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This is England
 

offline SValx from United Kingdom on 2007-04-29 16:19 [#02077368]
Points: 2586 Status: Regular



"Set in 1983, ‘This is England’ is the story of
12-year-old Shaun, a bullied youngster still reeling from
the death of his father in the Falklands War. During the
course of his summer holidays, Shaun makes friends with a
group of older skinheads, who take him under their wing and
show him the time of his life. But the arrival of racist
ex-con Combo changes the dynamics of the group, triggering
anger, resentment and eventually violence"

I just got home from watching this film and thought it was
amazing.In some places it was incredibly heart warming and
amusing, but other scenes were some of the most upsetting
I've seen. The setting was spot on. It was filmed in Grimsby
and Nottingham somewhere, but I've no idea where; nowhere
I've ever seen. The whole thing was so genuinely 80s,
including the shop faces and the houses, the costumes and
the graffiti, even the grimy, gritty film quality fitted
perfectly. Has anyone else seen it?



 

offline The_Shark on 2007-04-29 16:24 [#02077371]
Points: 292 Status: Addict



Those were the days.

No I've not seen it, but it sounds interesting and I'll be
sure to look out for it. I could Google for the director but
I am going to ask who it is here. Or is it a newcomer?


 

offline Sclah from Freudian Slipmat on 2007-04-29 16:25 [#02077372]
Points: 3121 Status: Lurker



Just saw Dead Man's Shoes tonight, great film. Forgot I
downloaded this one, got to see it tomorrow.


 

offline SValx from United Kingdom on 2007-04-29 16:29 [#02077376]
Points: 2586 Status: Regular | Followup to The_Shark: #02077371



It was directed by Shane Meadows and accorded to IMDB it was
based on his experiences as a youngster. The film was
dedicated to a lady who died in 2005. Her surname matched
that of the actor who played the main character, and so I
presume it was his mother.


 

offline marlowe from Antarctica on 2007-04-29 16:30 [#02077377]
Points: 24588 Status: Lurker



Total Film raved about this film -- it's on my to-watch
list.


 

offline SValx from United Kingdom on 2007-04-29 16:32 [#02077379]
Points: 2586 Status: Regular | Followup to marlowe: #02077377



Yeah it won 3 awards and had 5 nominations and won Best Film
at the Berlin Film Festival 2007.


 

offline Phresch from fucking Trondheim (Norway) on 2007-04-29 17:12 [#02077405]
Points: 9989 Status: Lurker | Show recordbag



it's brilliant and gritty. the acting, story and not to
mention the music set to it. i think shane meadows is one of
the most talented directors/writers out there right now.

and dead man's shoes is a must to watch!


 

offline clint from Silencio... (United Kingdom) on 2007-04-30 04:04 [#02077571]
Points: 3447 Status: Lurker



Yeah I'm really looking forward to this.


 

offline redrum from the allman brothers band (Ireland) on 2007-04-30 04:05 [#02077572]
Points: 12878 Status: Addict



nice one, dling


 

offline redrum from the allman brothers band (Ireland) on 2007-04-30 04:18 [#02077574]
Points: 12878 Status: Addict



slightly connected, this too is england, pathetic and
weak, letting out its final croaks of death.

and this is wales, which looks to be absolutely fucked
too.


 

offline johnl from Dublin (Ireland) on 2007-04-30 04:20 [#02077575]
Points: 172 Status: Lurker



I NEED THIS


 

offline jonesy from Lisboa (Portugal) on 2007-04-30 19:12 [#02077825]
Points: 6650 Status: Lurker



There has been much discussion about the BBFC awarding the
film an 18 certificate, despite the fact that many of the
actors are below this age. Some councils, including Bristol
have seen fit to overule the certificate.

I hadn't thought about film classifications until this case
came up. I think that once you reach 16 you're ready to see
anything. Hell, you can join the army and train to be a
killer at 16.


 

offline marlowe from Antarctica on 2007-04-30 19:27 [#02077827]
Points: 24588 Status: Lurker



Watched Dead Man's Shoes tonight, and now I'm totally
looking forward to seeing this.


 

offline SValx from United Kingdom on 2007-05-01 03:39 [#02077901]
Points: 2586 Status: Regular | Followup to jonesy: #02077825



Yeah, you're right actually. It did cross my mind how the
certifiacte for this was a bit strange. There's no sex scene
as such and no scenes of murder as such.. but there are
actual scenes from the falklands, a lot of swearing,
violence and racial hatred. I wouldn't know myself what
certificate to put it under, so I guess they were just
playing safe to avoid getting a load of complaints. I
suppose they also wanted to ensure that they were directing
their film at an audience who was old enough not to get too
easily brainwashed by some of the stuff the characters say.
But I suppose that's no age group really..


