Customer Reviews

This Is England [Region code B Blu-ray]

5 star:		(22)
4 star:		(16)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

This story, both beautiful and disturbing in it's messages and imagery, is about many different themes, all brilliantly woven together by British director, Shane Meadows.

The themes cover Thatcherite England in the 80's, Skinheads (good and bad), racism, bullyism, and the loss of childhood innocence. The film is strongly influenced by Director Shane Meadows childhood experiences as a skinhead, both good and bad.

The outline of the story is that a young "Shaun Fields"(played amazingly by newcomer Tomo Turgoose) lives in a small un-named Northern English town in 1983. "Shaun" has recently lost his father in the early stages of the Falklands War. On the last day of the school term before summer break "Shaun" is harassed over his choice of hippy-like clothing by several cooler kids.

On his way home from school, Shaun chances upon a non-racist skinhead gang (which includes two Jamaican members), led by the charming and lanky "Woody" (played by the affable Joe Gilgun). "Shaun" immediately takes to "Woody" as a surrogate father figure and is soon admitted in to the gang. Admission means parties, a new girlfriend (Rosamund Hanson) a new haircut, a new Ben Sherman shirt, and a new pair of boots (purchased by his mother (Jo Hartley) in an extremely funny scene) as well as a whole new group of friends who treat Shaun as an equal.

All seems well in this quiet English town until one incident changes all of their lives about midway through the film. This is the return of "Combo" (the electrifying Stephen Graham in his first major leading role) from 3 years in prison. "Combo" is the former leader of this gang and wastes no time trying to re-establish his dominance in a direct confrontation with "Woody". "Combo" has become a racist during his 3+ years in prison and views skinheads as the prefect front line soldiers in the National Front's (an extremely conservative political party) war to keep England for "Englishmen."

This confrontation with "Woody" soon splits the gang, some siding with "Combo", others with "Woody". "Shaun" is now forced to choose among father figures and the movie takes a decidedly chillier tone from it's lighthearted first half.

The film is brilliant because all of Meadows characters are complicated and feel like real human beings. "Combo" even offers "Milky" (Andrew Shim), a black skinhead, the chance to join his gang because "Combo" views the immediate problem as the "Paki" (Pakistani) workers who have flooded his town in recent years, taking jobs and houses from Englishmen.

It's the complexities such as this that make the characters (such as the Swastika tattooed Combo) so approachable and compelling to watch.

Even Shaun still appears like an adorable little child as he dresses in an English Cromby coat to go "Paki Bashing" at the local store.

The movie comes to what seems like an almost inevitable violent clash between two of the main characters that, despite its predictability, still jars the viewer, hopefully leaving you sickened. Shaun is then left to decide where his future lies.

The movies story is set against the backdrop of the Falklands War, whose brutal images Meadows deftly juxtaposes against the current violent and desolate climate of 80's England. Meadows was, interestingly, granted full access to many war footage images that had never been released to the public previously.

The film contains a fantastic soundtrack of early "skinhead reggae" tunes, including several songs by Toots and the Maytalls, including "54-46" which is played over a collage of media clips from 80's Britain and the Falklands War. It's a terrific mood setter for the rest of the film.

Meadows shines so brightly (as does his cast) because he intimately knows this material and these characters, many of whom are based on or even named after childhood friends of his.

Some American viewers may initially be off-put by the idea of any "Skinhead" related movie if all they know of skinheads is what they have seen in the American press in the last 20+ years. It may surprise many viewers not familiar with the original skinhead scene (circa 1966-72) in Britain to learn the the original skins (now often called Traditional Skins, Trojan Skins, or '69 skins) were a multi-racial bunch who were an off-shoot from the Mods. They were known, like the Mods, for being sharp dressers and they chose as their music Jamaican Rocksteady, Reggae, and American Soul. The skinhead movement in England largely died out in 1972 and then saw a revival in the late seventies. It's this revival group that was penetrated by the likes of the National Front that Meadows covers here. If you choose to not watch this film based on it's subject matter, you are missing not only one of the best acting performances by a new-comer(Turgoose)in recent history, but you are also missing what will no doubt become considered landmark moment in British film history.

