California Schemin'

Truth is stranger than fiction in actor James McAvoy’s directorial debut. Inspired by the real-life saga of Scottish rap duo Silibil N’ Brains, a.k.a. Gavin Bain (Séamus McLean Ross) and Billy Boyd (Samuel Bottomley), the film follows the unexpected journey of two lifelong friends from Dundee who dream of hip-hop superstardom. There’s just one problem: nobody takes two white guys with thick regional accents seriously in the UK’s early 2000s rap scene, especially not the London gatekeepers who laugh them out of an audition.

Back home and humiliated, the pair hatch a plan so absurd it just might work: they’ll reinvent themselves as hard-partying MCs from Southern California complete with fake backstories and convincing-enough American accents. Against all odds — and with sharp commentary on image, identity, and the music industry’s obsession with authenticity — they take off, conning even one of the industry’s top producers (McAvoy). But keeping up the lie without losing sight of what’s real becomes harder as the stakes rise, and as cracks beneath the bravado and between friends begin to widen.

McAvoy directs with swagger and real affection for his characters, capturing both the comedy and melancholy of a seemingly harmless con that spirals into something potentially darker. With knockout performances and a killer soundtrack featuring original music by Silibil N’ Brains, California Schemin’ is a fast-paced, funny, and poignant look at friendship, public personas, and the double-edged sword of ambition. A wild true story, perfectly tuned for the big screen.

JASON RYLE

Content advisory: strobing effects