London (2005)

14% of critics liked it
(36 reviews)
56% of users liked it
(88,077 ratings)

A party becomes a metaphor for the wasted lives of a handful of young hipsters in this edgy independent drama. Syd (Chris Evans) awakes from the latest in a long series of drug- and booze-fueled benders when he receiving a phone call from a friend informing him that London (Jessica Biel), who… More A party becomes a metaphor for the wasted lives of a handful of young hipsters in this edgy independent drama. Syd (Chris Evans) awakes from the latest in a long series of drug- and booze-fueled benders when he receiving a phone call from a friend informing him that London (Jessica Biel), who recently broke up with Syd, will be moving away from New York for California with her new boyfriend in a few days, and that a going-away party is being thrown for her that evening. Syd hasn't been invited to the bash, but he decides to attend anyway, and brings along Bateman (Jason Statham), a bartender who moonlights as a cocaine dealer. Bateman is carrying a large supply of nose candy, and after arriving at the party he and Syd install themselves in the bathroom, where they snort line after line while guzzling tequila and discussing philosophical matters regarding love, sex, and emotional pain. The private party-within-a-party is soon joined by Maya (Kelli Garner) and Mallory (Joy Bryant), who share cocaine and sympathy with the guys until Syd learns that London has arrived, and he decides it's time to confront her. London was the first feature film for writer and director Hunter Richards. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: R, 1 hr. 32 min.
Directed By: Hunter Richards
Genres: Drama

In Theaters: Feb 10, 2006 Wide
On DVD: May 23, 2006
Studio: Samuel Goldwyn Films

Critic Reviews

J. R. Jones, Chicago Reader
Be very afraid.
Richard Roeper, Ebert & Roeper
You should avoid it like a bad case of whooping cough.
Gregory Kirschling, Entertainment Weekly
It's not so interesting to watch people on cocaine babble back and forth at each other.
Stephen Whitty, Newark Star-Ledger
'You are so annoying!' our hero screams in the heroine's face, halfway through London. 'You are 10 times more annoying than me!' our heroine quickly answers. They're both right.
Michael Rechtshaffen, Hollywood Reporter
The title refers to the name of one of a grouping of some of the most numbingly self-absorbed and obnoxious characters ever assembled in a single film.
Neva Chonin, San Francisco Chronicle
Boy meets girl, boy loses girl, boy spends hours in a bathroom snorting a mother lode of cocaine while annoying everyone within earshot with his tales of woe. Sounds like a great idea for a movie. Let's do it!
David Nusair, Reel Film Reviews
...ultimately comes off as a well-intentioned failure that admittedly might hold some appeal for fans of the various actors...
Lewis Beale, Film Journal International
An acting exercise (and not a very interesting one) disguised as a film.
JoBlo, JoBlo's Movie Emporium
...if you don't mind watching people who are better looking than you coking up for 90 minutes...
Andy Klein, Los Angeles CityBeat
...witless and pointless.
Jeff Otto, IGN Movies
London is a very simple character piece that is not for every taste. I recommend the film, but I fully expect some that see it based on my recommendation will curse my name come the end credits.
Eric Lurio, Greenwich Village Gazette
While it shouldn't work, it does.
Peter Sobczynski, eFilmCritic.com
Grating and wildly unpleasant from beginning to end, London is perhaps one of the least entertaining films that I can recall seeing.
Nathan Rabin, AV Club
London's pretensions far outstrip its dorm-level contemplation of life's big issues.
Chris Cabin, Filmcritic.com
I've seen more ferocious, and entertaining, spectacles at Raffi concerts.
Brill Bundy, Zap2it.com
The only thing more tedious than stoned people philosophizing about the existence of God is boys who can't bring themselves to say 'I love you.'
Maitland McDonagh, TV Guide's Movie Guide
[The] script is so free of genuine insight into his beautiful but childish characters that it's hard to work up any sympathy for their shallow, juvenile problems.
Timothy Knight, Reel.com
Let's hope this movie hasn't come out too early in the year to be remembered for a well-deserved Razzie.