Shane Meadows' semi-autobiographical story of a dejected pubescent boy's transformation into a skinhead in recession-wracked England of 1983 earned "This Is England" top honors at the 2006 British Independent Film Awards. Shaun (Thomas Turgoose) is a defiant and cocksure 12-year-old who recently lost his father in the Falklands War. Surrounded by unemployment, malaise, and picked on at school, he finds companionship and an outlet for his frustrations among a group of skinheads whose leader, Woody (Joe Gilgun), takes the boy under his wing. This seems harmless until violent, insecure Combo (Stephen Graham) rejoins his fellow skins after a 3-year stint in prison, shattering the group's camaraderie with racism and crime.

"This Is England" dives into the skinhead counterculture that gave working-class young people a place to belong and share their dissatisfaction. Unemployment and a poor economy made them susceptible to the inflammatory rhetoric of the National Front, causing skinheads to be associated with racism and violence in the popular consciousness. The two stand-out performances are, not surprisingly, the most emotionally charged characters. Thomas Turgoose is completely natural as a foul-mouthed, moody youngster -who looks closer to 9 than 12. Stephen Graham makes Combo's instability and insecurity menacing, always in danger of erupting. I found the poor quality DV out of place in the period setting and less than this film deserves. But the fine performances are worthwhile. The only bonus feature on the IFC DVD (2007) is a theatrical trailer. No subtitles.

First of all, I have to say that I enjoyed this film more than any recent film I`ve seen in the past 2 years. Some may say that coming of age is a gentre that`s been done, but This Is England gives it new life. How can you not root for confused pre-teen Shaun? He`s an average kid in 1983 Britain who is befriended by a group of older teens who dress in punk fashions and love reggae music. The early scenes of Shaun and his new friends really convey the jubilation you feel when you`re young and hanging out with peers, however clueless you may be at the time. All is well until the appearance of ex-con Combo, an older guy who hangs with the neighborhood youth in order to recruit them to racist thinking and the National Front group. Shaun appears to take to his agenda at first, but then the plot goes down another path and there is a more positive ending than one would think.
The film does`nt sugarcoat adolescent behavior-Shaun and cohorts smoke pot and engage in petty vandalism- but neither does it aim for shock value. Every character is just amazingly real, an archetype of people we`ve all grown up with, no matter where you live or what kind of music you like. Extra points for the soundtrack- lots of Toots & the Maytals. And yes, we learn a bit about the politics of 80`s England, which is fascinating since you don`t always hear about recent history in Europe or America. An underrated gem I know I`ll watch many times.

A hard-hitting, naturalistic "social drama" reminiscent of the work of Ken Loach and British "angry young man" films of the early 60s (with a slight whiff of "A Clockwork Orange") "This is England" is set against the backdrop of the Thatcher era, circa 1983. The story (reported to be loosely auto-biographical, based on the director's Midlands upbringing) centers around a glum, alienated 12 year-old named Shaun (first-time film actor Thomas Turgoose, in an extraordinary performance) who can't seem to fit in with any of the cliques at his school. Shaun presents a real handful to his loving but somewhat exasperated mother (Jo Hartley),a working-class Falklands War widow who does her best to support herself and her son. After a particularly bad day of being bullied about by teachers and schoolmates, happenstance leads Shaun into the midst of a skinhead gang.

Shaun's initial apprehension is quickly washed away when the sympathetic and good-natured gang leader Woody (Joe Gilgun) takes him under his wing and offers him an unconditional entrée into their little club. Shaun's weary working mum is initially not so crazy about his new pals, but after sizing them up decides essentially to leave her son in their care. Some may feel that this development strains credibility, but I think it's a pragmatic decision. Her son has no siblings, no close friends,and is suffering from the loss of his father; perhaps this surrogate family will give him what she cannot provide.

