TEACHERS ARE GREAT! (REVIEW)
Jul 14, 2007 0:06:32 GMT
Post by GADGE! on Jul 14, 2007 0:06:32 GMT
HEY ALL,
WENT INTO MY OLD HIGH SCHOOL TODAY TO BUY SOME TICKETS TO A CONCERT THEY PUT TOGETHER TONITE. CAME ACROSS SOME OLD TEACHERS INCLUDING ONE OF MY ENGLISH TEACHERS WHO CONGRADULATED ME ON THE FILM AND TOLD ME SHE HAD WROTE A REVIEW ON THE FILM ON HER MYSPACE SO I THOURGHT ID PUT IT ON HERE AS AFTER READING IT I THOURGHT IT WAS A GREAT REVIEW AND IM SURE SHE WONT MIND ME PUTTING IT UP ON HERE FOR FANS TO SEE.
This is a thought-provoking film. I initially went to see it because one of the stars - Andrew Ellis - was a student of mine last year. However, I was also interested in the historical period that was depicted - the 1980s. Growing up in a politically turbulent time, particularly with a politically-aware mother, made this a particular point of interest for me.
The film is excellent in its portrayal of run down, 1983 England, where Meadows effectively manages to re-capture some of the spirit of the original skinhead movement - the movement that existed before its infiltration by the National Front and other neo-Nazi groups. It is brutal in its depicition of the poverty of areas of England and is forthfight in its views about Thatcher's policies, the graffiti on the wall of the local church reading, "Maggie is a twat". It also successfully exposes the reality of the human cost of the Falklands War, using genuine footage that I had certainly never seen before, of body bags and our troops swigging vodka in the moment of 'victory'. Meadows manages to integrate this seamlessly into the narrative and demonstrates how Thatcher's policies (ironically?) made a significant contribution to the breakdown of community in this country.
What I was less prepared for was its comment on the importance of masculinity in English society. This is a particular area of interest for myself, and the film clearly shows the central - and very necessary - position that men hold. The film depicts a 12 year old boy Shaun, played by Thomas Turgoose. His father was killed in the aforementioned war; he is taken under the wing of Woody, played by Joseph Gilgun. Sadly, this close-knit group is broken apart by Combo, played by Stephen Graham, who ultimately lets Shaun down through his violent actions. Meadows demonstrates aptly what the consequence of a broken family unit can be and how significant a father-figure is in the lives of children. Although set twenty years ago, this has clear and unremitting parallels for our society today.
WENT INTO MY OLD HIGH SCHOOL TODAY TO BUY SOME TICKETS TO A CONCERT THEY PUT TOGETHER TONITE. CAME ACROSS SOME OLD TEACHERS INCLUDING ONE OF MY ENGLISH TEACHERS WHO CONGRADULATED ME ON THE FILM AND TOLD ME SHE HAD WROTE A REVIEW ON THE FILM ON HER MYSPACE SO I THOURGHT ID PUT IT ON HERE AS AFTER READING IT I THOURGHT IT WAS A GREAT REVIEW AND IM SURE SHE WONT MIND ME PUTTING IT UP ON HERE FOR FANS TO SEE.
This is a thought-provoking film. I initially went to see it because one of the stars - Andrew Ellis - was a student of mine last year. However, I was also interested in the historical period that was depicted - the 1980s. Growing up in a politically turbulent time, particularly with a politically-aware mother, made this a particular point of interest for me.
The film is excellent in its portrayal of run down, 1983 England, where Meadows effectively manages to re-capture some of the spirit of the original skinhead movement - the movement that existed before its infiltration by the National Front and other neo-Nazi groups. It is brutal in its depicition of the poverty of areas of England and is forthfight in its views about Thatcher's policies, the graffiti on the wall of the local church reading, "Maggie is a twat". It also successfully exposes the reality of the human cost of the Falklands War, using genuine footage that I had certainly never seen before, of body bags and our troops swigging vodka in the moment of 'victory'. Meadows manages to integrate this seamlessly into the narrative and demonstrates how Thatcher's policies (ironically?) made a significant contribution to the breakdown of community in this country.
What I was less prepared for was its comment on the importance of masculinity in English society. This is a particular area of interest for myself, and the film clearly shows the central - and very necessary - position that men hold. The film depicts a 12 year old boy Shaun, played by Thomas Turgoose. His father was killed in the aforementioned war; he is taken under the wing of Woody, played by Joseph Gilgun. Sadly, this close-knit group is broken apart by Combo, played by Stephen Graham, who ultimately lets Shaun down through his violent actions. Meadows demonstrates aptly what the consequence of a broken family unit can be and how significant a father-figure is in the lives of children. Although set twenty years ago, this has clear and unremitting parallels for our society today.
