Goodbye Charlie Bright (2001)

Charlie is a London youngster who,with his friends,indulges in streaking and petty crime. However he aspires to better himself though his reckless friend Justin ruins his chances of working... See full summary »

Director:

Nick Love

Writers:

Nick Love (screenplay), Dominic Eames (screenplay),

Stars:

Paul Nicholls, Roland Manookian, Phil Daniels

1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Paul Nicholls	...	Charlie Bright
Roland Manookian	...	Justin
Phil Daniels	...	Eddie
Jamie Foreman	...	Tony
Danny Dyer	...	Francis
Dani Behr	...	Blondie
Richard Driscoll	...	Hector
David Thewlis	...	Dad
Sid Mitchell	...	Tommy
Alexis Rodney	...	Damien
Nicola Stapleton	...	Julie
Brian Jordan	...	Duke
Lucy Bowen	...	Duke's girlfriend
Tameka Empson	...	Kay
Sian Welsh	...	Janet

Storyline

Charlie is a London youngster who,with his friends,indulges in streaking and petty crime. However he aspires to better himself though his reckless friend Justin ruins his chances of working with his cousin Hector as an estate agent. Another of Charlie's friends Francis learns that his girlfriend has been unfaithful with the older Eddie and seeks revenge but ends up getting run over by Eddie. Justin steals a gun and drags a reluctant Charlie along to kill Eddie,though he only wounds him. The two boys end up on a roof with the police below before their fates are finally settled.

---

Plot Keywords:

streaking | dog | boyfriend girlfriend relationship | male bonding | dreadlocks | 

---

Genres:

Drama

---

Details

Official Sites:

Metrodome Group / Film Four

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

11 May 2001 (UK)

Also Known As:

Strong Boys

Filming Locations:

Bermondsey, London, England, UK

Box Office

Opening Weekend:

£28,723 (UK) (11 May 2001)

Gross:

£28,723 (UK) (11 May 2001)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Bonaparte Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

87 min

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Goofs

When Charlie and Justin attend Hector's party, they are seen taking the Central Line out into Essex, where Hector's mansion is supposedly located. They get off the train at Debden Station and are seen coming out of the main entrance and walking down the street. This scene was actually not filmed at Debden Station but at Ickenham Station, which is on the Metropolitan/Picadilly Line (as opposed to the Central) and in Middlesex (not Essex), which is on the other side of London, to the West rather than the East. Director Nick Love superimposed the word "Debden" over the "Ickenham" section of the sign, though quite why he chose to shoot the scene at Ickenham instead of Debden remains unclear. Ironically, it's unlikely that the boys would have used Debden to get to a house like Hector's anyway - if the house was supposedly in that part of Essex, it would have been more likely to have been somewhere like Chigwell.

---

Connections

References Pulp Fiction (1994)

---

Soundtracks

"Rendezvous"
Performed by Craig David

User Reviews

worth a look, but don't miss the start!

Worth a look. As much for being a Brit flick as anything else. Getting slightly away from the cliched Lock, Stock genre, but staying within the rough parts of London, the film looks at Charlie's realisation that his life lacks direction. Unfortunately the film never really gets to grips with the real emotion behind Charlie's development, but there is plenty to keep the younger, (dare I say, hipper), audience watching and giggling, especially if you likes drugs and swearing.

The beauty of the film is that it is not predictable. Without giving anything away, the plot often seems to be heading in an obvious direction before skewing off at a tangent. This is not to say that you will be on the edge of your seats though. The plot does have its dips, and there was a period when I wondered just how much more of the same I would be getting. Not long after, however, the audience was treated to an unexpected and well-played finale.

The acting is great at times, and not so at others, not even Dani Behr brings the cast down (too much), and individual characters such as Francis and Justin were particularly well-acted. I could not decide if the photography was poor deliberately, to fit the mood of the film, or if it just happened that way. Either way, that can be your decision!

Go and have a watch, enjoy an British film, and whatever you do, don't miss the start!