In A ROOM FOR ROMEO BRASS, two teenage boys, Romeo (Andrew Shrim) and Knocks (Ben Marshall), whose families live in the same housing development in a small town in the Midlands, England, share a unique friendship. Making jokes that nobody else understands, fighting over little things, being brutally honest with each other, the .. Read more
| Starring | Andrew Shim, Ben Marshall, Paddy Considine, Bob Hoskins |
|---|---|
| Director | Shane Meadows |
| Genres | Comedy |
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In A ROOM FOR ROMEO BRASS, two teenage boys, Romeo (Andrew Shrim) and Knocks (Ben Marshall), whose families live in the same housing development in a small town in the Midlands, England, share a unique friendship. Making jokes that nobody else understands, fighting over little things, being brutally honest with each other, the boys' behavior epitomizes eye-rolling teenage smugness. They both have family problems. Knock's dad is a wierdo who completely ignores him. Romeo's dad is an angry brute. However, the boys seem to get along just fine. That is, until a stranger, Morrell (a truly beguiling Paddy Consadine), appears in town and stirs up trouble. He threatens Knocks, then dominates Romeo. He coerces Romeo into setting up dates with his sexy sister, and challenges him to strangely aggressive martial arts matches. Meanwhile, Knocks has undergone a major operation on his bad back, and is bedridden at home. Romeo is lost and confused. Just when it seems that the boys have grown apart for good, a tragedy brings them, their families, and the whole neighborhood together again.
A gray and moody film with a biting narrative, A ROOM FOR ROMEO BRASS features some gorgeous photography, emotional performances, and most of all, a drifty, perfectly assembled sound track.
| Starring | Andrew Shim, Ben Marshall, Paddy Considine, Bob Hoskins, Frank Harper, James Higgins, Vicky McClure |
|---|---|
| Director | Shane Meadows |
| Studio | MOMENTUM PICTURES |
| Run time | DVD: 1 hr 27 mins |
| Certificate | |
| Genres | Comedy |
| Language | English |
| Released | DVD: 25 Mar 2002 Production year: 1999 |
| Format | DVD |
Having developed a fan base following their excellent feature debut TwentyFourSeven, director Shane Meadows and his writing partner Paul Fraser haven't taken the easy option. This is a risky, difficult and very impressive little movie about two 12-year-old mates — the spirited Andrew Shim and the sickly Ben Marshall — who are befriended by likeable, albeit peculiar, loner Paddy Considine. Beginning as an earthy but light-hearted study of adolescent friendship, the film takes a sharp turn into quite shocking drama once Considine reveals his darker side. Although the sudden shift in tone won't please everyone, this honest, unsentimental movie offers more insights into the weirdness of human relationships than many, while newcomer Considine is definitely a name to watch.
"...Meadows seems fascinated by the happenings of everyday life....Effortless in the way it insinuates itself into these families, touching in the ways it shows how fiercely Romeo and Knocks are..."
Superb acting debut from Paddy Considine, in a quality British film. Shane Meadow's is a quality director and anyone who has seen his latest film with Considine, 'Dead Mans Shoes' will know he is on top form right now.
Romeo Brass is a superb slice of Contemporary British cinema and is highly recommended, it has great performances all round, Meadows himself said to Considine that the film would be his Johnny Boy, a reference to De Niro's role in Scorsese's 'Mean Streets', if thats the case 'Dead Mans Shoes' is his 'Taxi Driver'. Infact I havent seen Paddy Considine in a bad film yet he truly is one of the best British actors we have and I'm looking forward to his role in the Brian Jones(Rolling Stones) biopic as the man who claims to have killed him.
Brilliant performances all round. Paddy Considine is incredible (again). Watch his performance and I defy you not to be both disturbed and impressed. There's a scene involving Paddy, the 2 young heroes and an ice cream purchase on the beach which just crackles with menace. I had to wait twice for this film as they kept sending me knackered disks, but it was worth it.
Father figures, mentors, men and boys, these are relationships that crop up in all five of Shane Meadows' films, and most often they are central. In This Is England, twelve-year-old Shaun (a brilliant performance from newcomer Thomas Turgoose) is mourning his dad, killed in action in the Falklands. The year is 1983, and Thatcher is riding a wave of rekindled nationalism on the rump of that victory. Shaun is lonely, vulnerable, and a ripe target for bullies. At an age when his identity is up... Read more