 

offline dariusgriffin from cool on 2007-05-01 04:19 [#02077908]
Points: 12423 Status: Regular



This sounds like pretty pointless social realism. What makes
it good as a film?

And I really don't get Dead Man's Shoes. It's seriously one
of the worst films I've ever seen, from the black-and-white
flashbacks with corny old-film filters to the dreadfully
unnecessary twist at the end. And the realism, the painful,
fetid realism.


 

offline Exaph from United Kingdom on 2007-05-01 04:22 [#02077910]
Points: 3718 Status: Lurker



i heard the director used to make films with his dole money
- theres some inspiration


 

offline jonesy from Lisboa (Portugal) on 2007-05-01 04:24 [#02077911]
Points: 6650 Status: Lurker | Followup to dariusgriffin: #02077908



What's wrong with realism? And was there a twist?


 

offline jonesy from Lisboa (Portugal) on 2007-05-01 04:25 [#02077912]
Points: 6650 Status: Lurker | Followup to Exaph: #02077910



Which is the inspiration; him or the dole money?


 

offline dariusgriffin from cool on 2007-05-01 04:43 [#02077923]
Points: 12423 Status: Regular | Followup to jonesy: #02077911



I think I remember a twist, we discover that oh god his
brother was dead all along.

Realism is good when it's done tastefully (like say the
films from the Dardenne brothers) but more often than not
it's an excuse, a lazy veil of grittiness and boldness over
a collection of clichés. It's a lie and brings nothing new
to cinema.

But actually what annoyed me the most in Dead's Man Shoe was
the music. It's not a soundtrack, it's just some compilation
of cool tunes playing on top of the images. It's pure
filler. Don't.


 

offline Indeksical from Phobiazero Damage Control (United Kingdom) on 2007-05-01 04:54 [#02077925]
Points: 10671 Status: Regular | Followup to SValx: #02077368 | Show recordbag



Is this a nasty film? I really want to see it but I don't
really want to go to the cinema to sit through something
thats just going to upset me. If it is too 'gritty' and
'realistic' then I will just wait for the hyperactive,
technicolour, super effects Hollywood spunk of Spider-Man 3,
Pirates Of The Caribbean 3, Die Hard 4.0 and Transformers.

I went to see Sunshine and I thought it was shit. I've come
to the conclusion that I think Alex Garland isn't that good
a writer.


 

offline Sclah from Freudian Slipmat on 2007-05-01 05:30 [#02077931]
Points: 3121 Status: Lurker



Really liked this film, gripping without being relying on
shock and melodrama. Gives a good insight in the nature of
hate groups and gang mentality such. It's a very interesting
period too, musically and culturally.

I like that dialect, by the way. Scouse?


 

offline Skink from A cesspool in eden on 2007-05-01 06:33 [#02077955]
Points: 7483 Status: Lurker | Followup to dariusgriffin: #02077908



So something like irreversible was too much for you then?

Anyway... I thought dead mans shoes was really very, very
good. I really want to see this film as well.


 

offline SValx from United Kingdom on 2007-05-01 06:34 [#02077956]
Points: 2586 Status: Regular | Followup to dariusgriffin: #02077908



Pointless? How? Like I said, the director made it based on
his own experiences as a kid and the film was a tribute to
the lead actor's mother. How could that possibly be
pointless? I think if you'd read my first posts or any of
them thereafter you would understand why I thought it was
good as a film.

Indeksical, it's a moving but excellent film. If you want
Hollywood then don't go and see it. That's one of the
reasons I liked it so much I think, because it is so English
and unHollywood with no special effects or overacting. I
loved the genuine humour in it and it all seemed very
natural. You might get upset but you'll also be touched by
it I think and laugh a fair bit.

Sclah, Combo (the main racist mental guy) is scouse, but
none of the others are. It was filmed in Nottingham and
Grimsby (east midlands). The woman in the shoe shop is very
much from Nottingham, eg when she says Show-der instead of
shoulder. Not sure exactly where the Shaun and his mum are
meant to be from because they moved to the area, so don't
think they were originally from there. They sound Northern
to me. Everyone in the film is meant to be from the midlands
upwards.


 

offline Sclah from Freudian Slipmat on 2007-05-01 07:09 [#02077961]
Points: 3121 Status: Lurker | Followup to SValx: #02077956



I thought you ment Combo from this board for a minute,
didn't make much sense. Lister from Red Dwarf has a scouse
accent, right?


 

offline dariusgriffin from cool on 2007-05-01 09:18 [#02077976]
Points: 12423 Status: Regular | Followup to SValx: #02077956



That's what I mean, retelling your little personal life
experiences doesn't necessarily make great art, however real
and harsh and emotional and. This is especially true of
cinema, which is much more than basic storytelling (which by
the way is probably the least interesting part). So anyway,
I haven't seen it, how's the film?

