Tragic Traffic?

After viewing Human Traffic, I'd say that in terms of a plot there wasn't
a great deal of substance.

Just a group of people in Cardiff who are either unemployed or stuck in dead end jobs who choose to go out clubbing on a Friday, attend a house party
and get smashed.

As expected, the style of shooting was identical in a way to Trainspotting
with character introduction freeze frames at the beginning and it did look
like the sort of thing better suited to television rather than the big screen.

However it really gives me an idea of how back in the late 90s
club culture was insane with the likes of Carl Cox and Paul Oakenfold
being treated like "messiahs" if that's how they were referred to
and the film's soundtrack definitely lives up to that time period.

However one tune started sticking in my mind, even if it was only
used as background in a couple of scenes, that being "Cookies"
by Jacknife Lee.

Very similar in style to David Holmes and Bentley Rhythm Ace, I.E.
their tracks may not be heavily succesful sellers, but very popular
bed tracks on television.

"Cookies" in fact was heavily used for trailers on T4 throughout
the summer of 1999 in the days when Ben Sheppard and Dermot O'Leary
were hosting and I watched the strand religiously every Sunday morning.

In the days when it was all done live from Channel 4's lovely
entrance on Horseferry Road and the presenters actually sounded
like they enjoyed the shows they were broadcasting.

Back to Human Traffic and as always, my anorak was well and truly fastened
as I managed to spot a poster towards the left of the image below...



Yes, it's good ol' Berk from The Trap Door.

It's definitely worth mentioning Danny Dyer, who in this film plays
Moff, and that's not a typo.

Considering this was one of Danny's earliest film roles,
I'm convinced that they dubbed the voice of a cockney actor
over his scenes, in a technique not too dissimilar for Reg,
sidekick of the late Mark Speight on the mid 90s ITV Saturday morning series "Scratchy And Co". (0.20)

On a similar note when it comes to looks, I'm pretty certain that Danny
is the direct stunt double of "Showbiz Mitch" from Live And Kicking
who's voice graced the show for 6 series.

And to prove it, his appearance on the Priory in 2000, reunited with
the show's rock and roll presenting duo.

Whilst the film may not be 100% perfect, it's the sort of thing that has me longing for many a rowdy Friday night in London.

Only I'd swap the noisy nightclubs for the more sleazier offerings of a venue
such as The Shunt Lounge where Jane from Oz had her reunion.

Or with regards to the Jacknife Lee record, a drive in the bright sunshine
accompanied by The Stereophonics, Sixpence None The Richer,
The New Radicals, anything that defines that summer music wise.

I'm getting far too drawn in...