nova-63

Our group was comprised of two adults in their 40's and two children aged 9 and 13. We all liked it very much. This is a subversive little film that will probably offend some. The film tackles two problems with modern society. Firstly, it examines society's pride in gaining material wealth. It is amusingly represented in the movie by a lower class villain's need to join a group of wealthy cheese connoisseurs (even though he is allergic to cheese). The film's viewpoint is that your leopard Gucci handbag doesn't make the person, rather the things you do make the person.

Secondly, there is interesting theme found in how the people view the box trolls. The people have been manipulated into believing the box trolls are vicious killers when in fact they are gentle scroungers. How easy the people are manipulated and how they don't want to think for themselves is a criticism of modern society as well.

Does this all sound heavy handed? It's not really presented that way. The kids loved it and so did the adults. Although if you are a politician; or a member of the American Corporate world; or if you believe your Gucci bag makes you better than your neighbor, you probably won't like this.

This film was believed lost by mystery film addicts when a 16mm print turned up on ebay in the early 2000's. The buyer kindly transferred the film to VHS so the rest of us could enjoy it. Now some people may complain about the lack of quality or production values but when your master is a beat up 16mm print I tend to be a little forgiving. Also the fact that it was long lost makes me grateful a print exists at all.

The film itself didn't disappoint this old mystery buff. Conway is great as the suave detective. The rest of the cast is very solid and the plot is a neat little twister about locating a hidden treasure. Not to be missed by mystery buffs and please forgive the quality as we are lucky to have it available to us.

This is the one film I pass along to my friends. Not because they are football/soccer fans. It doesn't matter if they are or not. Forget the synopsis. The central story is that of the England Manager. Let's admit it, he's a bit of a screw up. He picks the wrong players for his team, picks his assistants for the wrong reasons. He only gets the England job because the men the FA really want to give it to refuse to accept it. But there is something very very likable about him. He is in a way, an everyman. Someone who tries hard but life seems to give a few kicks to. Like most of us.

This is a comedy, make no mistake. But what separates it from average is it's heart. When England struggle game after game and the dream job turns to a nightmare for the manager we watch as the stress takes hold. It even starts to tear apart his personal life. It culminates at the media center just before England final group stage match and just after Mr. Bassett has been caught in a display of public drunkenness.

There, the men of the press, the self appointed voice of the public, demand his resignation. When he refuses, it causes a riot with cat calls from certain reporters. Quietly, while the reporters scream, Bassett reads the Kipling poem. A poem that has been his personal mantra through life. Which basically says stay true to your heart and do what you know is right. His poem silences his critics and upon completion he utters the now famous (for us Mike Bassett lovers) "England will be playing four, four, fu**ing two!" Which really is an exclamation mark for the poem. Stay true to your heart. And in this case, England do what you do best.

If I have made a mess of explaining why I love this film I only say this. Thank you to the filmmakers for this little bit of brilliance. It's hard enough to find a film that makes you laugh. But finding one that makes you laugh and touches your heart at the same time is indeed rare.