What a great review- many thanks for that. I watched the film and was very moved, I thought humanity is continuing to be in crisis. As an immigrant myself and the daughter of a miner, the scenes in the film were really poignant and the suffering real. As you quite rightly pointed out, there is still hope and hope will unite people to move forward towards a better future. Well done to Ken Loach for continuing to expose some of the real issues in the world and making them visible and real.
Thank you so much for your much valued perspective and comment. I totally agree, making these issues visible is a radical and noble pursuit, this is what films can be made for.
Thanks for the comment and your participation in such a lovely film! I wish I could have attended a Q&A after a screening, I'm just thankful I saw it in a cinema, and that it's getting shown on Netflix and released on Blu-ray.
Thanks for your excellent in-depth review. I saw the film with my wife on the opening night, in an audience of about only 10 people which is sad. I agree with pretty much everything you said. Loach and the writer have created extremely powerful, shocking and moving film. I have read some reviews which have said the acting wasn't up to par, of which we completely disagree. This film didn't feel like acting, it felt real, and that is sonething I have rarely seen over the years. For me the two lead actors were exceptional, and I hope as time passes people will realise it. My wife is a secondary school teacher and she said everyone should be shown it, as it has a strong chance of making people stop to think of others.
Thank you for the compliment and the nice comment. It is a shame you had so few people in your screening also (while hardly surprising). I think it's reflective of not the lack of desire for people to see films like this but a lack of awareness as to films like this existing, their potential to exist even. I had no issue with the performances either, Loach tends to use locals with experiences relating to the issues his film is dealing with, this adds an authenticity that's absent with even the best acting.
You said that when you went to see the film it was only on for one showing at that particular cinema and there were only 7 peo;le in there. In the Watershed in Bristol where I saw it, the film has been going for weeks there and when I saw the film recently, it was rammed. Just to give you some hope :). Aaah sorry just caught the bit at the end of your video. Yeah, the Watershed is an art-house place, so it is preaching to the converted showing that film there.
Thanks for the comment! It doesn't surprise me that the Watershed has had a more sustained and populated run, it's one of my favourite cinemas and routinely caters for different films. Also, given Bristol is a more liberal place the film is perhaps inclined to speak to more people there without added publicity or attention that is needed to get The Old Oak seen by wider audiences.
As a film reviewer myself I was very impressed with your analysis and observations of this new Loach film which I saw myself today. In the main I concur with pretty much all you say though personally I am probably a little bit more critical of the film or certainly aspects of it. I too found it very moving in parts but did feel like, as with previous Loach films, his approach to his subject matter can be pretty relentless sledgehammer like and by the end I did feel somewhat as though I’d been coshed around the head for two hrs but I do get that Loach always tackles the issues he addresses in his movies very much head on where others either shy away from them completely or at best just tickle them under the chin. If one of his main intentions is to(and I feel it is) prick collective consciences’ and make the viewer feel more than a little uncomfortable at witnessing the levels of resentment ignorance and blatant racism displayed by many of the characters throughout the movie then Loach more than succeeds on that objective. It is though a film which does ultimately end with a vision of hope in the way that the majority of the local community had gradually completely altered their attitudes towards their new refugee neighbours although a handful were seemingly incapable of turning and being sympathetic but alas, sadly that is a reality of society. Some other personal criticisms, linked to what I’ve already mentioned above re. Loach’s approach to his subject matter is that there really isn’t a whole lot of subtlety and nuance in this particular piece of filmmaking for me, the path the film took was pretty blatantly signposted all the way along, ie initial resentment/ignorance/racism from the majority at the outset save for one main sympathetic ‘good egg’ that eventually leads to the predictable softening of most others’ attitudes over time leading ultimately to the pretty much universal unity and solidarity by the end. Maybe I’m being a bit harsh and cynical but there was for me a definite contrived aspect to the movie and one particular scene involving the dog really seemed contrived to ratchet up that extra bit of misery. All that said, I was overall impressed by it and certainly moved by it but it’s definitely not without its flaws and I did feel I was being a little manipulated at times. The lead performance from Dave Turmer was very impressive, it felt like I was watch John Henshaw mark 2, such are the similarities in the way they play these downtrodden characters, the lead female performance i thought was good but not great, a tad wooden for my liking but again I concede that perhaps that view is a little harsh and that she was just playing the character in accordance with Loach’s strict directional guidelines. So in conclusion, my view is similar to that of many others I have observed to date in that it’s most definitely a good film but a bit of a clunky one in parts and in its general directional style.
