Once Upon a Time in the Midlands Movie Review 2002

Small-time criminal Jimmy (Carlyle) decides to take a second chance on romance in this fitfully engaging comedy. Jimmy sees ex-girlfriend Shirley (Henderson) on a TV chat show where she's just turned down the marriage proposal of her current beau Dek (Ifans). He decides to try to win Shirley back--and he needs to get out of town after literally being left holding the bag after a bungled robbery. Jimmy tries to insinuate himself into Shirley's good graces by making like a dad to their daughter Marlene (Atkins) and having several ineffectual showdowns with Dek. Then Jimmy's pissed-off cohorts come to town looking for their share of the loot and more trouble ensues.

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 104 minutes.
Originally from British.

Cast and Crew

Genres

Family Ties, Second Chance, Romantic Triangles, Great Britain

Screenplay

Shane Meadows, Paul Fraser

Cast

Robert Carlyle, Rhys Ifans, Shirley Henderson, Kathy Burke, Ricky Tomlinson, Finn Atkins

Cinematography

Brian Tufano

Director

Shane Meadows

Music

John Lunn

Other

Colin Nicolson, Paul Hamblin, Liz Gallacher, Trevor Waite, Peter Beston, Anthea Nelson, Robin Fraser-Paye, Crispian Sallis

Producer

Andrea Calderwood, FilmFour, Senator Film Entertainment, Slate Films, Big Arty, Sony Pictures Classics