Long hair and beardies
The few (3) online critical reviews for this film suggest how "dull and dated" it is. But comments on YouTube tend toward "great little movie" "cult classic" "lost gem" .. Roy Harper fans i guess ..who also consider Mr Roy to be a bit of a lost gem
So whether, or how much, you like this film might depend on how much you are "into" Roy Harper. And also whether, or how much, you liked the early 70′s (assuming you're old enough to have memories of it)
Carol White (as Valerie) seems to be doing a reprise of her role in Cathy Come Home: working class girl pushing a pram around looking for escape – relief, pleasure, ordinary happiness – from a small bleak life; getting hit on by various blokes, who leech off her grief: Roy "makes" a song out of it; a do-gooding vicar makes a sermon; and a hapless Asian from work makes a twatty poem.
Roy Harper comes across as earnest rather than endearing – something you could say about the film in general. The nitty isn't gritty or politically engaged enough to be Ken Loach; the characterisations aren't idiosyncratic enough to be Mike Leigh. It's all a bit, well – as well-intentioned, but as dull as a Roy Harper dirge about old Englande (where old cricketers are leaving the crease or dying of boredom or something)
"Do you think a girl should go to bed with a fella if he doesn't love her?" asks Carol." "No. Unless it's me" quips Roy. Before long he's abandoned her to carry on with his free love mystical hippy beardy rock star thang (although he's written that song about her. Which she turns off. Well done Carol)
"Is it too late to create a world made of care" sings Roy at the end. Yes it is. And even though Made tries to be a film made of care – touched with caring sort of sentiments – in the end it just ends up feeling care-worn; and made (as in "manufactured") in the 1970′s film factory Social Conscience School for bleak and cheerless cliché.
So whether, or how much, you like this film might depend on how much you are "into" Roy Harper. And also whether, or how much, you liked the early 70′s (assuming you're old enough to have memories of it)
Carol White (as Valerie) seems to be doing a reprise of her role in Cathy Come Home: working class girl pushing a pram around looking for escape – relief, pleasure, ordinary happiness – from a small bleak life; getting hit on by various blokes, who leech off her grief: Roy "makes" a song out of it; a do-gooding vicar makes a sermon; and a hapless Asian from work makes a twatty poem.
Roy Harper comes across as earnest rather than endearing – something you could say about the film in general. The nitty isn't gritty or politically engaged enough to be Ken Loach; the characterisations aren't idiosyncratic enough to be Mike Leigh. It's all a bit, well – as well-intentioned, but as dull as a Roy Harper dirge about old Englande (where old cricketers are leaving the crease or dying of boredom or something)
"Do you think a girl should go to bed with a fella if he doesn't love her?" asks Carol." "No. Unless it's me" quips Roy. Before long he's abandoned her to carry on with his free love mystical hippy beardy rock star thang (although he's written that song about her. Which she turns off. Well done Carol)
"Is it too late to create a world made of care" sings Roy at the end. Yes it is. And even though Made tries to be a film made of care – touched with caring sort of sentiments – in the end it just ends up feeling care-worn; and made (as in "manufactured") in the 1970′s film factory Social Conscience School for bleak and cheerless cliché.
- thecatcanwait
- 8 nov 2011