Come 'ead. Awaydays: The Movie close to general release

[Dover]

My old hairdresser is mentioned in Powder. FACT.

p.s. if you'd been listening to proper music rather than that heavy metal bollocks at the time, you'd enjoy Away Days more.

Sorry fella I go to a barber. Anyway it's not just Heavy Metal in my house, so I hope that was in jest.

 

[Dandyman]

Sorry fella I go to a barber. Anyway it's not just Heavy Metal in my house, so I hope that was in jest.

 

[Dover]

Pint for the Dandyman.

 

[Dandyman]

Saw it at the premiere during LFF (my copy of the book signed by the cast no less) have been a massive fan of Awaydays since 1999 when I picked it up.

Minor classic in the book aspect but the film left a lot to be desired IMO, The whole Tranmere link is completely glossed over so you have no context on that side of things (although the writer has said that the football element is not as important as the fashion/hooligan/rites of passage storylines) however in the book the sense of place and the rivalries within the various groups with the "pack" is vital so I don't agree with him there, and thats before the subtext in the novel of a bitter resentment of the Wirral based Tranmere supporters and the much more clued up and sophisticated Liverpool scallies with their European adventures and consequent access to stolen fashion items from Rome and Madrid. As the main character -Carty- says "Its doing our heads in this scouser-Tranmere thing. They still see us as wools even though we dress and act like them"

I said before that had I not read the book the Film may have been less grating because despite its shortcomings it is the best effort yet at describing the one upmanship and violence around football in the early eighties and it luxuriates in references to the fashion of the day Adidas Sambas and Forest Hills, Peter Storm windcheaters and fred perry and fila polos are well in evidence and the contrast between the well dressed Pack and their Flare and harrington wearing foes is spot on (I grew up in Tranmere during the era depicted and remember it well!)

My biggest critisism of the film however is its over emphasis on the Homo erotic relationship between Carty and the enigmatic and obviously latent gay Elvis (Don't worry there is no bum fun in the film). The story is built around this odd relationship with the middle class and cultured art studenty Carty who gets involved with the ultra violent Pack as a sort of Hooligan tourist via Elvis who, ironically, wants nothing more than to break with his council estate roots and become educated and sophisticated and get away "From all this"

There are some genuinely shocking violent scenes and some strong performances, certainly from Liam Boyle (Elvis) and Holly Grainger (Moll) as well as solid support from Ian Puleston Davis (Uncle Bob) and Stephen Graham (Godden) and Oliver Lee (Baby Millan). I thought Nicky Bell was punching above his weight as Carty and his attempt at a scouse accent falls some way short of optimal..There are no truly outstanding performances from any one individual though.

Scenes missing (for those in the know) Egging trip to Chester, Doctor Who in Halifax and The battle of Blackpool and the confrontation with Liverpool supporters in the Yankee Bar all of which were sorely missed. Scenes included: The revenge attack on the Rugger Buggers and scrap in Probe records as well as Elvis's descent into Heroin addiction.

I would still suggest that everyone interested in the subject should check it out despite the knowlege that done properly and better resourced the film would have been immense rather than pretty average.

Overall 6/10

Cheers for that - books seldom seem to translate fully to film and I would agree that without the context, references and period (music, clothes, attitude) the whole thing might lose it's point.

 

[Bevendean Hillbilly]

Cheers for that - books seldom seem to translate fully to film and I would agree that without the context, references and period (music, clothes, attitude) the whole thing might lose it's point.

I think that the presciousness (sic) of Tranmere Rovers over use of their name in relation to the film has cost it quite a lot. Chelsea, West Ham and Millwall don't seem to have suffered from having their fans depicted as complete arseholes...er, hang on..

 

[Bevendean Hillbilly]

Don't be fooled, don't be misled
we're not Scousers
we're from Birken'ead...

Are they just going to say "Rovers"?

Not even a "Rovers" and certainly no "Don't be mistaken" fella.

All the Pack chant is "We are evil" over and bloody over. In one scene they attack a group of Woolybacks outside Birkenhead North Station where they have travelled for an Away game (see Walts link for scene)...I don't think there are any other league teams in Birkenhead other than TRFC so whats going on there?

 

[Mellotron]

This film is gonna be the one. When is the release date? Only bad thing is all these chav wankers who go to see some football violence will ruin all the good fashion about a week after the film is out.

Good fashion?......

 

[Mellotron]

I think that the presciousness (sic) of Tranmere Rovers over use of their name in relation to the film has cost it quite a lot. Chelsea, West Ham and Millwall don't seem to have suffered from having their fans depicted as complete arseholes...er, hang on..

Does seem bizarre. All teams have hoolies. All hoolies are complete arseholes. So not point protecting any clubs over use of name.

 

[Dandyman]

Not even a "Rovers" and certainly no "Don't be mistaken" fella.

All the Pack chant is "We are evil" over and bloody over. In one scene they attack a group of Woolybacks outside Birkenhead North Station where they have travelled for an Away game (see Walts link for scene)...I don't think there are any other league teams in Birkenhead other than TRFC so whats going on there?

Very confused Chester fans ?

Does seem a bit odd given that the club are not really to blame for anything in the book and it is very much a time and a place as it is a rites of passage saga.

 

[element]

Sorry about that. I have no idea how to embed clips from YouTube...

To embed, just copy and paste the embed code between...

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[element]

To embed, just copy and paste the embed code between...

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Phew