Shane Meadows latest film This Is England

[Part 2]

The better thread revived

Watched it last night, great stuff.

It's one of those films that reminds me of my youth for loads of reasons. I don't want to spoil anything and I'll be seeing it again once it's released aswell as dragging everyone I know along.

Great performance from the young Turgoose. My favourite bit was the shoe shop, just so much like my own experiences of trying my hardest to get my Mum to buy me DMs.

Excellent soundtrack too, although I expected only skin/2tone stuff it was good mixed up with the Warp stuff.

 

[Dubversion]

Interesting point about this film - it is being rated 18, which no one can understand.

Why would that be?

according to a small Observer piece today, it's because the BBFC shat themselves about the racial language, "giving the wrong signals" or something. What toss.

Meadows could probably have recut, but that was never going to happen.

his next film is about a prostitute called Mary, which should be interesting..

 

[King Biscuit Time]

I've just booked tickets for a screening in the showcase in Sheffield on Sat 28th April. Theres a Q&A with Shane Meadows and (producer) Mark Herbert after

 

[Orang Utan]

Watched this AGAIN last night and it just gets better - it comes out on St George's Day and I urge you to go and see it - it needs your support as it's up against Spiderman 3!

 

[Orang Utan]

according to a small Observer piece today, it's because the BBFC shat themselves about the racial language, "giving the wrong signals" or something. What toss.

Meadows could probably have recut, but that was never going to happen.

I was speaking to the producer, Mark Herbert, last night (ooh la di da) and he said that it was given an 18 by the BBFC for the violence as well as the language, but that many local councils (Bristol, Westminster and Sheffield are the only ones I can remember) are overturning this and letting 15 year olds in

 

[Dubversion]

ah yeh, cos certificates are voluntary / advisory aren't they? I forgot that. Good on them

 

[Rollem]

i love shane meadows. 24/7 is one of my fav films!

saw interview with him and herbert, and clips of 'this is england' - looks great.

i will be witing until 27th to watch it thoguh, cant wait. the kid in it has never acted before apparently!

 

[Orang Utan]

the kid in it has never acted before apparently!

yeah, I heard some great stories about him, esp about the filming of the kissing scene

 

[upsidedownwalrus]

I lent this to a Canadian friend today. Shall be interesting to see what he thinks

 

[Orang Utan]

I lent this to a Canadian friend today. Shall be interesting to see what he thinks

It was received very well in Toronto - in fact, that's where its world premiere was

 

[upsidedownwalrus]

Watched this AGAIN last night and it just gets better - it comes out on St George's Day and I urge you to go and see it - it needs your support as it's up against Spiderman 3!

It's definitely one of those films which is rewatchable, isn't it?

 

[London_Calling]

Just looked at the listings for this week and - bollocks - The Lavender Hill Mob was on at the Ritzy at 11.00am this morning I could have done that.


Not to worry, This is England is showing on Sunday morning Sun Apr 22, also at 11.00am.


Wonder why's it's only for one showing . . .

 

[Orang Utan]

Just looked at the listings for this week and - bollocks - The Lavender Hill Mob was on at the Ritzy at 11.00am this morning I could have done that.


Not to worry, This is England is showing on Sunday morning Sun Apr 22, also at 11.00am.


Wonder why's it's only for one showing . . .

That's a preview - probably booked up now

 

[London_Calling]

Ah yes, probably.

Oh well, sorry 'bout that.

 

[Dask]

It's definitely one of those films which is rewatchable, isn't it?

Yup have watched it 3 times.

Am gonna go and see it next week on the big screen.

 

[upsidedownwalrus]

My cannuck friend still hasn't watched it - hopefully he'll give it a go this weekend and let me know.

A friend back in the UK who I consider quite a seasoned cineaste - he prefers arthouse/european films etc - gave Dead Man's Shoes a go recently and wasn't impressed with it

 

[upsidedownwalrus]

So far, mediocre reviews in independent, telegraph and guardian, good review in the ES and Channel 4.

Channel 4 also have this to say:

As Meadows has revealed, in the film's backstory Combo (like Stephen Graham, the actor who plays him) is mixed-race.

 

[andy2002]

As Meadows has revealed, in the film's backstory Combo (like Stephen Graham, the actor who plays him) is mixed-race.

