This Is England tells the story of a tiny 11-year-old boy who's bullied around by other kids and joins a group of skinheads because of the comfort and friendship they provide. Thomas Turgoose's portrayal of Shaun is a revelation for what child acting can and should be. The other people that inhabit this world are bizarre both outwardly and inwardly--and they are more real and more believable for it. The movie can be surprisingly tender at times, but more often than not is simply violent--verbally, psychologically, and physically. This is simple to portray and easy to create reactions in the audience. But it is neither new nor important, and it's a shame this movie spends a lot of time on that. Luckily, it also contains moments of lightness, humor, and real feeling that have a power and a freshness to them.
And it is truly one-of-a-kind. It evokes a flawless sense of time and place. This is due in large part to set design, costuming, and especially music. The music in this movie is brilliantly utilized; the songs succeed in both setting mood and revealing emotions. This comes to a fault sometimes, as the movie can rely too much on the music. The ending is also a bit of a disappointment. It is a coming-of-age story without the main character actually coming of age; he just learns a couple things about life here and there. But it just feels so hollow. You finish the movie and think, That's it?IMDb link: http://imdb.com/title/tt0480025/