Mean Machine
2001
In this remake of THE LONGEST YARD, Robert Aldrich's 1974 Burt Reynolds prison tale concerning inmates who organize themselves into a football team and compete against the guards, British director Barry Skolnick pulls together a ruthlessly funny cast and changes the resident sport to soccer. The leader of the prisoners, played .. Read more
| Starring | Vinnie Jones, David Hemmings, David Kelly, Vas Blackwood |
|---|---|
| Director | Barry Skolnick |
| Genres | Action/Adventure |
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Critics' reviews (3)
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Vinnie Jones doesn't stray too far from home for his first leading part, sticking with several of Guy Ritchie's Lock, Stock… company including Snatch producer Matthew Vaughn and an ex-footballer-turned-jailbird role. But what this remake of Robert Aldrich's 1974 movie The Mean Machine — remember, ex-football pro Burt Reynolds trained his fellow convicts to take on the guards — really misses is Ritchie himself, since first-time director Barry Skolnick and his writers lack the creativity and vitality of Madonna's film-making husband. That said, if you can overlook the rather thin characters and simplistic plot, the film's final third — an ill-tempered soccer match between warders and inmates — is very well filmed and highly entertaining. Jones isn't bad in a made-to-measure role, though the movie's best shots on goal come from Jason Statham's maverick keeper and Jason Flemyng's unconventional commentator. Definitely one for the boys.
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Unsuccessful attempt to make a star of a former footballer of limited acting ability, who was notorious for his tough-guy attitude on the field; the threadbare, hand-me-down script doesn't help.
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This remake of the ballsy Robert Aldrich/Burt Reynolds prison drama The Longest Yard (released in Britain as The Mean... read more on Time Out
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Most helpful members' reviews (3)
View all -
5 out of 7 people found this review helpful
Ouch
Watching this film was actually painfull. I had already seen the original and liked it, so I watched this one with an open mind (remakes being remakes). This film has far too much 'laddish' behaviour and attempts at acting ('Shout your lines, make angry faces to show how tough you want to be and everything will be OK' school of acting).
I have enjoyed Vinnie Jones in other films (Lock Stock, 60 Seconds, Eurotrip) but this was really bad - script, supporting acting .. oh hang on, there wasn't any. His acting in the Bacardi adverts is better than the acting in this film. -
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful
OK
STARTS OF SLOW BUT WHEN MATCH FININAL GETS ON ITS WAY QUITE FUNNY
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1 out of 1 person found this review helpful
Its like Bedknobs and broomsticks
Like the disney film you will only remember the film for the football match it contains.
I bet Vinny really wishes he played that well during his first career.
Theres nothing bad to say about the film indeed there are enjoyable bits - The monk but otherwise its just an english rip off of an american original. That does not read right no matter how many times I re-read it. -
Most recent members' reviews (2)
View all -
1 out of 1 person found this review helpful
Its like Bedknobs and broomsticks
Like the disney film you will only remember the film for the football match it contains.
I bet Vinny really wishes he played that well during his first career.
Theres nothing bad to say about the film indeed there are enjoyable bits - The monk but otherwise its just an english rip off of an american original. That does not read right no matter how many times I re-read it. -
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful
OK
STARTS OF SLOW BUT WHEN MATCH FININAL GETS ON ITS WAY QUITE FUNNY
-
5 out of 7 people found this review helpful
Ouch
Watching this film was actually painfull. I had already seen the original and liked it, so I watched this one with an open mind (remakes being remakes). This film has far too much 'laddish' behaviour and attempts at acting ('Shout your lines, make angry faces to show how tough you want to be and everything will be OK' school of acting).
I have enjoyed Vinnie Jones in other films (Lock Stock, 60 Seconds, Eurotrip) but this was really bad - script, supporting acting .. oh hang on, there wasn't any. His acting in the Bacardi adverts is better than the acting in this film. -
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful
OK
STARTS OF SLOW BUT WHEN MATCH FININAL GETS ON ITS WAY QUITE FUNNY
-
1 out of 1 person found this review helpful
Its like Bedknobs and broomsticks
Like the disney film you will only remember the film for the football match it contains.
I bet Vinny really wishes he played that well during his first career.
Theres nothing bad to say about the film indeed there are enjoyable bits - The monk but otherwise its just an english rip off of an american original. That does not read right no matter how many times I re-read it. -
Loved the orriginal but this just a fair copy. Not Vinny's best but OK for entertainment
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great film that looks like a between snatch vs the full monty with football instead of stripping
good movie and better than the american football movie that its taken from -
Brilliant!!
Vinnie Jones is brilliant, great film, highly recommend it!
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Vinnie at his best
This role was almost made for Vinnie Jones - a hard man in the football game. This takes him back to his former playing days with 'The Crazy Gang' at Wimbledon.
I loved this film, it brings together many of the actors used in Guy Ritchie films. -
Oh no
I had such high hopes for this film and couldn't wait to watch it. Unfortunatley it failed to hit the mark and had me asleep half way through. (maybe I thought it was going to be the same quality as Snatch which was fantastic)
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GIRLS DON'T BOTHER
It was a good film for my boyfriend, but i much prefered the newer american version with Adam Sandler in it - far more light hearted than this 'how much testosterone can we fit into one film'. Boys will love it, ladies - don't bother - watch the funny alternative instead!
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brilliant!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
just for the commentary on the game.rest of film is good also
Critics' reviews (3)
-
Vinnie Jones doesn't stray too far from home for his first leading part, sticking with several of Guy Ritchie's Lock, Stock… company including Snatch producer Matthew Vaughn and an ex-footballer-turned-jailbird role. But what this remake of Robert Aldrich's 1974 movie The Mean Machine — remember, ex-football pro Burt Reynolds trained his fellow convicts to take on the guards — really misses is Ritchie himself, since first-time director Barry Skolnick and his writers lack the creativity and vitality of Madonna's film-making husband. That said, if you can overlook the rather thin characters and simplistic plot, the film's final third — an ill-tempered soccer match between warders and inmates — is very well filmed and highly entertaining. Jones isn't bad in a made-to-measure role, though the movie's best shots on goal come from Jason Statham's maverick keeper and Jason Flemyng's unconventional commentator. Definitely one for the boys.
-
Unsuccessful attempt to make a star of a former footballer of limited acting ability, who was notorious for his tough-guy attitude on the field; the threadbare, hand-me-down script doesn't help.
-
This remake of the ballsy Robert Aldrich/Burt Reynolds prison drama The Longest Yard (released in Britain as The Mean... read more on Time Out
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In this remake of THE LONGEST YARD, Robert Aldrich's 1974 Burt Reynolds prison tale concerning inmates who organize themselves into a football team and compete against the guards, British director ... -
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