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Plot:
It's 1983 and school is out. Twelve-year-old Shaun is a lonely boy growing up in a grim coastal town in northern England, whose father died fighting in the Falklands War. Over the course of the summer...( read more 
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Recent Reviews
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MCT:August 17, 2008
There is no doubt that this film is a truly great piece of film-making. Shane Meadows crafts films in the same style as Martin Scorsese. We are given a glimpse into the lifestyle of a group of characters over a short period of time. It is very much a fly on the wall type of movie. The point of these films is to understand the actions of the characters rather than judging their actions. I have no doubt that there will be some people that tag this film as being racist which is rather missing the point.
The film follows Shaun a 12 year old being borough up in early 80's England. He has lost his father in the Falklands war and suffers bullying and isolation until he is befriended by a group of skinheads. The happy band are challenged when Combo is released from prison. Thomas Turgoose is good in the lead role and the direction/screenplay are also spot on the mark. The film is based on Meadow's own childhood and is quite mesmerizing at times.
I was gripped throughout the film and it also gave me plenty to think about afterwards. What more can you ask for when going to the movies? I suppose if you go to the movies for escapism then go watch something else, but if you want a gripping thought provoking drama then it doesn't come much better than this. Outstanding! -
MCT:August 11, 2008Often uncomfortable viewing, often hilarious, always riveting. A flawless recreation of what a grim place Thatcher's Britain in the 80s was. Brilliant performances from Thomas Turgoose as the young lead and Stephen Graham as the psychotic gang leader, as well as all the 80s nostalgia, make this a must see. My only gripe is that there are so many interesting characters you are left wanting to know much more of their stories than the film gives you.
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MCT:August 10, 2008This Is Excellent! Another of example of the greatness of British Cinema. It goes to show that budget cannot affect the quality of any film. This is England tells the story of a young boy, lonely living in a dull town with no friends. He meets a group of older boys who welcome him into their "brotherhood" and what follows is a beautiful film about growing up and the need to be accepted. Also follows one of the big problems in society, racism. You don't have to be English to enjoy this film, more people should see this.
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MCT:August 7, 2008
It's 1983 and school is out. Twelve-year-old Shaun is a lonely boy growing up in a grim coastal town in northern England, whose father died fighting in the Falklands War. Over the course of the summer holiday he befriends a group of local skinheads. With his pent-up rage and frustration, Shaun finds exactly what he needs in the gang-mischief, mayhem and brotherhood. He also meets the volatile and boorish Combo, an older skinhead who sees himself in Shaun. Adopting Shaun as his protege, Combo leads the gang down a hate spewing path that culminates in an irreversible act of violence. A great film based on Margaret Thatcher's crumbling Britain based during the time of the Falklands war. The kid was funny throughout the film. Shane Meadows directing for this film was great. The acting by the members of the cast were great. One of the best films of 2007.
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MCT:August 7, 2008
A gritty look at Thatcher's England, This is England deals with diverse and difficult issues. Whilst none of the issues dealt with is new subject matter for a film, the way in which the conflicts created by the interaction of these on different characters is sublime. The cast all deliver phenomenal performances, and the film is skillfully shot and directed. Unfortunately, I found that some of the plot surrounding Thomas Turgoose's character (stunning performance) was terribly unrealistic, and detracted from the points being made, rather than enhancing the impact and providing an innocent's point of view, as I'm sure was the intent.
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MCT:August 3, 2008
I don't know why I had this as "not interested'. It's a fine movie, about a boy in a run down part of England c1982. searching for a father figure...in very wrong places. The visuals are excellent, especially the use of colour, terrific acting and there are no flaws that I could see.
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MCT:July 17, 2008
It's a very good movie! About a 12 year old boy missing his dad and turns to a group of skin-heads, in England, for male bonding and the events that take place. This was a good movie and I highly recommend it!
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MCT:July 16, 2008Was so looking foward to seeing this film but it could have been so much better, I for one can't remember the skin's scene really being like that, or maybe my memory is just fading!!!!!!
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MCT:July 13, 2008ok. but a little too melodramatic and taking itself to seriously - Although Meadows does shoot nice scenes and the settings are painstakingly recreated from England circa 1979- the story and plot falls away to leave a predictable and empty film. Shame
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MCT:July 9, 2008
"Listen to me. He's a young lad. He's had a fucking bad week. So we bring him in wi' us to show him a bloody good time and you've just friggin back handed him roun' head. I'M DISAPPOINTED MATE!"
