Once Upon a Time in the Midlands (2002) User Reviews

Decent

[someguy889 · 5/10 · 8 June 2004]

Once Upon a Time in the Midlands is a British film starring Shirley Henderson, Rhys Ifans, and Robert Carlyle, and was directed by Shane Meadows. It is a Romance-Comedy-Drama that hit U.S. theaters in art-houses. It adopts the spaghetti western title "Once upon a time in.." that Sergio Leone used in such works as Once Upon a Time in America and Once Upon a Time in the West. However, about as far as this movie goes in its intriguing title is using the occasional Western music. I think Meadows choice to not go all out in his "tinned adaptation" is wise, because it makes one think about why it was called that. Even so, this movie doesn't really have much going for it besides its great title. It's another love triangle, Carlyle and Ifans are rivals for the love of Shirely Henderson. Ifans character is fascinating with his apparent cowardice and serious comical lovability. This is an enjoyable movie, more slow than suspenseful, just more like sweet, with predictability but lovability.

My grade: 6/10

Lacks tension, suspense and a real stone wall atmosphere but it is marginally funny and somewhat appealing.

[johnnyboyz · 6/10 · 10 March 2008]

Once Upon a Time in the Midlands seems to make naming your film 'Once Upon a Time in.....' seem like a bit of a gimmick. Indeed, a year earlier Robert Rodriquez was left floundering with his over the top, epic tail of mediocrity named 'Mexico' but 'Midlands' does not make the same mistakes and nor does it ever veer too far over the line of 'big budget television drama'. However, if it doesn't veer too far over the line that's not to say it does not veer over the line at all, because it does and truth is; 'Midlands' is a pretty ordinary film.

The film can either be a big budget TV drama or a small budget film; like I said, it becomes a little too much of the former for my liking and thus fails as an engaging and intriguing tail of love, loss and family values. In fact, what it ends up as is a story that comes; sticks around and then goes again with a disappointing anticlimax and a series of scenes that remain interesting given the situation but lack any atmosphere. The story revolves around a man, named Jimmy (Carlyle), as he returns to where he once lived upon seeing a live (those things are broadcast live?) daytime chat show in order to seek out the one he loved and fathered a child with – she is Shirley (Henderson). Trouble is, times have changed and she has moved on; she's with Dek (Ifans), a well respected but somewhat eccentric mechanic. The problem is with this idea, albeit a brilliant one, is that Jimmy is shown as a far too good-a person to make us want to hate him and Dek is put across as a far too funny-a person to make us want to think he is up for the challenge; thus it is no surprise when the film meanders and wonders around in a bit of a daze.

It is true to say that the opening scene focuses on Jimmy as he lies there, lost and unhappy we feel; but he is then shown to be a bit of a lad; a bit of a criminal as he and three Glaswegian thieves steal a case of money from four clowns. Even then, we can empathise with the thief in Jimmy because the heist scene is funny and why would four clowns get out of a Ford Galaxy whilst carrying a case full of money? Whatever they did, it seems they might have deserved what they got. So, so far we have spent time with Jimmy: the film could have gone down two routes: 1; make him seem evil and give him antagonistic traits meaning that when he comes for Shirley, we will be wary of him. Or 2; do not show him at all so that the impact of this rough looking guy who has shown up wanting to be together with Shirley again is a jolt to the audience and character alike – 'Midlands' does neither, it makes Jimmy look like an ordinary guy, like a 'lad'; harmless yet humorous.

But what the film does isn't necessarily bad, just a little out of place. On the flip side; Dek, at least to me, came off as a bit of an eccentric and out of sorts guy who did not embody the traits required if he was going to be a hero of any sorts. Consequently, any scene in which he and Jimmy face off or are put in a location together should be filled with tension as a perhaps evil, Scottish criminal and an upstanding but strong hero come face to face – what we get is a misunderstood, comic Jimmy and a wimp of a hero Dek, in an office, having an anti-climatic square off. Secondly, Jimmy really could've been established as a psycho with a few scenes in which Jimmy is perhaps stalking Shirley or drawing attention to himself through anti-social and foreboding behaviour but what we get is a couple of silly scenes at his sister's house but a good scene when she tells him what's what, however that further deflates any menace about him because there and then, the 'villain' is beaten and by his own sister, too This shows us he is vulnerable.

