I have to help Midlands!

[OneOfTheLads]

not a bad film at all really, nice charming little film
IMO 24/7, Romeo Brass, DMS are all better, but it's still worth buying.




www.countylads.com

[Companero]

Shane, I'm going to be brutally honest with you, mate. I really rate Once Upon A Time In The Midlands. There, I've said it and Dave, Phill and I were discussing the film in the chatroom just the other evening and all of us were in agreement about liking it.

Granted, when compared to Romeo Brass, 24/7 or Dead Man's Shoes, it seems insignificant, but compared to the vast majority of other Britsh films from the last ten years, it's a decent film.

My only criticism of the film is Robert Carlysle character - he seems bereft of any humourous touches - even the darkest of characters in Shane's films have a comic side to them but Jimmy is quite a dull, 2-D character, in my opinion.

Rhys Ifan's Dek on the other hand is great and he manages the fine balance of making us laugh and sympathetic towards him - as do Kathy Burke and Ricky Tomlinson, but neither are in it enough for my liking.

Of course, if you're willing to go back to the film and create an all-new cut, I would love to see it but to hell what anyone else might have had to say, Once Upon A Time In The Midlands is still a fine film - and this is from a Londoner

[Phil]

I bought the double-disc version and I have to admit I prefer the Shane's World extra to the feature film itself. I can remember watching SW on C4 and have seen it three more times since. Mind you, I've only seen Midlands once, so another viewing should be in order...

[Morell™]

I bought the DVD almost entirely for shanes world, the film is the extra! I think we discussed this on the live chat Fil but wouldn't a Shanes world 2 be phenomenal.
(I just realised that the title may be a reference to Waynes World)

The film is good I dont deny that, but the quality of Shanes other work forces it down most peoples pecking order list of favorites. It comes 4th out of 5 for me.

[RydCook]

i just saw it, and to be honest i loved it, i thought it was a very very good film. i agree with most of the points raised here i feel the film would have been much better with no name actors (although i do admit Rhys Ifan's was brilliant, probably his best performance ive ever seen him). and it didn't feel like a meadows film. but yeah, its so much better than most brit flicks. a wonderful story, shame about the actors. i'd love to see a re-edit shane i hope you get it done mate. My favourite scene from the film was "Baby's Back" superbly edited and acted. a great film

[Companero]

Shane - I know you're up to your eyes in it with This Is England and all but I was wondering if your proposed re-edit is still on the back burner? Will it still happen - I'd love to see another cut of the film...

[Dazza]

I saw Shanes world recently on the DVD only came across it by accident, i thought i'd give the midlands film another go and after watching it found some great stuff on the bonus DVD. I agree with Ryd when he says it didnt feel like a meadows film, it was a good film but i dont think it had the magic of ARFRB and DMS. To me i can watch those films again and again and still be interested by them.

I thought Shanes world being on the DVD was class, it would be nice to have something like this later on the TIE DVD and I learned a few things froms Tanks Tips. I also liked the documentary Shane made when they were promoting the midlands film.

[twinee1983]

admin said:

legend said:

do people feel its not as good because we are used to the brilliant work from shane and if its not to his useual standards you are more dissapointed than the fact the film is not tht good? if tht makes sense?

I know what you're saying, and for me that's the only issue. I actually quite like the film myself, but as you suggested, it kind of feels like a more regular Brit comedy/drama film. I remember after I watched it in the cinema that I kind of got the feeling that there wasn't all that much in it that pointed to it being a Shane Meadows film. No doubt the big name actors had a big influence on this feeling.

"I'm a civilian!"

agree with the above 2 comments entirely, watch the film as if you didn't know it was a shane meadows film, and ok it might not blow you away or move you like 24/7 or dead mans shoes for instance but it is a throughly enjoyable film, and agree it has a more of a mainstream brit-com feel to it, its probably the housevives and grannies favourite shane meadows film!

[sunhouserising]

I liked it a lot, but it wasn't to stand out as a Shane Meadows film. Still a great film, but it's the Shane Meadows passion that shines in the films that make his other works that much better, I dont know about the politics involved in making and funding of this film, but I understand that Shane may have lost control of the film to its distributors? If that happened then it explains the lack of Meadows passion in the film. I'd still be proud of making it, and owning it as I love all of Shanes work. He is very more-ish. Like a pretzel, but better.

And for one man to create classic after classic one film that makes you love the others all the more is great. At least he isn't like tarentino that builds you up then sort of deflates you. Shane shines everytime. But just shines less in OUATITM.

And it appears that the great man is on to much bigger and better things. And the best of luck to him and the crew.

In my mashed up mind OUATITM isn't Shane's best work, but it is better than the bulk of most other British directors best films. STILL!

Would love to see a remake, maybe you could do a Star Wars on it and draw it out into a ludicrous merchandise making trilogy. Only kidding.

But I must stand alone in saying that I unfortunately bought it from Cockbusters and its an ex rental with no extra disc or anything. I just couldn't wait, and I didn't even realise it had been released when i saw it there. So havent seen Shane's World. At least I dont thnk I have anyways.

Best wishes.

Tyler

[Lord Thribb of Hubris OBE]

I enjoyed watching the film with the family, it's more accessible for all ages and a great introduction to his other work.

We especially enjoyed recognising the locations used. ;D
The band stand scenes were filmed just a few yards from our home in "Victoria Park" in 'Ilkeston'.

E. J. Thribb