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DEAD MAN'S SHOES (2004) Director: Shane Meadows. Hacktors: Paddy Considine, Toby Kebbell, Gary Stretch. Rating/5: The lowdown: It's wonderful to be able to award a film full marks, without harbouring a shadow of a doubt about whether it's deserved. Dead Man's Shoes was not only the best film I saw in 2005, it's one of the best films I've ever seen. Sound interesting? Read on...     After many years away from his close-knit Midlands hometown, ex-soldier Richard (Considine) returns and teams up with his mentally handicapped brother Anthony (Kebbell). We soon learn that Richard's goal is to take revenge on a gang of drug dealers who abused Anthony, several years ago. While he starts off by messing with their heads with some creepy pranks, the situation soon escalates out of all control. Good points: Dead Man's Shoes defies categorisation, in a very good way. It's funny, it's captivating, it's violent, it's supremely disturbing, it makes you think. I can't remember the last time a film entertained me in such an unpredictable fashion, while also managing to choke me up, come its final reel. While I love brainless vigilante movies, this is in a different world altogether: this is a frighteningly realistic revenge thriller, thanks to a great script, naturalistic performances, a handheld documentary feel and a blindingly menacing performance from Considine. Bad points: What's not to like? DVD Details: Some good stuff on this single disc set. Meadows, Considine and producer Mark Herbert deliver a good-humoured and insightful commentary, while the featurette In Shane's Shoes sheds further light on the inspiration for the production, which saw Meadows emerging from self-imposed exile after having made his film Once Upon A Time In The Midlands, which reportedly isn't so hot. There are also five deleted/alternate scenes which are generally worthwhile, although as with most material of this nature, you can see why they hit the cutting room floor or were re-shot. Scenes from the film's accompanying graphic novel, trailers, a rather incongruous music video from Danger Mouse and Jemini, amusing audio commentary out-takes (as an Easter egg) and a Meadows short titled Northern Soul make this a splendid package. Overall: Quite simply, an unforgettable blinder. I just watched it for the second time, then sat through it again with the audio commentary. I strongly suggest you do the same. Release Date: Out now in the UK on Region 2 DVD. [Check it out at Amazon UK] [Reviews Menu] [Home] © Copyright Slasherama 2002-present