Hallam Foe Reviews

[Highly rated reviewer]

Rubbish

This is absolute Rubbish!!!

Fab Foe

This is one of those movies that, right from the outset, just grabs you in a wonderfully persistently ticklish way. You don't know why you like it, or even if you should like it so much, a bit like falling in love with the wrong person. Completely charmed, spellbound, but you feel a little bit dirty too. Starring the small but perfectly formed Jamie Bell as our protagonist Hallam Foe, we are taken along on his journey through bewildered, grief-stricken, slightly bizarre teenhood along that perilous path to reconciliation, love, and self-knowledge that is adulthood (well, you live in hope). It's a bit dark, sometimes disgusting, occasionally hot and sexy in a twisted kind of way and just real and funny and plain charming. Great one-liners! But I won't spoil it for you. PLEASE GO AND SEE THIS FILM. When I went to see it I got a free badge - I can't promise you will too, but there is much enrichment on all levels to be had here beyond the getting of the badge.

thought provoking

The movie doesn't make for easy watching, at no point was i sure if i was actually 'enjoying' it, but jamie bell shows an astonishing maturity in the title role with good support from sophia myles and a great appearance from ewan bremner (where HAS he been?)..

i'd not read much about the movie before i saw it.. struggling to come to terms with his mother's death, hallam exhibits troubling behaviour but the director skillfully manages to engage our sympathy by the end of the film.

thought provoking and definitely worth seeing, i loved it.

[Highly rated reviewer]

Hidden gem?

With the story starting in beautiful country settings in Scotland, then moving in sharp contrast to the city, Jamie Bell plays the role of Hallam Foe brilliantly and it's interesting to see his maturity from Billy Elliot fame.

As we follow Hallam in his struggle with his mother's death and his progression into some semblance of adult 'normality', we are privy to all his idiosyncrasies (and there are plenty) but we root for Hallam all the way, sharing his highs and lows.

The film doesn't opt for easy conclusions and there are 2 or 3 scenes where I was emotionally lurching from one extreme to the other due to the fine performances and storyline.

This is one of those films where you finish watching it and think, 'very good that' then a couple of days later, you're recollecting scenes from it and you start thinking, 'actually...it's great.'

[Highly rated reviewer]

Murky Depths

A rather unsatisfying film in the end. I hoped for more. The tone is bleak and that's reflected in the style of photography - muted colours - rather unpleasant actually. Much like the charecter of Hallam. Excellent actors though they are, for me Jamie Bell and Sophia Myles can't make them believable. The film starts promisingly but it loses its way and completely unravels towards the end. I don't buy for one moment that Hallam is actually capable of the violent act towards his step-mother - either physically or psychologically. Equally the character of Kate just doesn't convince.

[Highly rated reviewer]

Hallam Foe

I’m one of those rare movie fans that did not see Billy Elliot when it it was released over 8 years ago. To be honest a film about a male teenage ballet dancer did not appeal to me . There is no doubting that since then Jamie Bell has come on leaps and bounds. He has appeared in King King , Jumper and the excellent Flags of our Fathers . I’m afraid that Hallem Foe will not be looked back on as fondly as those i have just mentioned.

Hallam is almost over the sudden death of his mother when he begins to suspect that his beautiful step mother may have had a hand in her death, and it doesn’t help that Hallam fancies her rotten. After a confrontation with his step mum, Hallam escapes to Edinburgh. Out of money and out of friends, he finds his tree-top skills well suited to the rooftops of the city, where he lives ferally, attempting to avoid the perils of the streets below and becoming obsessed with a gorgeous girl who happens to look just like his mother.

Although this film is Scottish it has all the hallmarks of a french art house movie. It is full of dialogue , it has very little action and it has a smattering of sex scenes to keep the viewer slightly interested . The problem is it has the biggest thing in common with French films and that is that it is just plain weird.

There is nothing wrong with the acting in fact in general it is very good , especially from Sophia Myles ( Below ) but what happens to the characters is just not very believable .

Why would Kate get mixed up with a weirdo like Hallem ? He is hardly out of school , he has very little about him that is likable and he is peeping Tom!

I know Kate didn’t know this when she fell for him but when she found out that he was stalking her because she looked like his dead mother she encouraged it by dressing up in the mothers clothes when most would have run a mile!

Sorry I’m not having that.

It seems mandatory that any film that is about Scotland or is set in Scotland has to have Ewen Bremner in it ( Spud from Trainspotting ) Is there really a shortage of actors north of the border? I Think not.

Hallam Foe is not a bad film , its just one that because of the unusual things that are happening with the characters it results in a lack any credibility.

One big plus point is the Soundtrack which features The Arctic Monkeys , Franz Ferdinand and The White Stripes but still that is not enough to make this a film one to recommend depite coming from the usually excellent guys at Film4.

5 out of 10

[Highly rated reviewer]

Coming of Age, Coming of boredom

Another case of getting a DVD just because of the cast. This was Weird with a capital W. I suppose it is a coming of age drama but it just seems a bit dull and pointless. If you fancy your mum, like badger hats or numerous shots of bums then this is the film for you!

[Highly rated reviewer]

Hallam Foe

What a great little story.

Not too long and every minute of the film holds a purpose, no wasted filler time here.

To start with you really question if you care less what happens to this apparent perv of a kid, but then as the film goes along and as his character builds you feel genuine empathy for Hallam.

Not a depressing film at all like some people have said - I'd say it was an uplifting film, but just not in an obvious way!

Interesting.....

Wasn't sure I was going to enjoy this and the start of the film didn't help much. Glad I continued to watch as it unfolded into an enjoyable story with some cringeworthy scenes.

I'm just amazed at how almost everyone in the film (which was set in Edinburgh) seemed to have a Glaswegian accent!

Definately worth a watch, just give it a while to get started.

[Highly rated reviewer]

droll

why oh why oh why oh why.trying to be arty all it did was farty