Read all 18 critic reviews

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

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Featured Audience Ratings

Cassandra M

As the synopsis shows London is a drug laden adventure which centres in a New York Loft where a young man is trying to win back his girlfriend. at first i thought. 'another cheesy movie'. i don't know what made me watch it but when i was finished i was absolutely… More
As the synopsis shows London is a drug laden adventure which centres in a New York Loft where a young man is trying to win back his girlfriend. at first i thought. 'another cheesy movie'. i don't know what made me watch it but when i was finished i was absolutely GOBSMACKED!. 'London' is such an original and most importantly a very simple movie which is directed to its utmost perfection. Bateman (Jason Statham) is absolutely flawless in this movie as is Syd (Chris Evans). You begin to understand their characters straight away as both actors bring them to life wonderfully... i don't want to spoil the rest for you so ill finish on this note.. 'its a must see' ......
Conner R

A lot smarter and realistic than you might expect. It has a really well driven plot and none of the characters are corny or over-the-top like many other post-teen dramas. It shows you how utterly pointless most arguments are, but that there is always a chance for redemption. Chris… More
A lot smarter and realistic than you might expect. It has a really well driven plot and none of the characters are corny or over-the-top like many other post-teen dramas. It shows you how utterly pointless most arguments are, but that there is always a chance for redemption. Chris Evans and Jason Statham are the perfect match together, telling each other life lessons and handing out philosophy. The look, content and message is great, nailing the trust fund baby lifestyle perfectly and not just doing a cop out with numerous party scenes and sex.
Al S

It's sensational entertainment. Riveting, sexy, electrifying and wildly funny. A cool soundtrack. Chris Evans is electric. Jason Statham is brilliant. They deliver terrific chemistry with their pure powerhouse perfromances. This is the type of film that puts you in these… More
It's sensational entertainment. Riveting, sexy, electrifying and wildly funny. A cool soundtrack. Chris Evans is electric. Jason Statham is brilliant. They deliver terrific chemistry with their pure powerhouse perfromances. This is the type of film that puts you in these characters shoes and makes you feel what their feeling. Well writen and directed. Evans hits you like you wouldnt belive. Statham is an absolute surprise. These two actors give unforgettable performances that show their stellar star capability. A fantastic movie.
Mark H

Psychological drama about a man, upon learning his ex-girlfriend is about to leave for California, decides to crash a party thrown in her honor. Most of the film takes place in the bathroom where these self absorbed pseudo-hipsters pontificate about nothing while snorting endless… More
Psychological drama about a man, upon learning his ex-girlfriend is about to leave for California, decides to crash a party thrown in her honor. Most of the film takes place in the bathroom where these self absorbed pseudo-hipsters pontificate about nothing while snorting endless amounts of cocaine. Film has the questionable distinction of making an attractive and talented cast, so incredibly boring. Incidentally, Chris Evans, Jason Statham and Jessica Biel also worked together in Cellular, an infinitely better film.
Lady D

A very one dimensional film, aimed at the ?everybody?s been there? type of crowd. Hyped up with drug fuelled conversations about lost love, mainly filmed in a bathroom or in flashback to happier times. Very much an anti-climax of a film, which I found a little depressing.
Craig S

Directed by: Hunter Richards. Starring: Jessica Biel, Chris Evans, Isla Fisher, Jason Statham. I find it hard to really hate this film, I don't know why, I know that at times, some issues covered by the… More
Directed by: Hunter Richards. Starring: Jessica Biel, Chris Evans, Isla Fisher, Jason Statham. I find it hard to really hate this film, I don't know why, I know that at times, some issues covered by the characters are pretty insightful, but then it will go very overboard to the point where they just stand around whining. The movie was reasonably entertaining at times and it was a decent enough debut for director and writer Hunter Richards, but his characters, by the end of the film, just ain't likable and the 'emotional' scene just doesn't hit. What was extremely noticeable about these characters is just how flawed they really are compared to real people, how can anyone still be standing after doing around 10 or so lines of coke during the entire film, this is per character, how they didn't overdose I will never know and a man, who is wearing a $5000 jacket and he complains that he gets it wet, yet he smokes around 5-10 cigarettes through the whole film and everyone knows that enough smoke can permanently stain the scent of it. So from that you could say that I hated it, yeah it had its major flaws and the characters were unlikeable and whiny, but I somehow managed to sit through the film.....weird. And completely off topic to the film, Jessica Biel is one of the most beautiful women I have ever seen and that was one reason why I hired this film, hopefully one day, when I start making films, I will meet her.
Nani V

