Buster

Buster has been knocked by critics over the years for being too sympathetic to the real life criminals it portrays, for the love story between Buster Edwards & June and for treating a serious crime as a caper full of cheeky cockneys, chirpy Phil Collin's songs and a comedic light touch afforded by director David Green. This is a shame because as British gangster films go this is very entertaining and well acted with Collins surprisingly engaging in the lead opposite the ever reliable Julie Waters, and with a fine ensemble cast of Larry Lamb, Anthony Quayle, Ralph Brown, Martin Jarvis, Christopher Ellison and Sheila Hancock.

With the Government at the time reeling from the Profumo scandal in the 1960's the Great Train Robbery couldn't have come at a worse time, causing the general public to get on the side of the train robbers who were seen as working class heroes. This is what David Green set out to show with his film by making the characters and situation appealing and getting the audience on their side. If it was a fictional crime caper like The Italian Job that wouldn't be an issue but as this is based on real life events and a victim got killed during the robbery the filmmakers are on shaky ground resulting in this artistic decision backfiring and being lambasted by critics for it. The showing of the film at a Royal Premiere in 1988 was also cancelled due to accusations of it glorifying crime.

While the critics may have had a point I usually put that to one side and enjoy it for what it is, whether it is factually accurate or not, it's still one of my favourite British movies made in the 1980's. Sadly the original negative has been lost so what we are left with is a low grade copy that has since been colour graded several shades of green throughout for reasons only known to the colourist.

Phil Collins well received pop songs especially written for the soundtrack helped the film's general appeal but it is Anne Dudley's score that really drives the film along, especially during the robbery scene. While Phil is no Bob Hoskins, David Green's original choice for Buster, he more than holds his own and I find it surprising he didn't go on to do more high profile acting roles after this one.

'Buster (1988)' is mainly notable for starring Phil Colins and being the reason he created some of his most famous songs (such as 'Two Hearts', which plays over the credits). Inspired by the true story of "The Great Train Robbery" of 1963, in which a group of criminals robbed a Royal Mail train and made off with £1,000,000, this sort of romantic comedy spends most its time focusing on the aftermath of its infamous inciting incident. It follows Ronald Christopher "Buster" Edwards as he goes on the lamb and hides from the law, eventually finding a way to smuggle himself and his family out of the country. It's pretty much a family drama, more concerned with the dynamic between its protagonist and his wife than it is with the mechanics or ethics of his actions. Apparently, the feature was subject to controversy at the time of its release, with its most vocal critics claiming it glamourised - or, at least, downplayed - the supposedly vicious crime on which it is based (I say "supposedly" because it seems quite gentle as depicted here, although I'm sure some liberties were taken with it). I don't think such a response is particularly warranted, especially given the eventual outcome of the characters' actions; it's a typical case of conservative exaggeration in the hopes of cinematic censorship. However, the flick does depict its central character as a lovable rogue just doing what he can to get by. Although he isn't exactly the best husband, with behavioral tendencies that aren't just necessitated by current circumstance like he insists they are, he's ultimately portrayed as a harmless and big-hearted romantic with unrelenting love for those close to him. It's not so much a problematic interpretation as it is a surprising one, as the material doesn't exactly cry out for the light-hearted, almost rom-com treatment it receives. This is a sappy, sentimental affair with a beating heart and a romantic outlook, the opposite of the gritty gangster drama it so easily could have been. It's all just rather mild and, in many ways, it doesn't feel like it makes good use of the true story on which it's based. When it reaches its midpoint, it starts to stagnate after a change of scenery basically necessitates a change in pace. It basically spins its wheels while also feeling sort of xenophobic in some ways, even if being homesick isn't inherently the same as feeling superior to your current surroundings, and it loses what steam it initially had. It isn't bad, but its melodrama never quite connects as much as it should and it also isn't particularly funny. Still, it's consistently watchable and is relatively well-made. Collins is likeable enough as the leading man, and Julie Walters gives a good performance while somehow feeling vaguely overqualified for her role. The 60s period setting is believably recreated, with the grime of London's streets being enhanced by the damage to the film stock itself. It's basically a well-produced TV movie in style and tone, which isn't necessarily a bad thing. It's quaint, almost a relic of a lost era. It isn't great, nor even all that interesting, but it's enjoyable enough for what it is.

