Buster

This movie was a big hit at the cinema when it was first released and then again as a video rental....Those were the days! The soundtrack was also a big hit and most of the songs were chart hits on the back of the movie, and not just the Phil Collins songs who was at the height of his popularity as a solo artist at the time. The story and movie itself is far from being as bad as some of the reviews here make out, its an upbeat movie for the most part and still watchable. Phil Colins can act, although he hasn't really had the chance to show that in very many roles since. The fact that you could pick this movie up free on DVD recently with a newspaper and if you missed that offer can pop into any Poundland in the UK and pick it up for a pound (on a double bill with Diamond of Jeru) I'd recommend you looking it up...even only if its to hear that great soundtrack again..5/10

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.

This is one good movie! This is a good movie for Phil Collins fans such as myself. Phil Collins is not only a great singer and drummer, hes also a great actor. This is a good movie to watch on a Friday night if you don't have anything else to do. You won't be sorry.

'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.

Played light but there's genuine feeling. Strong cast, Phil Collins works well in this role, as does he and Julie Walters as the hub of the movie: honest with the right touch of romance. She is great in this, as she usually is. There's naturalistic period detail: ketchup, grubby kitchens etc. First half is well-paced with real tension to the train robbery, much like a western but with just the right touch of London humour. Second half lags a little with some silly moments (drunken antics) but it's all the so-called dream heading for the inevitable reality check. Surprised it took this long for me to see it but being 13 when it came out it wasn't cool back then especially with it's music being so overplayed. Seeing it now in 2023 it feels familiar yet innocent and stronger as a UK crime movie than I'd expected. Even the music has become pleasing in a nostalgic way, 'Two Hearts' gave me goosebumps (that key change!).