I'll do something a little different and do a detailed breakdown for 'Dead Mans Shoes'.
This is a film that I came across in early 2005. A friend had recommended it to me as they were well aware that I have a love of British films, particularly the independent ones. This seemed ideal to me ... Read review
Production Year: 2004 - Drama - Director: Nick Cassavetes - Original Language: English - Classification: 15 years and over, 12 years and over - Starring: Rachel McAdams, Ryan Gosling, Gena Rowlands
Production Year: 1997 - Drama - Director: Ronan O'Leary - Original Language: English - Classification: 18 years and over - Starring: James Spader, Anne Brochet, Barry McGovern, Anna Massey
Drama - Original Language: English - Classification: 12 years and over - Starring: Shelagh Fraser, Barbara Flynn, Keith Drinkel, Felicity Kendal, Pam Ferris, Colin Douglas
Advantages: Nothing to criticise Disadvantages: As above
...or fancydan stars but what Dead Man's Shoes provides is a well filmed, gritty and suprisingly moral film that will not disappoint.
It is films like this and bringing memories back to the likes of Trainspotting, Shallow Grave and suchlike that makes me wonder how this country could allow FilmFour to go bust. Imagine the potential gems we could miss out on. I am sure Meadows still wishes FilmFour were around for film-makers not blessed with ... more
I'll do something a little different and do a detailed breakdown for 'Dead Mans Shoes'. This is a film that I came across in early 2005. A friend had recommended it to me as they were well aware that I have a love of British films, particularly the independent ones. This seemed ideal to me really.
COST
I personally purchased this pretty much when it was released in early 2005. It cost me roughly a tenner I reckon but this is irrelevant! It is currently available at £4.99 brand new on Play.com
LOWDOWN
The Director of this film is Shane Meadows, he is critically acclaimed for his low budget offerings like TwentyFourSeven and Room for Romeo Brass. His films generally focus on the midlands, as is the case for this low budget thrillier. In terms of cast there is little to recognise with the exception of Paddy Considine, who starred in 24 Hour Party People and the Arctic Monkeys video 'Leave Before The Lights Come On'. The film focusses on two brothers on a quest to exact revenge on a gang of small time thugs in the Nottingham Region. Richard (Played by Considine) is ex army and is clearly hell bent on gaining some sort of justice for the the acts of bullying against his retarded brother. As the battle lines are drawn, the situation will come to a head. There is guaranteed bloodshed.
ANY GOOD?
An excellent, gripping and darkly moving piece. It touches on human cruelty and bloodiest revenge. With a steady pace set, a stunning performance from Considine and a score that sizzles along with the film. Aphex Twin being just one of the names attributed to the soundtrack. The grim middle england settings, a lot of it rural and some of it urban Nottingham, is a key factor in keeping a simmering tension throughout. Meadows seems to have found a real niche in creating these low rent urban tales. He has a core group of individuals that will work for him and has a cult following. As long as he steers clear of attempting the mainstream, as he so did in the plainly disastrous 'Once Upon A Time In The Midlands'. There aren't any hollywood explosions or fancydan stars but what Dead Man's Shoes provides is a well filmed, gritty and suprisingly moral film that will not disappoint. It is films like this and bringing memories back to the likes of Trainspotting, Shallow Grave and suchlike that makes me wonder how this country could allow FilmFour to go bust. Imagine the potential gems we could miss out on. I am sure Meadows still wishes FilmFour were around for film-makers not blessed with huge backing financially like himself.
VALUE?
At £4.99, I don't think anybody could say that they were disappointed. Even paying close to full price as I did when I bought it a few years back, I can honestly say I got excellent value.
Advantages: Exceptional performances Disadvantages: Not well known enough!
This horror/thriller film is one of the most recent from midlands director Shane Meadows, following his highly regarded films such as Once Upon A Time In The Midlands and TwentyFourSeven. The film stars Paddy Considine, who many may recognise as the bloke from the recent Arctic Monkeys video. The film is set, quite typically for Meadows, in the heart of england. The filming actually took place in the former spa town of Matlock, Derbyshire... quick ... ...returning to his hometown after service, accompanied by his mentally disabled younger brother Anthony. Richard has returned to seek revenge on several locals who have been tormenting Anthony in Richards absence. The plot ensues that Richard tracks down each of the guilty parties to 'talk' to them. To go on further about the plot would spoil the twists and turns that Meadows has weaved in this excellently written and acted film. I was really impressed ...
jking1988 29.11.2006 (30.11.2006)
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of Dead Mans Shoes (DVD)
Advantages: A fantastically written and directed film, displays character depth and good story twists. Disadvantages: Never gain publicit
...in a 2CV and living dead end lives.) The script is perfect and the twist at the end is similar to other films but still is an excellent extra. The final act by Richard shows displays his depth in character; he simply does not get his revenge then go on to live a happy life. The film also gave rise to the actor Paddy Considine who played the part perfectly, after this he starred in 'Hot Fuzz' and will later be in 'The Bourne Ultimatum'. ...
