Nil By Mouth (1997) immediately impresses just upon reading the cast list: the ever-excellent Ray Winstone in one of his finest, most intensifying roles, the wonderful Kathy Burke who yet again proves what a dynamic and versatile actor she is, Edna Dore, Laila Morse (now better known for her ... Read review
Gary Oldman took a break from acting to write and direct this unflinching family drama out ... more
of the kitchen-sink British school. Oldman doesn't appear in the film, instead handing the heavy lifting to the remarkable Ray Winstone (Sexy Beast,Cold Mountain...
Postage & Packaging: £1.21 Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days...
Gary Oldman took a break from acting to write and direct this unflinching family drama out ... more
of the kitchen-sink British school. Oldman doesn't appear in the film, instead handing the heavy lifting to the remarkable Ray Winstone (Sexy Beast,Cold Mountain...
Postage & Packaging: Free! Availability: Usually dispatched within 24 hours...
Nil by Mouth is a raw, unflinching look at a dysfunctional family as it copes with ... more
alcoholism, drug abuse, petty crime and domestic violence in South East London. Gary Oldman's brilliantly written screenplay and stunning direction perfectly capture the...
Against the dreary backdrop of Southeast London's concrete housing estates the lives of ... more
three underclass Brits come crashing down. Gary Oldman's conversational improvisatory script follows his characters wretched lives in crowded council flats tawdr...
Postage & Packaging: £0.00 Availability: 3-5 working days
Gary Oldman took a break from acting to write and direct this unflinching family drama out ... more
of the kitchen-sink British school. Oldman doesn't appear in the film, instead handing the heavy lifting to the remarkable Ray Winstone (Sexy Beast,Cold Mountain) and Kathy Burke, who won a prize at the Cannes Film Festival for her work. The scummy drug trade of lower-class London is Oldman's turf, but he puts special focus on the miserable cycles of violence that fuel a family's struggle within this world. The results are not always easy to watch, but they are devastating (and the final sequence is chilling). Oldman may be guilty of indulging his actors a bit, but it's forgivable, given the big, roaring performances. --Robert Horton
Postage & Packaging:£1.21 Availability:Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days...
Production Year: 1995 - Drama - Director: Ang Lee - Original Language: English - Classification: Universal - Starring: Emma Thompson, Alan Rickman, Kate Winslet, Hugh Grant, Greg Wise, Hugh Laurie, Robert Hardy
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: 1995 - Drama - Director: Ang Lee - Original Language: English - Classification: Universal - Starring: Emma Thompson, Alan Rickman, Kate Winslet, Hugh Grant, Greg Wise, Hugh Laurie, Robert Hardy
Advantages: The supreb cast - especially Ray Winstone and kathy Burke Disadvantages: None
Nil By Mouth (1997) immediately impresses just upon reading the cast list: the ever-excellent Ray Winstone in one of his finest, most intensifying roles, the wonderful Kathy Burke who yet again proves what a dynamic and versatile actor she is, Edna Dore, Laila Morse (now better known for her role as "old" Mo Slater in the BBC soap EastEnders), Charlie Creed-miles, Jamie Foreman, Chrissie Cotterill, Jon Morrison and Steve Sweeney. Fantastic, ... ...petty crime. Never once does Nil By Mouth strike a false chord. Infact you will constantly be on the edge of your seat just by Ray Winstones intensely frightening performance as a hopelessly drug-addicted, alchoholic, wife beater. Due to the stark realism, you feel in each and every scene, as though you are standing right next to these characters, just literally looking on in horror - like watching documentary realism. This is not least due to the ... more
Nil By Mouth (1997) immediately impresses just upon reading the cast list: the ever-excellent Ray Winstone in one of his finest, most intensifying roles, the wonderful Kathy Burke who yet again proves what a dynamic and versatile actor she is, Edna Dore, Laila Morse (now better known for her role as "old" Mo Slater in the BBC soap EastEnders), Charlie Creed-miles, Jamie Foreman, Chrissie Cotterill, Jon Morrison and Steve Sweeney. Fantastic, flawless cast - and in Ray Winstone and Kathy Burke's case, some of the finest British actors around. And, not forgetting of course, the stunning though brutally stark, compelling and startlingly powerful written screenplay by the critically-acclaimed Gary Oldman.
The story depicts the grim tale of a dysfunctional family living in the South East of London, exploring how some of the characters survive and their decline into drug addiction, alcoholism, domestic violence and petty crime. Never once does Nil By Mouth strike a false chord. Infact you will constantly be on the edge of your seat just by Ray Winstones intensely frightening performance as a hopelessly drug-addicted, alchoholic, wife beater. Due to the stark realism, you feel in each and every scene, as though you are standing right next to these characters, just literally looking on in horror - like watching documentary realism. This is not least due to the extremely high standard of acting, the racing rhythm of the razor-sharp dialogue and Gary Oldman's impeccable direction. On top of that is an effective and somewhat haunting score by Eric Clapton! Perfect in every sense in its intended mood and ethos.
