didn’t have his support there is no way I would be where I am now”

Ashfield Case study – Client B

I met Client B on my first visit to Ashfield where he was serving his 2nd custodial sentence.

Prior to B’s first custodial sentence he was living with his step mother in south east London. Due to the nature of his first offence he was unable to return to the family home. Having never met his birth mother and an extremely troubled relationship with his father he was released with minimal support from social services. Post release Client B was homeless in an area where he knew no one and had very little support. As a consequence he re-offended and was given a custodial sentence. He was just 16 years of age at this time.

During his second custodial sentence he was granted his early release but with no accommodation he was unable to be released.

A second referral was made to children’s services which was returned. The case was finally accepted and Client B was found to be ‘a child in need’ by social services, which means that they were obliged to provide suitable Temporary Accommodation (T/A). So Client B was released without prior notification and told to report to his YOT where he was accommodated for the weekend.

Once his T/A had run out he was told to go to the Homeless Persons Unit to be housed as a homeless person. He was later found intentionally homeless and was offered no other help. He was provided with accommodation for one night by St Giles Trust.

Our SOS Ashfield worker consulted his solicitor and after which high court proceedings were started against the Local authority for them to find him as a child in need under sec.17 of the children’s act. The case was finally heard at the High Court and the local authority were found to be neglecting their duty of care and were order to provide Client B with suitable accommodation and support.

Client B has been working with the SOS project for nearly 9 months and is now attending college full time with aspirations of owning his own business one day.

www.stgilestrust.org.uk

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