Alan Clarke Pack - Scum / Firm / Made In Britain DVD

Advantages: Fantastic lead performance from Gary Oldman, the ORIGINAL movie about football hooliganism.
Disadvantages: Single disk, fullscreen presentation, the Region 1 Alan Clarke boxset is a better buy for British Film enthusiasts, might make some uncomfortable viewing.

...a little. But, on the whole, it's a good solid film that does play to extremes that are occasionally darkly amusing. If films like GREEN STREET, THE FOOTBALL FACTORY and I.D. are your kind of thing THE FIRM will work for you. BUYER'S GUIDE If you just want THE FIRM the Region 2 single disk (with just the film) is reasonably priced in the £3-£5 budget title range. I'd recommend you rent it first before buying as the heavy subject matter and graphic violence isn't to everybody's taste. If you're a fan of Alan Clarke's work the US Region 1 release has a better deal that's worth going multi-region for - THE FIRM, SCUM, MADE IN BRITAIN and ELEPHANT are available on DVD with extras in a collector's edition for £20-£50.... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

Advantages: see review
Disadvantages: see review

...with a reputation which the others are determined to crush before it gets out of hand. Gang rape, rioting, teenage suicide, this movie has it all as Winstone turns from a quiet prisoner, there to do his time, into a hard nut psychopath in order to just stay alive. A damning indictment of the borstal system, where prison guards turn a blind eye to most thing and join in with the rest and prisoners turn from offenders into animals, ‘Scum’ is easily Alan Clarke’s finest movie and an excellent performance from Ray Winstone marks him as one of Britain’s best and most under-rated actors. One of the things we British do best is make hardcore gritty dramas and this is one of the finest examples of them. Its not pretty but it is an excellent movie, so if you can stomach the violence then check it out, but be warned, this is a prison movie... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

Advantages: Original and Exciting
Disadvantages: Violent

...Scum is a hard hitting and realistic piece of film work which, as I'm lead to believe by my Dad, was very controversial when it first came out. It was first released in 1979 (9 years before I was even born!) and is one of my favourites. When I first watched it, it shocked me but also made me laugh. Something which not too many films do but scum excels at. The film is about Carlin (Ray Winston), an out of control thug, who in his previous prisons was known as the "Daddy". Now in his new prison he is now trying to make the same name for himself and the only way he can do this is by taking the existing "Daddy's" title. This film is a realistic take on youth offender's institutes and I believe Alan Clarke the Director has got this down to a tee with Scum. It gives you the "grim" feel with its dark colours, and moody greys. But also... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average somewhat helpful