BoxRec

I think it is fair to say that you despise the man James, which is fair enough, that is your choice.

I'm not really a fan of Davidson either, but he has done some good work and did receive an OBE for his charity work and the setting up of a foundation for the British forces.

I do however believe Dowling has perfected playing the victim - I choose not to get sucked in by over sensitive cry babies.

by the way it was a hell of a recovery for last nights show by Dowling :)

Davidson was never very funny, come on mate. I remember his act, it consisted of going 'nick-nick' and doing a 'hilarious' Jamaican acccent impression, and insulting women.

Jimmy Carr however, isn't that funny either, and he looks like Hitler without the moustache.

Good call on Ricky Gervais, he's definetly on the other side of the hill now, he's become too famous and smug. I saw him on some show a while ago, clearly feigning laughter on some daytime TV show at some lame-ass basil brush skit they featured, quite sad and pathetic given how edgy and biting he was back on the Eleven O'Clock show.

Twinkle Toes wrote:I think it is fair to say that you despise the man James, which is fair enough, that is your choice.

I'm not really a fan of Davidson either, but he has done some good work and did receive an OBE for his charity work and the setting up of a foundation for the British forces.

I do however believe Dowling has perfected playing the victim - I choose not to get sucked in by over sensitive cry babies.

by the way it was a hell of a recovery for last nights show by Dowling :)

I think Brian Dowling was genuinely upset, yes, he's a bit of a pussy, my reaction to getting shit off of Jim Davidson would have been rather different, but then I suspect he wouldn't try giving shit to anyone who might give him a slap or tell him where to stick it, judging by his sychophantic attitude towards MPW.

I don't despise the man, I just think he's a pathetic human being.

As I said, nobody is all bad, and I know he does a lot of work for armed forces, but then again, they were one of his only loyal audiences, and he was pretty desperate for work.

I'm pretty sure that the TV bosses knew what they were doing when they put a known bigot, with a history of abusive behaviour in there with a 'professional gay' like Brian Dowling.

I meant that dowling makes money out of doing nothing more than 'being gay' for television. Sort of a low rent version of Graham Norton without the jokes.

Yes, Bernard manning was a proper comedian, I just found his material offensive, but sometimes couldn't help but laugh at some of it.

There's still lots of funny people around, Harry Hill, Eddie Izzard, Peter Kay has his moments, though he's hardly cutting edge. Lee Evans is a nutcase to watch.

I have'nt seen a great deal of him, but Frankie Boyle has me in stitches everytime I watch Mock the week.
Going to see him later this year, so will get to see what he is really made of.

Dara O'Briain(think that's how you spell it)is a pretty funny guy too.
Listened to a couple of his routines by way of podcast and he had me laughing out loud at times.

By the way James, I never said Davidson used to be VERY funny, just that he used to be funny(his was the first x-rated stand up I ever saw on video, so maybe that clouds my judgement!!)
One thing is for sure though, his prime is LONG gone

Mike Reid RIP - The best of the very best IMO. But Jimbo does come close, I confess although his off-stage private views are slightly worrying.

Brian Dowling being described as a 'Professional Gay' is spot on. He is a waste of space on TV and should go back to whatever he was doing, if anything before BB.

For me, 'Shirtlifter' is not particulary offensive when the verbal options are considered.

The generation of JD were raised when Homosexuality was Illegal rember so it's hard to change your views late in life.

Incidentally, there was a documentary about Brian Epstein on the other night and both Lennon and McCartney (McCartney was interviewed not so long ago either) were openly calling him 'Queer' and a 'Faggot' throughout, Gay was never heard of in the 60's they said. Paper's missed that one didn't they? Say's alot for BBC 3!

Sometimes the likes of Manning, Davidson etc are just victims of their upbringing, nothing else.

What about Ali 'G' is 'Batty Boy' worst than Shirtlifter?

Mike Reid was brilliant, have a DVD of his on order, but I think you'll find his comedy rather different to Jim's.

Yes, Brian Dowling isn't TV worthy, but it's not his fault, it's the TV schedulers who commission this shite we have to watch, any old twat can be a celebrity. I mean, why is a thick fat twat like Jade Goody a multi-millionnaire? What exactly is her talent apart from wobbling when she walks, collapsing during marathons, and impersonating Mrs. pacman everytime she opens her fat gob?

I totally agree, JD is from a generation which has very different views on sexuality, and it is hard to change, but it's also not neccessary to be openly hostile to people. We are all entilted to our views, but people also have a right to live their own lives, that's my problem with the way he conducted himself.

The point about Ali G, is that he is playing a character. In fact, the character he is playing is quite misunderstood, he is pretending to be an Asian Rudeboy, trying to be a 'gansta.'

