Once Upon a Time in the Midlands
Once upon a time in the what? Located (appropriately enough) in the middle of the British isle, the Midlands are half a world away from the rugged Southwestern U.S. terrain depicted in Sergio Leone’s Once Upon a Time in the West, whence this movie draws its title and some of its inspiration. Nevertheless, it’s a fine setting for this 2002 Shane Meadows film that successfully mixes modern romance with spaghetti western ambiance.
The film opens with deadbeat Jimmy (Robert Carlyle) seeing his ex (Shirley Henderson) turn down a proposal on national television, at which point he decides to pay her a visit in an attempt to rekindle an old flame.
Rhys Ifans plays Dek, the amiable but slightly pathetic boyfriend/almost-groom, whose gangly and somewhat cowardly demeanor immediately makes you sympathize with him. The film is predictable, but that doesn’t deflate much of its charm. It’s funny, sad and ridiculous all at once, more than good enough to keep you from switching over to cable.
Don’t be put off by the accents, especially the thick Glaswegian dialect—the pace and tone of the dialogue will steer you in the right direction. Though the storyline is sometimes weak, the actors are expressive and entertaining, and make the film worth watching.
Most of the cast looks familiar, and you might spend half of the time trying to place them. (Carlyle, especially, is familiar from his roles in like-minded Brit-pics such as Trainspotting and The Full Monty.)
The film is filled with memorable moments, such as the scene where Jimmy and a few other thieves brawl with a band of cash-laden circus clowns. Another scene where Ifans is forced to drive a pink three-wheeled rental car, will, at the very least, make you smile.
It’s difficult to lump this film into one genre. Despite its spaghetti western allusions—mostly music, and as well as some scenic nods—it can be tagged as either a comedy or a drama. But if the premise doesn’t throw you, and you can stomach the accents, Once Upon a Time in the Midlands is a fine little film.
—Rosemary Nottoli
September 2, 2004 * Vol. 14, No. 36
© 2003 Metro Pulse
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