So onto the supporting characters; the sister is Carol (Burke) who does a lot of shouting and screaming in that annoying accent Kathy Burke carries; her husband Charlie (Tomlinson) is an introduced but underdeveloped folk singer that doesn't have much to do; the girl in question the two leads are fighting for, Shirley, is a one dimensional character who speaks as if she has something stuck in her throat and just when the film's crucible gets interesting when the Glaswegians come back for Jimmy, they disappear after one failed ambush but don't worry, they're there at the end in time for a 'funny' scene on the motorway and the running joke that they steal every car they drive feels out of place. So, Once Upon a Time in the Midlands feels anti-climatic; it feels empty in its atmosphere and development of its already familiar characters and it certainly ends in a disappointing manner leaving you with a feeling of 'So, what was all that for?' When you are supposed to feel anger, suspense, joy, fear or anything else; you'll feel nothing and that is a shame as it was a good idea, just executed a little heavy-handedly.

A bit of a 'spaghetti' "western"

[tim-764-291856 · 6/10 · 21 April 2011]

I generally like Shane Meadows, his honest writing and depiction of what early 21st century average life in Britain is actually like, is both appealing and refreshing.

This one (I re-watched after many years and seen all his later work) is just a bit of a tangled mess (hence my summary title). It was great to watch the great Kathy Burke in a dominant (yes!) role now that she's concentrating on theatre direction these days. Also, her screen hubbie, a rather ridiculous wannabe country singer in the shape of Ricky Tomlinson.

Robert Carlyle plays to form as a real piece of ***t who is after getting his ex back. I soon found his constant shouting, swearing and nastiness wearying and Ryhs Ifans' counter example, as poor Shirley Henderson's dopey, lily-livered 'boyfriend' equally annoying. I wanted to shout out loud 'forget them both', but this being drama, the opposite happens of course.

The lighter moments, I suppose were intended to punctuate this domestic misery with an air of humanity. But, most of the time, they look stupidly careless, leaving you unsure whether they were intentional, or not. I did like the overall premise, especially at the end, when the subversive comparison to the classic western becomes apparent, though the setting is a modern English city's housing estate over a hundred years later. The Sierra Cosworth being the equivalent of a wild stallion...?

Meadow's work, though, is always of much merit and the fact that he has gotten himself a niche and etched himself a position on that elite panel of independent Brit directors whose work is admired equally by critics and public alike, is to be much admired. It also means that this quite early offering from him is still above average.

Engaging and funny but short on surprises.

[Paul_Andrew · 21 September 2002]

Brilliantly observed comic scenes of working class domestic life, reminiscent of Caroline Aherne's superb 'Royle Family' sitcom, provide the backdrop for an engaging comedy-drama. All the main actors turn in typically excellent, albeit unsurprising performances: Robert Carlyle does a variation on his Scottish psycho-crim (see 'Trainspotting'), Ricky Tomlinson plays another genial but feckless Scouser (see 'The Royle Family') and Kathy Burke does her no-nonsense council-house Cockney routine (see Kathy Burke). By far the best of the ensemble is Rhys Ifans as Dek. Dek is the most rounded of the comic characters, all of whom are neatly sketched out, not just by dialogue, but by carefully chosen background details. Look out for the hub caps and model car collection in Dek's house and the cases of 'Pot Noodle' in Charlie's loo (which also serves as his office). Assured direction, a well-paced script and some very funny jokes make for a satisfying if somewhat predictable watch.

Something Of A Waste Of Talent

[keithhmessenger · 6/10 · 21 August 2023]

