Mad Cows (1999)

A single mother's postnatal state leads her on a race to save her child and her sanity.

Director:

Sara Sugarman

Writers:

Sasha Hails, Kathy Lette (novel),

Stars:

Anna Friel, Joanna Lumley, Anna Massey

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Anna Friel	...	Maddy
Joanna Lumley	...	Gillian
Anna Massey	...	Dwina Phelps
Phyllida Law	...	Lady Drake (Alex's Mother)
Greg Wise	...	Alex
John Standing	...	Politician
Nicholas Woodeson	...	Detective Slynne
Judy Cornwell	...	Maddy's mother
Prunella Scales	...	Dr. Minny Stinkler
Geoffrey Robertson	...	Man on bus
David Ryall	...	Man outside Harrods
Mohamed Al-Fayed	...	Harrods Doorman
Megan Matthews	...	Harrods shopper
Rustie Lee	...	Mama Joy
Badi Uzzaman	...	Indian shopkeeper

Storyline

A single mother's postnatal state leads her on a race to save her child and her sanity.

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Plot Keywords:

single mother | shoplifting | arrest | animal in title | baby | 

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Taglines:

They don't take no bull

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Genres:

Comedy

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Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

29 October 1999 (UK)

Also Known As:

Locas

Filming Locations:

Wandsworth Prison, Trinity Road, Wandsworth, London, England, UK

Box Office

Opening Weekend:

£140,202 (UK) (29 October 1999)

Gross:

£140,202 (UK) (29 October 1999)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Capitol Films, Flashlight Films, Newmarket Capital Group

Technical Specs

Runtime:

90 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Did You Know?

Soundtracks

"Bring Him Back"
Written by Doc Pomus, Mort Shuman
Performed by Dusty Springfield

User Reviews

A Steaming Pile Of Cattle Dung

A couple of weeks ago I had a get together with a bunch of Matt Johnson ( Aka The The ) fans down in London and a couple of people I'd met there , namely Duncan and Ange , had like me attended film school . As in these type of situations the topic of conversation soon got round to lamenting the demise of the British film industry . It may sound bitter but we all agreed that the reason was because the industry in this country is crippled by nepotism with people getting their movies financed simply because they know the right people , not because they have any obvious talent

MAD COWS is a case in point . Apparently it's based on a novel by Australian Kathy Lette which probably explains how her husband Geoffry Robertson managed to get a walk on part in this movie . Robertson isn't a professional actor which means a member of Equity has been deprived of an income . Actually at least one other actor has also been deprived since Mohamed Al Fayed the owner of Harrods also appears in a walk on part . As for the actors who have paid their dues to Equity I wasn't impressed . Anna Friel spends the movie with an entirely unconvincing Aussie accent while Joanna Lumley is abysmal since she recreates her role as Patsy Stone from ABSOLUTELY FABULOUS

The supporting cast I will reserve judgement on because I've a feeling that the director Sara Sugarman is more to blame than the actors themselves . A case in point is an interrogation by a detective who has arrested the heroine for stealing a packet of frozen peas ( A pathetic plot twist ? Glad you agree with me ) and my gut instinct is that the scene was hopelessly unfunny to begin with but instead of the director beating the screenwriter to death with a limp script Ms Sugarman has told the actor in question to put on a funny speech impediment and other clown mannerisms . No doubt the cast have nothing but kind words about working with Sara Sugerman but you don't make a movie to enjoy yourself - You make a movie to let the audience enjoy themself and there's no enjoyment here as we have to endure silly performances , MTV style direction in a very plot less and episodic story that is a kick in the guts to anyone who has struggled to make it in the movie business in this country

But at least MAD COWS proves once and for all that it's not what you know in the British movie industry - It's who you know