Of the existing generation of British filmmakers, talented director Shane Meadows is indisputably one of the most confrontational and forthright. The talent of Meadows is in the impressive films he continually creates. Meadows' creations can be gut-wrenching experiences; however in other films he demonstrated that he possesses the aptitude to challenge an audience on an emotional level. Those who've witnessed his 2004 film, Dead Man's Shoes, can definitely testify to this perspective.
This Is England is his latest work and marks an especially personal film for Shane Meadows. A great deal of the story is sourced from his former association with skinhead posses in the early 1980s. A staggering extent of authenticity has been accomplished not only through admirable production design, make-up and costumes - but moreover the skilful utilisation of stock footage and music originating from the period in which the story is set. This Is England opens with an assortment of stock footage concerning the Thatcher era and particularly the war in the Falklands. This instantaneously establishes the film's mood and institutes an atmosphere of conflict and ambiguity. Filmmakers Meadows makes it comprehensible that this isn't a movie about nostalgia...this is the 1980s as an aching, anguished, heart-rending memory. This Is England is a gripping film regarding a boy's pursuit for acceptance after the unfortunate death of his father. True to his typical filmmaking elegance, writer/director Shane Meadows pulls no punches. There are several scenes that viewers will find extremely confronting. British cinema hasn't been this remarkable since Danny Boyle's Trainspotting over a decade ago.
This compelling drama is centred on a young boy named Shaun (Turgoose) who lives with his mother (Hartley) in the Midlands of England. It becomes clear soon into the film that Shaun is struggling to deal with the catastrophic bereavement of his father who tragically died in the Falklands war, while also enduring the unremitting torment of school bullies. On Shaun's final day of the school term he is bullied severely by a bloke at school. Subsequent to this school day, Shaun is walking home alone when he inadvertently stumbles upon a small group of skinheads. Woody (Gilgun), the group's leader, takes an instantaneous shine to Shaun and offers him support with his troubles at school. Soon enough, Shaun meets the rest of the group and becomes a popular new member. The group provides the troubled young Shaun with the fatherly guidance and security that he severely craves.
The gratification of the group is unexpectedly interrupted by the return of Combo (Graham) following a stint in prison lasting several years. Combo silently took the blame for Woody years before, and immediately recommences a prominently authoritative role within the gang. But Combo's phase in prison also realigned his social and political stance. Combo addresses the group on what he anticipates will be their next phase, but his aspiration to have everyone engrossed in this racial hatred results in the splitting of the group. Young Shaun chooses the radical path after Combo instils in him an impression of misplaced patriotism. Combo perceives great promise in Shaun and treats him as a son. Shaun is offered Combo's abiding support and loyalty. As the fostering of racial hatred persists, Shaun is unexpectedly challenged with a situation that sincerely questions the ethical issue of a discordant and violent lifestyle that has befallen him. At a tender young age of 12, Shaun takes a mature evaluation of his life and of those who seek to nurture him.
This Is England is a truly extraordinary film permeated with uncompromising messages of the period and controversial viewpoints pertaining to the 1980s political situation. Meadows is capable of combining comedy and drama impeccably; there are great subtle laughs, but the film's jolts arrive with the strength of a kick to the head. Everything from the directing to the acting is first-rate. Typical for a Shane Meadows flick, the film is infused with infectious dialogue and fully-fleshed characters, although one of the film's principle attributes is that of Danny Cohen's cinematography that proficiently manages to encapsulate the bleak feeling that was evident of the time. Cohen's photography is both gritty and dour...with an impeccably set atmosphere.
The cast is lead by the astonishing Thomas Turgoose who smoothly expresses the assortment of diverse emotions the material calls for. Through intense workshopping, Turgoose has fashioned the character of Shaun through his own experience as much as director Shane Meadows'. Pinch-faced and awkward but brimming with prepubescent swagger, he's the film's shining centre and it'd be impossible to see a superior, more naturalistic child performance in the next few years. Special recognition must go to Stephen Graham as the vicious skinhead Combo. His dialogue is littered with profound uses of swearing and filthy scatological terms. The whole film builds up his overwhelming rage that is released on screen in an unforgettable few moments. The most haunting aspect of the film is its music. It's remarkable, unforgettable and is tweaked to absolute brilliance. The filmmaking cannot be faulted at all.
