Once upon a time anywhere.

[Morell™]

Wanted to be the first to post on this one. seems to be an unpopular choice amongst the selection of films.
Personaly I was disappointed with this film. And ill tell you why.
The film is called once upon a time in the Midlands however the lions share of the main cast were not midlanders we have the Welsh Ihys Iffans,Scots Robert Carlyle, Scouse Ricky Tomlinson and Cockney Kathy Burke. All some of britains most talented and popular actors none of whom are from even close to the midlands.
Making for me an unconvincing back drop and odd mish-mash of accents.But I can understand that given the option any director would want to work with these people. Comments?
still the DVD extras make up for the full feature.

[Companero]

Any title that begins with 'Once Upon A...' deserves a place in the collection, providing it's not followed by 'Crime' or 'Christmas.'
And yes, I liked 'Mexico', too.

I like this film regardless of what other people have said and being a Spaghetti Western nut, liked its structure and references, too.

Besides, any film where Ricky Tomlinson gets a good kicking, is worth watching repeatedly, in my book

[Phill]

Still think the funniest bit is where the microphone flies out of the bingo callers hand and hit's Kathy Burke on the head ;D I woke the girlfriend up laughing!

[Dave]

My favourite bit has to be when Dek is discovered hiding under the bed and covered in talc, and he tries to comply with the gangs demand for info.

The funniest lines for me are when he says he saw Jimmy, "by a river" and then later exclaims "I'm a civilian!" in a defensive panic.

[bodhi]

even though i don't rate this with the other three i still find it immensly watchable, this has a lot to do with rhy ifans who i think is a superb actor.

this is my girlfriends favourite shane meadows film

[shanemeadows]

And my Grandads!

[Conkers]

I watched it last night and thought it was very good.

The Baby had it a bit rough?

[StrayGoat]

I agree with most other people - it's not in the same league as Meadows' other films, but it still has something going for it. There's something endearing about it.

I thought Burke and Tomlinson were out of place, and I like them both usually. Can't help feeling that there was more potential in this though...would have been nice to set it further south in Wolverhampton or something just to get the title 'Once Upon A Time in the West Midlands'...seems a much better title to me.

I love that scouse football coach that Paddy does on the extras..."yes, I've got big teeth, but what else have you got to say to me?".

[Morell™]

Do you know what, having trashed this film at the begining of the post i rewatched it and didnt find it as offensive as before. Have I changed? I think it makes me feel OK knowing that DMS follows this film, so its can be seen as a minor a blip between two amazing Shane films and makes it easier to stomach.

[Big Al]

I watched Midlands for the first time yesterday and actually really enjoyed it. It helped that I'm a big Shirley Henderson fan - though her accent was laughably bad! I enjoyed the second disc immensely. Shane's World is an absolute joy, and I really liked the rehearsals and the tour documentary. Rhys Ifans grew on me more from that than in any film I've seen him in.

On the whole, yeah the film is let down by so much lack of midlands influence, given its name, but I did really like it. I'd have preferred Paddy as Jimmy rather than Dek, maybe.

Anyway, I rate it above Smalltime and Twentyfourseven. But below DMS and Romeo.

[Big Al]

Just to add... Bits I really identified with in the film. When Dek stops the car and tells everyone to get out and he has to be on his own in spite of what might be the better or more sensible option, when you're in that zone where you can't let anybody help you or talk to you... And the way we do things like that on pure emotion sometimes, and the way he is about to just walk away and accept defeat because he feels beaten... And the part where it's too painful to hug someone. These are the kind of moments I want to put into subsequent drafts of my feature script, but in different circumstances.

[Morell™]

Man! I know its down to personal preference and all But 'In the Midlands' is lightyears behind Smalltime. Smalltime is actually my 2nd favorite shane film after Romeo Brass (yes I'm afraid DMS comes a close third or maybe joint second)