I'm still in a quandary as to why British film-maker Shane Meadows has not produced a 'substantive' feature film since 2006's This Is England - the excellent (multiple) TV series based on This Is England and the curiosity that was The Gallows Pole are really no substitute. I had misgivings around this 2002 effort and, on rewatching for the first time in two decades, these have not lessened. Perhaps the most baffling aspect of Once Upon a Time in the Midlands is the waste of (acting) talent on show, which I can only put down to Meadows' and regular collaborator Paul Fraser not being up to the mark, writing-wise (or maybe the film-makers just weren't used to working with a - no doubt only slightly - larger budget(?). With a cast including Robert Carlyle, Kathy Burke, Shirley Henderson, Rhys Ifans, Ricky Tomlinson et al surely guarantees a winner - but, alas, no. Meadows' concept - vaguely inspired by Sergio Leone's classic 1968 western - of Carlyle's Glaswegian (a sort of Begbie-light), Jimmy, returning to claim his ex-wife, Henderson's Shirley, and daughter (an impressive Finn Atkins's Marlene) in the face of Ifans' outwardly wimpy, Dek, is fine, but once the set-up (which, for at least half an hour is frequently very funny) has been achieved, the writing plateaus and then rather goes downhill.

For me, the most impressive element here is Ifans' character - full of faux-macho bravado, despite a pink three-wheeler as a replacement car - and his bond with Shirley and Marlene provides the most substantive (and touching) thread. Of course, with the comedic talent on show, plenty of the early scenes hit home (Dek reacting to Jimmy's return with 'where's me air rifle?' and, in the midst of the trauma, Shirley being invited, 'Do you wanna watch The Weakest Link?'), but the trio of bungling Glaswegians (including the great character actors James Cosmo and David McKay (from My Name is Joe and Neds) following Jimmy to the Midlands to reclaim their part of stolen booty are sadly underused (even if their 'clown mugging' sequence includes Vic Reeves and Bob Mortimer 'in disguise'!). There is also an (unintendedly?) significant thread around the film's opening Vanessa Felz talk show, with Dek bemoaning the perils of such 'accidental fame' (as Jimmy watches on). Meadows, who is notable for some brilliant use of music in other films, restricts himself to composer John Lunn's reasonable take on Ennio Morricone and the impressive use of the Norah Jones' song, Shoot the Moon.

Of Meadows' five significant features' through to This Is England, Once upon a Time.... is (for me) the weakest - even 2008's relatively minor Somers Town knocks Once Upon a Time... into a cocked hat. Still, here's hoping that Meadows makes a long-awaited return to the big screen at some point.

Midland comedy light

[stensson · 6/10 · 22 November 2002]

Robert Carlyle, Rhys Ifans, Shirley Henderson, Kathy Burke, those can't possibly make a bad film. But it is the acting that makes it, not the script, which is meant to be based on traditional western, but are more based on traditional late English film comedy about "common" people.

It of course nice seeing the loser win the girl for once. This is a victory of gentleness, but it's rather obvious that this is gonna happen. The Midlands are looked upon with much love, including bingo halls, Nashville music maniacs and people who are too fat, but keeps their dignity watching British daytime television. But it is a patented love. It is sentimentalized.

Once Upon a Time in the Midlands

[jboothmillard · 6/10 · 13 September 2006]

I'm not sure if I would call this a great British film, but it is good for some of the story and casting. Basically Dek (Rhys Ifans), a decent but somewhat dull man, enjoys a happy existence with beloved girlfriend Shirley (Shirley Henderson). They live together with her 12-year-old, Marlene (an introduction for Finn Atkins) - her daughter by the sexy but delinquent Jimmy (Robert Carlyle), who flew the coop years ago and hasn't been heard from since. Dek loves Shirley, so much, that he proposes to her on Vanessa Feltz's show, yes she is in it. Jimmy sees the TV proposal and returns to town convinced that he can try to win back his wife and daughter, however he faces formidable opposition from almost every side. Also starring Ricky Tomlinson as Charlie, Kathy Burke as Carol, Vic Reeves as Plonko the Clown and Bob Mortimer as Kung-Fu Clown. With quite a lot of argument and family issues, this is a good all-star British film. Good!

Very disappointing

[profhound · 2/10 · 4 April 2005]

I'm a huge fan of British films and was so looking forward to Once Upon a Time in the Midlands when I first read about it. It sounded like a sure thing: fun storyline, fabulous cast (Ricky Tomlinson, Kathy Burke, Rhys Ifans, Shirley Henderson Robert Carlyle), all actors I love. There are a few good moments with Tomlinson and Burke, as well as Jimmy's bumbling Glaswegian gang. The standout actor is Finn Atkins, who plays Henderson's daughter. Also worth noting is the soundtrack, which, alas, is apparently unavailable for purchase.