Overall, This Is England is an absolutely brilliant movie. Gritty, compelling, tragic yet funny - Britain has never exported a film of this perfection since 1996 when Danny Boyle made his mark on cinema with Trainspotting. Once again writer/director Meadows has set a precedent for British filmmakers and has obscured many of his filmmaking contemporaries. This Is England may not make for comfortable viewing but it is cinema at its best. The film is challenging, stimulating and confronting...this film cannot be missed at any cost. -
MCT:July 2, 2008
This could've been so good, but it just doesn't work. There are numerous good bits, but the whole film is disjointed and feels unfinished.
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MCT:June 25, 2008
Shane Meadows is a breath of fresh air. Was gagging to see this film, and was not disappointed. It was like being 13 again and I recognised every character. Combo was a fantastic character and Stephen Graham should be commended for his amazing portrayal of a man struggling with his conflicting drives that lead to nothing but rage and failure. Aaaaah, England...
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MCT:June 24, 2008
Been trying to think of things to say about this film but i kept getting all preachy, so im gona keep it simple and just say if you're English, grew up in the 80's then you need to watch this film!
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MCT:June 22, 2008
Different. Contraversial. Very explicit. Script consists of mainly adlib. Good story. That's all i have to say.
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MCT:June 21, 2008
great film. like meadows' other movies, it's a refreshing change from the happy endings and pointless subject matter of lots of modern films.
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MCT:June 16, 2008
Beautiful. More than believable and emotional acting. Gripping plot. Great paced script, with witty twists. Breathtaking photography. All based on true events. This movie brought me to early 80s England and moved me deeply. Must watch for people who like indies, thinkers, and period pieces.
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MCT:June 5, 2008
I heard many times of how good Shane Meadow's previous work, "Dead Man's Shoes" was, so i decided to watch this with high hopes and got the exact satisfation i wanted.
Set in the summer of 1983, "This is England" is a look at a young boy named Shaun (Thomas Turgoose) who from a lonely misfit grieving the loss of his father turns into a shaven-headed thug whose anger and pain are embraced by the local skinhead fraternity. There Shaun meets Combo (Stephen Graham) an ex-con, older leader of the group who takes Shaun under his wing. Combo's racism and threats of violence forces Shaun into a new dark and very violent reality, different to anything he has ever known.
I really enjoyed this and is probably one of the best English films i've seen. It's a shame that this film isn't that well known around the world.
This is sucessfully achieved as Director Shane Meadows does an amazing job of capturing the mood of 80's England and gets good results from his cast.
Newcomer Turgoose is surprisingly good and does a terrific job as Shaun showing fearlessness and genuine emotion. The other cast do fairly good performances too but i would have to say the best of them all would go to Graham, who plays Combo. He shows us plenty of fury and anger yet still manages for us to see that there's more to his character than just a racist skinhead.
Overall, even though i liked this film, the story somehow felt a bit limited. I thought it needed a bit more, maybe a longer duration of plot or character development...I don't know? This is good and fun to watch but it is nowhere near and lacks the raw power of "American History X". -
MCT:June 3, 2008
This is a nice film if you portray it as intended through the eyes of a 12 year old boy named Shaun.
However there is strong violence and language and it has a big part associated with Rascism. If you can just focus on the boy and not too much about all the other things, you will like this film. -
MCT:June 3, 2008
Worthy and honest portrayal of life in the 80's with some powerful scenes but lacking in Meadow's trademark humour.
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MCT:June 2, 2008
the movie starts out well - good natured and humorous with a young lonely kid being befriended by a group of skinheads. however the second half of the film involves two very serious skinheads with extreme views and try to indocrtinate the kid with their racist views. hard hitting stuff
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MCT:June 2, 2008
most power film i have seen this year!
it was so moving seeing the world through a guy boys eys. it also shows how molding a boys brain can me!
this film also shows me how power always wins as no one would stand up against this man as they new he was a powerful fighter and did not wont to risk getting the shit kicked out of them, i thought this film had a brilliant ending as even though this boy had been through a lot, he still had the brain to turn back!
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Comments
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WrellikWposted 34 days ago -
i thought it was a great film, rele gripping and rele believable proformances
posted 436 days ago -
a great look at life in the 80s and the thatcher years, and great performances all round, also a great follow up by shane meadows, after dead mans shoes, dident think he could do better
posted 465 days ago
