This is England
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Movie Reviews of This is England
Movie Review: good theme but ...the plot?
Summary: 2 Stars
The themes of masculinity, and disallusioned youth seeking justice are great themes. I applaud the makers for taking it on. But what it lacks is something key to entertainment: an interesting story. It comes off as a mere social commentary in which Thatcher's 80s are subtley compared to the present. There was good acting, especially by the protagonist. But there was no real solution or direction given and therefore left one feeling a bit hopeless at the end.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: Superb
Summary: 5 Stars
I'm so glad this film saw some theater time in the states. Even in Pittsburgh of all places! Saw it at the first showing, having waiting several months to see it. Wasn't disapointed.
A lot of people are going to inevitably slag on this because there's never going to be a film depicting skins that's going to please everyone (some fresshies are going to inform us that not all skins... blah blah blah).
This is doubtlessly the most honest take on skins, and the writing comes off as realistic, as do the characters which has everything to do with stellar performances. And Graham who plays Combo... this guy is crazy, off the charts talented. Its a good movie even if you're not interested specifically in the subculture it depicts. If you've got a chance to, I say don't miss it.
I can't wait for the DVD to come to the States. I'm going to track down Dead Man's Shoes next.
Movie Review: talking
Summary: 3 Stars
A more manipulative, psychotic skinhead seizes leadership from a less experienced and mates-connected younger block, introduces a gang to political activities and murders dark-skinned follower, while boring talking is a movie action as seen by a pre-teen boy having just lost a father of him to the Falkland War.
Movie depicts a growth of Nazism in the UK and, perhaps, is interesting especially for locals comparing the past and present realities of day-to-day grass-root existence.
For outsider, this story of mother-of-democracy modern time xenophobia and racism is just a next testimony to a nothing-is-absolute practical notion.
Movie Review: Too much talking, choppy and amateurish. Good try though.
Summary: 2 Stars
Based on the filmmaker's own experience in a working class English neighborhood in the 1980s, this is the story of an 11 year old boy who is befriended by a bunch of skinheads. There was a bit of violence and some good acting but there was much too much talking. Even though it had a some emotional impact, I found it rather choppy and amateurish. I also found it hard to understand the English accents and think that there should have been subtitles for an American audience. The directors and one of the actors spoke with the audience later but even though I applaud them for trying, I would not recommend this film.