Films/DVD Asylum

Posted by Harmonia (A) on January 13, 2008 at 17:01:01

In Reply to: RE: Let us start a poll… best sleeper movie in 2007… posted by kootenay on January 06, 2008 at 14:17:45

Almost no one saw this fine film as it was barely released in North America, but this little movie, written and directed by Shane Sellers, is one of the best British films of past few years.

This Is Englasnd takes a hard, gritty and intelligent look at a troubled 12 year old in 80's England - it's both hilarious, sad and frightening all at once. You've never seen skinhead culture protrayed like this. If Ken Loach was subtler and had a sense of humor, he'd be Shane Sellers.

Sellers also made Dead Man's Shoes, TwentyFour Seven and A Room For Romeo Brass, all interesting and none of which you've probably seen. If Loach and Leigh are the grand old men of British indie cinema then Shane Meadows, Michael Winterbottom and Joe Wright ar the "Young Turks". Dunno where that puts Danny Boyle, maybe in the middle ;-) Probably back in Old Blighty for now as his Hollywood forays (A Life Less Ordinary) were not so hot. (Sunshine was an indie shot in Sweden.)

On another note, I agree Zodiac is underrated. It came out early in the year, and as usual, studios saved some of the strongest films for end of year. Bleh. Like adults only want to go to movies in the fall and winter. No wonder so many good movies end up as "sleepers" e.g. Waitress, Once, Control, et al.