Billy Connolly is a good call, he's STILL funny, even though he's rich and entitled to be a smug old bastard, he still has funny observations, and still seems to have a bit of fire in his belly. He's probably the finest comedian these isles ever produced, I find it hard to think of anyone as consistently funny for so long. Also, his material isn't really offensive, and is very inclusive, I think comedy which relies on insulting certain sectors of society is ultimately quite lazy, a great comedian as they say, can tailor his act to any audience, and be funny anywhere. The likes of Davidson cannot.

Interestingly, Connolly is in fact from the same generation as Davidson, and is I think older, but is an entirely different comedian.

Chris Rock, top man!

Connolly no doubt harbours similar views. Glasgow's sectarianism is a similar issue.

Terry D wrote:I was only kidding James. I should have said a gay professional is a rent boy, or a civil servant.

Izzard is good but once you've seen the "Running, jumping, climbing trees, I'm an action transvestite" guy once you've seen all of his shows. Very little new material.

Harry Hill's "my dad always said fight fire with fire, I think that's why they threw him out of the fire brigade" gets me all the time.

Billy Connolly (perhaps Boxing News could take on the Big Yin) is still the main man for me. I don't care how pompous he is the guy can spin a yarn.

Chris Rock also, I believe he was pulled off air during the last national outpouring of congratulatory concern in the form of a concert (saving the world today Bono?) for swearing. Who would have thought? It's about as likely as Snoop Dogg swearing during the song 'Who am I (what's my mofferfooking name?)'.

If I want a laugh these days I mostly watch the news, it also keeps me abreast of out nations latest outpouring of grief and/or sentimentality. It serves a double purpose as the gothic contours of Karplinsky's gargoyle like face also scares the bejesus out of me.

Harry Hill's TV Burp (is it still going), used to have me in fekking stitches.

Chris Rock is hilarious, and like all good comedians, there's a lot of serious material in there, and a lot of truth amid the cliches. He's not afraid to challenge black people's own prejudices either, which I admire him for. I just watched 'Bigger and Blacker' fantastic standup of the highest order, up there with anything that Eddie Murphy, Richard Pryor or Bill Hicks did.

Why the fook did they throw Davidson off the show. His interaction with the mincer and the girls was pure entertainment. An ironic version of the Generation Game.

Come on Jimbo: ‘Life it’s the name of the game and I wanna play the game with you’.

Not a bad film, Meadows has done some decent stuff and is clearly talented, though I think the UK critics tend to fall over themselves in praise, as I think they're a bit in love with the fact he's a working class hero.
The little kid in it doesn't put a foot wrong though, pretty amazing considering he's never acted before (I think ).

The best football hooligan film by a long shot has to be The Firm by Alan Clarke, featuring a powerhouse Gary Oldman. A frightening performance, and shows hooligans to be what they really are.

Incidently I just watched Bourne Ultimatum, with Meadow's main man Paddy Considine weirdly miscast as a Guardian writer, of all things.

Good film if you like that sort of thing, but director Paul Greengrass has to be the best young director in the UK, which Hollywood noticed with the brilliant United 93 last year.

SticknMove wrote:Why the fook did they throw Davidson off the show. His interaction with the mincer and the girls was pure entertainment. An ironic version of the Generation Game.

Come on Jimbo: ‘Life it’s the name of the game and I wanna play the game with you’.

Arrivderchi Millwall (1990) the best Hooligan film ever. I was in it as an extra!!

MightyWarrior wrote:Not a bad film, Meadows has done some decent stuff and is clearly talented, though I think the UK critics tend to fall over themselves in praise, as I think they're a bit in love with the fact he's a working class hero.
The little kid in it doesn't put a foot wrong though, pretty amazing considering he's never acted before (I think ).

The best football hooligan film by a long shot has to be The Firm by Alan Clarke, featuring a powerhouse Gary Oldman. A frightening performance, and shows hooligans to be what they really are.

Incidently I just watched Bourne Ultimatum, with Meadow's main man Paddy Considine weirdly miscast as a Guardian writer, of all things.

Good film if you like that sort of thing, but director Paul Greengrass has to be the best young director in the UK, which Hollywood noticed with the brilliant United 93 last year.

Agreed on all counts.

I like Meadows' This is England but did feel a little let down. This was his time, his era... It should have been his Quadrophenia but it didn't quite make it.

ID is my fave football hooliganism film....Legendary IMO

yiddo14 wrote:I have'nt seen a great deal of him, but Frankie Boyle has me in stitches everytime I watch Mock the week.
Going to see him later this year, so will get to see what he is really made of.