And somehow, all of these promising components resulted in something I would've thought an impossibility: a British comedy that lacks charm. Try as I might, I could not care about any of the characters. Henderson's Shirley is whiny and childish, and we're not given nearly enough information on why she's torn between her two equally-immature suitors. Her current boyfriend, Dek (Ifans) is a sweet sad sack, a milquetoast who had me bouncing between wanting to turn away from his relentless pathos to wondering why on earth he's still interested in Shirley after she turns down his marriage proposal on TV, lies to him about where she's going so she can see Jimmy, lets Jimmy move into her house, etc.

Jimmy is depressingly hopeless, with none of the entertaining qualities that keep you watching Robert Carlyle's usual dodgy-boy portrayals (e.g., Jo Jo, Begbie, Gaz). There's nothing like that here, not even a hint of the boyish charm that often reels naive or insecure women into relationships with guys like this. He's the consummate unlovable loser who refuses to grow up. He's not particularly dangerous, he has no depth. Like the rest of the characters in OUTM, I never feel I'm given a reason to care about what happens to him. It is to Carlyle's immense credit that he insisted they remove a rape scene from the script. (A rape scene, can you imagine?? This movie was depressing enough without adding that.) Jimmy may be a lot of things, but he never strikes me as a rapist.

Finally -- aside from the soundtrack, barren streets and a few long shots -- why oh why didn't the writers expand more on the "spaghetti western" theme? What fun they could've had with that. My disappointment with OUTM may sound a little strident. I guess I feel the impatience of a parent with a gifted child who's not doing his best; with all that potential, I expected more.

'Once upon a time in the midlands'

[seanbranson · 4/10 · 7 June 2005]

'Once upon a time in the midlands' is the next instalment from Nottingham director Shane Meadows, indeed it concludes his 'Nottingham trilogy' along with previous efforts 'Twentyfourseven' and 'A Room for Romeo Brass' I am glad to say that it surpassed all my expectations. It's a tale of a loner Jimmy (Robert Carlyle) who by chance manages to see his ex, Shirley (Shirley Henderson) on a television show turning down a proposal from her new boyfriend on national television, this prompts Jimmy to return to Nottingham and try to win her back, along with the Daughter (a brilliant debut from 12 year old Finn Atkins). There's just a few problems for Jimmy on the way, Shirley's wimpy yet loving new bloke Dek (Rhys Ifans), Jimmy's mouthy step sister and her wannabe country singer husband (Kathy Burke and Ricky Tomlinson respectively) not forgetting his shady friends who pursue him down south after he rips them off after a strange robbery goes horribly wrong.

All members of the cast shine and its fun to see a 'western' style angle being adopted – the classic tale of a loner coming into town to win back his girl, chased by villains and ready for a final confrontation with the man who his girl is now hooked up with. I hope this film gets the recognition that it deserves.

Excellent British film - value for money

[rob-236 · 8/10 · 30 May 2002]

`Once upon a time in the midlands' is the next instalment from Nottingham director Shane Meadows, indeed it concludes his `Nottingham trilogy' along with previous efforts `Twentyfourseven' and `A Room for Romeo Brass'

I saw this film at its world premier as part of Directors fortnight at Cannes, and I am glad to say that it surpassed all my expectations. It's a tale of a loner Jimmy (Robert Carlyle) who by chance manages to see his ex, Shirley (Shirley Henderson) on a television show turning down a proposal from her new boyfriend on national television, this prompts Jimmy to return to Nottingham and try to win her back, along with the Daughter (a brilliant debut from 12 year old Finn Atkins) he also left years previously. There's just a few problems for Jimmy on the way, Shirley's wimpy yet loving new bloke Dek (Rhys Ifans), Jimmys mouthy step sister and her wannabe country singer husband (Kathy Burke and Ricky Tomlinson) not forgetting his shady friends who pursue him down south after he rips them off after a strange robbery goes horribly wrong.

All members of the cast shine and its fun to see a `western' style angle being adopted – the classic tale of a loner coming into town to win back his girl, chased by villains and ready for a final confrontation with the man who his girl is now hooked up with. I hope this film gets the exposure it deserves when its released in the UK.

