And it was sometimes very funny with it's witty script.
That was a gritty film, not glamorising the violence, and Focused on Bex's family life struggling with his obsession of football. It's a shame then that he has gone slightly downhill remaking the classic BBc drama of the eighties. Sometimes his movies and him are subliminally referred as the British Uwe Boll. But as Bex and his gang clash with rival firms across the country and the violence spirals out of control, Dom realises he wants out - until he learns it's not that easy to simply walk away. Accepted by the gang for his fast mouth and sense of humour, Dom soon becomes one the boys. As it stands it's a much better looking and better made film than Love's 2007 effort OUTLAW and is fairly watchableÄom is a teenager who finds himself drawn into the charismatic world of football 'casuals,influenced by the firm's top boy, Bex. Cynics might say that's because there's no way someone of Love's reputation could get someone of the stature of an up and coming Gary Oldman to carry the film as the main character, can you imagine Danny Dyer as Bex !. The second half does borrow heavily from the original teleplay but no doubt anyone who can remember the original will say the original was better and harder hitting This is a great shame because it's something of a brave decision by Love to retell the story from the point of view from Dom who was a relatively minor character from the 1989 FIRM. This is a pity because it tends to ruin the first half of the movie. These anachronistic aspects are totally distracting. As someone who was a teenager in this period let me tell you now there's no way anyone would have a shell suit or that type of hairstyle in the early to mid 1980s.
Indeed there's a TV report that Leon Brittain is home secretary which means it's set in 1983-85. But this illusion is contradicted by the musical soundtrack with artists likeSoft Cell, Tears For Fears and The Rock Steady Crew which gives the impression it's 1983 or 84 at the latest. Likewise the hairstyles indicate that it's 1989-90 when the first film was set. Characters walk around in shell suits which were once considered to be cool in about 1989 or 1990. It's the cinematography that will be your abiding memory of this film The problem is that while you're watching the film and old enough to remember the 1980s you'll be forever scratching your head wondering what year it's set in. The cinematography by the ironically named Matt Gray gives the impression that we're seeing an up and coming Roger Deakins in action and one wonders why Gray is confined to television.
Instead he shoots a movie that has a wonderful rich look. Wisely Love decides not to follow this type of directing style. This film a remake of the highly regarded Alan Clarke drama from 1989 is a previous attempt to be cynical Clarke was along with Loach and Leigh the master of British realist cinema.
If the film was called RAY WINSTIONE PLAYING HIMSELF SORTING OUT SOME NAUGHTY CRIMINALS it probably wouldn't have been such a success but hey there's nothing like a little cynicism if only to irritate and annoy the luvvie film critics who can't get enough poncy art house cinema. Of course the fact that it's made a million quid at the box office is probably down to the title. Despite Nick Love being the most criticised film director working in Britain today his remake of THE SWEENEY has topped the UK film this week.