I saw Frankie Boyle last year he was good if not the best I have seen, but it was a good night out so you should enjoy his act.

I have seen loads of stand ups over the years, Steve Coogan, Eddie Izzard, Steve Little, John Shuttleworth, Ben Elton, Punt & Dennis, Rhona Cameron, Robin Ince, Badeal & Newman, Sean Hughes and Ardal O'Hanlon etc etc the list goes on.

Ardal O'Hanlon was one of the funniest I have ever seen but the best by far was about 15 years ago when I saw a young Bill Bailey when he was one half of the Rubber Bishops. I have never laughed so much in my life, truely comic perfection that night, amazing.

Ezzard wrote:

MightyWarrior wrote:Not a bad film, Meadows has done some decent stuff and is clearly talented, though I think the UK critics tend to fall over themselves in praise, as I think they're a bit in love with the fact he's a working class hero.
The little kid in it doesn't put a foot wrong though, pretty amazing considering he's never acted before (I think ).

The best football hooligan film by a long shot has to be The Firm by Alan Clarke, featuring a powerhouse Gary Oldman. A frightening performance, and shows hooligans to be what they really are.

Incidently I just watched Bourne Ultimatum, with Meadow's main man Paddy Considine weirdly miscast as a Guardian writer, of all things.

Good film if you like that sort of thing, but director Paul Greengrass has to be the best young director in the UK, which Hollywood noticed with the brilliant United 93 last year.

Agreed on all counts.

I like Meadows' This is England but did feel a little let down. This was his time, his era... It should have been his Quadrophenia but it didn't quite make it.

I can't see why ppl feel let down by it. It's meant to be a small intimate drama yet there was nothing ordinary, average or incomplete about it. It captured the drama, the conflicts, the culture of the time when ppl were a lot more aggressive and lively. It sees the world through one kid's eyes, so it need not be a sprawling type of movie. Seeing something set in the 80s is always interesting for me. Nowadays, ppl are so listless by comparison.

I even like the "unevenness" of it. Not that it's a structural fault by any stretch. Reminds me of the Sam Peckinpah WWII movie CROSS OF IRON when James Coburn kills a corrupt soldier on his side. It was such a cathartic, visceral moment that there could not be a climax on top of the climax. This is what I feel with THIS IS ENGLAND. When Combo batters the black kid, it unleashes all the rage that the characters have, and leaves everyone with something to ponder over, in a muted, subdued, disquieting way. A perfect note to end on even if it leaves us wanting more.

IMO THIS IS ENGLAND will easily stand the test of time. By comparison, something like the French movie LA HAINE - which everyone seems to love - just seems trendy and a bit dated ten years later.

THE FIRM is definitely one of the great British gang films. Ignoring official reports and beurocrats, it posited a lot of gang violence in affluent types, and avoided the "blame the working class scrub" cliche. It even took the violence away from the actual football stadium. The special edition DVD is fantastic, and it's one hell of a brave film.

Apparently, Alan Clarke was able to whip his actors into a frenzy to get the right mood: one scene with Jim McDonald off Coronation Street punching a roof causing a massive plank of wood to fall off was improvised.

Chambers2 wrote:ID is my fave football hooliganism film....Legendary IMO

I felt it was a bit unconvincing myself. Bit formulaic, like an undercover cop film.

Autobarn you make very good points about what TIE was meant to portray, and i agree with them all the way. What shane meadows gets out of his actors, especially sean fields who was making his debut and combo who is as realistic as they come as a confused man with a lot of hate in his heart is quite incredible. compare the dialogue of TIE to that of another british film 'Outlaw' where the dialogue is so poor and predictabe, all you seem to here is 'you'll get served' or 'i'll serve him'. Would you believe that 'Outlaw' hit the number 1 spot when released on dvd.

Autobarn wrote:

Ezzard wrote:

MightyWarrior wrote:Not a bad film, Meadows has done some decent stuff and is clearly talented, though I think the UK critics tend to fall over themselves in praise, as I think they're a bit in love with the fact he's a working class hero.
The little kid in it doesn't put a foot wrong though, pretty amazing considering he's never acted before (I think ).

The best football hooligan film by a long shot has to be The Firm by Alan Clarke, featuring a powerhouse Gary Oldman. A frightening performance, and shows hooligans to be what they really are.

Incidently I just watched Bourne Ultimatum, with Meadow's main man Paddy Considine weirdly miscast as a Guardian writer, of all things.

Good film if you like that sort of thing, but director Paul Greengrass has to be the best young director in the UK, which Hollywood noticed with the brilliant United 93 last year.

Agreed on all counts.

I like Meadows' This is England but did feel a little let down. This was his time, his era... It should have been his Quadrophenia but it didn't quite make it.

