Dockers

Tomlinson plays a life he knows about in a world he understands - factual frightening and gripping - a defining performance and one which will stay with me. The day to day story of dockers let down by government and unions kept together only by solidarity and a sense of justice. The inevitable subversion of the process only adds to the poignancy of the story. A tale told in the tradition of boys from the black stuff and look back in anger with a performance to match. Tomlinson leads in a dark realistic manner remaining at all times believable and sympathetic. A wonderful telling of a dark and terrible story.

A great working class film that echoes the experiences of the families living through this awful dispute. A special mention also has to go to a young James Davis Jr who gives an exceptional performance in his first film outing. His on screen presence reminds me somewhat of DiNiro and along with his chiselled body and rugged good looks. He was surely an inspiration for the movie stars of today such as Brad Pitt, Tom Cruise and Mr Bean. I must say that watching his inspirational performance brought a tear to my eye and touched a part in my heart that is seldom touched by on screen performances. How such a promising young star slipped back into obscurity after this film is one of the movie industries greatest mysteries and is a loss to films lovers everywhere. This is something I mourn every night.

This was a hard hitting excellent Film, about the fall of the Liverpool dockers. Sold out by their employer and not backed up by their Trade Union, the film tells the story how familes had their lives tore apart, and bitterness that still runs deep today. Ricky Tomlinson gives an outstanding performance. This is an excellent film, well worth a look.

With my dream cast including Ken (Takin' Over the Asylum),Stott, Crissie (Ladybird, Ladybird) Rock and Ricky (Raining Stones) Tomlinson plus a screenplay from Trainspotting's Irvine Welsh and the superb Jimmy M'Govern of Cracker & The Lakes this could hardly fail and it doesn't! True story of botched industrial action makes terrific viewing as long as you make allowances for plenty of strong language from the protagonists. With lots of gallows humour amidst the drama;( sample line "The last time I saw any dirt on you was Ash Wednesday")this was easily the best film I saw on any medium in 1999. Watch for a sort of "Making of..." with M'Govern discussing his working methods and showing the input from the real-life participants in the strike.