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Goodbye Charlie Bright [2001]


RRP: £9.99
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Editorial
Amazon.co.uk Review

Goodbye Charlie Bright, Nick Love's 2001 rites of passage drama about a teenage group of petty criminals in a steaming South London summer, was never going to be a massive box-office hit. But it might prove to be a rather significant piece in the long run. If Paul Nicholls' star continues to rise as anticipated, it may well come to be seen as the film which first revealed his genuine potential as a big screen actor. The former Eastenders heartthrob turns in a fine, sensitive performance as Charlie, gradually realising that he has to find a way to escape the constraints of the life that is shaping up in front of him.

However, this isn't solely a Nicholls vehicle. Roland Manookian is outstanding as Justin, the dangerous, troubled companion for whom Charlie is the only source of stability. There's another good cameo from the ever-reliable Phil Daniels as an unbalanced Falklands veteran who becomes the catalyst for the rupture in their relationship and Charlie's escape. Other familiar faces cropping up include two more Eastenders veterans Nicola Stapleton and Edna Doré, and television presenter Dani Behr who is particularly good as the nurse Charlie befriends. The story is slight, but between them, partly thanks to Love's tight direction and script, the actors in Goodbye Charlie Bright generate a rather haunting little tragicomedy with moments of real pathos which deserves a long shelf life. --Piers Ford

Editorial
DVD Description

DVD Special Features:

Animated and scored interactive menus
Scene access
Trailer
Feature-length audio commentary by director Nick Love
Cast and crew interviews
B-Roll footage
Cast and crew filmographies
Production notes
Storyboards
Aspect ratio: 16x9 Anamorphic Widescreen
Soundtrack: English Dolby Digital 5.1 & 2.0

Editorial
Synopsis

The friendship between two boys from a council estate one summer.
Editorial
From the Back Cover

Goodbye Charlie Bright is the humorous and heartwarming story of the friendship between two teenage boys from a tough council estate. Set during a long hot summer it charts the close but volatile relationship between Charlie and Justin.

Goodbye Charlie Bright features powerhouse performances from Paul Nicholls (Eastenders, The Trench) as Charlie and newcomer Roland Manookian as Justin.


RAW AND PASSIONATE
Review date: 2008-04-16 Rating: 10 out of 10

I LOVED THIS FILM. I THINK NICK LOVE IS A TALENT IN WHAT HE DOES. HE'S VERY CLEVER WITH HAVING A MORAL AND MESSAGE, BUT STILL PROVIDED THE WONDERFUL EPRESSIONS OF 'LAD CUTLTURE AND EXCESSES.' I LOVE THIS FILM, AS IT WAS NICKS DEBUT IN THE FEATURE LENGTH ARENA, AND BECUASE OF THAT IT MAKES IT RAW AND FROM A YOUNG FILM MAKERS HEART. THE STORYLINE IS GREAT AS THERE'S NOT MUCH OF ONE IF THAT MAKES SENSE! ITS JUST THE TRUE LIFE WAY OF LADS ON A COUCIL ESTATE THAT DON'T HAVE MUCH TO DO, AND A STORY OF SOMEONE TRYING TO BREAK AWAY FROM THAT. SOME CLASSIC AND FUNNY MOMENTS. TOP FILM........

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Reviews


Everyone involved is at their very best
Review date: 2007-08-12 Rating: 10 out of 10

I had seen this film before, but it was only on seeing it again recently (after being told it was filmed not far from me on the Cambridge Road estate in Kingston, Surrey, standing in for Millwall territory) that I realise just how good it is.

Director Nick Love went on to do 'The Football Factory' and 'The Business', both of which were more obvious crowd-pleasers also exploring some of this film's central themes to some extent, but you can't help feeling that what he made up in audiences with his later projects, he perhaps lost a bit in heart (until his recent 'Outlaw' which is just plain rotten from start to finish).

Friendship, loyalty and masculinity are all key themes in Love's films and here they are right up front. The acting performances are fantastic. I have been fortunate enough to see Paul Nicholls, Danny Dyer and Roland Manookian on stage doing some of their best work, but it is easily matched here. Manookian as the best friend of Nicholls's Charlie is a particular triumph. Most of us know or have met someone like him!

This film has warmth, excitement, danger and feels extremely real. If I had a complaint at all, it would be that everyone in it looks so young compared to their later work that it makes me feel really ancient!

'Outlaw' aside, I have enjoyed Nick Love's films, but I wonder if he'll ever do something quite this good again...

Promising, but not a masterpiece
Review date: 2007-07-05 Rating: 6 out of 10

I watched this film expecting it to be a bit of a coming-of-age / gangster / dark comedy film. And it was a bit of all three.

This is one of those films which I felt could have been so good, but it settled for second best by trying to be cool.

The main strength of the film lies in the warmth between the main characters, and although they come from an area where image is everything, they weren't afraid to open up to each other within their small circle.

Maybe it's just because I'm a northerner, but thick cockney accents when mumbled took a bit of concentration - but the ear soon 'tunes' in to it.

There were some gems in this though. The America obsessed car salesman who dresses like a cowboy at first seemed like a shallow guy, but he turns out to be someone who cares about the lads in the film and seems to be struggling with his own secret homosexuality.

Most of the characters in this aren't boring 2 dimensional ones, they have depth and are genuinely quite interesting.

One of the main plotlines is how one of the main members of the 'gang' is seen as a bit pathetic and a hanger on, he is even known as "wife".

[spoiler alert] - "Wife" seems to finally impress the ladies and gain respect after shooting a man who was earlier involved in the death of one of the main characters. Everyone on the estate is onlooking as the police investigate the scene, Wife then comes in and gives himself up. The police hating onlookers cheer Wife for having a moment of infamy, it was this moment which severed my respect for the film as it was something that would never have impressed me. Infact, it would have made me feel that the character was more deranged/pathetic.

There was a host of real talent in this film, on of my favourite actors. David Thewlis was under used. The scope was there to make this a true British classic, but instead it became just an 'okay' film amongst many others.



GRIPPING
Review date: 2007-04-16 Rating: 10 out of 10

A magnificent movie starring DANNY DYER who is brilliant as always and surely the best British ACTOR since Ray Winstone.
The film is better than LOCK STOCK and more pacy and punchy than Get Carter.
I look forward to seeing this movie gaining the MERIT and PRAISE that it deserves.
A British classic up there with Four Weddings and The Italian Job.
I look forward to the next Danny Dyer - he will be BRILLIANT as Harry Harris in the bigscreen version of the gangster novel TILL DEATH US DO PART...

Brilliant
Review date: 2006-10-25 Rating: 10 out of 10

Not much to say but this film is better if your under 16. Anything Nick Love touches turns to gold.

Product Details/Specifications


Actor(s):
Nick Love|Paul Nicholls|Danny Dyer|Dani Behr

Creators:
Nick Love|Paul Nicholls|Danny Dyer|Dani Behr (Primary Contributor)

Recording label: Cinema Club
Manufacturer: Cinema Club
EAN: 0505502550423
Binding: DVD
Number of items: 1
Format: Anamorphic, PAL, Widescreen,
Release date: 2005-07-18
Universal product code (UPC): 505502550423
Number of discs: 1
Aspect ratio: 1.78:1
Audience rating: Suitable for 18 years and over
Region code: 2
Running time: 84 minutes
Theatrical release date: 2001
Language: English (Original Language)

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