Goodbye Charlie Bright

Goodbye Charlie Bright does carry a certain raw energy that makes it sort of fun to watch but do not let that fool you because for me, the film fell marginally short. I think it's great that a British director is making films about British ways of living in locations British people will recognise and Nick Love has clearly been doing something that impresses someone else because he's made a few films since this one. But Goodbye Charlie Bright is a film that will appeal more to those of the certain culture the film focuses on. As someone who lives relatively close to London and as someone who was of these kids' age when the film was respectively produced, I suppose there should be some sort of a connection for me. But, there isn't and this is probably down to the fact I was not of the ilk Love is exposing for his film.

Goodbye Charlie Bright is a film for the Brits and that is enough for it to garner some sort of respect from me. The kids walk around wearing Millwall football club shirts, they talk in the heavy respective accent and their lives unfold in a setting most of us will be familiar with – I can still remember the garages and apartment estate near my old secondary school and the sorts of people you may see hanging around there at certain times. But for me not to feel any sort of connection nor familiarity with these people or locations despite being relatively familiar with them in some sort of way is quite sad. Then again perhaps it's a good thing but there is nothing on offer in terms of nostalgia for someone who has lived through this period in Britain (2001) of these characters respective ages.

Instead, Love gives us a realistic look at life on an estate and introduces us to many-a caricatures of South London urban life. The film is not particularly neo-realistic and thus cannot be considered as a political film nor statement on the ways of living in Britain for those of a certain class. But Love avoids this approach, instead opting for high energy levels, black humour and causality involving the characters. The obvious problem with the film is, I think, the way it tiptoes around the more important issues such as knife and gun culture (until the very end). Instead it has its characters act in a self-promoting manner under a guise of playing chess and getting into mischief made light-hearted and 'fun' when really it's all very, very dangerous and life threatening.

The film is shameless in its attempt to get a quick guffaw and this is announced very early on when a couple of lads run stark nude through the estate, grab a football and then run off for the sanctuary of a hidden bush. Along the way they run past a young woman and the obligatory yells and hollers soon follow. The film has more so gotten across its need for childish humour and an outlandish scene good enough for a quick laugh than it has made an important point on the dangers of the young, bored and unemployed British white male of circa summer 2001. The film also hovers around the necessity to include scenes of partying, partying antics involving girls and the over consumption of alcohol. Again, this is relatively early on and offers nothing to the narrative but does act as a scene establishing who these people are and what they do. The party is a send off for a character going to the Army (Aldershot, not too far from myself) but it is for a character we do not know of, have no connection to and consequently cannot care for. I wonder if the boys at the function care that much either or is it an excuse for loud music, girls and lager?

Then there are the little things that make Goodbye Charlie Bright feel like a missed opportunity. The film's primary source of antagonism early on is in the form of a large black man that the lads steal from. Firstly, it is a shame that it is the role of a black man that must be used for this part and secondly the strand involving this plot of antagonism is developed into something interesting before being stopped dead in its tracks. Then there is the friendship with Jamie Foreman's character Tony which is introduced and developed but not followed through with. There is a little bit of antagonism with a guy who has 'made it' with his pretty wife, big car, house and pool but that comes and goes without much occurring. It was interesting for me to watch out for where the main source of antagonism was going to come from and that ended up being Phil Daniel's character Eddie who is introduced as a knife wielding, womanising racist but is then brought down to Earth with a Falkland's War related back-story although it feels like a loose attempt to throw in some Thatcherism related politics.

As I say, the film retains an 'entertaining' quality that feels real and raw but it doesn't elevate itself to any greatness. The relationship between Bright (Nicholls) and Justin (Manookian) who are probably both playing themselves gets too homo-erotic towards the end with all the rolling around, head patting and frequent use of the name 'the wife' (two girls at the beginning even shout "Queers!" at them) but even so, it cannot hold much of a torch to Love's later work nor to other respective nation's films about this subject matter like Brazil's City of God and France's La Haine.

One of Nick Love's earlier films (his second i think) and I enjoyed it a lot.

The main story revolves around two boys who live on a east London estate and basically shows them getting drawn into the life of crime and drugs and what this can do to you. A lot of the filming is done on a real estate in Bermondsey, South London. Which i feel adds to the reality of the film. It gives a somewhat alarming account and insight into what life is like living in this estates around south London.

It is not in the same league as the likes of Trainspotting or The Full Monty which are both classic British films and are international recognised. but is still definitely worth watching.

Overall a good, enjoyable film. Give it a go.

In all honesty, people need to stop hating on this film and start seeing it for the simple bit of local London British genius it is.

This movie is on my top five favourite movies of all time list indefinitely! Not because it's epic or because it has an all-American cast - because it doesn't, it's just real. Admittedly if you're not from London or can't stand a cockney accent then this film is most definitely NOT for you. Other than that I think you'll love it and if you don't/ didn't then I'd love to know why... I defend it to the end! I seriously thought that Eastenders would be the be-all and end-all of Paul Nicholls but he so proved me wrong.. Whatever he does I will always remember him for this movie! He was absolutely brilliant (and cute too). Roland Manookian is not to be forgotten either as the annoying little side-kick that everyone loves to hate. And Jamie Foreman is the man as soon as we are introduced to his character "Tony" on screen... What a fantastic cast!!! Call it personal preference but there were so many laugh-out-loud moments for me in this film and times that I wanted to just cry... It's a roller-coaster of emotions. I recommend this to everyone!! And if you're disappointed then I apologise but I'm confident you won't be. Funny, sad, exciting all at once!!!

I'm quite surprised I've never heard of this film. I actually liked it, the cheekiness of these lads reminds me of growing up. A few faces from football factory is the reason I watched it. A good English movie.

Worth a look. As much for being a Brit flick as anything else. Getting slightly away from the cliched Lock, Stock genre, but staying within the rough parts of London, the film looks at Charlie's realisation that his life lacks direction. Unfortunately the film never really gets to grips with the real emotion behind Charlie's development, but there is plenty to keep the younger, (dare I say, hipper), audience watching and giggling, especially if you likes drugs and swearing.

The beauty of the film is that it is not predictable. Without giving anything away, the plot often seems to be heading in an obvious direction before skewing off at a tangent. This is not to say that you will be on the edge of your seats though. The plot does have its dips, and there was a period when I wondered just how much more of the same I would be getting. Not long after, however, the audience was treated to an unexpected and well-played finale.

The acting is great at times, and not so at others, not even Dani Behr brings the cast down (too much), and individual characters such as Francis and Justin were particularly well-acted. I could not decide if the photography was poor deliberately, to fit the mood of the film, or if it just happened that way. Either way, that can be your decision!

Go and have a watch, enjoy an British film, and whatever you do, don't miss the start!