How would you define California Schemin’?
The noble art of acting is arguably being something that you are not, essentially trying to project a persona of someone you are not. A bit like Keir Starmer. It’s the same for the duo in James McAvoy’s directorial debut, California Schemin’.
The story of California Schemin’
Gavin (Seamus McClean Ross) and Billy (Samuel Bottomley) were two real life white Scottish rappers whose dream was to escape their full time jobs in a call centre in Dundee a city that’s known as the city of Discovery. The only thing the duo discovered was that they were in dead end jobs and instead head South for an audition finding themselves almost instantly dismissed by a pair of nauseatingly trendy tosspots dismissive of their act because they’re Scottish – although in fairness as one of the duo has that facial hair anomaly – the moustache-less beard that looks like he’s wearing a chin strap for his hair wasn’t helping matters. It’s a sort of English bigotry against the Celts that will forever saddle the pair with the sort of instantaneous disregard that meets Meghan Markle whenever she opens a meeting with Netflix execs telling them, ‘I’ve got a great idea for a show!”’
But it’s their spur of the moment decision to assume the mantle of being American rappers that suddenly sees them being taken seriously and their careers take off when signed up by a record company headed up by a ‘doesn’t suffer fools gladly’ James McAvoy no nonsense MD. From there on the grift is on as they find themselves becoming more and more successful until the inevitability of their cover up becomes unsustainable.
The fallout….
There’s a likeability about Ross & Bottomley in their respective roles being swept up with their overnight success but being subsumed by drink, drugs, girls and party culture to the detriment of, in Billy’s case his girlfriend Mary (Lucy Halliday) and in Gavin’s case his concern for the record company A&R girl Tessa (Rebekah Murrell) who has campaigned for them so heavily unaware of the truth.
What’s it like?
It’s a conventional tale of rock n roll, a kind of Caledonian ‘8 Mile’, with no real surprises but its underlying theme about integrity and being honest to yourself that rings true in an age of delusional nepo-baby’s such as Brooklyn Beckham a man seemingly so dim that he’s stuck for an answer when anyone says hello to him. As for James McAvoy, having worked with directors as diverse as M Night Shyamalan, David Leitch, Andy Muschietti, & Danny Boyle, it’s a solid debut perhaps lacking in stylish flair but bodes well for future films behind the camera.
related feature : We take a look at the James McAvoy thriller, ‘Speak No Evil’
related feature : Pennywise at the IT Chapter 2 premiere / James McAvoy, Jessica Chastain & Bill Skarsgard
James McAvoy talks about his directorial debut, ‘California Schemin’ at the first ever screening…..
Here’s the California Schemin’ trailer……
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