Run of the mill British film that belittles its title?

[tonypeacock-1 · 4/10 · 30 April 2020]

I've not visited this film for a few years. I can see why. It plays more like a television series than a film.

The ingredients of a decent film are there in terms of a British cast. Well known talent like Robert Carlyle, Ricky Tomlinson and Kathy Burke as well as mutterings of Reeves and Mortimer, the UK comic duo. The music at times is meant to resemble the spaghetti western of similar name.

Robert Carlyle plays a Glasweigan hot head that immediately reminded me of his role as Begbie in the Trainspotting films. The Trainspotting connection also continues with other casting. Director Shane Meadows is known for making films in his Nottingham home. This movie is such an example.

The backbone of the film is the relationship history of Robert Carlyle (Jimmy) his 'ex' partner Shirley (Shirley Henderson) and her current partner Dek (Rhys Ifans). The film does have some mildly comedic moments of quite shocking events but the film was average in my eyes. A film to stay in the archives perhaps?

A Small Masterpiece

[MOscarbradley · 27 November 2002]

Within the space of only a couple of years and with only his third film, Shane Meadows has joined Ken Loach and Mike Leigh as one of the (now) three British Directors whose films are simply unmissable by virtue of their director. Softer and gentler and therefore more accessible than either of it's predecessors, "Once upon a time in the Midlands" is a delight from start to finish. While "Twentyfourseven" and "A Room for Romeo Brass" were almost neo-realist in the Italian sense of the term, "Once upon a time ..." (the title alone eludes to the 'Italian' westerns) makes no such claims on "realism" reworking instead the classic western formula and laying it down in, of all places, Nottingham.

Shirley and Dec are happily unmarried in their extended family that comprises Shirley's daughter by her former partner Jimmy as well as Jimmy's foster-sister Carol and her country-and-western mad husband Charlie and their children. Things come to a head right at the start of the film when Dec proposes to Shirley on one of those dreadful TV audience participation shows (Sorry, Vanessa!) and she turns him down. Cue Jimmy, who has seen the show up in Glasgow, to ride into town to claim back Shirley.

What begins as broad comedy soon turns, if not quite sour, then at least darker and more poignant. Meadows' achievement is to allow his characters to behave humanely and realistically in situations that are often one step removed from 'realism' (and this time round he allows us the privilege of a happy ending). And if, in the end, it is this sense of the magical that detracts from the hammer-blows of "Romeo Brass" it remains a pleasure to spend a couple of hours in the company of these people.

The performances are, of course, superb (and Meadows is the best director of children working in cinema that I can think of). We expect nothing less of Kathy Burke and Robert Carlisle and Ricky Tomlinson but it is Shirley Henderson and Rhys Ifans as Shirley and Dek who are truly magnificent (they make you care deeply what happens to them) and as Shirley's daughter Finn Atkins is a real find.

I have just spent a couple of hours recently in the company of the characters who peopled Ken Loach's "Sweet Sixteen" and while admiring the brilliance of Loach's technique, still staggered out of the cinema in a state approaching despair. The lives of the people in Meadows' film aren't necessarily much better but, by God, there's hope there and for now that will do very nicely, thank you.

Is this supposed to be funny

[malcolmgsw · 3/10 · 26 May 2021]

With the cast on view and reputation of the director I was expecting a lot of laughs, instead I experienced a lot of frustration. Nothing really works with this film. Sad to say that it is a total waste of time.

Shame that the film was rather charmless

[Prismark10 · 4/10 · 20 May 2019]

Director Shane Meadows switches from gritty to an absurd comedy drama which fails to take off.

Jimmy (Robert Carlyle) is a small time criminal who catches his ex girlfriend and the mother of his daughter Shirley (Shirley Henderson) being proposed on the television show Vanessa by her new boyfriend Dek (Rhys Ifans.) She turns him down.

This gives Jimmy and opportunity to get down from Scotland to Nottingham to win back Shirley.

Jimmy though is being pursued by a gang that he double crossed back in Scotland. Although Jimmy is confident of winning back Shirley as Dek is a lovable weed, his daughter Marlene is not so easy and she has developed a bond with Dek.

