Review of This Is England (2007) by Deanomite — 02 Jan 2020

I will review this movie according to how it made me feel, which is like Reservoir Dogs, not in script, but in tone. The characters mesh together in a community much the same way that Reservoir Dogs did. A movie that successfully captures a community is very special, Goodfellas being probably the best example. The music matched the tone very well. Popular songs played across slo mo video, partly where the Reservoir Dogs feel came from. The original score was also very beautiful, and far more effective than expected. Beautiful piano and orchestra will sneak up on you, never expected that from a white supremacist movie.

I think if someone were to make a low budget movie, going for cool characters above anything else is the way to go, cool doesn't cost anything really.

The photography was also very well done, it felt kind of like a grainy home movie which really helped the tone. The camera is always close in, which should feel claustrophobic but it works here, feels like you are there hanging out in a crowded party.

Stephen Graham (Al Capone in Boardwalk Empire, Babyface Nelson in Public Enemies) is always a joy to see, he has a quality that is like an annoying little brother you tolerate and hope to see him mature and get control over his emotions before he causes trouble.

This is probably the best example of a kid being exploited by his own emotional angst, that he never took the time to understand exactly what he was angry about.