Hey folks, Harry here with what sounds like a real heart warming flick out of the UK - and has a helluva great cast of folks involved. Might be forever till it gets here, if it gets to the U.S. Let's hope... Here's Shemus...
Hi Guys,
The usual story, long time listener....from Blighty. Call me "Shemus". I haven't written before and i'm not a mole, but do work in the industry.
Blagged an invite for a preview of ONCE UPON A TIME IN THE MIDLANDS, the new film from Brit director Shane Meadows, starring *deep breath* Robert Carlyle (The Full Monty, The World Is Not Enough), Rhys Ifans (Notting Hill, Human Nature), Shirley Henderson (Bridget Jones's Diary, 24 Hour Party People), Kathy Burke (Nil By Mouth, Kevin And Perry Go Large) and Ricky Tomlinson (The 51st State, UK sitcom The Royale Family). Now, with a cast like this you can tell this movie's going to be something special, and although it's certainly not going to help the Cameron-creamers get an industrial light and magic hard-on, Meadows has crafted a film with a quality you'll experience in few others this year: real heart.
For the uninitiated, Shane Meadows is a beacon of hope over here for film fans fed-up with the calling card slop served up by other young pretenders (mentioning no names Danny Cannon, Guy Ritchie and Paul Anderson, may god have mercy on your souls). Still only 29, he caused a buzz early on with 2 brilliant short films shot on a camcorder borrowed from his local unemployment centre; WHERE'S THE MONEY, RONNIE? and SMALLTIME. Raw, funny stories of suburban slackers, they proved a perfect antidote to the usual student short premise of filming their girlfriend's tit for 10 minutes and dedicating it to Godard. Stephen Wolley (Interview With The Vampire, Mona Lisa) was impressed enough to produce Meadow's first feature TWENYFOURSEVEN starring Bob Hoskins, followed by the dark 'second album' style A ROOM FOR ROMEO BRASS, both lauded by the critics but criminally ignored at the box office. Now, ONCE UPON A TIME IN THE MIDLANDS certainly isn't going to do Titanic style business either, but the cast alone should guarantee a raised profile for Meadows and it's clear he knows it, because the film shows a new maturity that should raise a lot of eyebrows.
The premise is simple - transfer the classic western plotline to a northern working class town drama! Carlyle is Jimmy, a smalltime crook returning to his home town after years in the wilderness, only to discover his ex (Henderson) and their kid shacked up with a new man, the mild mannered weasel Dek (Ifans). With a gang he double-crossed also on his tail, Jimmy has to decide if it's time to hang up his pistol and settle down, or continue his cowboy style life.
Meadows has lots of fun subverting the western traditions, but the film is really a tragi-comic tale of growing up and realising that sometimes love can't conquer all. Carlyle does well in a role that is really a reprisal of his Full Monty persona, but the real interest lies in the relationship between Ifans and Henderson, both of whom are fantastic. Henderson has a wide eyed innocence that instantly makes you want to protect her for ever, and is without a doubt destined for big things, while Ifans really cements his position as one of the most interesting and brave actors around. His role is a really difficult one to pull off, turning from pitiful wimp to upholder of justice like a mutant Gary Cooper from space, but he really nails it. The supporting cast are all superb too, especially Kathy Burke who as always steals every scene she's in.
I think the film really is Meadows growing up, a Brit version of Kevin Smith at the time he made Chasing Amy or Neil La Bute doing Nurse Betty. Like those films, he doesn't completely pull it off and sometimes the comedy and drama sit a little uneasily together, but during a summer sitting through merchandising opportunities masquerading as films, this movie is a real breath of fresh air. Hunt it down if you can because believe me it'll restore your faith that there are young directors out there with a passion for film, instead of glorified pop videos.
anyway, rant over! hope this is of interest to you!
