Nil By Mouth (DVD)

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.

Ian Phillips
August 2009

 

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