Thank you for the very kind and thoughtful reply! I'm willing to concede that to many, these are potential flaws, and that Loach's approach is contrived best and/or manipulative at worst. Given that he unapologetically makes agitprop films (which immediately gives them more integrity in my view) is why I interpret them not necessarily as flaws but as moral tales, that is, visions of potentialities in how we can do better for each other and live better. The very depiction of this as a mere possibility is radical in the best sense because it reveals 'the way things are' to be merely contingent.
I've just seen this - hidden away on Netflix! I would have wanted to see some more justice for TJ for the sad death of his beloved dog, also the local pub racists who didn't get any comeuppance. I suppose that's Ken Loach's way of saying that there are no happy endings in the reality of life. Not a lot of accountability to be had, especially when you're poor. There was some hope at the end though.
Great comment! It was surprising that Netflix picked the film but I'm glad they did at least. But it was bound to buried under the flavour of the week releases thay Netflix pumps out unfortunately. Yes, I think Loach's aim is to reflect working class lived experience which means in this sense that racists getting their comeuppance would seem a bit trite and run counter to how the world works but it is also the more complex and mature approach to have characters with negative traits also have virtues in other areas. It's Loach saying both people and the world are complex. He usually gets criticised for being overly didactic and reductive but I'd argue he is capable of the opposite.
![Felix "Unfair" | [Stray Kids : SKZ-PLAYER]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/Oswujxm2Ag0/mqdefault.jpg)
What a great review- many thanks for that. I watched the film and was very moved, I thought humanity is continuing to be in crisis. As an immigrant myself and the daughter of a miner, the scenes in the film were really poignant and the suffering real. As you quite rightly pointed out, there is still hope and hope will unite people to move forward towards a better future.
Well done to Ken Loach for continuing to expose some of the real issues in the world and making them visible and real.
Thank you so much for your much valued perspective and comment. I totally agree, making these issues visible is a radical and noble pursuit, this is what films can be made for.
Went with friends and we loved it! Excellent cast and screenplay ❤
I'm glad you enjoyed the film!
Some of the things you said in your review, I said in Q+A’s after screenings of the film. I played Vic in the film. Well done…
Thanks for the comment and your participation in such a lovely film! I wish I could have attended a Q&A after a screening, I'm just thankful I saw it in a cinema, and that it's getting shown on Netflix and released on Blu-ray.
Thanks for your excellent in-depth review. I saw the film with my wife on the opening night, in an audience of about only 10 people which is sad. I agree with pretty much everything you said. Loach and the writer have created extremely powerful, shocking and moving film. I have read some reviews which have said the acting wasn't up to par, of which we completely disagree. This film didn't feel like acting, it felt real, and that is sonething I have rarely seen over the years. For me the two lead actors were exceptional, and I hope as time passes people will realise it. My wife is a secondary school teacher and she said everyone should be shown it, as it has a strong chance of making people stop to think of others.
Thank you for the compliment and the nice comment. It is a shame you had so few people in your screening also (while hardly surprising). I think it's reflective of not the lack of desire for people to see films like this but a lack of awareness as to films like this existing, their potential to exist even. I had no issue with the performances either, Loach tends to use locals with experiences relating to the issues his film is dealing with, this adds an authenticity that's absent with even the best acting.
You said that when you went to see the film it was only on for one showing at that particular cinema and there were only 7 peo;le in there. In the Watershed in Bristol where I saw it, the film has been going for weeks there and when I saw the film recently, it was rammed. Just to give you some hope :). Aaah sorry just caught the bit at the end of your video. Yeah, the Watershed is an art-house place, so it is preaching to the converted showing that film there.
Thanks for the comment! It doesn't surprise me that the Watershed has had a more sustained and populated run, it's one of my favourite cinemas and routinely caters for different films. Also, given Bristol is a more liberal place the film is perhaps inclined to speak to more people there without added publicity or attention that is needed to get The Old Oak seen by wider audiences.
