Review of “Looking For Eric”
When the whistle blows on this rather unlikely Ken Loach film, they’ll be plenty of cheers at the result – but also a sense that it’s been a bit of an inconsistent game, with play getting distracted at times. Loach - more famous for his gritty social realism – infuses this (not really about soccer) film with a distinctly feel-good flavour, playing the enigmatic Frenchman Eric Cantona up front with a depressed postman Eric Bishop (Steve Evets) from Manchester.
Manchester Eric is a man whose life is slipping out of reach. Once a dashing dancer, he ran away from his first wife Lily (Stephanie Bishop) and their young daughter, and now – some thirty years later - lives in a sad old terrace house with the two sons of his second wife, who’s long gone. He’s crashed his car, he’s underperforming at work, and the house is constantly invaded by dodgy characters, courtesy of his wayward stepsons. What keep him going are his postman friends – all beefy Man-U supporters - and a huge poster of Eric Cantona. One night after a sly joint and an appeal for help, the French star in the poster comes to life, and from then on regularly visits his Mancurian namesake to help him sort out his problems.
It’s a really nice idea and there are some genuinely funny moments and plenty of unexpected going-ons – particularly in the last act. But what seems to start as a romance – after some overly long explanations of the backstory – suddenly switches to a crime caper, as Manchester Eric has to rescue his stepson Ryan (Gerard Kearns) from the clutches of a petty gangster.
Evets plays the central character as gritty and whingeing one moment, warm and fragile the next, but neither he nor Cantona can match, for shear on-screen charisma, the wonderful ensemble of postie pals who ultimately come to Eric’s emotional and physical rescue. With names like Meatballs, Spleen, Smug and Judge – they’re just the kind of friends you need when you’re in a pickle, and the scenes of them providing men’s group type support for down in the dumps Eric are priceless.
Long-time Loach collaborators Barry Ackroyd (cinematography) and Paul Laverty (screenplay) make this an easy to watch – if not down to earth – game of human football.
Rating:
When I think of “Looking For Eric,” one word comes to mind. Masterpiece. Even though Loach has removed his “gritty social realism” themes, I can’t imagine this film being altered just to please his die-hard fans. Foreign films such as these are what sets some independent filmmakers apart from some mainstream, and what makes Loach a remarkable genius. Check out A.O. Scott’s positive review: http://tinyurl.com/28kyhs4
on May 19th, 2010 at 6:26 am |