Review of Somers Town (2008) by William S — 29 Aug 2008

Well, it won't change your life and it is very slight - in length, obviously, but it also really did feel like half a story. Quite literally with it's frustrating ending - the screen goes black and the credits roll just as things start to happen. Did the makers run out ofmoney?

Speaking of money, I noticed that Shane Meadows was criticised for making, what some feel, is a glorified advert for Eurostar. What?!

I can't say I noticed anyone mentioning Eurostar by name. The station does feature prominently and one character mentions the short length of time it takes to get to Paris and our heroes do eventually visit Paris. But so what?? I, for one, wouldn't have taken much notice of this if it weren't for the fact that someone else thought it was significant. And as far as I'm concerned it was a very small price to pay if Eurostar has seen fit to invest in British Film in the first place. I'm glad someone is! Well done to them.

Would anyone have even noticed if the characters spent half the film in Starbucks (have you seen I Am Sam??!) or MacDonalds drinking Pepsi or Coke? Personally I can't think of anything better to promote in a film than traveling by train (a cinematic staple as old as the medium itself) and I'm glad Shane Meadows is getting the cash from somewhere.

Anyhoo... Somers Town is a lot of fun and the characters are extremely likable. Shot in black and white (except for a candy-coloured finale), which can usually create a distance with audiences used to colour, it's still filmed with Meadows' typically naturalistic and earthy way, (lots of improv for sure) making the characters feel very immediate (almost nouvelle vague! but more raw instead of cool!). And, unusually for Meadows, no-one is killed or brutalised (well not seriously anyway!) so that the smile stays till the credits roll and you leave the cinema with a jaunty swagger instead of your tail between your legs.