Outlaw (2007) July 9, 2007
Posted by robwilliams1967 in : Drama, New Movies , add a commentWhen the directors (Nick Love) previous credits have been ‘The Football Factory’ and ‘The Business’ you know what to expect.As in the director’s previous movie’s, this stars Danny Dyer, a guy people either love or loathe, me? I don’t mind the cheeky cockney.The main man though is Sean Bean, a former paratrooper who assembles a gang of like minded individuals out to extract justice on Britain’s streets, something they see the law is failing to do so.
Very much like a Death Wish’ 2007, or the under-rated Michael Douglas flick ‘The Star Chamber‘, this is a movie about revenge and vigilantism.The film has received many negative reviews, The Guardian labelling it “crime revenge porn”, yes it’s non pc but the ideas in the film are what a lot of fed up Britain’s are thinking right now, something the po faced liberals hate to see expressed.
Things do get very daft in the final third of the film, the ‘outlaws’ get embroiled in a ‘Heat’ style gun fight when previously they couldn’t fight their way out of a paper bag, but the whole movie has an earthy gritty feel and the cast is a pretty good one, Bob Hoskins as a Police ‘grass’, a very subdued Danny Dyer and the always reliable Sean Bean.
7.5/10
Catch A Fire (2007) July 5, 2007
Posted by robwilliams1967 in : Drama, New Movies , add a commentSet in 1980’s apartheid South Africa, ‘Catch A Fire’ tells the story of Patrick Chamusso who’s life including hie family, is thrown into turmoil when he is accused of terrorism.After the beatings he, and his wife, receive, he enlists with the A.N.C to extract revenge on the oppressive regime in power.
The acting is of a high standard as you would expect from Tim Robins (as an anti-terrorist agent) but also from the unknown Derek Luke as Chamusso.From what I can gather the film is based on true events which make the appearance of the real Patrick Chamusso to narrate the final scenes even more powerful.
Chamusso first appears in the film as a family man out to look out for others, he coach’s a football team to help kids, his frame of mind though is damaged at the hands of the Police force, thankfully in real life as we find out he has now fostered , and housed, over 70 orphaned children since the collapse of the apartheid regime
7.5/10
This Is England (2007)
Posted by robwilliams1967 in : Drama, New Movies , add a commentAfter the quite awesome ‘Dead Man’s Shoes’ I was really looking forward to Shane Meadows follow up.Set in 80’s England, newcomer Thomas Turgoose plays 12 year old Shaun, his Father recently killed in The Falklands, bullied at school, he befriends a gang of mods and skinheads.Things change though when the gang is infiltrated by National Front member Combo and things start to take a sinister direction.
The performances are excellent, Turgoose a revelation, this is is first major role, in fact he couldn’t even get a part in his School play, Stephen Graham as Combo, another power-house performance.There are a few quibbles though, Shaun’s Mother disappears from screen when he gets involved with the NF and also Shaun’s ‘love interest’ was rather pointless and quite frankly unbelievable.
Those point’s aside, this is another great film from Meadows, not in the same league as the aforementioned ‘Dead Man’s Shoes’ but still a great effort and one the British Film Industry can be proud of.
8.5/10