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Once Upon A Time In The Midlands [DVD] [2002]
![Once Upon A Time In The Midlands [DVD] [2002]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51UxFRa4V9L._SL160_.jpg)
RRP: £15.99
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Editorial
Amazon.co.uk Review
Once Upon a Time in the Midlands is credited as the closing part in a loosely connected trilogy by director Shane Meadows. A Room for Romeo Brass (1999) and Twenty Four Seven (1997) preceded it, and ultimately the viewer will be hard pressed to discern anything other than the British Midlands locale linking them together. That and the generally grim tone. Here we have what boils down to a tale of a girl (Shirley Henderson) who can't decide between two guys (her ex, Robert Carlyle, or her current boyfriend, Rhys Ifans). Wrapped up in some easy comedy and framed in the occasional nod to the spaghetti western genre, the movie initially has plenty in its favour. Unfortunately, the intrusion of a B-plot, involving some Scottish thugs, overpowers the more pleasant family portrait. As a result, the stellar performances by Kathy Burke and Ricky Tomlinson get lost in the drama of the love triangle. After swinging back and forth indecisively, Shirley's conclusion to the tale doesn't have the emotional punch that it should have. This third Midlands tale may be the most accessible in terms of familiar characters and aspects of contemporary British life, but it isn't the kind of escapist movie experience suggested by its title. --Paul Tonks
If you like Robert Carlyle and Rhys Ifans.......
Review date: 2009-10-08 Rating: 8 out of 10
Once Upon a Time in The Midlands is a very good movie about fairly ordinary people. Illustrating the complications that can arise in lives that are never 'black and white' in terms of emotions. Excellent acting by Rhys Ifans and Robert Carlyle. Both favorites of mine for their gritty performances in many other good movies they are expert at their craft. This is not an exciting movie..but simply very good light drama with a lot of humour. The life of two people and a child in the balance. This is the setting for this movie. The child being torn between two people, one being her real father who is an utter waster (played by Robert Carlyle) and the other a sweet, loving and kind (if not very exciting personality)the lover, (played by Rhys Ifans). These two actors are well casted in these roles, as their own skills in acting are displayed to their best. All in all a good movie to keep. In the style of a good bit of British movie making!
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Reviews
Great Film
Review date: 2009-09-20 Rating: 8 out of 10
This is actually a really good film, very funny, and I laughed out loud a number of times throughout. If you want a good laugh with some genuine emotion thrown in, I recommend this film definitely.....
"I love your eyes....both of them!" What a great line!
Good but not his best
Review date: 2009-03-09 Rating: 6 out of 10
Until I came across Dead mans shoes I had never heard of Shane Meadows. I reviewed that and I really liked it as it was tough and gritty and a good British film.
This one seemed to get poorer reviews so I started watching it with less hope of enjoyment. Again I am supporter of British films because we have do it cheaply so the script has to be good as we cant afford special effects.
It starts with a cinematic cliches which is whenever the television is on in a film one of the characters always sees either himself being hunted by the police of someone he knows. As a result of this the story stats.
A bit far fetched that someone who has left his wife and daughter then goes to f ind her again just because he sees her on telly but this is the premise. Also it is a daytime television programme and his ex turns down her current boy friend who asks her to marry him. this I suppose gives the ex husband the hope of getting his wife and daughter back.
There is a side story about a robber and some clowns but this is a distraction just to keep up the tension.
We go down to the Midlands from Scotland and the story starts.
I wasn't hoping for much but she made th e right choice over which bloke she wanted and the acting was very good in deed. the best man won and it was very moving.
Not as dramatic as Dead man's shoes and no clever plot points but all in all a good film.
I feel the director liked the title Once upon a time in the Midlands and didn't do enough to keep justifying it. There was good western type music most of the time and there were set scenes that looked like pastiches of cowboy films but it wasn't sustained strongly enough. Anyway it made a good and memorable title.
If you are interested in British film this is a must see. I have no idea how many cars they have in Nottingham but everything one of the characters drove down the road they seems to be the only car on the estate roads. They can't have parking problems in Nottingham or maybe they could not afford to have any other extras in cars.
On the one occasion they were two cars on the road they collided.
A good film
Good budget movie.
Review date: 2008-10-17 Rating: 8 out of 10
Set in the Midlands, i bought this movie because i was born in Nottingham, i spotted alot of things that were familiar with the film so i loved it.
The film itself is good, with no American actors to spoil it, it drags on a little and i think that it could have had a better storyline, i just love everything lower-class about this film, language, cars, situations are all spot on.
Great film for anyone who likes British films.
Forgotten Shane Meadow classic.
Review date: 2008-08-17 Rating: 10 out of 10
If you loved Shane meadows last film A Room For Romeo Brass you will love this one very funny.
Dek(Rhys Ifans) and Shirley (Shirley Henderson) live together with Marlene (Finn Atkins) in a house in Nottingham.Dek Askes Shirley to marrie him on Live tv but,little do they know that Shirley's Ex Jimmy the gangster sees the show in Glasgow and comes to the Midlands for revenge.And the fun starts the movie is filled with Nottingham humor and accents Robert Carlyle is great as the gangster and it's all out fun.
Product Details/Specifications
Actor(s):
Shirley Henderson
Rhys Ifans
Kathy Burke
Ricky Tomlinson
Robert Carlyle
Creators:
Robert Carlyle (Primary Contributor)
Rhys Ifans (Primary Contributor)
Director(s):
Recording label: 4dvd
Manufacturer: 4dvd
EAN: 6867449008394
Binding: DVD
Number of items: 1
Format: PAL,
Release date: 2008-05-12
Audience rating: Suitable for 15 years and over
Region code: 2
Running time: 100 minutes
Theatrical release date: 2002