This is England
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Movie Reviews of This is England
Movie Review: The coming of age of a skinhead in post-Thatcher England
Summary: 4 Stars
"This is England" is a riveting story about a lonely young boy who lost his father in the Falkland War and who turns to a group of young "skinheads" for kicks and friendship. All of the kids are tough troublemakers who get the kid, Shaun, involved in activities that no twelve year old should be involved in, but they are depicted as mainly a good group of kids, who don't have much besides each other and so really care about each other. They are into music and drinking and the occasional "spliff" but aren't haters and don't like violence. That is, until the return of an old friend who spent three years in prison and acquired a violent and totalitarian and racist streak, and tries to recruit the "gang" for his own "political" activities. Shaun, who is apparently based on the director's own past, has to make a choice, and the film is about how that choice will profoundly affect his young life. The film also draws an ironic connection between the colonialist activities of England overseas and the xenophobic and nationalistic tendencies of the homegrown skinheads. The music is perfect, and the film should be seen for the soundtrack alone; the filmmakers do a nice job tying the story to documentary footage from the era and seem to have created a spot on characterization of the period; the film is hard to watch, especially because everything that happens is happening to or is directly participated in by a twelve year old boy; and the language, while presumably authentic, is extremely harsh (both in the sense of its extraordinarily prolific usage of a word that begins with f, and in the sense of being hard for at least these ears to discern fully due to the heaviness of the regional accents). Still, if you like your films to open you up to a different world, and to be honest in their depiction of that world whether it is comfortable or not, and if you appreciate thoughtful filmmakers who take risks and who push in small ways the envelope of commercial filmmaking, then this is definitely one to watch.Movie Review: The Kinship and Dangers of Being a Skinhead in 1980s England.
Summary: 4 Stars
Shane Meadows' semi-autobiographical story of a dejected pubescent boy's transformation into a skinhead in recession-wracked England of 1983 earned "This Is England" top honors at the 2006 British Independent Film Awards. Shaun (Thomas Turgoose) is a defiant and cocksure 12-year-old who recently lost his father in the Falklands War. Surrounded by unemployment, malaise, and picked on at school, he finds companionship and an outlet for his frustrations among a group of skinheads whose leader, Woody (Joe Gilgun), takes the boy under his wing. This seems harmless until violent, insecure Combo (Stephen Graham) rejoins his fellow skins after a 3-year stint in prison, shattering the group's camaraderie with racism and crime.
"This Is England" dives into the skinhead counterculture that gave working-class young people a place to belong and share their dissatisfaction. Unemployment and a poor economy made them susceptible to the inflammatory rhetoric of the National Front, causing skinheads to be associated with racism and violence in the popular consciousness. The two stand-out performances are, not surprisingly, the most emotionally charged characters. Thomas Turgoose is completely natural as a foul-mouthed, moody youngster -who looks closer to 9 than 12. Stephen Graham makes Combo's instability and insecurity menacing, always in danger of erupting. I found the poor quality DV out of place in the period setting and less than this film deserves. But the fine performances are worthwhile. The only bonus feature on the IFC DVD (2007) is a theatrical trailer. No subtitles.
Movie Review: A film about skinheads? You've got to be kidding?
Summary: 4 Stars
That's what I said to the person who suggested this film to me. Then, I got a history lesson. Turns out, the original or 'Traditional' skinheads in Great Britain were a multi-racial bunch. Reggae was even one of their primary choices of music.
Shaun (Tomo Turgoose) is going through a tough period in his life. He just lost his Dad in the Falklands War, and he's understandably not doing too well. Unfortunately, a wardrobe malfunction makes him the target of a group of kids needing someone to pick on.
Shaun finds friendship and respect in a skinhead gang. At the time, the gang's led by Jamaican, Woody. Later, the original leader of the gang Combo returns from prison and he's gained a whole new racist agenda there.
Still, Woody is welcome and even a Black member can join, because Combo sees his agenda as anti-Pakistani.
"This is England" covers a lot of painful and controversial territory: student bullying, gangs, racism, war. It's not an easy watch--but a good one.
I think the characterization is some of the best I have seen in British films. Shaun, Woody, even Combo come alive on the screen. And yes, Shaun grows up--getting older and wiser, but still looking like a cherubic innocent.
WARNINGS:
Use of strong language
Violence
Juvenile misbehavior including destruction of public property
Tough subjects in general
Movie Review: Why are`nt there more movies like this?
Summary: 4 Stars
First of all, I have to say that I enjoyed this film more than any recent film I`ve seen in the past 2 years. Some may say that coming of age is a gentre that`s been done, but This Is England gives it new life. How can you not root for confused pre-teen Shaun? He`s an average kid in 1983 Britain who is befriended by a group of older teens who dress in punk fashions and love reggae music. The early scenes of Shaun and his new friends really convey the jubilation you feel when you`re young and hanging out with peers, however clueless you may be at the time. All is well until the appearance of ex-con Combo, an older guy who hangs with the neighborhood youth in order to recruit them to racist thinking and the National Front group. Shaun appears to take to his agenda at first, but then the plot goes down another path and there is a more positive ending than one would think.
The film does`nt sugarcoat adolescent behavior-Shaun and cohorts smoke pot and engage in petty vandalism- but neither does it aim for shock value. Every character is just amazingly real, an archetype of people we`ve all grown up with, no matter where you live or what kind of music you like. Extra points for the soundtrack- lots of Toots & the Maytals. And yes, we learn a bit about the politics of 80`s England, which is fascinating since you don`t always hear about recent history in Europe or America. An underrated gem I know I`ll watch many times.
Movie Review: Great Independent Film!
Summary: 4 Stars
This movie touches on a subject that isn't too well known amongst the general public. The concept of what a traditional skinhead is vs. a neo-nazi, and when the traditional skinhead movement turned into a political mess during the 1980's, and the Falklands being only a part of what caused a lot of the political chaos amongst the working class, the patriots, and the youth.
The story is told through the life of a young fatherless boy who lost his father in the Falklands war that befriends a group of traditional skinheads. He is tired of being picked on, and he's tired of being bullied. He's a loner, and the traditional skinhead group he meets become part of his family. When the group encounters Gumbo, a former member of the group, it's a world that the young boy never imagined, and a divide occurs between the traditional skinhead gang and Gumbo's National Front inspired movement.
I have to say that I found the story to be a little bit more realistic than "American History X," and a little bit more educational. The soundtrack to this film is also very fitting, and the soundtrack of traditional ska and northern soul music is wonderful. The characters in the film are also great, esp. the black skinhead, Milky.
If you want a feeling of what happened to the traditional skinheads, or just want an interesting independent film to experience, check out "This Is England."