Meadows aimed to make a quirky spaghetti western set in the Midlands. Ricky Tomlinson plays the country and western obsessed brother in law of Jimmy.

It does not work as a modern day western and it does not fly as a comedy. Ifans character has heart but is too much of a wimp which unbalances the film. The character of Jimmy has no charm and the script forgets that Shirley is living in Dek's house. If she takes back Jimmy, she potentially ends up homeless. You might even come to assume that Shirley is a bit dim.

Meadows' worst film.. but still better than average

[paul2001sw-1 · 8/10 · 14 September 2006]

Shane Meadows' first film, 'TwentyFour Seven', was dark, intense and arty; his second, 'A Room for Romeo Brass', is one my favourite movies, atmospheric, wildly funny and moving. But this, his third film, is not quite as brilliant, and indeed Meadows has acknowledged it as something of a wrong turn. Compared to it's predecessors, the mood is less claustrophobic, the humour a bit broader brush, and ultimately the movie is less poignant. Perhaps part of the problem is that whereas one of the highlights of Meadows' earlier films were the brilliant performances he coaxed out of largely unknown actors (Bob Hoskins was just about the only name of note in them), this film features a regular gallery of Brit-acting talent: Robert Carlyle, Kathy Burke, Ricky Tomslinson and Rhys Ifans. And while I have enjoyed movies featuring all of these actors, it's a bit hard, especially in the case of Tomlinson, to really see them in their roles, as opposed to as themselves. Sometimes, they almost seem to be performing too hard to fit into Meadows' sparsely filmed backdrops. One can also note that the cod-western theme is pursued with insufficient vigour to really define the movie. I don't want to be too harsh on the film overall, because there are still some very funny moments and excellent acting from Shirley Henderson and the young Finn Atkins. But it's certainly less ambitious than its two predecessors, which set the highest of standards by which to judge their successors.

I expected much better than this.

[Rozinda · 3/10 · 17 November 2012]

I hoped this would be good on the lines of The Full Monty. Carlyle played his part very well at first but towards the end goes off the rails, I assume because the script forces the actor to make the character become such a jerk that the wife's final decision and even more the astonishing behaviour of the child attempt to make some sense.

Ifans was a crashing bore. The daughter's hostility to her father was totally inexplicable. One understands she's upset that apparently he hasn't been in the habit of seeing her much if at all since the parents split, but her complete disinterest in her father and complete devotion the rival is simply unbelievable in my view.

Carlyle's character is ultimately disappointing since he fails to achieve what he has decided he wants just now, ie reuniting his family. If Ifans' character had anything dynamic or even interesting about him, I could have lived with the finale when the wife chooses the new lover instead of the ex-husband. But Ifans' character is just a colourless wimp.

I feel that what really spoils this film is how the child is acted. Where's the trauma at seeing her father again if she genuinely loathes him. Or if she's scared he'll interfere between her and the substitute father she's apparently chosen (though in no way clear why), ie Ifans' character? Instead, the child is measured and calm and appears to have no doubt she'll get what she has decided she wants, and sure enough she does.

The wife is also confusing. She appears to want to be with Ifans. Then Ifans moves out (GOOD ! I said. Him and that ridiculous pink vehicle, it was dreadful). Then suddenly Carlyle's character after arousing all my sympathy (and especially because of his daughter's near total blank feelings for him) suddenly gets silly. The wife is totally unreadable at this stage, you can't see any conflict, she just seems to accept whoever's there.

Carlyle character's thug friends are also a muddle. It seems they are all crooks and Carlyle has helped beat up some guy and steal money to make the trip south. The thug friends follow and all of a sudden with no clear explanation invade the ex-wife's home and terrorise those inside. I never made out why they did this. It was ridiculous. Perhaps the idea was to tell us that the Carlyle character was a violent thug too so don't support him. But this isn't at all clear.

Then all of a sudden, when you think maybe Carlyle's character has redeemed himself somewhat in spite of his sudden silly behaviour, the child makes the decision and then the mother suddenly goes along with it.

A very confused script in my view. Especially a loopy script for and direction of the child who might as well not have been in the story at all as she doesn't contribute anything to it really until suddenly she near enough says to her mother, I'm going with "Ifans" and Mother runs out to do the same.

Not Meadow's best.

