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To indicate their status in the outlaw hierarchy of Nottingham, consider their latest theft -- dog food. Taking advantage of an unwary shopkeeper the gang snatch a few unguarded cases, despite having no inkling of what to do with them. Their usual channel, Lenny the Fence (Tim Cunningham), isn't interested himself, though he has some ideas; all dependent on his catatonic cousin Mad Terrance (Dominic Dillon). Inevitably the gang wind up no better off though, with only enough cash to get drunk and aggressive. Change is, however, in the air; Kate is fed up of listening to Jumbo beat Ruby in the next house along and wants out. The question is whether Malc feels more loyalty to her (and their kid) or to Jumbo.
The first venture into feature-length territory for producer/director Meadows, after two years of shorts, Small Time displays real heart. In writing about this hand-to-mouth existence, Meadows evinces a deep knowledge of his subjects' behaviour patterns and a certain affection for their position. Thus the little details, such as screw-top wine bottles to indicate a total lack of sophistication, ring true. Now this is, of course, in stark contrast to the Hollywood method, where made-up characters do fictional things. Instead it's as if the camera has been dropped into these people's lives, recording the trivia of their days. In consequence Small Time has many scenes where characters shout past each other and very little in the way of dynamic drama, elements that play better than they sound. Fortunately the film doesn't outstay its welcome, making it, in its own way, worth experiencing.
A dilemma facing the cast is that their characters are not interesting people and that they don't lead interesting lives. Instead they're wasters, content to sit around all day drinking and smoking, gossiping and arguing. Thus it's less a case of the actors giving performances, more that they appear natural in their roles and refrain from overemoting to the camera. In this the central four are quite successful, none mugging noticeably; as a team they are watchable, if not compulsively so. The not particularly accomplished cast thus accomplishes the central illusion, making us feel that we are party to real lives. So, Jumbo is a manipulative and hostile thug who forces Ruby to find respite with a vibrator. While Malc is an ordinary bloke caught in the trap of honour and responsibility. An unpleasant environment which Small Time makes real.
It's worth noting, however, that if you do plan to watch Small Time, don't go expecting an English Trainspotting; you'll be disappointed. What we have here is a low-budget flick, bereft of Hollywood production values but vigorous with energy and spirit. Hence the camerawork is erratic, the story collapses badly at the end and there's very little tension or pace, yet the film more-or-less triumphs on its own terms. Meadows has a keen eye for the tiny scams of these shell-suited denizens and when it comes to the nitty-gritty, he doesn't get all precious or pretentious. Small Time isn't the greatest film ever made, there are too many faults for that, but it does have the inner zest which so many big-budget affairs lack.
Note: Small Time is currently being shown together with one of Meadows' earlier films, the ten-minute long Where's The Money Ronnie?. An amusing and frenetic sequence of police interviews, following a robbery gone wrong, the short is memorable predominantly for its accompanying soundtrack.
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