Review of Once Upon a Time in the Midlands (2002) by Private U — 24 Oct 2008
It's hard to imagine what went wrong in Meadow's british romantic western. A great british cast fill the roles as Ifans and Carlysle fight for the heart of Henderson, The score hits all the right notes and it is funny.
It just feels flabby, it never once threatens the way his other cinema does, the gags are funny when they roll around but there are some horrible misses, the clown robbery is embarassing. Stylistically Meadow's tries to crowbar in the western nod and frankly it doesn't work.
Lowering the camera to gunslinger level at crucial 'emotionla showdowns' in the piece devalues them of any power and as a consequence we loose the impact of key scenes. Not all bad though Ifans is a joy and Tomlinson, Henderson and Carlysle are ever reliable it just feels alien for meadows to be exploring this territory and perhaps the reason for his failure in doing so.
This review of Once Upon a Time in the Midlands (2002) was written by Private U on 24 Oct 2008.
Once Upon a Time in the Midlands has generally received mixed reviews.
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