Your heart will just go out, and jaw will hit the floor, to poor Kathy Burkes downtrodden character and the disturbingly real scene where Ray beats Kathy to the floor and kicks and punches her continually while she is heavily pregnant is just gut-wrenching and heart-rending. Due to Ray Winstone's powerful performance (as always the case with Mr.Winstone), you even manage to feel some empathy for the character, even in spite of the horrific beating he subjected his partner too. Clearly the years of endless drug and alcohol abuse had taken its toll. In one particularly endearing scene towards the end of the film, another dimension to the character is revealed, showing a more vulnreable side to Ray as he ponders on his life as a child where he was also subject to regular violent beatings by his parents. Not that that excuses anything but certainly the character is shrewdly structured to show exactly how Ray had gotten into this mental state, making it blatantly obvious that the continual drug and alcohol abuse, as often is the case, was to shield the pain he'd been suffering all these years. Occasionally you even get quick hints of his character wanting to somehow be a better, kinder person, but not really quite knowing how and sadly was difficult not to conclude that he'd reached a point beyond no return.
Also of note in the cast is Charlie Creed-miles as Kathy Burkes, heroin-addicted brother and Jamie Foreman, who comes into his own as Ray's loyal sidekick and its too Jamie Foremans character that Ray reveals his deprived and abusive childhood.
To watch how the characters interact, the fast, rolling dialogue that crackles along at a speedy pace with dry, dark humour, and some of the more powerful, horrifying incidents that take place, leave you endlessly fascinated. A credit to all concerned, especially to the explosive performances by Ray Winstone (my all-time acting hero) and Kathy Burke, and, of course, not least to Gary Oldmans riviting direction and screenplay.
Advantages: Powerhouse performances, Great scripting, Atmosphere Disadvantages: May lack mass appeal
Nil by Mouth is a powerful drama set in South London, mainly centreing around the fortunes of Ray (Ray Winstone), the violent husband of Val (Kathy Burke) and Val's drug addict brother, Billy (Charlie Creed-Miles). The film is the directorial debut of Gary Oldman.
The film deals with some serious domestic problems in the case of domestic violence carried out by Ray on his wife, and the wider impact of this on the entire family and all of those that ... ...in the film is the affect that Billy's habit has on not only his own life but other members of family, due to his dishonest nature.
There are standout performances from all of the three main stars of the film, but in particular it is Burke who shines brightest in her portrayal of a battered housewife that is desperate to break out of her cycle but constantly battles with the fact that she loves a man that harms her. Burke epitomises the gritty nature ...
shanediablo 24.07.2007
· Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of Nil By Mouth (DVD)
Advantages: Performances, Social Realism Disadvantages: May be too shocking for some
...occurrences of the word "fuck", Nil By Mouth is an incredibly powerful portrayal of director and writer Gary Oldman's experiences growing up on a London council estate. Oldman's authentic (seemingly improvised) screenplay is exposed to full effect by Ray Winstone's powerful performance as the foul-mouthed, substance abusing husband, who beats and verbally abuses his pregnant wife (Kathy Burke, who is also very impressive in her role). But aside from ... ...reality. Nil By Mouth presents this despair and hopelessness in an incredibly horrifying manner that is believable to the audience. Because of such, I warn you, the graphic nature of the scenes may be too startling for some. (C) Andy Carrington, 2009. [as part of andycarrington.co.uk] ...
andycarrington 17.07.2009
· Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of Nil By Mouth (DVD)
A gritty look at a dysfunctional family suffering alcohol and drug abuse in South East London.
Release details
DVD Region
DVD
Studio(s)
20th Century Fox Home Entertainment; Deluxe Video Service - Fox
Release date
19/04/2004
No of Discs
1
Catalogue No
00440 DVD
Barcode
5039036016636
Languages
Main Language
English
Technical information
Aspect Ratio
16:9 Wide Screen
Sound
Dolby Digital 5.1
Dubbing Sound
Dolby Digital 5.1 English
DVD Description
Gary Oldman's directorial debut offers a gritty, profane look inside the mean streets of South London, where drug addiction, poverty and abuse hold sway. This is a semi-autobiographical picture of paternal anger and alcohol abuse from father Ray (a menacing and remarkable Ray Winstone), causing bouts of often unbearable tension and shocking domestic violence against his family. The son (Creed-Miles) is battling heroin while his weary resigned wife Valerie (Burke, in an incredible performance) tries to keep out of his way. A superb and cautionary tale of the downward spiral of self-destruction and tested loyalties, shot through with true humour. With a score by Eric Clapton and winner of the Best Actress award for Kathy Burke at the Cannes Film Festival.
Compare Nil By Mouth (DVD) to other similar Drama »