[jonathan_ley · 13 November 2004]

Firstly, let me say how much I like Shane Meadow's work (particularly 'A Room For Romeo Brass'). However 'Once Upon a Time in The Midlands' is, in my opinion, his weakest work to date. That's not to say it isn't a good film, it is, but somewhere along the line the Meadow's formula went wrong. It smacks of too much development, something Meadows complained about himself, almost as if Film Four wanted to bottle the distinctive spirit of his earlier work, mass produce it and sell it to the widest audience possible. The characters end up as caricatures and whereas previous Meadows films examined the wonderful humanity and quiet dignity inherent in everyday life this one ends up in danger of being patronising to its subjects. The title and tag line are great but I wonder if they weren't thought up before the actual story and at the expense of the film. I personally found the Western elements a little superfluous, the deluge of famous faces distracting (what on Earth are Reeves and Mortimer doing as clowns?!), and the Glasgow gangsters subplot unnecessary. Once these elements fall by the wayside however, as they do in the second half, the film settles down into telling a decent little story. The central love triangle comes to the fore and we actually begin to connect with the characters. All the performances are good but special mention must go to young Finn Atkins who is outstanding. If this is your first taste of Meadows then don't be put off, just know that there are better films in his back catelogue than this. The 2 disc DVD is worth investing in though as the extras include Shane's World and a really nice documentary on the film's promotional tour.

Barely watchable kitchen sink situational comedy

[Chris_Docker · 3/10 · 11 September 2002]

(3/10) Robert Carlyle wakes up during the opening credits, apparently from a regular beer-sodden stupor. His unshaven face is eventually transfixed on the TV that he hadn't switched off from the night before. He sees his ex turning down a proposal of marriage on a Vanessa Feltz show (one of those Jerry Springer copycats) and decides to do something about it. I have to admit I left after half an hour as boredom seeped in like a pancreatic cancer. The cinema was nearly full and no-one had laughed once at that point in what has been described as a brilliant British situational comedy. If you are like me and the rest of the audience that night, maybe you don't find this kitchen sink humour watchable or even mildly amusing. The director did much better with Room for Romeo Brass – this later offering has all the hallmarks of a young director who has had a low-budget hit, on inspiration and enthusiasm rather than skill, and then goes on to make something with a rather unbalanced awareness of his abilities (or lack of them) as a film-maker.

poor narrative = poor film

[DomT · 3/10 · 6 June 2005]

Right, now where do I start?... If you had the choice of watching this film or something else, then choose the something else. This is definitely a film I will not be watching again. I watched this film with a class of students, and all of us felt the same way about the film - it was poor.

Expectations were not met. The 'known' actors who starred in the film did not pull it off in this one, they were poor. Actors known to us in life to be comedians and funny e.g. Ricky Tomlinson do not use these qualities to their advantage. This maybe however due to the fact that the poor scripting did not help them use their qualities successfully. These comedians have a specific audience and as this film wasn't a good one, their audiences will have been disappointed with what they had seen.

If this film was supposed to be funny then it failed miserably. I rarely laughed at some of the clips. However I could tell that certain scenes were aimed to make the audience laugh - which they didn't.

As you can guess I did not like this film at all. I will not be watching it again. In fact this film has put me off all Shane Meadows films completely. I advise you to watch another film if given the chance.

Shane Meadows - Britains Best!

[meejoir · 8/10 · 5 September 2002]

I had the great pleasure of seeing this film in the company of Shane Meadows and Rhys Ifans last night at Newcastle's Tyneside Cinema.

I have to admit it was an excellent film, a gritty kitchen sink tale crossed with so many cliches from classic westerns. Looks like Shane Meadows managed to rope in a whole load of top British actors into this project (Vic and Bob even get in on the action!).

The attention to detail is tremendous. The scene with Ricky Tomlinson sitting on the toilet writing songs is hilarious, especially with crates of Pot Noodles surrounding him!

I still think that Twentyfourseven is Meadows best film yet but with a cast like this, it will hopefully bring him to the attention of the masses and bring him the success that he whole heartedly deserves.

Absolute rubbish

[wilsr · 1/10 · 15 July 2014]

I stuck this one for thirty minutes, until I could take no more.

