Dead Mans ShoesDead Man's Shoes - Optimum Pictures - 2004

This is the fourth feature film from my favourite British director, Shane Meadows. And he is as British as they come. Forget about Posh boys like Guy Richie trying to be geezers. Meadows is the real deal, and when it comes to spinning a fable about the British working class, this is the man who delivers. And he delivers it with a gritty realism that hardly any other director can come close to. The only other British directors that have the same capability to depict everyday British life are Ken Loach & Mike Leigh. And from what Meadows is capable of at this early stage in his career is anything to go by, then rest assured he will lead a very colourful foray into the filmmaking business and show the rest of the world that the British are a force to be reckoned with.

Digression aside let's talk about the film itself...

It stars an impressive cast of Paddy Considine, Gary Stretch & Toby Kebbell. Considine (having worked with Meadows before in 1999's Room For Romeo Brass) is excellently cast as Richard, the elder brother of mentally retarded Anthony (Toby Kebbell), who has been abused at the hands of local "crime lord" Sonny (Gary Stretch ex Middleweight Boxer BTW) and his merry band of misfits. Richard has returned after several years in the Army and learning what has happened to his younger brother he sets out to wreak revenge on Sonny and company.

The film itself is as funny as it is brutal as well as being blatant display of exonerating guilt and seeking vengeance. When it's brutal, it's blood curdling and when it's funny, it's downright hilarious. Sonny's crew are totally hapless, the viewer is torn between them and Richard because you know what is about to happen. This is because you grow to like them for the idiots that they are, only to be reminded again what they did to poor Anthony (forced sex, drug abuse, ritual humiliation and more) which brings you back on track to see them get their just desserts.

Set in a seemingly one horse town in Nowheresville, this is an environment most of us can relate to. And as always with British movies the colourful language on show is part of our daily vocabulary, the likes of which are rarely seen in US produced fare. And realistic violence too, with no crummy slo-mo shots or under cranked film, just brutal stuff that makes at times, pretty uncomfortable viewing, but you cannot help but root for the (anti) hero.

I feel that I have waffled on with this because words simply cannot do it justice. You simply have to see this film, beg, borrow or steal it. After all, they do say that revenge is a dish best served cold, and Richard not only serves a freezing cold slab to them....he gives them seconds.

Extras:
In Shane's Shoes (interesting focus on meadows as he prepares for the Edinburgh Film Festival), Northern Soul (Short Film starring Toby Kebbell and directed by Meadows), Deleted & Extended scenes, Alternative Ending, Music Video, Interesting comparison against the Graphic Novel on which the film was based and a superb Audio Commentary featuring Meadows, Considine & Mark Herbert (producer) and lastly a bunch of trailers for future releases from Optimum Pictures. A well put together disc that doesn't make you feel short changed.

Contributed by: Jas on the 13/04/05