Once Upon a Time in the Midlands (2002)

51% of critics liked it
(74 reviews)
46% of users liked it
(3,429 ratings)

Shane Meadows directed this film, which is the third and final chapter in his Nottingham Trilogy which also includes 1999's A Room for Romeo Brass and 1997's Twentyfourseven. Starring The Full Monty's Robert Carlyle, Once Upon a Time in the Midlands is a twist on the traditional Western film,… More Shane Meadows directed this film, which is the third and final chapter in his Nottingham Trilogy which also includes 1999's A Room for Romeo Brass and 1997's Twentyfourseven. Starring The Full Monty's Robert Carlyle, Once Upon a Time in the Midlands is a twist on the traditional Western film, transplanting the action to modern-day Nottingham, England. Jimmy (Carlyle) is a small-time criminal who comes back into town after seeing his old girlfriend turn down a marriage proposal on television. Rhys Ifan (Notting Hill) co-stars as Dek, the jilted proposer who looks to stop Jimmy from rekindling the relationship. Once Upon a Time in the Midlands screened as part of the Director's Fortnight at the 2002 Cannes Film Festival. ~ Matthew Tobey, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: R, 1 hr. 43 min.
Directed By: Shane Meadows
Written By: Shane Meadows, Paul Fraser
Genres: Drama, Comedy

In Theaters: Aug 29, 2003 Wide
On DVD: Feb 10, 2004
Studio: Sony Pictures Classics

Critic Reviews

Roger Moore, Orlando Sentinel
The family dynamics are intriguing, and the performances mildly diverting.
Terry Lawson, Detroit Free Press
What Leone did for cowboys and crime, Once Upon a Time in the Midlands does for a more contemporary genre.
Randy Cordova, Arizona Republic
Some strong performances make it go by fairly painlessly, but inconsistencies involving plot and character keep it from ever being more than marginally involving.
Jeff Strickler, Minneapolis Star Tribune
The movie is so busy being quirky that it's hard to relate to it.
Desson Thomson, Washington Post
A little tedious to sit through.
Ann Hornaday, Washington Post
Always predictable in its outcome, but it still retains a certain charm.
Kelly Vance, East Bay Express
Like a Mike Leigh film on steroids, situations don't dawn slowly on these characters, they come crashing down on their heads.
Mark Pfeiffer, Reel Times: Reflections on Cinema
The title and the music suggest a Sergio Leone spaghetti western, but the setting and characters would be more at home in a Mike Leigh film.
Philip Martin, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
...a wry and likable movie that contents itself with the petty concerns, complications and conflicts that compose modern life.
Ken Hanke, Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC)
Clever and generally successful attempt to present a British domestic drama with comedic overtones, all in the style of a Sergio Leone western.
Matt Kelemen, Las Vegas CityLife
The top-notch cast makes this movie work. Carlyle is born to play the hard-to-resist rogue, and Henderson conveys a sexy vulnerability ...
Brian Gibson, Vue Weekly (Edmonton, Canada)
Once Upon a Time in the Midlands gets off some rapid-fire comic shots. . . . a daffy, charm-your-pants-off kitchen-sink comedy.
Marc Savlov, Austin Chronicle
In the end, Meadows' film lacks the bite it needs to make us care about this oddball trio, endearing though they are.
Rob Thomas, Capital Times (Madison, WI)
Put in Shirley's shoes, most women would be hunting around for a Door Number 3, and that's where Midlands ultimately fails to connect.
Steve Schneider, Orlando Weekly
The cast fleshes out Meadows' thin storyline with some comically rich character work.
Jeff Vice, Deseret News, Salt Lake City
It's safe to say that Leone has never in his career made anything as goofy -- or as sweet -- as this comedy.
Sean Means, Salt Lake Tribune
Only Ifans, with his hangdog expressions and dithering double-talk, generates any laughs or sympathy.

Read all 17 critic reviews

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Featured Audience Ratings

Mark W

Shane Meadows is without doubt, one of the best British directors around at present. He knows his way around the working class lifestyle of Britain with a welcome and refreshing outlook that has, until his arrival, been commandeered by the likes of Ken Loach and Mike Leigh. Waking up… More
Shane Meadows is without doubt, one of the best British directors around at present. He knows his way around the working class lifestyle of Britain with a welcome and refreshing outlook that has, until his arrival, been commandeered by the likes of Ken Loach and Mike Leigh. Waking up in a drunken haze Glaswegian crook Jimmy (Robert Carlyle) sees his ex, Shirley (Shirley Henderson), being proposed to on a daytime TV chat show. She spurns the proposal of Dek (Rhys Ifans) live on air, leading Jimmy to head back to his old town to claim back Shirley and his young daughter (Finn Atkins), that he left behind years ago. After "TwentyFourSeven" and "A Room for Romeo Brass", this completes Shane Meadows' so called 'midlands trilogy' and with the actors involved, this has an abundance of quality. Despite this though, it's the weakest of the trilogy. That's not to say that there's nothing to enjoy, there is, and its plentiful. It just seems a bit too lighthearted in comparison with Meadows' other films. The excellent actors involved put in fine performances. Ifans and particularly Carlyle are two of the best in the business; Henderson is one of the most underated of actresses, deserving of far more attention and adding Kathy Burke and Ricky Tomlinson for some mild comic relief is always welcome. However, with this undoubted talent onscreen, it only makes it more frustrating that they aren't pushed to the extent that they're capable of. I suppose this is down to Meadows prefering a more humourous approach and if you're aware of this beforehand then you might not feel as disappointed with the lack of danger that he normally applies to certain characters. His use of a spaghetti western theme throughout a 'kitchen-sink' family drama is a wonderful touch though. A good little comedy/drama that certainly entertains but it lacks any real emotional punch and should have made more of the fine ensemble of actors. Meadows' most impressive cast, yet strangely, one of his least impressive films.
Lady D

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… More
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.
Anthony L

I can understand why Shane Meadows might not have too many fond memories of once upon a time, he had lots of problems with the producers who tried to mould him and pigeon-hole his film in the same category as The Full Monty and other worthless British disasters of recent history. I… More
I can understand why Shane Meadows might not have too many fond memories of once upon a time, he had lots of problems with the producers who tried to mould him and pigeon-hole his film in the same category as The Full Monty and other worthless British disasters of recent history. I think the process has been beneficial to him though, it made a great director greater in my mind and as far as Once Upon a Time in the Midlands is concerned, it's just a few obvious flaws short of being a classic. I can totally see Shane Meadows intentions and I think he did brilliantly, this is a lovely film, miss it at your own peril!
Keith M

A different film from Shane Meadows. A nice little story that definitely strays from his usual dark story lines. Overall all though I'm always looking foward to a Shane Meadows film