Is it a comedy? No, it's not in the slightest amusing.

Drama? Nope.

Romance? Definitely no.

SciFi? Possibly, the characters don't seem to inhabit any of the planets I'm familiar with.

Seriously, this is a terrible effort. Long, meandering shots which lead nowhere. Dreadful people with accents that are incomprehensible. Situations that have absolutely no relevance to whatever plot there may be. Cuts from one venue to another with no indication what connection they have.

The cinematography is quite reasonable. That's all, folks.

Another role-reversal flick.

[bottomappreciator · 5 October 2003]

The hidden theme in this film is insipid. The daughter Marlene is the adult, while her parents, Jimmy and Shirley, are still children. Jimmy's primary school labeled him the toughest little booger in his class, and he still absurdly relishes the role. Shirley is a silly oversized thirteen-year-old who has two boys interested in her, and she flits back and forth between them as her adolescent whims take her. However, Marlene (the chronological child) is the adult who knows exactly what's best for all. Dek is also a grown-up: responsible, hard-working and kind, although naive.

Near the end Marlene wants to run away with Dek. This wasn't a bad idea. Allowing for another ten years or so for Marlene to come of age, the two of them might have been a very happy, stable couple.

crap

[samueltunnicliffe · 3/10 · 24 May 2005]

'Once upon a time in the midlands' is a low budget film, and it shows. To be blunt, the film was possibly the most disappointing movie of the year. From looking at the cast, I had high expectations of the film, with talents such as Ricky Tomlinson, Ricky Carlisle, and Kathy Burke etc as well as the famous director himself, Shane Meadows. I feel that the main contribution to the let down of the film was the weak storyline.

Thanx!

A lot!

Thanks!

Thank you very much!

Let's do the show right here...

[chrisfewtrell · 1/10 · 22 August 2006]

I got a great idea: British films are sooo bad, what if we gather all the great actors we've got in one place - English, Welsh, Scottish, Irish, scouse, brummie, cockney, yeah? Mix em all up like in one big impossible family? It's gonna be a scream. OK, so we pitch the idea and some idiot gives us the green light. Man, this is gonna be bigger than the Boondock Saints. So we get the cast - and what a cast! - and we get the director, locations, mobile café, the works. Dammit! Who brought the story? What, no one? We're gonna have to make it up as we go along? What if it turns out to be a horrible, embarrassing mess, a waste of time and the collective talents of the UK's finest thesps? Whaddayamean, it couldn't happen again: when was the last time you paid to watch a British film? Guess what? It did happen again. Makes you want to crawl away and die of humiliation, don't it? Question: Who on God's planet finances British films? It has to be the same people who 'run' English football. Don't they watch movies? Don't they want to make money? See the papers this weekend (Aug 19 2006)? Bollywood consistently outperforms - make that trashes out of sight - British films in the UK. The subcontinental fools! Has no one told them how last century it is to make entertaining films that people actually want to see? You want to know what a bunch of relative unknowns can do with a script written with love, care and respect for its audience? Go watch Serenity.

A Breath Of Fresh Air....

[stacypulliam27 · 9/10 · 12 September 2009]

....and a break from the garbage.

Americans have long been subject to films that don't require much thought. If you like British films with a slightly underground feel, you'll like this one. And I mean 'underground' as in - you don't see films like this in the states very often. If you're bored with the usual, this is a step out of the box. And you'll want to stay out of the box!

Robert Carlyle is as awesome as you would expect and if you like the Full Monty then this is something else as well. You cant compare the two films because they are of course, different. But the intelligent writing here is just as apparent. Excellent acting all around actually.

The comedy is edgy and you can get cozy and settle into the plot easily while waiting for the next twist. This film is unpredictable and certainly surprises you with a strong - but subtle- approach to "romantic" comedy, anger, and family reality. Emotions are high but not over-blown. Somewhat deep but not complicated. This isn't one of those weird "foreign" films that so many Americans dread. Trust me! The word 'realism' even comes to mind. This could be somebody's life, neighborhood and family.

It is NOT a chick flick! And there is no bubble-gum romantic sense here at all. Thank God! It is simply something you will appreciate even if you aren't familiar with the actors or British comedy.

Highly recommended!