Beystiman It's fun, it's light, [but] it has a hard time when its tries to get heavy.

Whitech It is not only a funny movie, but it allows a great amount of joy for anyone who watches it.

Doomtomylo a film so unique, intoxicating and bizarre that it not only demands another viewing, but is also forgivable as a satirical comedy where the jokes eventually take the back seat.

Cassandra Story: It's very simple but honestly that is fine.

nobby British character acting at its gritty and often ugly best. Ultimately a tale of redemption set against the palsied urban underbelly of post Thatcher Britain. Stark monochrome landscapes and 'facescapes' parallel a discarded social class, drained of its own colour.All set off by a notable soundtrack including stuff from The Charlatans, Sun House, Van Morrison and Paul Weller.The main criticism I would level at this film is the lack of story-flow. Too many set pieces strung together to get 'the point' across. It lost its heart somewhere in post production I would guess.On balance it's hardly a bundle of laughs BUT still worthy of a sound 8. (eight)

marxi Very Mild Spoilers AheadTwentyfour seven has some good moments as a film. It also has some good actors. Ultimately, however, it disappoints with a low key ending which borders on trite. This film falls under the category of a curiosity but not much more. The film does not come together as a coherent whole. I've seen it twice, and it feels as though something was left out of the ending. Perhaps something about optimism and the human spirit. Maybe that's the way it was supposed to feel. I rate it a D+, or 69 out of 100. The movie is in black and white, which I think actually helps it because starkness fits the movie.

chinaskee Shot in sumptuous black and white,this is one the most energetic films I've seen in a very long time.Bob Hoskins(in the kind of role Robin Williams can play in his sleep,and often does)is at times funny,at other times dead serious,but always real in this story that centers around the boxing club he has built to give the young men in his small town something to do instead of sitting around feeling sorry for themselves and throwing their lives away.All the performances are first-rate,but the family unit of Danny Nussbaum,Bruce Jones and Annette Badland are particularly strong.If this movie had been made in Hollywood it would have been over-produced,over-cast and overdone.The film never lowers itself into the cheap sentimentality that this genre of film often falls into.The way that Bob Hoskins brings these guys into his confidence one by one by convincing them they're the ones keeping the other guys in line is awe-inspiring.And there's a great soundtrack to boot.Mr Meadows,I know the money can be very tempting but resist the call of Hollywood as long as you can.The concessions you'll have to make to get your work produced just aren't worth it.Bravo,Shane,you're one helluva filmmaker.

Dodger-9 For my money this is the best film of the year. Best in that it didn't cost a fortune but packs as much of an emotional wallop as any blockbuster with 200 times the budget. Bob Hoskins plays Darcy, the burnt out soccer coach whose past history is told in flashback through his diary. It tells of how he trained up a team of no-hopers into becoming boxers with something to live for. Shot in luminous black and white, the feature debut of Shane Meadows is a remarkably sensitive, blisteringly funny portrait of hopelessness in Nottingham. The city has always had its problems but is also one of the most vibrant places on earth and Meadows captures the balance perfectly.The sulphurous black and white photography adds much class to the production and the team of largely unknown actors handle things admirably.The movie also features one of the most realistic fight scenes ever committed to celluloid when Hoskins and Coronation Street's Bruce Jones (Les Battersby) lay into one another. Both actors walked away with broken bones and this is jut one element of why 24/7 is a cut above the average movie. It's life captured on film with few romantic films. But the message is as powerful as one of Hoskins' punches in the ribs. Meadows will inevitably get more money for his next picture and will no doubt be sucked into the Hollywood mainstream which will probably be the death of him. If that happens, let's hope he doesn't lose sight of the genius which he embedded into every frame of 24/7.