Been So Long (2018) User Reviews

A gritty, layered gem of a film with a new take on musical comedy

[guauen · 7/10 · 27 October 2018]

This is the first work I have seen from director Tinge Krishnan. I will be looking out for more from her.

Based on Ché Walker's stage musical, the film's script does meander a bit, but that's not all bad. The star power of Michaela Coel and Arinzé Kene in the main roles support the core story line, but the sub-plots embellish it, providing depth and context. Love, loss, diversity and community. Great stuff from Ms Krishnan.

Brilliant acting, slow movie

[mariam_najafi · 6/10 · 14 July 2021]

Really brilliant acting from the whole cast, had some excellent sections in the film but overall it dragged and was a bit directionless.

It's been so long...that a Rom-Com been different

[thepowerofrahali · 7/10 · 10 November 2018]

I'm not a fan of musical films, but this film is real, creative, and diverse. This film shows a very artistic form of expression of a single who's afraid to take a change on love again. I really enjoyed this film raw emotion. Not your average Rom-Com. Cheesy in the way the cast burst into song to express themselves, but Disney gets away with it every animation. *Bonus Grendry sings

missing excellence

[willsteenlandan · 13 November 2018]

On paper this film ticks all the boxes, on screen its fantastical execution carries no weight leaving you a little unfazed by all the jazz. Shame, British stories need to stories which transcend but not ones that are poorly tacted on with cheap 'devices'.

Easy going for adults, not for children

[traceytak · 7/10 · 20 October 2020]

I thought it was a decent easy going musical and the music wasn't just aimed at one age group which I appreciated. George MacKay has a good voice for singing which surprised me and I thought the song smile was lovely (Amazon ratings reflected this when I went to hear it again). Only thing that wasn't necessary was the sexual references, in a musical it doesn't really fit.

Awkward

[ThreePointFive · 4/10 · 1 December 2020]

We nearly gave up on this film after some of the horrendous songs at the start, but we soldiered on. Things improved when the two main characters were allowed to act somewhat naturally, they weren't perfect, but they worked well enough to move things along... until the next awful song. The seemingly random moments that popped up from time to time did add up to a very small something in the end, but not enough to warrant their inclusion - they just stole time from the only slightly interesting part of the story. Anyway, don't give up too quickly, it does improve - just not by much. Without the songs, this may have managed 6/10... as it is, it's an awkward 4.

Terrible on so many levels.

[mooveephantom · 3/10 · 13 January 2022]

I'll admit that I'm not the biggest fan of musicals in general, but there is some great ones out there. This is not one them. The acting, storyline, songs and characters were all cringe. Couldn't find myself caring about the main characters. Also George MacKay is seriously wasted here as an actor. I can't believe he agreed to this project. I know he's done a musical before with Hunky Dory but that film had lot of charm, this one was a hot mess.

ugh Give this a BIG miss

[lilyloo-79807 · 1/10 · 1 November 2018]

I found this so very dull. The music was really nothing memorable, not a single song through the movie caught me up or drove it's point home and the singing was naff. The story itself was pretty empty. None of the main topics were explored well enough. Her relatshionship with Raymond was all surface stuff, no indepth story about him or his prison time or his time before prison or why he still lived with his mother. A random christening and his friend's wife obviously didn't like him but no back story there either. Her sister was just all about sex and no depth about why she was the way she was. Kestrel just made a sudden appearance with no story about him either. Far too much going on and each storyline was skimmed over probably so they could throw some more hideous 'music' into the fold. Dull as dishwater and no idea how the positive reviews gave it a 10/10 meaning it is THE best film they have EVER seen.

One of the best UK films of 2018

[miabays · 10/10 · 28 October 2018]

Been So Long is one of the best British films of the year. It is gorgeously acted, fabulously shot and groundbreaking in its' representations and approach. It captures both the grit and beauty of London and Londoners, and walks the line between being aspirational yet real. Watching it with an audience that reflected the diverse city we see on screen was one of my cinematic highlights of the year because the reaction was huge and joyous. It's a reminder to film commissioners, programmers, gatekeepers - diverse audiences show up for diverse stories. Trust them. It'll reap dividends.

Annoying musical

[appleasha-43846 · 3/10 · 23 September 2019]

With such a great cast it's a shame three couldn't get away from really cheesy lyrics and a trite plot line and random uninteresting plot devices

Super cringe to watch. Poor singing and acting poor lyrics

[hardsodaever · 4/10 · 24 February 2020]

Oh man. London is beautiful the actors are beautiful but that's it. It really is cringe and cheesy. The lyrics is badly written. I didn't appreciate it at all and turned it off after half hour. Don't waste your time.

What a stinker

[livinglifing · 1/10 · 29 October 2018]

This film is such a mess...I don't know where to start. The horrible acting? The hollow script? The director needing a compass for direction? A blemish on beautiful London. Shame on this entire project...

It has BEEN SO LONG this movie...

