If you're a fan of British films, or the way the British tweak the language, this could very well be for you.

The basic premise:

Released from prison after an 8 year spell inside, Bill returns to the family home to find his young boys fending for themselves after their mother ran off to Spain with her fancy man. Ill-equipped to deal with the responsibilities of being a father, Bill is forced to stay with the boys when social services find out that the boys are looking after themselves. Seeking to extricate himself from his criminal past, he finds that this is more difficult than envisaged when the footprint of his failed parenting rears its head.

Ultimately, this is a story of redemption and the alignment of traditional family roles with fractured relationships. It's a superb little film. The director, Dexter Fletcher, is very much part of the British filmmaking furniture, and he utilises this position to bring together a very interesting and talented cast.

It's a slow, gritty film, but never feels too slow. If you've never been to the UK (and if you have, it's probable you won't have been to these types of council estates), you'll see the bleakness of a council estate contrasting with the trademark British stoicism. Without delving into what happens too much, there's some perfectly handled comedy that veers into Tarantino/Spaghetti Western territory with the 'final showdown'. That this takes place in a standard British boozer whilst retaining the aforementioned vibe is a huge credit to the chaps making this.

Definitely worth a butchers.

What is a council estate? Is that like a housing project?

And what does "worth a butchers" mean? lol I've hear you say that before, I thought you meant taking a knife to a script. Obviously I got that wrong. Man, I wish I knew English!

Fine review. If I spot this on TV I'll check it out.

Hey Andrew,

Saw this reviwed on Film 2012.

I will try and pick this up.

This may be a British debate but I do wonder some times about these type of films. They just seem so dependent on the  British market and so unlikely to travel. Even if this is great can you see it over seas?

At a time when we want the industry to grow, unlikely the past 30 years of course, I just get this feeling that those who decide these things look...well, too close to home. You can't have a Kings speech every time, and for ie I am sick of period drama, but surely we can look beyond these shores a bit more. Maybe that's me.

Hope I'm wrong.

Quoted from Reef Dreamer Hey Andrew, Saw this reviwed on Film 2012. I will try and pick this up. This may be a British debate but I do wonder some times about these type of films. They just seem so dependent on the  British market and so unlikely to travel. Even if this is great can you see it over seas? At a time when we want the industry to grow, unlikely the past 30 years of course, I just get this feeling that those who decide these things look...well, too close to home. You can't have a Kings speech every time, and for ie I am sick of period drama, but surely we can look beyond these shores a bit more. Maybe that's me. Hope I'm wrong.

Hey Bill,

IMO, there will be a limited audience for this internationally. It's an interesting argument as to what extent that's the film's fault or the audience's fault.

I think the composition of the British film industry accounts for a lot of the output you mention. There's a real luvvie aspect that love to churn out the period pieces, whilst you have a more geezer element putting out this kind of stuff. The dissolution of the Film Council may exacerbate this to some degree. The BFI certainly carries a more film geek/luvvie/film establishment disposition, which I fear may result in a pretty oblique funding strategy. The UK Film Council's CV speaks for itself, in terms of its diverse funding.

BBC Films, Working Title and Film 4 will become even more important now and it'll be interesting to see how they develop without the Film Council assisting with funding/development. Interesting to see Working Title doing Contraband and BBC doing We Need To Talk About Kevin recently. May be indicative of an attempt to push beyond these shores. At least we're not being subjected to much of the bawdy 60s/70s commercial output!

IMO, it's a real shame that there's not more cash to go around in our industry. Part of that probably owes to what you say - the over reliance on the British market and weak legs internationally.

Quoted from leitskev What is a council estate? Is that like a housing project? And what does "worth a butchers" mean? lol I've hear you say that before, I thought you meant taking a knife to a script. Obviously I got that wrong. Man, I wish I knew English! Fine review. If I spot this on TV I'll check it out.

Yeah, the council housing and projects would be the same thing.

Haha. Butcher's hook is look in Cockney rhyming slang, and as per standard with its structure, you drop the rhyme and you're away. So to have a butchers just means to have a look. Over here you'll also here people say: "give us a butchers."

Definitely have a look at this, though. Beneath the clear Britishness, there's a real universal story.

A really good movie this one, I was really surprised. Charlie Creed-Miles is excellent as Will, but Will Poulter takes the plaudits for me as the eldest son Dean who has taken the role of parent to his younger brother Jimmy. He was superb and stole the movie.

It moves at a slow pace but I didn't mind that as I got engrossed in this relationship between a father and his two sons. Bill's change from wanting to get away from them to giving up his freedom for the boys is well done and heartfelt.

The anticipated climax is well worth the wait as you find out why he is called "wild" Bill in a great pub fight scene. Although a lot of the supposed "thugs" did run away a bit easily for my liking.

Also a nod to first time director Dexter Fletcher who did a great job with the east end backdrop showing the construction of the Olympic stadium amidst the council tower blocks. 

I adored Will Poulter in Son of Rambow.
And I was bent that he didn't continue on The Fades.
But this one I couldn't get through.
Feel like I've seen this film a lot in the last decade.
I think the writer/director's next project will be much anticipated.
Hopefully, he doesn't get swalloed up by the Hollywood machine.

E.D.