I like it that it wasn't a major film.
Walter M

[font=Century Gothic]In "London", London(Jessica Biel) is moving to the other side of the country on the following day which is certainly news to her ex-boyfriend, Syd(Chris Evans), who she has not talked to in two months. Enraged at first, Syd decides to crash her… More
[font=Century Gothic]In "London", London(Jessica Biel) is moving to the other side of the country on the following day which is certainly news to her ex-boyfriend, Syd(Chris Evans), who she has not talked to in two months. Enraged at first, Syd decides to crash her going-away party along with his very reluctant drug connection, Bateman(Jason Statham). Since they arrive pretty much before everybody else, they head upstairs to the bathroom to snort copious amounts of cocaine.[/font] [font=Century Gothic]At first, "London" may appear to be just one long drug-fueled stream of consciousness conversation in a bathroom(To be perfectly honest with you, if I had a bathroom like that one, I don't think I'd want to leave it, either) but as the movie goes on, a clearer picture of Syd's mindset presents itself which includes a failure to communicate, general avoidance of responsibility and melodramatic grandstanding which also might be indicative of other people of his age. Plus, the ending is cool, Jason Statham is fun to watch and thankfully there is no moralizing about the drug use.[/font]
Laurence C

Coked out hysterics occur aplenty in London, a lovesick chamber piece that treats empty hedonism with a surprising balance of solemnity and humor. Much of the writing here comes across as very brittle and cursory and whiny, and yet first-time director Hunter Richards' mise en… More
Coked out hysterics occur aplenty in London, a lovesick chamber piece that treats empty hedonism with a surprising balance of solemnity and humor. Much of the writing here comes across as very brittle and cursory and whiny, and yet first-time director Hunter Richards' mise en scene makes it clear that these characters (his two male leads, actually) are indeed meant to sound like fucked up near-sociopaths with dick size issues. Evans delivers a strong, appropriately erratic performance, and Statham would match him if it were not for a handful of scenes where he litterally explodes onscreen, and not in a good way. Biel's own take on ethereal, gorgeous-looking insecurity also proves to be a smart piece of casting.
Doctor S

Whee, another forced relationship crisis among profane substance abusers. What fun! Hated everyone I met during the time I watched, loaded with obviously written dialogue, and the only way people deal with each other is by yelling some permutation of "Fuck!" Ekes out an… More
Whee, another forced relationship crisis among profane substance abusers. What fun! Hated everyone I met during the time I watched, loaded with obviously written dialogue, and the only way people deal with each other is by yelling some permutation of "Fuck!" Ekes out an extra half star by briefly coming up for air with a couple provocative strands of thought before sinking back into the mire.
Lee K

i was looking for stuff i hadnt watched that starred he ever so cool jason statham, and low and behold the video clerk pointed me towards this one that i thouroughly enjoyed, not action statham but lots of dialogue which is cool
Chosen 7

Good film, a realistic approach to the Romance-Drama. Good performances by all, especially Jessica Biel and Chris Evans. For some reason this film reminded me of my first love. Also, there are some very interesting existential and philosophical discussions in this film.
Janice :

This was totally not modeled under the tried and true genre. There was a lot of dialogue that sometimes didn't make sense but overall it was quite interesting. For us it might be a bit boring to listen to these people talking about religion, sex, etc. but for them it seems so… More
This was totally not modeled under the tried and true genre. There was a lot of dialogue that sometimes didn't make sense but overall it was quite interesting. For us it might be a bit boring to listen to these people talking about religion, sex, etc. but for them it seems so interesting so you can't help but stare at the screen and take it all in. I esp. liked the ending because that's probably where most of the "action" takes place although i liked this flick nonetheless.
Linda K

I cannot stand the fuckin sob stories about this guy's love life.