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A Room For Romeo Brass on DVD (1999)

A Room For Romeo Brass cover art
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Average rating: (75%)
111128122069
3.5
 
Starring: Andrew Shim | Ben Marshall | Paddy Considine | Bob Hoskins | Frank Harper | James Higgins | Vicky McClure
Director: Shane Meadows
Studio: MOMENTUM PICTURES
Run time: 87 mins
Certificate: 15
User collections: Miss Informed | the best of british | Best Of British. | 10 must see Classics | ecletic mix | Love(these)film(s) | My 40 Favourite Movies | Small town lives, small time films | Best of British | Top 20 Lovefilm Rentals (June 2008)
Genres: Comedy
Languages: English
Released: 25/03/2002

Brief synopsis of A Room For Romeo Brass

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.

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Critics Reviews

Rating of 4 stars out of 5 Radio Times

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.

Chicago Sun

"...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..."

Rating of 1 stars out of 4 Halliwell's Film Guide

At times an engaging, well-observed study of childhood and domestic disruptions, but hampered by the increasing implausibility of the central relationships.

See all 6 Critics Reviews »

Members Reviews

Reviews Voted Most Helpful

Rated - 4 starsPaddy Considine's the next De Niro ?

DillonOli from London , 17/11/2004

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 that’s the case 'Dead Mans Shoes' is his 'Taxi Driver'. Infact I haven’t 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.

  9 out of 9 people found this review helpful
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Rated - 4 starsBritish realism!

Peter from South Wales , 12/01/2006

For those who yearn for a film a million miles away from the glitzy Hollywood saccharine, I would recommend they sit down and enjoy A Room For Romeo Brass.

Shane Meadows, as always, gets working class 'northern' (well it is north to someone in south Wales!) England spot on, with a script that evokes so many memories of growing up. Some absolutely fabulous performances throughout, but Paddy Considine's understated display of an out of control, unstable loner is one of the best you'll ever see.

I can fully understand that for many people, this wil be too heavy, too bleak and probably, too unsettling for them, but if you want to be challenged, you will enjoy, I'm sure.

  7 out of 7 people found this review helpful
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Rated - 4 starsDo not be afraid, they really are talking like normal people!

James Wright from Surrey , 14/01/2005

Some of you might find this film a little disarming, possibly even uncomfortable. This is not because of the subject matter, but rather the way in which the story is told: Director Shane Meadows gave the actors (adult and child alike) such a wide margin for error, that most scenes play more like a fly-on-the-wall show. But please don't see this as a bad thing; all the key actors have such a strong sense of their characters that the dialogue seems completely natural. It is a rare thing in mainstream film to hear dialogue as it is spoken in real life, stutters and all, and THATS why it does, at first, feel slightly odd. But as soon as you accept this, it becomes very difficult not to warm to this film.

Paddy Considine, as usual, is excellent as the troubled local man who falls for the older sister of one of the two 12/13 yr old boys around which the story is based. Romeo Brass is an intriguing tale that grabs your attention with warm and uncannily natural relationships, and some genuinely funny moments, so that when the intense final scenes play, you are all the more affected by them.

Just a simple but effective, and effecting DVD, that would earn 5 stars if it was not for the pitifully dissapointing special features.

  6 out of 7 people found this review helpful
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Rated - 4 starsDisarming

philip reardon from St Albans , 27/04/2005

Very well crafted film. I found it disarming and uncomfortable, in a positive way. So well written and well observed by the actors, resulting in a totally realistic portrayal.Quirky and wonderful, a truly British contemporary film.

  5 out of 5 people found this review helpful
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