Davidhutt 12.05.2007 (20.05.2007)
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of Dead Mans Shoes (DVD)
Advantages: Everything Disadvantages: Not for the special effects fan
...show the place beautiful but dead as there aren't many scenes with people in who aren't the main cast. Paddy Considine is fantastic asolder brother Richard and very very believable, he is very scary in this film which shows his abilities as an actor as he is very mild mannered in real life. There is not much to be said about the story other than it is a story about 2 brothers and revenge as too much said could ruin the amazing twist at the end, so ... ...buy it.
British films like this do not come up very often, it is a thriller with black comedy thrown in a few placves aswell. Very obviously filmed on a small budget but not to the films detriment.
I have seen this film several times and have just purchased it for less than £4.00 on Amazon so it is extremely good value as I am sure it will be watched many more times. I have already recommended this film to all of my friends and family, this film ...
CorCor 05.03.2008
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of Dead Mans Shoes (DVD)
Advantages: Has some excellent twists Disadvantages: It is a low budget film so there are no special effects
Outstanding !
The only way to describe this film.
I purchased it just reading the description at the back of the DVD not expecting anything big, but boy was I wrong
This a low budget film but extremely well made !
The actors portray the characters terrificly Without spoiling it for you, the plot consists of an ex army soldier who has returned to take revenge on the people who abused his mentally disabled brother
The film is set in the midlands ...
angelshalo 14.12.2007
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: somewhat helpful Review of Dead Mans Shoes (DVD)
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Advantages: Great acting performances. Good storyline. Disadvantages: Quite short for a feature length film.
I have never been a fan of British films, always preferring the big Hollywood blockbusters. One day at work I was talking about the film This Is England. I had watched it the night before and thought it was pretty good. One of my workmates then told me that the director Shane Meadows had also wrote and directed a film called DeadMansShoes and if I liked This Is England I should watch it.
I bought in on DVD from play.com for £4.99 so it was pretty cheap, even if it was rubbish I couldn?t really lose. The front cover of the DVD had two quotes from magazines. ?Dark, gritty, funny and chilling, and excruciatingly violent all at the same time? and ?taxi driver meets first blood in the Midlands. Compelling. Brilliant. Genius?. Both quotes along with the silhouette of a man holding an axe immediately grabbed my attention. The quotes were ...
Advantages: Bleak, brutal and quite emotional Disadvantages: Ending was a bit of a letdown; not to everyone's tastes
DeadMan's Shoes is a pretty apt name for this bleak, brutal British revenge thriller. It's directed by relative newcomer Shane Meadows (whose previous films include 24/7 and Once Upon A Time In The Midlands) and it stars Paddy Considine, who has now become something of a Hollywood name, after appearing in Cinderella Man, and the upcoming Bourne Ultimatum.
It was nominated for best British film at the 2005 Baftas (losing out to Vera Drake) and won an Empire Award (Best British Actor for Considine), so it's fair to say it's earned a bit of critical acclaim.
Paddy Considine plays Richard. He's just returned to his home town after being in the army for a couple of years, but he's not back to celebrate. He's come back to take revenge on a gang of drug dealers who assaulted his younger, mentally ill brother, Anthony (played by Toby ...
Advantages: Good movie with a clear message Disadvantages: Dissapointing finale
The trailer threatens you in a way that you need to see the film. You realise that seeing what you have in the trailer leaves so many things unanswered; it makes you want to investigate what evil thing has occurred. The trouble being for me was that while seducing me with its message it gave to much away, while ensnaring me it made one thing very obvious; and that one thing is the mystery the whole movie is about.
I really enjoy the work of Paddy Considine from A Room For Romeo Brass, to In America; I have followed his career avidly. I'd heard lots of good and bad things about DeadMan's Shoes the one thing I never knew was that it had this highly underused actor in it. Having seen the trailer on the movie 9 Songs I decided to make the purchase £4.99 was all it cost from Play.Com.
Something has happened to Richard's brother ...
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