[annakrudd · 3/10 · 21 October 2020]

3 stars as it was just watchable, nothing more than this. Non memorable music, which seemed rather pointless in this movie, but without it the movie would be also rather pointless as it is a complete non-story. Some random characters bringing nothing interesting. Watch only if there is nothing else going on in your life at the time.

Been So Long Lovely Movie and Genuinely Original

[johnbangs-37713 · 10/10 · 27 October 2018]

Been So Long was one of the best movies of this year's London Film Festival. It was genuinely original and ground breaking!. It made its points really well and got the essence of London. The acting was superb as was the music and its production. But don't ask me-ask the people who were at the LFF when it was shown. I don't think I've seen such a positive,enthusiastic response from film before.

Aweful

[livinglifing · 1/10 · 30 October 2018]

Just a really boring, poorly acted and directed nightmare. The storyline is weak and the film, advertised as romantic, is anything but. Suggest you avoid at all costs...

Trite, stereotypical, and ridiculous

[Valentijn78 · 3/10 · 28 December 2019]

So this is a romantic musical about a black woman, as written by white men. According, the script, plot, lyrics, and character development swing between insultingly stereotypical and downright bizarre.

Instead of actually honoring black music styles, the forgettable lyrics are sung to bland music with a baffling Jamaican accent by characters who had a normal British accent moments earlier, and/or with some random butchering of grammar and pronunciation.

The acting and the quality of the singing was good, even if everything they were directed to do was awful. Quality filming as well.

Don't get your expectations high

[arnovo-33000 · 4/10 · 22 October 2020]

I was quite disappointed with this movie. I love Michaela Cole's work because it's always so "straight to the point" and true but this... I get it is a musical, but the music is what makes the movie boring.

The plot is good but not well developed and there are way too many stories happening at the same time. Also, all those stories make no sense and it's hard to find a guiding line that connects all those characters.

However it's beautifully performed and shot. The actors are fabulous and I'm sure if this was on a stage in any theatre I would've loved everything from beginning to end. But the fact it is a film, it fails on transmitting to the viewers the emotion of the characters or the place where those feelings and actions come from.

I had to watch it in "instalments" so I wouldn't lose focus and actually appreciate the story.

It isn't a waste of time to watch if, like me, you pay attention to the performances, storyline or scenery and believe a bad story well performed is better than a great story underperformed.

A rather dull urban musical

[vampire_hounddog · 4/10 · 2 November 2020]

Simone (Michaela Coel) is a single Mum reluctant to get into a relationships has a rare night out and meets a nice guy (Arinze Kene) recently released from prison and has a up and down relationship with her.

Following the trials and tribulations of their relationship with a strong emphasis on Afro-Caribbean culture of Londoners in Camden. A modern urban musical with much local flavour, but the songs are forgettable and the thin plot more than a little dull and tedious, even if it is at least a good looking film.

Surprised

[mel-etienne · 10/10 · 27 October 2018]

Cringey at times, but isn't that life? The two lead characters had great chemistry and some of the supporting roles helped carry the story. The writing could use some work, but overall, it was a very refreshing experience. I'm glad I watched it.

NETFLIX: PG 7+ (Europe), are you serious?????

[mapika · 1/10 · 1 November 2018]

The opening scene starts promising, very refreshing and colorful. So maybe you would think, what a fun movie for watching with your kids?!

But no, really no, don't!!!

Quite soon you'd recognize, it's more about Sex... again...

with lyrics like " ... i want a man, i want a fella, i wanna grind a man, pound a man, inside me , all around me..." etc pp. it should be common sense, that this is nothing for children ... even the trailer doesn't show any of these scenes!

Above all the skript seems quite primitive, dull, shallow and unfortunately not funny, witty or even romantic at all. The music sounds good, the actors have good voices and the visuals are great, but everything else is forgettable.

By the way: i find the common sexualization of nearly everything and everybody in the media, music and film industry more and more repulsive and annoying! What is wrong with these people?! This has nothing to do with sexual freedom

Not good!

[ChrisStavroulis · 1/10 · 27 October 2018]

Nothing worth seeing here.Badly written and not well executed.Not recommended.

Loved it!

[mayamcnicoll · 10/10 · 27 October 2018]

I absolutely loved this film. It's funny, sad and by the end of it I was dancing and singing along. I've never seen London portrayed like this before and it's a revelation. The incidental characters, like the lovelorn crack-head, that pop up in the film really made it for me.

Something London has been waiting for

[clairebangsbarnes · 10/10 · 28 October 2018]

A great take on a London Romance. Acting is wonderful and music is spot on. Ace all round.

Original gritty comedy

[sarahannkennedy · 10/10 · 27 October 2018]

It's an original gritty musical comedy that gives a voice to single black mothers in a touching yet realistic way. Outrageous and daring. Worth watching

London shot in a new way

[bachora · 8/10 · 27 October 2018]

I usually hate comedies but this was an unexpectedly good feel good film with fantastic visuals