The idyll is soon shattered, however, when the gang's original leader, Combo (Stephen Graham) is released from prison. Combo's return causes a rift that divides the gang; his jailhouse conversion to racist National Front ideals doesn't settle well with Woody and his supporters, and they break off on their own. Shaun decides to stay on after forming an instant bond with the thuggish Combo, who easily parlays the impressionable Shaun's grief over his father into a blame-shifting hatred of immigrants, with tragic results.

The film works successfully on several levels; as a cautionary tale, a history lesson and a riveting drama. As cautionary tale, it demonstrates how easily the neglected and disenfranchised can be recruited and indoctrinated into the politics of hate. As a history lesson, it's a fascinating glimpse at a not-so-long ago era of complex politics and social upheaval in Great Britain. As a riveting drama, it features some very believable and astounding performances, particularly from the aforementioned young Turgoose and Graham, who positively owns the screen with his charismatic intensity. Not to be missed.

This movie touches on a subject that isn't too well known amongst the general public. The concept of what a traditional skinhead is vs. a neo-nazi, and when the traditional skinhead movement turned into a political mess during the 1980's, and the Falklands being only a part of what caused a lot of the political chaos amongst the working class, the patriots, and the youth.

The story is told through the life of a young fatherless boy who lost his father in the Falklands war that befriends a group of traditional skinheads. He is tired of being picked on, and he's tired of being bullied. He's a loner, and the traditional skinhead group he meets become part of his family. When the group encounters Gumbo, a former member of the group, it's a world that the young boy never imagined, and a divide occurs between the traditional skinhead gang and Gumbo's National Front inspired movement.

I have to say that I found the story to be a little bit more realistic than "American History X," and a little bit more educational. The soundtrack to this film is also very fitting, and the soundtrack of traditional ska and northern soul music is wonderful. The characters in the film are also great, esp. the black skinhead, Milky.

If you want a feeling of what happened to the traditional skinheads, or just want an interesting independent film to experience, check out "This Is England."

Great film--A coming of age too soon tale of young newbie skinhead. All the young actors were masterfully directed. Naturalistic and poignant. Highly recommended. A moment in time perfectly captured.

This Is England, the fifth feature film by Shane Meadows (whose debut feature was the 1998 boxing drama Twentyfour Seven), is set in the summer of 1983 and concerns an 11-year-old boy named Shaun (played by newcomer Thomas Turgoose) whose father has recently been killed in the Falkland Islands war. In the course of the story, the boy grows up mighty fast as he falls in with a couple of gangs.

First, lonely Shaun is befriended by a fun-loving bunch of skinheads led by the affable Woody (Joe Gilgun). Woody and his mates are a likable and fairly harmless lot, and their scenes together are quite entertaining. But the party doesn't last forever: Soon a rift forms in the group when their old friend Combo (Stephen Graham) returns from a stint in prison transformed into a nationalistic neo-Nazi, and Shaun chooses to side with his seething posse.

In the hands of lesser talents, Combo might have been portrayed as a one-dimensional racist monster, and it would be a total mystery as to why Shaun would be drawn to him. But it's a credit to both actor Graham and screenwriter Meadows that there's so much more to the character: Combo is handsome and charismatic, he sympathizes with the fatherless Shaun, and though cursed with a frightening, hair-trigger temper, he also shows vulnerability; furthermore, even if you don't approve of his rants or how he terrorizes the local Pakistani immigrants, at least you can sense the frustration and fear behind his words and deeds. Indeed, the entire cast is uniformly strong; Turgoose, Gilgun, and Graham are the dominant figures here, but the many fine supporting players include Jo Hartley as Shaun's caring mother, Andrew Shim as Woody's Afro-Jamaican pal Milky, and Vicky McClure as Combo's former girlfriend Lol.

