Directed by Mo Ali and written by Jeremy Sheldon, MONTANA is a high octane tale of betrayal and redemption which centers on the unlikely bond between a 14 year old boy named Montana (McKell David) and Dimitrije (Lars Mikkelsen), a former Serbian commando, who work together to plot revenge against a powerful crime lord and his ruthless lieutenants. As our heroes prepare to take on their enemies, all the while trying to stay one step ahead of tough criminal investigator Rachel Jones (Michelle Fairley), Montana is mentored in the dark arts of assassination and learns the true meaning of friendship, honor and respect. The film also stars Ashley Walter Adam Deacon, and Dominique Tipper
If you liked Karate Kid or simply enjoy movies where a young man is mentored by an older wiser elder the you will probably like ‘Montana’ So what if it is a story that was been done before, we liked the way it was shot and the development of the relationship between Montana (played by McKell David) and Dimitrije(played by seasoned actor Lars Mikkelsen). Filmmaker Mo Ali kept us entertainment with just the right amount of action.
ABOUT THE FILMMAKER:
Mo Ali is one of the hottest directors on the UK urban music scene right now. From his infancy as a street kid in Saudi Arabia, to his childhood and adolescence on the estates of East London, he brings an understanding of the manner and language in which the youth communicate. With his extreme drive and visual bravado, Mo has already directed over eighty music videos.
Shortly after leaving University, Mo began working as a runner non-stop for two years unpaid, building up his CV and contacts within the industry. Around the same time Mo began to roam the UK urban music scene, it was there that he was able to cultivate his talents as an up and coming director. Most of the time, he could be found shooting free videos for independent and underground UK acts.
It was his hard work and innovative style that paid off and he got his big break directing Lethal B’s “POW” video. Soon the video and song became an instant hit which meant Mo’s reputation began to build and so did his clientele. At the age of twenty-one, using his newly found profile, Mo started to be commissioned by major record labels, giving him the perfect creative platform to shoot on film and then finally on motion control.
Mo has shot videos for a who’s who of British urban acts from the early underground grime days to the current chart topping pack of British urban artists. His ability to constantly come to the table with fresh ideas has seen him direct videos for acts including Tinchy Stryder, Chipmunk, Skepta, Jammer and many more. Mo continues to work with the most innovative artists creating stand out promos in the urban market.
Moʼs feature debut, the apocalyptic action-thriller ‘Shank’, was released theatrically in 2010 to considerable commercial success and critical acclaim. ‘Shank’ starred BAFTA winning Adam Deacon and Kaya Scodelario from ‘Skins’.
‘Shank’ was produced for £470,000, and since it’s release in 2010 has achieved over £1.6m in sales. It has sold over 180,000 DVD and Blurays, having entered the UK charts at number 4.
‘Shank’ has now been released in fifteen territories around the world, including North America, Australia, Germany and Brazil.
‘Montana’ is Mo’s second feature.
