England Is Mine

Let's set some axioms before we can appraise this work. 1) The Smiths were the greatest rock'n'roll band of all time. 2) Morrissey is the world's greatest living poet. From that axiomatic base, there can be nothing but high hopes for a film about Morrissey's beginnings. Sadly, this film is a non-starter on all counts, because any Smiths fan knows going into it that Morrissey has always refused to license the rights to the songs after that well-known 'How Soon is Now' debacle. Therefore, we can expect to hear none of the music and none of the lyrics. So, what is the point of making the film? The answer is, 'There is no point at all'. And what is the point of watching the film? The answer is, 'There is no point at all'. Let's get one thing absolutely clear; 'Control' this is not; '24 Hour Party People' this is not; 'Nowhere Boy' this is not. Suffice to say, a watchable, entertaining film this is not.

I was lucky enough to attend the world premier of this at the Edinburgh Film festival closing gala. Now to the actual movie. The story is focused on Morrissey towards the end of the 70s and the struggles he had trying to get his first foot on the ladder as a performer while at the same time being paralyzed with fear of being on stage and dealing with his everyday struggles. In the movie he comes across as a hyper sensitive and shy person but with an underlying streak of arrogance in his own belief in his abilities,despite his lack of confidence in social situations. However the acerbic one liners you would expect from Morrissey are there and when they arrive they are genuine laugh out loud funny. If Smiths fans were hoping to see a film which has a lot of Smiths music in it they will be disappointed. Its similar to the James Brown biopic there's none of the music you may have anticipated being part of the story, which may be a problem for some fans. What we do hear is mostly pop music from the charts from that time. The cast do a great job however without dropping any spoilers for me the film ended almost at the point it was about to get even more interesting, though I doubt there will be any sequel. The film is an interesting character study of one the UKs greatest ever front men from one of the best bands the country has produced, however I am not sure that this film is something either he or his fans will take to their heart. I feel there is a better film on this subject yet to be made. Interesting from as a psychological study but fans may feel shortchanged.

A film/docudrama about the early days of The Smiths/Morrissey. When this is set, in the late 70's, if you took a photograph and had it developed you would have got a photo and a negative copy. This film is like the negative of the events. It's like the uninteresting part of something special...... and don't get me wrong . The Smiths were special, in every sense of the word. Shame, what could have been..........

Manchester, 1976. Steven Patrick Morrissey is unemployed and depressed. He eventually finds work but it doesn't interest him. His only interest appears to be writing down his observations on life and people in a journal. We see his life over the next six years and how this period would have a bearing on his later life for, in 1982, he was to form The Smiths, one of the most influential bands of the 80s.

A fascinating subject. But then I am a Smiths fan and therein lies what will probably make or break the movie for most people: knowing Morrissey's subsequent history, spotting all the watershed moments, sensing how things that happen in the movie might influence his music - only Smiths fans would know it. The ending, especially, would seem rather cryptic to anyone who isn't one.

So, really only for Smiths fans, and even if you are one it takes a bit of patience. Can be slow-moving at times.

However, it is quite interesting and edifying and reasonably engaging. Performances are top-notch.

What would have made it really interesting is showing the formation of The Smiths and their initial struggles. But that would be a whole new movie in itself, I suppose. I'll wait for the sequel...

Steven Patrick Morrissey (Jack Lowden) is a painfully introverted, self-important genius in working class Manchester. His parents are fighting and eventually his father leaves the family. His girlfriend Anji pushes him to start a band but he's too picky to even meet with perspective bandmates. After she breaks up with him, he is taken with outgoing art student Linder Sterling (Jessica Brown Findlay). The other person breaking down his walls is guitarist Billy Duffy. Steven works in a stuffy office with clingy co-worker Christine (Jodie Comer). With much cajoling, Steven performs with Billy and they are invited to London. After the gig falls through and Billy joins another band, Steven falls into a deep depression. Eventually, he follows Billy's recommendation to join guitarist Johnny Marr with whom he would go on to form The Smiths.

Morrissey is a depressed, painfully introverted, self-delusional, emo teen and not the fun kind. This may be real or it may be fiction. I'm not too concerned about that. I would give more importance to Anji especially if the movie proposes her to be his catalyst in one of the most pivotal scenes. "Call me when you grow a pair" is not good enough for their breakup. She needs to have a hint of her medical issue. Her breakup speech needs to be bigger. Christine may be real or not. Again I don't care. Other than some comedic turns, she's a nothing character who threatens to be something and thankfully turns out to be nothing. I have an idea. Let Comer play Anji, expend her role, and eliminate Christine. I suspect that this movie would be better received without the biopic aspect. In the end, it is biopic and critics will ding it for misinterpretations.