I must note that, while TIE is an undeniably personal story for Meadows (it was mostly inspired by incidents from the British writer-director's own childhood), you don't have to be a Brit who grew up in the '80s to appreciate it; for one thing, the notion of the gang-as-surrogate-family is timeless and universal. Also, when Combo rages about unemployment, cheap immigrant labor, a "fake war," and needing to "fight" to take back his country, it hits uncomfortably close to home. (Much as I hate to say it, just replace the references to "Pakis" with "Mexicans," Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher with President Bush, and the Falkland Islands with Iraq, and such scenes could almost be taking place here in the US today.)

As Shaun falls further under Combo's influence, what started as a funny and sweet (if gritty) coming-of-age tale becomes as disturbing and powerful as Meadows' previous feature, the 2004 anti-revenge thriller Dead Man's Shoes. When I first caught DMS on DVD earlier this year (my first exposure to Meadows' work), I thought that it was nearly as good as anything by fellow Brit Mike Leigh (whose films I've admired for their realistic, emotionally rich style) and that Meadows was a talent worth keeping an eye on. TIE only further confirms my initial opinions of the guy, and I will be looking forward to any projects he has planned for the future.

This is England came to me highly recommended as a smart, insightful film that told a story of modern history that I agree is worth telling. The problem is, I am left clueless as to what this movie was about. It didn't quite work as political commentary, as history, as a coming of age tale, as a story of the aftermath of grieving and loss, or as a buddy film. Its gaping ramblings about skinhead culture, race relations and changing times during Thatcher's "reign" needed more focus and a better script. I think too much was ambitiously aimed at by the makers of This is England, and as a result, what could have been an entertaining tale with a sound message ended up being a scattered, drifting, inexplicably stuttering exercise in missed opportunity. What was worth sticking around for were the performances here by some talented actors, young Thomas Turgoose as the emotionally needy central character, and the charismatic Stephan Graham most of all. Graham's sympathetic lost soul skinhead character, Combo, was in equal parts endearing, repulsive, and fascinating, and if this movie had a saving grace it was to be found in him. Other characters were maddeningly underused, namely Joseph Gilgun's Woody, who seemed poised to be the film's protagonist, but vanished as the plot grew toward its mid-point. This is England is in part inspired by real people and events in its director, Shane Meadow's, life, and I'm sure had much personal meaning to him, but it was still a sadly empty motion picture that did not live up to its billing.

I'm so glad this film saw some theater time in the states. Even in Pittsburgh of all places! Saw it at the first showing, having waiting several months to see it. Wasn't disapointed.

A lot of people are going to inevitably slag on this because there's never going to be a film depicting skins that's going to please everyone (some fresshies are going to inform us that not all skins... blah blah blah).

This is doubtlessly the most honest take on skins, and the writing comes off as realistic, as do the characters which has everything to do with stellar performances. And Graham who plays Combo... this guy is crazy, off the charts talented. Its a good movie even if you're not interested specifically in the subculture it depicts. If you've got a chance to, I say don't miss it.

I can't wait for the DVD to come to the States. I'm going to track down Dead Man's Shoes next.

I agree with one of the other reviewers that this is the most accurate portrayal of the skinhead cult to date, but considering the other "skinhead" movies, that's not saying much. I was heartened to see that most of the skins in this movie were trads - those who do not subscribe to the racist/nationalist rubbish of the NF and other hate groups. However, I think that many who are trad skins or former trad skins have been blinded by the fact that this movie portrays some skins in a positive light. It's such a refreshing novelty that it may lead one to ignore all the shortcomings of the film. If you take the skinhead equation out of it and just look at this as a film - pretend all the characters are just "ordinary kids" not affiliated with any controversial youth cult - it's hard to argue that it doesn't come up short. The plot is thin and, other than the main character, Shaun, so is the character development. Woody, probably the most important living character in the film, basically drops out of the picture once Combo arrives on the scene. The whole thing is a bit amateurish and undeveloped. It's as if the novelty of making an honest film about skinheads allowed so many other blanks to be left unfilled.