Customer Reviews

The Alan Clarke Collection (Scum / Made in Britain / The Firm / Elephant)

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

P. Burrows claims the hospital scene with the Michael Jackson line is missing from this edition. Not so. I just watched the whole set again last night and can confirm the scene is included.

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This is not an inexpensive set of films, but the cost is well worth it. Clarke has an unadorned, direct, unsentimental approach to the subject matter which makes for quite an impact. For example, in ELEPHANT there are only a few words spoken, there's no musical score, no slick sound effects, no glamour to the violence; the camera simply and fluidly follows the separatist assassins as they sidle up to their victims and carry out their executions with a disturbing casualness and lack of emotion. Then the grisly aftermath is witnessed by the camera with a cold, static stare.

It makes one feel like one's been punched in the stomach; the sensation is unshakable.

These films were truly a revelation. If you like the British Kitchen-sink realism of the 50's and early 60's and are interested in the early careers of Tim Roth, Gary Oldman. and Ray Winstone, buy this collection. This release is truly revelatory!

I watched the firm in this collection last night, and I also own the English release. Some of the scenes were cut for the American audience. When the black kid gets his face slashed with a Stanley knife, its not the violence that gets cut but the Hospital scene were he tells the copper his name is Michel Jackson and the copper says "you will be needing some more plastic surgery Michel"

This review only relates to "Made In Britain," which stars a swastika-tattooed Jew, Tim Roth, playing a supposedly intelligent, supposedly racist skinhead who hangs out with blacks(?) Yet another unrealistic skinhead exploitation film depicting them as nothing but glue-sniffing criminal lunatics. A complete waste of time. To get an idea of what skinheads are really about, read "Spirit of '69" by George Marshall or, better yet - talk to one.