Syrup (2013)

Syrup is quite the enigma, as Max Barry intended, I’m sure. Based on the cult novel, the film explores the power of marketing on the human soul and society’s reliance on marketing to harness a sense of reality in what is essentially the circle of money and consumerism. The film relies on sex and image to drive this realisation in, and where better to start than with the beautiful cast. The cast almost amplifies the whole point the film is trying to make, for we have Shiloh Fernandez, an upcoming heartthrob in reality who seems to ooze bad-boy-delinquency and who plays a down-on-his luck creator and business manager – the image certainly fits the package. Then of course, there is Amber Heard, playing Six. Yes, Six. All part of the image, because when you say Six you think of sex and sex almost always leads to a yes – in business, that is. Here the character has been perfectly cast and though we never quite get a grasp on the person behind the image, there is always a hint that Six wants to give more. And we want to see it. Which is, of course, the whole point of the film - it’s all a marketing ploy. 

The basic premise of the film is that Scat (Fernandez) wants to become the living embodiment of the American Dream, and what better way to do this than through marketing. Everybody lives and breathes marketing, without seeming to realise it. This leads to the creation of first Fukk, and then Kok – yes, all very sexual. Because as this film proves again and again in various ways – sex sells. Yet along the way he faces many marketing and advertising disasters – mainly his campaigns biting him in the arse after someone dies because of the direct influence of his advertising savvy. This just emphasises the point of the film.

This was a random film I found, I’d never heard of it before and quite frankly I was mainly attracted to it because of the cast. There’s irony for you. Nevertheless I just loved its style and direction and the cast are perfect, both for the irony they lend to the point of the film and for their talent in executing it in a non-clichéd way, which could have happened, if it had been left in the hands of a cheesier bunch of actors.

Give it a go, not because I’m telling you. Not because it is a cult-smash. And definitely not because of the sexy cast. But because you will appreciate the lesson you learn, though it seems excruciatingly obvious when you think about it afterwards…

To cut a long story short...
Would I recommend this? YES. A film ramblers star rating?

That's it for now folks...