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Amazon.co.uk Review
If there’s a more exciting and diverse a film director currently working in the UK than Shane Meadows, then it’s reason to truly celebrate. In fact, the sheer quality of Meadow’s own output is enough reason to be enthused, not least his finest film to date, This Is England.
Set in the early 1980s, This Is England initially focuses on 12-year old Shaun (played by Thomas Turgoose, a real find), as he befriends a group of skinheads. Shaun bears the scars of the 80s, with his dad lost in the Falklands War, and his relationship with his new friends develops carefully across the first half of the film.
But it’s in the second half where This Is England soars. It’s not easy watching, as is the usual drill with Meadows’ best films, From a stunning tirade about the state of Britain, to moments of real unease and tension, it’s a terrific piece of cinema, and one destined to enjoy a healthy life on DVD. It’s also one that should, if there’s any justice, provide a major career springboard for its primarily unknown cast, and one that should get Meadows far more of the recognition he absolutely deserves.
Bluntly, not only is This Is England the best British film of the year. It’s a standout contender for the best film of 2007 full stop. It’s utterly superb, and it’d be remiss not to see it. --Jon Foster
Product Description
Please note this is a region 2 DVD and will require a region 2 or region free DVD player in order to play.
Roland Rat, Margaret Thatcher; Rubik's Cubes, the Royal Wedding; aerobics, skinheads... It's 1983, and the schools are breaking up for summer.
Shaun is 12 and a bit of a loner, growing up with his mum in a grim coastal town, his dad was killed fighting in the Falklands War. On his way home from school, where he's been tormented all day for wearing flares, he runs into a group of skinheads, who against expectations turn out to be friendly and take him under their wing. Soon Shaun discovers parties, girls and snappy dressing, and finds some role models in Woody, Milky and the rest of the gang. But when an older, overtly racist skinhead returns home from prison, the easy camaraderie of the group is broken, and Shaun is drawn into much more uncomfortable territory.
- Actors
Perry Benson, Joseph Gilgun, Stephen Graham, Kieran Hardcastle, Frank Harper, Jo Hartley, Vicky McClure, George Newton, Jack O'Connell, Andrew Shim & Thomas Turgoose
- Director
Shane Meadows
- Certificate
18 years and over
- Year
2007
- Languages
English
- Region
Region 2 - Will only play on European Region 2 or multi-region DVD players.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
9 of 9 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
This is not only a very good film, it is also a very courageous one, that attempts to go into the shades of grey of a very black and white world.
12 year old Shaun (played by the amazingly talented Thomas Turgoose) has lost a father in the Falklands, lives alone with his mother, and is a helpless victim of bullying inside and outside school. He lives in a world that is even bleaker than the surrounding environment, and it is not altogether surprising that he ends up making friends with an older group who spend their time hanging around in an underpass. This is where we see real warmth, humour and charisma, and the England where a cup of tea could solve most problems.
Where the film really takes off, however, is with the apperarance of Combo, a Scouser just out of prison, superbly played by Stephen Graham. Combo seems like a good guy at first, until he starts dragging Shaun into the world of racism and the National Front. The meeting of these two and their respective extreme emotional fragility is explored with delicacy and courage by Meadows. Meadows shows that even "good" people end up doing very bad things with tetrrible consequences.
This Is England manages to be moral without being moralistic - a major achievement, and one of the best movies of 2007.
12 year old Shaun (played by the amazingly talented Thomas Turgoose) has lost a father in the Falklands, lives alone with his mother, and is a helpless victim of bullying inside and outside school. He lives in a world that is even bleaker than the surrounding environment, and it is not altogether surprising that he ends up making friends with an older group who spend their time hanging around in an underpass. This is where we see real warmth, humour and charisma, and the England where a cup of tea could solve most problems.
Where the film really takes off, however, is with the apperarance of Combo, a Scouser just out of prison, superbly played by Stephen Graham. Combo seems like a good guy at first, until he starts dragging Shaun into the world of racism and the National Front. The meeting of these two and their respective extreme emotional fragility is explored with delicacy and courage by Meadows. Meadows shows that even "good" people end up doing very bad things with tetrrible consequences.
This Is England manages to be moral without being moralistic - a major achievement, and one of the best movies of 2007.
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
Another excellent film from Shane Meadows. I was 15 in 1983, and although I was never a Skinhead (I started off into metal, flirted with punk, dallied with electro before returning to metal and generally sticking with it) I've vivid memories of this era & this film is SO evocative, the clothes, the cars, even the shop fittings! Seriously, the production design is outstanding. This looks every bit as authentic as 1982's Made In Britain, ITV's well known Skinhead drama starring Tim Roth.
It's a strong film, very uncomfortable at times and many of the social issues addressed in the film are still relevant today, maybe even more so!
The acting is very intense & yet very, very natural as in Meadows previous movie, Dead Man's Shoes.
Don't expect the hardcore violence of Romper Stomper or the likes of Rise Of The Foot Soldier or Green Street - This is nothing like them - There is only one scene of explicit violence (although the build up to this is very disturbing) and viewers should not expect any scenes at all of rival gang wars with baseball bats & bike chains etc! It's very much grounded in reality, where even it's principal Skinhead 'villain', the fanatical Combo is shown to have flaws and weaknesses often missing from similiarly brutal characters.
