TwentyFourSeven

Shane Meadows, 1997 (96 mins, Cert. 15)

A stunning return to form from Bob Hoskins who was born for the part, in the moving portrait of a lonely, down-at-heel Nottingham man in the 1980s, who tries to give himself and the unemployed boys around him some purpose in life by forming a boxing club. The film was hailed at the London Film Festival; and its glistening black and white images are immaculate. TwentyFourSeven heralds the appearance of a new, gifted young film maker.
(Barbican publicity)

A gritty and accurate portrayal of the plight of the young unemployed is offset by humour and compassion in an unsentimental tale of ordinary people's concerns, foibles, and strengths. Hoskins gives an irresistably appealing performance in the central role and the characters of the young lads are well differentiated. Not a feel-good film, this is a realistic slice of life that holds out just a hint of hope of redemption in a dead-end world, not so very far from the South Boston of Good Will Hunting. Masterly.
(Steve Fagg)

Seen: Monday, 30th March, 1998 (Barbican 1)