Just tracked Buster on DVD (for £4 - bargain, or so I thought, more of that later) and gave it a watch today, to be delighted all over again from the last time I saw it, which must have been a few years ago!

The film manages to capture the essence of the 60s, and delivers it over to the audience, in a style which I thought was very convincing. Don't listen to your friends when they kick up a fuss about seeing this film because it's got Phil Collins in, ignore it, he can act and does very well in the movie. A mention should also be given to the ever dependable Julie Walters, who yet again gives a solid performance.

While on the subject of Julie Walters, I really like the opening scenes in Acapulco (with nice music from Four Tops behind the flying shots over Mexico) as it shows you in an instant that the character of Julie Walters is never going to fit into her environment, as she can be seen wearing dreary colours, a head scalf, thick coat etc and has nothing to match the elegance of the country and it's people. Although Julie Walters can be seen to fit into her forced situation as the scenes in Mexico progress (shown nicely in her choice of clothing I think) you can see she is never really comfortable with it, and her departure back to England was always going to happen.

The film also seems to be accurate to the story of the 63 Great Train Robbery, except for two point, the driver of the train (Jack Mills?) wasn't shown to be as serious hurt as he was by the gang, and Buster also slaps his wife in the Mexico market scene, something the real life Buster has been quoted as saying he would never do, or never did such a thing.

Still don't let this (or the funny (not haha) ending) overshadow your opinion on the movie, truly is a goodun.

Oh and there is a DVD release doing the rounds at the moment, that really is not worth it, as it presents the film in a badly transferred 14:9 image within a 4:3 frame which just looks dull and awful. Go for the proper DVD release in it's glorious 1.85:1 aspect ratio.

With the title "Buster" given to this film starring Phil Collins in the title role, this movie directed by David Green is all about the 1963 Great Train Robbery when a gang of robbers carried out the biggest robbery in criminal history for £2.5 million was big money for 1963 prices. Worst, the train driver Jack Mills sustained head injuries during the attack and later died from leukaemia. For a reason why Phil Collins made this film was that he maintained close contact with one of the robbers Ronald "Buster" Edwards. The 1960s scenes are well put together on film here but it's very underrated. Larry Lamb looks almost strikingly like one of the gang leaders Bruce Reynolds. Well, the film has been criticised for glorifying the robbery. There is nothing glamorous about the robbery as it was a vicious crime. Phil Collins might steal your heart but not on this film while some of the robbers have returned to their criminal haunts and it now seems to be that many years after the robbery, most of the gang members have long since disappeared just like most of the money and in 1994, Buster Edwards struck down by depression,hanged himself in a disused garage near London's Waterloo Station where he traded as a flower seller.

Buster (Phil Collins) is a petty thief with some skill. If he wants a new suit, he just breaks a store window and makes off with a mannequin. If the baby needs supplies, Buster sneaks into the chemist's at night and picks out what is needed. His wife June is getting a bit tired of this and would love to have a place of their own, not a rental. Therefore, Buster arranges a major train robbery (THE Great Train Robbery in the early sixties). The plot is almost successful but Buster does not remain anonymous and is a hunted man, post robbery. Will he ever see his family again? This is a very likable movie about an unlikely charmer. Buster does not want an honest job to support his family but one just can not help liking the guy. Collins is quite good as this amusing thief. Julie Walters, as his wife, is also sweet and attractive. The plot is amazing when one realizes these events actually took place. Part love story, part cat and mouse game, this film is a fun view. Anyone who sits down to Buster will be laughing in short order, leaving the sometimes somber world behind.