Irreversible is quite great and I wouldn't call it
realistic.


 

offline SValx from United Kingdom on 2007-05-01 10:09 [#02077984]
Points: 2586 Status: Regular | Followup to Sclah: #02077961



Ha, no I did choke on my drink when Combo first came on
though and I heard his name :D

Darius: Urgh just read the thread to find out how the film
is. What more could we possibly tell you? Why don't you
watch it instead of going on about something you have no
idea about. I'd hardly call what this lad goes through
"little". What do you want from film?


 

offline Indeksical from Phobiazero Damage Control (United Kingdom) on 2007-05-01 10:11 [#02077985]
Points: 10671 Status: Regular | Followup to SValx: #02077984 | Show recordbag



A bit where a man chews off his own hand and a complimentary
backrub?


 

offline obara from Utrecht on 2007-05-01 10:23 [#02077986]
Points: 19377 Status: Regular



I think Combo hasn't noticed this thread yet


 

offline jonesy from Lisboa (Portugal) on 2007-05-01 12:07 [#02078003]
Points: 6650 Status: Lurker | Followup to dariusgriffin: #02077923



OK, you could describe it as a twist. But it was cliche-free
IMO opinion and not in the tradition of so many Hollywood
thrillers.

I wouldn't just describe DMS as 'realism'. Yeah, it is made
on an indie budget and goes straight for a potrayal of human
relationships as they are lived by many working class people
in Britain. But to just tag something 'realism', and then
dismiss it for this is a bit lazy IMHO.

I'm not familiar with the Dardenne bros. but your comment
regarding realism is rather sweeping and your dismissal of
DMS is a bit hollow. Care to furnish us with some detail?


 

offline dariusgriffin from cool on 2007-05-01 12:25 [#02078015]
Points: 12423 Status: Regular | Followup to jonesy: #02078003



I know, I'm bored and trolling. I don't actually have
anything against realism itself. I don't consider it a
realist film either by the way. Just reacting to comments
I've seen praising the film for its realism, regarding the
acting particularly. As if naturalism is some kind of great
ideal, when it's just another way to make a film, and a
pretty dangerous and limited one at that.

SValxor: As a film, how's the film? I've only seen you talk
about the story.


 

offline SValx from United Kingdom on 2007-05-01 12:37 [#02078017]
Points: 2586 Status: Regular | Followup to dariusgriffin: #02078015



Darigriff0r: I'm not entirely sure what you mean, I don't
think. The soundtrack, the filming, the storyline, the
actors and the setting were all amazing. What else would you
say makes a film? What would you like me to tell you about?


 

offline OK on 2007-05-03 15:58 [#02078946]
Points: 4791 Status: Lurker



there's character named LOL


 

offline redrum from the allman brothers band (Ireland) on 2007-05-12 17:39 [#02083010]
Points: 12878 Status: Addict



i thought it was quite shit, funnily enough, the main reason
being the storyline.

better than the shawshank redemption though.


 

offline Ezkerraldean from the lowest common denominator (United Kingdom) on 2007-05-12 19:05 [#02083042]
Points: 5733 Status: Addict | Followup to redrum: #02083010



would you agree?


 

offline bogala from NYC (United States) on 2007-05-13 00:50 [#02083105]
Points: 5125 Status: Regular



This film (haven't seen it, but) reminds me of 24 hour party
people in the way it captures the era. Captures the
aesthetic of the time really well. Im in my 30's so I grew
up with the most awful films and tv shows depicting music.
24 hour party people was the first movie that got the feel
for a time and place in music and culture. These sort of
films could be explored more, imho...Id like to see Gallo
make a film in this vein.


 

offline Anus_Presley on 2007-05-13 05:12 [#02083151]
Points: 23472 Status: Lurker



the firrst half of Dead Mans Shoes is grreat.


 

offline ecnadniarb on 2008-07-02 05:20 [#02219260]
Points: 24805 Status: Lurker | Show recordbag



I speak like Combo.


 

offline 010101 from Vancouver (Canada) on 2008-07-02 11:34 [#02219310]
Points: 7669 Status: Regular



I thought this was an awesome movie apart from the last 5
mins which was a bit sappy and a bit like a crappy pop
video.


 

offline tragedy from Gloucester (United States) on 2008-07-02 12:53 [#02219329]
Points: 4423 Status: Lurker | Followup to SValx: #02077368



It was fucking excellent.
top notch.


 

offline cronenburger from Ireland on 2008-07-02 12:57 [#02219330]
Points: 456 Status: Lurker



it was good, not great, but good


 


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