Film of the Week #82 - Dead Man's Shoes

ixoy

With Shane Meadow's "Somers Town" currently in the cinemas, it got me thinking back to his classic "Dead Man's Shoes".

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TrpIWAAU3Cs

Richard, played by Paddy Considine, returns to his home town bent on seeking justice for his brother who was mis-treated by the local hoodlums.

In description it sounds like just another revenge movie, but there's a couple of things that elevate it well above its siblings. Firstly is the incredibly intense performance by Considine. He simmers with a cold anger on screen but resists the need to start chewing on the scenery, a failure with many such Hollywood movies. Instead the hate and sorrow are delivered in short, brutally effective bursts.
Secondly the local gang are a pretty pathetic lot. They're not some Mafia syndicate or terrorist group - they're the type of people we'd recognise in our own lives who try and play as the hard man. The fact we can picture such a small town gang and understand its mentality helps make the actual revenge more brutal - it's something we can imagine actually happened. The actors chosen for these roles are unknowns for the most and that's part of their success too - their sheer anonymity forces you to confront them more as people rather than some A-list or B-list celeb.

Below is one of the most effective scenes of what I believe are the movies strengths - Considine's performance and the type of people he's confronting:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=USeow24XrCg

It's ultimately a bleak movie but haunting as to how far someone broken can go and to the levels of personal hell they'll take themselves and others. It's a crying shame that Considine didn't get multiple awards for his performance here, but it's good to see the movie gaining at least a cult following.

longshanks

yeah considine is class in that, its a cracker of a film although i did think in places the criminals were like a caricature. still though, apart from that its the usual quality that meadows has been delivering for a few years now.
lookin forward to seeing somers town, i thought the young lad was well sharp in this is england

Basq

Fantastic pick ixoy.

Still my favourite from what I've seen of Meadow's films. It really is a very bleak film but it excels in it's writing and performances (especially the utterly fantastic performance from Considine and also Kebbel is very good).

It should have been laden with awards but now it has gained quite a cult following on DVD. I have myself recommended it to 4 or 5 people who in turn loved it and recommended it to a couple of their friends.

Fantastic film.. and if you haven't seen it, seek it out now.

charlie_says

Excellent choice. Has a brilliant soundtrack to boot.

My favourite bit is "do you want to kiss him?"

ThOnda

Excellent film to make you think from the very beginning "WTF is going on there?!?". And there is "going" even more than you think.
Excellent choice.

Auvers

Fcukin hell I cant believe haven't seen this

*runs off to local Video shop

johnny_ultimate

Yep stunning film. Shane Meadows films consistently impress me, but as others said above this is probably his best. To make a hackneyed genre like revenge thriller seem so fresh, relevant and shocking is quite a feat. But the whole film is so believable and small scale that it just packs a real punch, with an amazing lead performance. Probably my favourite British film.

Transform

Stunning movie that stays with you long after its over.

I cannot believe Considine has not gone on to bigger things but hey maybe he is going to be the Daniel Day Lewis of this decade - do an excellent movie when ever the script is right.

sweetie

were ye guys disappointed or impressed by the twist though?

Boston

There was no twist, the way it ended was always how it had to end. A tragic movie about rage. Not the type of film you walk about from and say "that was an enjoyable bit of entertainment" more something that makes you question humanity and the power of grief.

Sir Digby Chicken Caesar

so I was the only one who watched this and thought it was a comedy?

Fuzzy_Dunlop

Yes this was finally picked!:)
Absolutely amazing film. Paddy Considines performance is incredible and its a film that has stayed with me ever since i first saw it about 3 years ago. One of those films that you just have to watch even if it can be uncomfortable viewing at times. Really couldn't recommend it enough

[edit]oh and this movies rating on rotten tomatoes is an absolute disgrace

311

Went to see somers town last week ,another good movie from meadows.
Some really funny and heart warming moments in it.

anonymous_joe

I watched this in the cinema and left thoroughly depressed.

It's a superb film, but on the other hand it's truly heart-rending. One man's struggle against rage and disillusionment...