I think Shane Meadows is an exceptionally talented director: this is not one of his better efforts. Nonetheless, there are some great moments and some standout performances, but it all seems to be much ado about nothing. Starts off strong and runs out of steam pretty quickly. Plus, it's hard to like these characters at any given point in the story.
Kathy Burke gave a great performance. I thought the young lass did a great job n all. The other cast memebrs were alright. The story line was ok with not a lot happening, but enough to keep you interested. The Midlands background was good with a typical sort of lifestyle for the area. I thought it was worth watching, but I prefer some of the later Shane Meadows stuff more. I thought the best part was the way Meadows managed to capture that family closeness in the community.
Been waiting for a while to watch this and found it hard to get hold of. You can certainly see the 'Shane Meadows' stamp on this one, but in comparrison to his other films, it doesn't quite measure up. Meadows himself, is pretty aware of this, as he has spoken of this in interviews.
That being said, it's a light entertaining film with some great British actors and although that worked to a certain degree, Meadows talent lies in being able to pick fresh talent/untrained actors creating a gritty life-like situation. This was more of a 'roughed up rom-com'
I did like the use of the talk show though, which strangely hasn't been used in any films that I am aware of.
Paying homage to the westerns of Sergio Leone in both its title and some amusing set-pieces. Lot of laughs, excellent performances and some genuine and touching (not sentimental) emotion. I've watched this film multiple times and still amused and care about the characters.
Very disapointing. The biggest budget Meadows has ever had to make a film and it just doesn't work for me (massive fan). Great acting from all but not carried forward enough with a very poor script.
calling all shane meadow fans, before exellent dead mans shoes, in his own words he did this misfire, again set up north, robert carlyise is a guy coming back to town, but his sweetheart is happily married to rhys ifans, and he wants to win her bsck, so we get a nervous husband going about his day working himself up of a prospect of loosing his wife to this blast frm the past, this film is not really that bad, yes meadows disowns the film but dont even let that put you off, it is the bottom of pile for his films, but considerintg his other films are twentyfourseven, a room for romeo brass, dead mans shoes and last years exellent this is england, calling this a average film on his c.v would be quite inpressive, the storys okay, maybe a bit too long, but rhys ifans especially is great, what is missing is naturalistic acting from non actors, or non proffessional actors, you donr get whats sen in all other shane meadow films, but put him out of mind when watching, its enjoyable, a mistake in his eyes,which lead to dead mans shoes, so a great thing then, meadow fans who havent seen it, its not bad, give it a go
Shane Meadows has to be one of the best British Directors of modern time.
Although this is not one of his best (see A room for Rome Brass and Dead Man's Shoes) Once upon a time in the Midlands gives a much more gritty & realistic slant on the romantic comedy genre than many of the recent british attempts (most of which feature hugh grant!)
The acting is wonderful by Ifans, Burke & Henderson.
A bit crap. For a film with this title, you'd expect a little more about the midlands in it, for a start, Nottingham - who cares? should have been Birmingham. Secondly, all of the cast were from somewhere else, Burke - cockney, tomlinson - scouser, ifans - welsh, carslye - scot, the main girl - scot. I mean c'mon! The sergio leoni music over the top didn't deliver the humour it intended and just seemed... off.
Almost fascinatingly bland, (intentionally of course) representation of the Midlands. Worth watching for all the home-grown stars, if a little lacking in substance. Even when he tries his best, Shane Meadows proves he can never stick to a full film of comedy, as even in this family-orientated romance, a few, almost accidental appearing, glimpses of Meadow's trademark gritty violence are revealed.
n the past few year the british film industry has mostly stuck to certain genres; The fluffy middle class comedy and the it's grim/up north/in wales/ being poor etc.
There are rare excpetions to this rule, however and this is one of them. An almost fluffy, but grim enough to seem real, 'up north' comedy, much in the vien of The Full Monty. The cast of the usual suspects do well and show that they're much more than than TV sitcom and the 'best supporting actor' roles they're confined to in bigger ( read- American) pictures. Robert Carlyle (the only 'Big' actor) is relegated to suportting cast and, about time too, actually uses a scottish accent!!!
The wide camera angles and extensive use of crane and exterior shots give this fill an unexpected openess, and in many ways it is a modern version of the western, the bad guy storms into town, fights the local good guy for the girl and the good guy throws his heart to the mercy of the girl. A kwik-fit and miners clubs western if you like.
Well worth seeing and much better than your average run of the mill comedy. Watch out for a 'blink and you'll miss it' completely unrecognisable Reeves and Mortimer
MCT:October 9, 2008
MCT:September 10, 2008
MCT:May 27, 2008
MCT:March 27, 2008
MCT:February 28, 2008
MCT:October 2, 2006