Saw the film this morning and, with a couple of minor reservations,tought it was great. Stephen Graham's performance was just superb - he actually made me feel terribly sorry for Combo.

I hope his acting career really takes off now because he deserves better than having to appear in shite TV such as The Innocence Project.

 

[upsidedownwalrus]

Agreed, he and the kid are undoubtedly the stars.

Am I the only person who found an eerie similarity between Combo and Russell Crowe's character from Romper Stomper? I mean there are going to be similarities with such obviously similar characters, but nevertheless...

 

[Sunspots]

I was speaking to the producer, Mark Herbert, last night (ooh la di da) and he said that it was given an 18 by the BBFC for the violence as well as the language, but that many local councils (Bristol, Westminster and Sheffield are the only ones I can remember) are overturning this and letting 15 year olds in

Acording to this front page report in our local (Daily Mail-affiliated) rag, Bristol is so far the only council in the country to have granted this film a 15 certificate.

-Anybody know if this is actually the case, or have the aforementioned Westminster and Sheffield councils (-and others?) also done the right thing?

 

[Geri]

A friend back in the UK who I consider quite a seasoned cineaste - he prefers arthouse/european films etc - gave Dead Man's Shoes a go recently and wasn't impressed with it

Then he's a fool.

 

[Orang Utan]

Acording to this front page report in our local (Daily Mail-affiliated) rag, Bristol is so far the only council in the country to have granted this film a 15 certificate.

-Anybody know if this is actually the case, or have the aforementioned Westminster and Sheffield councils (-and others?) also done the right thing?

I dunno, that's what Mark Herbert told me

 

[DotCommunist]

Torrenting as we speak......ill buy a proper copy if it is any good

 

[Serotonin]

Saw this a couple of nights ago and I was incredibly impressed. Not only a real nostalgia buzz but funny and harrowing all at once.

The scene with Milky describing his home life to Combo was so difficult to watch, superb acting.

 

[mhwfc]

Acording to this front page report in our local (Daily Mail-affiliated) rag, Bristol is so far the only council in the country to have granted this film a 15 certificate.

-Anybody know if this is actually the case, or have the aforementioned Westminster and Sheffield councils (-and others?) also done the right thing?

FWIW, on Newsnight Review last night Kirsty Wark said that Bristol was so far the only council in the country to grant it a 15.

 

[alef]

Beautiful film! One of the best I've seen in a very long time. Really loved it and am going to now see all of Meadow's previous films.

I saw 24 7 when it first came out and it had no impact, but I'll give it another whirl. The sort of films I appreciate and respond to have changed a lot in the past ten years.

 

[zenie]

So far, mediocre reviews in independent, telegraph and guardian, good review in the ES and Channel 4.

Channel 4 also have this to say:

As Meadows has revealed, in the film's backstory Combo (like Stephen Graham, the actor who plays him) is mixed-race.

I never got that in the film?

Saw this last night, really really, good.

The beginnings really flattered the 'growing up' period in everyone's life but it was funny Yer the fashions and clothes were a bit OTT

I loved Lol and Woody in it, (well the guy that plays Woody is fuckin lovely too ) and all the other bit characters just really made it.

Bits of the film nearly had me in tears, it was so heartwrenching in places

The end where Combo goes mental and just tried to kill eveyone is great - that bottling *ouch*

It's no dead mans shoes but it's one for the DVD collection no mistake.

 

[upsidedownwalrus]

I still think one of the best scenes is very early in the film when Shaun first meets the gang. The "Harvey, what kind of a name is that" is just so spot on and really reminds me of real conversations back home

 

[Dubversion]

that whole interplay between the gang members is some of the best 'acting' i've ever seen, just totally natural and goodhumoured and warm. you really want to be their mate

 

[upsidedownwalrus]

that whole interplay between the gang members is some of the best 'acting' i've ever seen, just totally natural and goodhumoured and warm. you really want to be their mate

I completely agree. While I think that to some extent, as a film overall, the film is still a bit flawed (it's somehow hard to reconcile its two halves IMO), the way he captures it is, as you say, some of the most amazing, real and natural stuff I've ever seen, and that's why it's for me one of the best things i've seen in ages even if it is still flawed.