I can't see why ppl feel let down by it. It's meant to be a small intimate drama yet there was nothing ordinary, average or incomplete about it. It captured the drama, the conflicts, the culture of the time when ppl were a lot more aggressive and lively. It sees the world through one kid's eyes, so it need not be a sprawling type of movie. Seeing something set in the 80s is always interesting for me. Nowadays, ppl are so listless by comparison.

I even like the "unevenness" of it. Not that it's a structural fault by any stretch. Reminds me of the Sam Peckinpah WWII movie CROSS OF IRON when James Coburn kills a corrupt soldier on his side. It was such a cathartic, visceral moment that there could not be a climax on top of the climax. This is what I feel with THIS IS ENGLAND. When Combo batters the black kid, it unleashes all the rage that the characters have, and leaves everyone with something to ponder over, in a muted, subdued, disquieting way. A perfect note to end on even if it leaves us wanting more.

IMO THIS IS ENGLAND will easily stand the test of time. By comparison, something like the French movie LA HAINE - which everyone seems to love - just seems trendy and a bit dated ten years later.

THE FIRM is definitely one of the great British gang films. Ignoring official reports and beurocrats, it posited a lot of gang violence in affluent types, and avoided the "blame the working class scrub" cliche. It even took the violence away from the actual football stadium. The special edition DVD is fantastic, and it's one hell of a brave film.

Apparently, Alan Clarke was able to whip his actors into a frenzy to get the right mood: one scene with Jim McDonald off Coronation Street punching a roof causing a massive plank of wood to fall off was improvised.

Romeo Brass, Dead Man's Shoes, TIE, Once Upon A Time in Midlands... all deal with a small community of people whose lives are changed when a menacing bully/alpha male enters the group and targets vulnerable members in an attempt to get the others to fall in behind him. The balance is redressed when a more powerful outsider eventually challenges and defeats the bully.

Meadows captures the way in which facist states are born by dictators who turn populations against minorities within their midst in order to bring them closer together.

It's all great stuff but after Dead Man's Shoes, which was a real gem, and knowing Meadows' affinity with the era he's working with I expected a more defining piece.

Maybe I'm being too critical. It is a top film.

Terry D wrote:I was only kidding James. I should have said a gay professional is a rent boy, or a civil servant.

Izzard is good but once you've seen the "Running, jumping, climbing trees, I'm an action transvestite" guy once you've seen all of his shows. Very little new material.

Harry Hill's "my dad always said fight fire with fire, I think that's why they threw him out of the fire brigade" gets me all the time.

Billy Connolly (perhaps Boxing News could take on the Big Yin) is still the main man for me. I don't care how pompous he is the guy can spin a yarn.

Chris Rock also, I believe he was pulled off air during the last national outpouring of congratulatory concern in the form of a concert (saving the world today Bono?) for swearing. Who would have thought? It's about as likely as Snoop Dogg swearing during the song 'Who am I (what's my mofferfooking name?)'.

If I want a laugh these days I mostly watch the news, it also keeps me abreast of out nations latest outpouring of grief and/or sentimentality. It serves a double purpose as the gothic contours of Karplinsky's gargoyle like face also scares the bejesus out of me.

TRY BILL BAILEY IN A STAND UP ROUTINE.

blokes a genius and hilarious to boot.

REALLY?
saw him live and went to the docs the next day, thought Id had a stroke but was a mere pulled muscle in my cheek!

Terry D wrote:He's not for me I'm afraid J. Watched him once and sat stoney faced. I might give it another bash though if he comes highly vouched for.

IMO THIS IS ENGLAND will easily stand the test of time. By comparison, something like the French movie LA HAINE - which everyone seems to love - just seems trendy and a bit dated ten years later.

Eh? 'La Haine' is still brilliant. Surely if its dated it would be untrendy? I think its ace.

Ezzard, here was me thinking 'Dead Mans Shoes' shows you the effectiveness of our Army's combat training. Keep them awake, disorientate them, disrupt the enemies water supply and divide and conquer

Good analysis. Never thought of it that way.

Its a real tour de force. Love that film.

Autobarn wrote:

Chambers2 wrote:ID is my fave football hooliganism film....Legendary IMO

I felt it was a bit unconvincing myself. Bit formulaic, like an undercover cop film.

I.D. is brilliant ain't it.

starts off as a respectable copper and ends up one of them.

Autobarn wrote:I felt it was a bit unconvincing myself. Bit formulaic, like an undercover cop film.

what's up with ya.

who cares if it ain't very realistic.

it's a film ffs.

if u want realism join the police force.

"we are shadwell we are shadwell"