Haven't seen it yet, I will return to your review afterwards. Thanks
Are you a fan of Ken Loach then @heartofcinema3454?
Definitely, I loved "I, Daniel Blake".
Thank you my friend.
Watched it today, thought it was a very poignant and moving piece. Ken Loach’s final ode to the world. I found your analysis is spot on!
I'm glad you liked the film too. It's getting a physical release too which is good to see.
As a film reviewer myself I was very impressed with your analysis and observations of this new Loach film which I saw myself today.
In the main I concur with pretty much all you say though personally I am probably a little bit more critical of the film or certainly aspects of it. I too found it very moving in parts but did feel like, as with previous Loach films, his approach to his subject matter can be pretty relentless sledgehammer like and by the end I did feel somewhat as though I’d been coshed around the head for two hrs but I do get that Loach always tackles the issues he addresses in his movies very much head on where others either shy away from them completely or at best just tickle them under the chin.
If one of his main intentions is to(and I feel it is) prick collective consciences’ and make the viewer feel more than a little uncomfortable at witnessing the levels of resentment ignorance and blatant racism displayed by many of the characters throughout the movie then Loach more than succeeds on that objective. It is though a film which does ultimately end with a vision of hope in the way that the majority of the local community had gradually completely altered their attitudes towards their new refugee neighbours although a handful were seemingly incapable of turning and being sympathetic but alas, sadly that is a reality of society.
Some other personal criticisms, linked to what I’ve already mentioned above re. Loach’s approach to his subject matter is that there really isn’t a whole lot of subtlety and nuance in this particular piece of filmmaking for me, the path the film took was pretty blatantly signposted all the way along, ie initial resentment/ignorance/racism from the majority at the outset save for one main sympathetic ‘good egg’ that eventually leads to the predictable softening of most others’ attitudes over time leading ultimately to the pretty much universal unity and solidarity by the end.
Maybe I’m being a bit harsh and cynical but there was for me a definite contrived aspect to the movie and one particular scene involving the dog really seemed contrived to ratchet up that extra bit of misery.
All that said, I was overall impressed by it and certainly moved by it but it’s definitely not without its flaws and I did feel I was being a little manipulated at times. The lead performance from Dave Turmer was very impressive, it felt like I was watch John Henshaw mark 2, such are the similarities in the way they play these downtrodden characters, the lead female performance i thought was good but not great, a tad wooden for my liking but again I concede that perhaps that view is a little harsh and that she was just playing the character in accordance with Loach’s strict directional guidelines.
So in conclusion, my view is similar to that of many others I have observed to date in that it’s most definitely a good film but a bit of a clunky one in parts and in its general directional style.
Thank you for the very kind and thoughtful reply! I'm willing to concede that to many, these are potential flaws, and that Loach's approach is contrived best and/or manipulative at worst. Given that he unapologetically makes agitprop films (which immediately gives them more integrity in my view) is why I interpret them not necessarily as flaws but as moral tales, that is, visions of potentialities in how we can do better for each other and live better. The very depiction of this as a mere possibility is radical in the best sense because it reveals 'the way things are' to be merely contingent.
Can you do a dvd review of Armageddon what do you think of that movie do you like it or do you think it sucks
❤❤❤
I've just seen this - hidden away on Netflix! I would have wanted to see some more justice for TJ for the sad death of his beloved dog, also the local pub racists who didn't get any comeuppance. I suppose that's Ken Loach's way of saying that there are no happy endings in the reality of life. Not a lot of accountability to be had, especially when you're poor. There was some hope at the end though.
Great comment! It was surprising that Netflix picked the film but I'm glad they did at least. But it was bound to buried under the flavour of the week releases thay Netflix pumps out unfortunately.
Yes, I think Loach's aim is to reflect working class lived experience which means in this sense that racists getting their comeuppance would seem a bit trite and run counter to how the world works but it is also the more complex and mature approach to have characters with negative traits also have virtues in other areas. It's Loach saying both people and the world are complex. He usually gets criticised for being overly didactic and reductive but I'd argue he is capable of the opposite.