Purely Belter

Purely Belter

Purely Belter

Another English comedy set in a deprived area (this time Newcastle) from the director of Little Voice and Brassed Off. The plot follows two teenagers as they try to raise enough money for two season tickets for their favourite football club - by legal or illegal means. One of them is relatively bright, although illiterate, and the other hopelessly thick. The film is funny and hits a few original notes, and the ending is quite neat (however unrealistic) but the acting lacks conviction and the movie has none of the integrity of, say The Mighty, nor the charm of the more accomplished (if also more formulaic) Billy Elliot. It really does seem that Mark Herman can only write and direct one kind of movie. The thing about the movie that moved me most was not anything about the story itself, but rather that it reminds the audience that there are thousands of children in such sad circumstances and worse - a sad reflection on us as a nation.

This film was fun. Not magical. Not wonderful. Just all out fun. The tale is feasible and true to life. What makes the comedy so special is that it depicts that rare quality of people being able to laugh at themselves. The people in the film don't take life too seriously. Neither should you when you watch this movie. Just enjoy it and laugh and laugh and laugh like we did.

Herman has made northern drama his own with Little Voice and Brassed Off, but the formula falters in this ropey, flat and contrived tale of two teenage delinquents trying to get season tickets to see Newcastle. Truancy, underage smoking and drinking, underage sex, teenage abortion, school bullying, drug abuse, substance abuse, depression, child violence, child sex abuse, shoplifting, housebreaking, auto theft, violent assault and armed robbery all put in an appearance here. None of these issues are explored, they merely serve to move the story along from one implausible situation to another. The film is not as acutely observed as Trainspotting, as poignant as The Full Monty, or as reflective of the times as Wonderland (from which it shamelessly steals music in an overly-manipulative manner). I suspect none of the filmmakers are from Newcastle, and have certainly never experienced the social problems the film references. I am all for entertainment, and Herman's track record shows he is aware of the need to balance the social message with laughs and tears. Quite simply, he comes up incredibly short here. The film has a nice ending, but there are far too many flat, banal moments to sit through to get there. Nicely shot, not very well acted, and ultimately fails on three crucial points: script, script, script.

I saw this movie last month while I was in Newcastle,England visiting my boyfriend. I didn't even know what "Purely Belter" meant..being canadian, there was some of the dialect that I just didn't get..it was funny because my boyfriend would be in hysterics and I'd just be sitting there a little confuzed. He would kindly explain though. I really did enjoy this movie, it was cool seeing a movie that was filmed right where I was staying. I can't wait to see it again! I'm sure the next time around it will be alot funnier , now that I understand alot more of the Geordie dialect! :) Highly recommend this film..it was definitely belter! lol

Rougher and less stylised than Herman's previous features Brassed Off and Little Voice, Purely Belter nevertheless contains elements fast becoming his trademark. Sharp comic dialogue sugaring a pill of biting social satire; life for the post-Thatcher working class; and those little things that make life bearable, but end up cutting you off from life. In Brassed Off it was Danny and his band, in Little Voice LV and her records, and for Gerry and Sewell it's football. Like Gerry, I am a passionate football fan who has only just been to her first match - Glentoran v. Liverpool in Belfast. A pre-season friendly, not even at Anfield. But when Robbie Fowler - my favourite player - scored, my primal yell of 'YESS!!' started at my feet and rushed through all my veins. It was wonderful. Herman captures that feeling even when the lads enter the despised ground of their enemies Sunderland. In Brassed Off and Little Voice, Danny and LV break free of their obsessions into lives which are far from perfect, but real. But Gerry and Sewell don't. Maybe because they're so much younger: Danny can remember when the mine was thriving, LV remembers when her Dad was alive. Gerry and Sewell have only ever known this life. Only ever been waiting for Saturday to come. Perhaps that makes this the darkest of the three films. Perhaps not. Purely Belter will thoroughly entertain you, and if you let it, it will make you really think.

Mark Herman's 'Brassed Off' was a winning mixture of sentimental comedy and authentic anger; while 'Little Voice' was a bizarre, original and at times surreal comedy that defied genre. 'Purely Belter', his third film, sadly can't live up to its predecessors. A story of life at the lowest end of Newscastle's social scale, its two central characters, a pair of young thieves, are presented as wholly likable idiots who wouldn't hurt a fly; this is offset by the ever present possibility of the whole film collapsing into unbearably mawkish tragedy. Herman's previous films had a key musical element; this one doesn't, and it's a shame that into this vacuum he has put a bland and irrelevant mix of contemporary pop music. Moreover the stars have disappeared: while his first two films featured Ewan MacGregor, the biggest star in this one is a footballer not an actor! What saves 'Purely Belter' is Herman's undiminished gift for comedy, whether silly or black: the film makes you laugh, and the monstrous scene where the boys father sings karoake is both chilling and hysterical. Overall, however, the mixture of realism and fairytale jars more often then it gels. Try watching Shane Meadows' underrated classic 'A Room for Romeo Brass' instead, which works similar themes with more believability, subtlety and power.

I watched this for the first time today 10 years after the film was made, but apart from the fashions and smoking in pubs, this storyline could still apply today. I am a fan of "northern" films, and have enjoyed Herman's previous work, however this one seemed to lack the spark that made Brassed Off and Little Voice great. I think this is mainly due to the fact that the young characters in the film are played by pretty inexperienced actors, and it often seems as though they are reciting the script. Tim Healy's scenes as the aggressive father jump out because his rich experience as an actor create a believable, intimidating, 3D character. Although the two lads are likable they will never stick in anyone's memory for their performances. I was also a little concerned about the film's message. By the end the character's situations haven't really changed, as their plans to raise the cash have failed. Because of this, the boys seem to think that they will be destined to a life without stimulation or direction, and that because they were born into poverty that they will have to stay there. But there is a simple way out of that kind of life - go to school or get a job! The film makes out that society won't support them, but if they got qualifications or earnt so money by doing a good day's hard work they would have 100 times more opportunities. I don't think the boys' attitudes at the end of the film were justified, because there are so many other ways out of that social situation, but they just can't be bothered to do that. But on the positive it was great to see some old faces from Byker Grove! Overall not bad, but not amazing either

Possible Spoilers: Knowing the history of showing social problems on celluloid in Britain and really loving it,like Ken Loach movies and "Trainspotting"(one of my favorite movies ever made,if not my favorite:A definite Masterpiece),I thought by myself:hmm,this could be a very good movie.And it was! The acting by the young actors Chris Beattie and McLane is really powerful and convincing and the supporting roles are also of very high quality.A fan of Inspector Morse(that I am)saw instantly the presence of Kevin Whately(a real Newcastle Man),the underestimated actor who plays Lewis in the series. Although the story is very good and the ending is very uplifting yet surprising,the emphasis lies highly on the performances by the cast,which is typical for these kind of movies. A small movie that has got some similarities with "Trainspotting" for instance the use of music and the great Northern accent of Newcastle,that is similar to the Scottish accent.The presence of some Newcastle United players like the star Alan Shearer and the lively rivalry between Sunderland and Newcastle makes it very realistic but probably not for Americans.This is a European movie though,so tough luck! 9/10