On a Sunday morning in 1985, an aspiring Glaswegian actor named Vincent Friell picked up the phone to American director Michael Hoffman. "Vince, you are the wolfman," he said. With those five words, the legend of Scotland's most notorious public enemies began.
Restless Natives is the tale of two young friends from Edinburgh who lead boring day to day lives. Will is a street cleaner and Ronnie works in a joke shop. Will's father is constantly on at him about getting up off your backside and making a difference in the world. One day, when the frustration boils over they stage their first robbery by riding a motorbike and wearing clown and wolf masks to hold up a tour bus. Armed with items straight out of the joke shop, it is a farce. They are so well mannered apologising for taking everybody's money and even give out change to an old American lady who needs £10 to get back to the airport! Will takes a shine to Margo, the tour guide on the bus, and they go to the effort of finding some flowers that they can go back with, for him to hand over. There is a hilarious moment when they are back in the joke shop the day after, and a policeman appears. Will and Ronnie look terrified as he has a good look around the shop and they think that he's on to them. He arrives at the counter and asks for an item that made me laugh out loud! They are free to commit more outlandish crime. Will, wearing a horrendous blue suit bumps into Margo again in a bus station. She instantly recognises him, even without the mask, but doesn't know how. Will is torn as to what to say, because he's not sure about sharing his secret with somebody he hardly knows. Not wanting his chance with Margo to slip away, he shouts out "I hold up buses!!!", as he
continues to slide along the opposing travelator. This begins a fledgling romance that makes Will question his antics, and helps make their robberies become more and more well natured. As Margo is a big fan of Rob Roy and Batman, it appears that his decision has paid off. As the crimes continue, they begin to throw away some of their money taken from wealthy tourists, to kids in the downtrodden parts of Edinburgh, and begin to be compared to Robin Hood in the local papers They go on to become national heroes and even appear on TV as far away as Japan. They become a tourist attraction themselves, and people come in the hope they might have the opportunity to be robbed by the clown and wolfman! What will happen when their crimes finally catch up with them?
Glamorising crime in the manner this film does, should not be funny, but it is so far fetched that it doesn't seem to matter. If this were to actually happen, the criminals would be caught and forgotten about in an instant. Let's be grateful for the incompetence of the Highland police force in Thatcher's Britain! I watched this as a kid, and the images of the two masks have stayed with me down the years, even when a copy could not be found for love or money. It doesn't try to say that crime is a good thing; it is just here to tell you that life is what you make of it. You can achieve great things if you put a little time and thought into it. Naturally, it isn't quite what I remembered it to be, but there are some truly memorable lines and set pieces throughout. I can still watch it in awe, and be charmed all over again. It is light, frothy fare that is guaranteed to be loved by some, and hated by others.
Cast:-
Vincent Friell - Will Joe Mullaney - Ronnie Teri Lally - Margo Ned Beatty - Bender Bernard Hill - Will's father
Directed by Michael Hoffman (Soapdish, Some Girls, Restoration)
Being their first feature Friell and Mullaney are likeable in the lead roles, but neither outstanding. Lally puts in the best performance in my eyes as a vivacious worldly girl who opens Will's eyes up to what is important in the world. You can totally understand why he falls for her. Ned Beatty was a well known American actor when he decided to make this, and his appearance as an American cop assigned to the case provides gravitas. Humour comes out of constant phone calls from his lawyers back in America, overseeing his custody battle. Being an outsider in the force, his character is dislikeable, but it still didn't make it any easier to take when I saw what they did to him in Deliverance. I guess I just don't like to see any harm come to anyone that was involved in such an institution that contributed so much to my love of film. The rest of the cast are made up of some familiar faces from UK television, such as real life husband and wife, Bryan Forbes and Nanette Newman (the fairy liquid lady). Mel Smith who would go on to direct Bean amongst various appearances with Griff Rhys Jones, plays Pyle.
This movie is like taking a ride in a time machine. The scenery on location in Glencoe and Glen Nevis is spectacular and the soundtrack by eighties pop group Big Country is perfectly matched to the whimsical feel. There is a scene where Will and Ronnie plant a spitting image style mask of Margaret Thatcher in the middle of the street. It is suggested that she is buried there, which indicates the animosity that was felt towards her at the time in Scotland. Truth be told, this piece hasn't aged too well. The clothes sometimes look ridiculous and there are too many lulls in the action. For fans of retro it is interesting to look back at the fashions here. The plot is ridiculous and it shouldn't work at all. Yet it does. As an independent film made by graduates straight out of Oxford University it is a fine achievement.
Years after the VHS was deleted, Restless Natives was finally released on DVD in 2006 in collaboration with Studio Canal and Optimum Releasing. It was the winner of the Lloyds Bank National Screenwriting competition in 1984 and it is said that it was an inspiration behind the 2001 Hollywood movie Bandits starring Bruce Willis.
Running time 86 minutes
Rated PG
DVD extras - Interview with Vincent Friell
This was filmed for BBC Four's 'The DVD collection' series. Vincent Friell gives us his recollections of 23 years ago when filming began, and an insight into the public demand for it to be released on DVD. It is nice to hear the thoughts of a relatively unknown actor who went on to make brief appearances in Taggart. Any actor would love to have the chance to make jut one movie that would be loved by generations, and with Restless Natives, Friell was given that opportunity. However, I would have liked to have seen Friell and Mullaney reunited for this section. The brief interview runs for close to 7 minutes.
The DVD case states that there are also notes on Big Country by one of the band members, Bruce Watson. However, this does not feature on the disc that I received.
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There was a period in the eighties when nobody could make these kinds of movie as well as the scots. It is not brilliant by any stretch of the imagination, but if you were to mention this to someone from north of the border, you are virtually guaranteed to be met with a smile, and a period of blissful reminiscence. Restless Natives ranks alongside the best of Bill Forsyth, such as Gregory's Girl, Comfort & Joy, and Local Hero, and very much in the same vein. It is one of Scotland's best loved cult classics, as fondly embedded upon the consciousness as our other national drink, and should be recognised as an utterly charming piece of cinema for its time. I hope that I can bring some recognition to an oft forgotten gem.
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How helpful would this review be to a person making a buying decision? Rating guidelines
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Apr 19th, 2008
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