"I am not a man...... I am Cantona!" (Looking For Eric (DVD))

Member Name: thedevilinme

Product:	Looking For Eric (DVD)
Date:	02/11/09 (92 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Funny and topical

Disadvantages: Soundtrack

The Star...Eric Cantona!
Genre...'Dromedy' (drama-comedy)
Suited for....Adults

With the postal strike depressing us all right now then why not a topical film about a depressed postman to cheer us all up, 'Looking for Eric', directed by the rebellious director Ken Loach, certainly one to lift some of your anxieties if your waiting on your student loan cheque or hoping your credit card payment made it.

This is great stuff and I now have a clear front runner for the Best British film of the year to just edge The Dammned United, the BAFTAs sure to embrace this delightful mix of humour and poignant comment on the male mid-life crisis. Not only that but it's an uncontroversial Loach film for once and with a happy ending, a rarity indeed, old lefty Loach getting a softer side as the years race on.

The appeal of Loach's work in general is his unique and gritty 'improv' style where actors don't get to see the script outline until the night before the scenes and so a realism to it that involves the viewer in the struggle, a common theme in Loach`s work. But the big appeal to this particular one is most definitely 'Monsieur Eric Cantona' in the supporting actor role, this the fourth film from the Manchester United legend, the footballer hiding behind the thespian bushy beard now...

Apparently Eric called up Mike and said I have seen your films and I want to work with you (in a comic French accent). 14 months later this script was sent to him and away we go. If you believe that you will believe anything. He is fabulous in it though, the quote: 'I am not a Man, I am Cantona!' sure to be one of British films most remembered...

-The Cast-

Steve Evets ... Eric Bishop
Eric Cantona ... Eric
Stephanie Bishop ... Lily
Gerard Kearns ... Ryan
John Henshaw....Ron
Stefan Gumbs ... Jess
Lucy-Jo Hudson ... Sam
Cole Williams ... Daisy
Dylan Williams ... Daisy
Matthew McNulty ... Young Eric
Laura Ainsworth ... Young Lily

-The Plot-

Fifty something Eric (Steve Evets), a 'Manc' Postie, is finding life tough as mid-life grinds relentlessly on, long since separated from Lilly (Stephanie Bishop), the love of his life, she above even his beloved Manchester United in his thoughts, memories he just can't let go of. But left with two teenage lads to bring up from his second marriage, another doomed relationship, it's all too much and he's letting work and life slip. Although his work mates are willing to rally around him, his supervisor Ron (John Henshall) first with the jokes, he's gone past just being sad and so clinically depressed time. When the lads discover undelivered mail hoarded in his house as they are partaking in a Paul McKenna motivational evening to snap him out of it (one of the films funniest scenes) its clear there's work to be done to save their workmate.

His anxiety rises when Lilly is suddenly back in his life, asking Eric to baby sit his daughter Sams (Lucy-Jo Hudson) new born, she at university now and so in need of sitters she trusts. When they do meet it brings back a mix of good and bad feelings, but maybe the first steps of the journey back to him self. But then something weird happens, none other than the honour of having Eric Cantona as his manic depressive hallucination. Cantona is full of Gaelic wisdom to lift him out of it, whether Eric the postie wants it or not, and willing to share a spliff or two as he imparts that wisdom and some French proverbs at every turn. But poetic geniuses can only give so much advice and the real Eric must face the music and get his life back together.

Through flashback we learn that Lilly and Eric met on the dance floor back in the 60s, their shared love of rock n roll music the clincher, reigniting some of those memories too when they meet again and have coffee when he goes to picks up the baby again, this becoming a habit. He wants to take the opportunity to tell her why he ran out on her back then and the reason is not what Lilly is expecting. But just as that light of hope is flicked on another is dimmed, the apparent discovery that his youngest son Ryan (Gerard Kearns) is getting mixed up with local gangsters the last thing he wants right now, this very serious. Cantona has no answers for his predicament but when a postie is down his friends rally around and Ron is coming to the rescue with a cunning plan to resolve all of Eric's problems in one big foul swoop, if they are not out on strike, of course!

-Conclusion-

This is great stuff; Loach back on form with what he's brilliant at - making us laugh and cry at the same time. If you enjoyed his early work of Raining Stones and Riff Raff then you will love this as its back in that ballpark. For me things got too serious and confrontational with some of Loaches recent stuff like 'Land of Freedom' and the 'Wind That Shook the Barley' and we needed this levity.

Like Mike Leigh his films tackle the working-class struggle and they have been just a little bit too grim and off putting for me of late, Sweet Sixteen very hard work, the actor that plays young Ryan here in that grim sink estate drag too. John Henshaw, who plays Ron here, is the bald guy who is currently doing the Post Office adverts with Roger Moore, a nice little tie in. I wonder what old Rog makes of the strikes?

With Lots of Manchester United moments through archive footage and with 'collar up' Cantona just as brilliant and cool as he was on the pitch off it here you will be charmed very quickly by this winning formula. Steve Evets is also rather good and maybe on for a BAFTA nomination too. Eric is bound to get one just for the glamour appearance. Even I fancy King Cantona!

The first half of the film is hilarious but then it gets all serious and almost another movie. But it seems to work and I enjoyed it and I doubt if you will see better this year if you go for this type of intrinsic British film. So nice not to have Hugh bloody Grant and Colin Firth not flaffing around for once.


= = = Special Features = = =

There's an audio commentary by Ken Loach and Evets but it's hidden in the 'Set Up' option. Why they do them and then hide them is beyond me.

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Imdb.com scores it 7.4 10.0 (1,670 votes)
RuN-TiMe 116 minutes
Any 2 films for 2 nights for £5 at Blockbusters high street
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Summary: Eric Cantona!