Film Review – California Schemin’

In the early 2000s, Scottish men Billy “Silibil” Boyd and Gavin “Brains” Bain were warmed by their dream of becoming rap stars. They had no industry connections, just ambition and confidence in their talents. They also had a gift for spinning lies. The story of the rap group Silibil N’ Brains was previously explored in Bain’s 2010 memoir, which inspired “The Great Hip Hop Hoax,” a 2013 documentary about the duo and their adventures in the music industry. Actor James McAvoy (joined by screenwriters Elaine Gracie and Archie Thomson) is also interested in the story of Silibil N’ Brains, inspired to make his directorial debut with “California Schemin’”, which dramatizes Boyd and Bain’s experiences as they attempted to con their way to music business glory. McAvoy brings energy to the picture’s opening half, capturing the excitement of deceit and the troubles of sustaining such a scam. The feature eventually slides into melodrama, but McAvoy has his moments of liveliness and character, getting the film upright before he loses his way. Read the rest at Blu-ray.com