Nil by Mouth Movie Review 1996

Oldman draws on his own dysfunctional working-class London background for his impressive writer/director debut, which casually puts you into the middle of one Cockney family's life. There's brutal Ray (Winstone), husband to Val (Burke) and brother-in-law to young addict Billy (Creed-Miles), as well as his tough mother-in-law Janet (Morse) and her mother, Kath (Dore). Billy gets kicked out of the house by Ray and struggles to survive outside his family while a drunken Ray beats the pregnant Val, prompting a display of female solidarity. Formless pic drops into characters' lives at random, showcasing family loyalty and generosity amidst the violence.

Distribution

Sony Pictures Home Video, Sony Pictures Plz., 10202 W. Washington Blvd., Culver City, CA 90232, Phone: (310)244-7306, Fax: (310)280-2485, URL: http://www.spe.sony.com, Remarks: Formerly Columbia Tristar Home Entertainment

Available on VHS, DVD
Running time 128 minutes.
Originally from British.

Cast and Crew

Genres

Family Drama, London, Drug Use & Abuse, Domestic Abuse

Screenplay

Gary Oldman

Cast

Ray Winstone, Kathy Burke, Charlie Creed-Miles, Laila Morse, Edna Dore, Steve Sweeney, Chrissie Cotterill, Jon Morrison, Jamie Foreman

Cinematography

Ron Fortunato

Director

Gary Oldman

Music

Eric Clapton

Producer

Luc Besson, Douglas Urbanski, Gary Oldman, 20th Century-Fox

Awards

British Acad. 1997: Film, Orig. Screenplay; Cannes 1997: Actress (Burke).