Actually, the film depicts the Skins culture in a mostly positive fashion, where violence & intimidation was not the norm for many!
The language is VERY strong as you would expect and it shocks to hear a 12 year old boy using the F word liberally on film! Having said that, a walk around any high street today will soon erase that feeling!
Not giving anything away, but the ending is a little ambiguous; however 25 years on from 1983, many of This Is England's social problems are equally unresolved.
The score is very good, there's quite a bit of Ska & some Oi as the tone of the story darkens but also some excellent acoustic/orchestral pieces that really add feeling to the dramatics on screen - in much the same fashion as Shane Meadows previous work.
For anyone that liked: Made In Britain, American History X (nowhere near as violent as X) and the acting/direction of Dead Man's Shoes.
If you're just looking for punch ups, then this intelligent & provocative drama may dissapoint.
It's a strong film, very uncomfortable at times and many of the social issues addressed in the film are still relevant today, maybe even more so!
The acting is very intense & yet very, very natural as in Meadows previous movie, Dead Man's Shoes.
Don't expect the hardcore violence of Romper Stomper or the likes of Rise Of The Foot Soldier or Green Street - This is nothing like them - There is only one scene of explicit violence (although the build up to this is very disturbing) and viewers should not expect any scenes at all of rival gang wars with baseball bats & bike chains etc! It's very much grounded in reality, where even it's principal Skinhead 'villain', the fanatical Combo is shown to have flaws and weaknesses often missing from similiarly brutal characters.
Actually, the film depicts the Skins culture in a mostly positive fashion, where violence & intimidation was not the norm for many!
The language is VERY strong as you would expect and it shocks to hear a 12 year old boy using the F word liberally on film! Having said that, a walk around any high street today will soon erase that feeling!
Not giving anything away, but the ending is a little ambiguous; however 25 years on from 1983, many of This Is England's social problems are equally unresolved.
The score is very good, there's quite a bit of Ska & some Oi as the tone of the story darkens but also some excellent acoustic/orchestral pieces that really add feeling to the dramatics on screen - in much the same fashion as Shane Meadows previous work.
For anyone that liked: Made In Britain, American History X (nowhere near as violent as X) and the acting/direction of Dead Man's Shoes.
If you're just looking for punch ups, then this intelligent & provocative drama may dissapoint.
11 of 12 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
I was a skinhead during this period and the film captures the spirit of the movement.
Real skinheads were NOT into politics - real SKINS were into the music of Madness and our `bible` was The Story Of Oi ( A skinhead history ) by Garry Johnson.
Every actor in this film is 100% believable.
A classic masterpiece about a youth cult.
Real skinheads were NOT into politics - real SKINS were into the music of Madness and our `bible` was The Story Of Oi ( A skinhead history ) by Garry Johnson.
Every actor in this film is 100% believable.
A classic masterpiece about a youth cult.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Another great british film!
Always loved this film, so I bought it on blu ray. Looks great as all blu ray films do! Well worth the buy.
Published 22 days ago by Arron Rees
Realities
Real, natural ! Who wants to go deeper in the knowlidge of the real life, here in England,
the links, moving people, let watch !
the links, moving people, let watch !
Published 2 months ago by Stoyan
Good Movie
Just watched This Is England for the first time.
Its been on the planner for ages but have only just got round to it. Read more
Its been on the planner for ages but have only just got round to it. Read more
Published 5 months ago by D. Fortune
The real cost of Global-Lies!
This is England starts out portraying a depressed working-class ( or nowadays unemployed or unemployable)in a dreary urban background. Read more
Published 5 months ago by Turnbull paul
Good and bad
There is a charm to this film, there is also something very implausible about it. Young English men are not very good at articulating their emotional needs. Read more
Published 10 months ago by William Cohen
great dvd.
I BOUGHT THIS DVD FOR MY SON. HE LOVES IT. IT WAS A PLEASURE DEALING WITH YOU. FAST SERVICE,WONDERFUL DVD. THANK YOU.A++++++++++++++
Published 16 months ago by B. L. Kenny
Classic (spoiler)
The harsh reality of British socialism is displayed in raw terms by acclaimed director Shane Meadows whose BAFTA-winning triumph THIS IS ENGLAND (2006), set the tone for what was... Read more
Published 17 months ago by Mr. S. K. Mackie
Best. Movie, Ever.
You haven't lived if you haven't seen this film.
A very English films that reinforces the brutility the world can be. Read more
A very English films that reinforces the brutility the world can be. Read more
Published 18 months ago by Claire
Disappointing
In terms of its cinematography, 'This Is England' is well composed visually - the film achieves its objective in transporting the viewer into a specific part of Britain in the... Read more
Published 18 months ago by Dave Stewart
One of the very best
Superb film,suberbly directed great ensemble cast and pieces of music by my favourite composer Ludovico Eianaudi...An Oscar must be on the horizon!
Published 18 months ago by RTough
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