Audience Member
Written by Lee Hall, fresh off the success of Billy Elliot (2000), this was based on a radio play he did for BBC Radio 4 in 1995 entitled I Luv You Jimmy Spud. Directed by Udayan Prasad (My Son the Fanatic (1997) and The Yellow Handkerchief (2008)), this is a very offbeat drama with a sugary, sentimental tone, although it has some very good performances, it's oddness does work against it in a way. In the Byker Wall region of Newcastle-Upon-Tyne, loner schoolboy Jimmy Spud (Sean Landless) is either bullied or neglected at school, and at home, his once loving father (Iain Glen) has turned quite nasty and violent towards him, his mother (Rosie Rowell) seems poweless to stop the father's mood swings, while Jimmy's grandfather (David Bradley) is kindly and caring. Inspiring by happier times when Jimmy was thrown in the air by his father, he wants to become an angel. He has made a crude angels costume from an old dress with feathers from his grandfather's pigeon lofts. Then Gabriel (Billy Connolly) appears to Jimmy, aiding him. While it's not a complete disaster, it does get a bit mawkish for it's own good, and it doesn't have the warmth or optimism that Billy Elliot had, plus it's quite short, (the film was recut before release), and with Connolly as Gabriel, he should have had the opportunity to add humour to the proceedings. But that never happened.
Rated 2.5/5 Stars •
Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars
02/05/23
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Audience Member
A tender but well-handled story of one boy finding meaning in life when the world around him closes in.
Rated 2.5/5 Stars •
Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars
02/06/23
Full Review
Audience Member
a film that could have been quite good, but fails dismally in the acting, script, and overall execution of this film. billy connolly was great, but that's a given. points of this film make you wonder whether this boy is really talking to angels or is just using an overactive imagination, but doesn't give enough one way or the other. a shame because this film did have potential.
Rated 1/5 Stars •
Rated 1 out of 5 stars
02/03/23
Full Review
Audience Member
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[left]Billy Connolly. Famous for being a loud mouthed, foul mouthed individual that makes a lot of people laugh worldwide. He takes the piss outta everything. Mostly himself and foreigners. So when I heard he landed a SERIOUS role in a movie, I was surprised.
Alex (Alex D.Linz) is a young boy, growing up in a hostile environment. He secretly wants to become an angel. Gabriel (Billy Connolly) is his mentor. When Alex's dad is diagnosed with lung cancer, he begins to doubt that becoming an angel will save his dad.
This film is deep. Incredibly deep. Because of this, it is very hard to watch, not because its done badly, but because its done so well. The subjects it raises are a little taboo in the society of film making, but is done tastefully and in fact gives the film a positive outlook in the end.
Having said all of this, Connolly isn't without his usual dodgy humour. Towards the beginning of the film, he tries to interview Alex in a changing room, while asking the question, "Were you ever sexually abused as a child?" Some might find that distasteful, but I just find it Ironic.
My only critisism is that it doesn't seem totally original. Billy Elliot, the writer's other film is pretty much like this, but with Ballet instead of Angels. Considering that films popularity, surely that message has come across already.
So while it is very deep and indeed very good, I do think a bit of originality in terms of style is needed badly.
To sum up:
+ Tasteful, well acted, and positive towards the end.
- A bit "Billy Elliot-esque"
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Rated 4/5 Stars •
Rated 4 out of 5 stars
02/28/23
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