Gabriel & Me (2001)

A young boy believes he can save his dying father if he can become an angel.

Director:

Udayan Prasad

Writers:

Lee Hall (radio play "I Love You Jimmy Spud"), Lee Hall (screenplay)

Stars:

Iain Glen, David Bradley, Sean Landless

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Iain Glen	...	Dad
David Bradley	...	Grandad
Sean Landless	...	Jimmy
Rosie Rowell	...	Mam
Billy Connolly	...	Gabriel
Ian Cullen	...	Ridley
Sean Foley	...	Fat Sam
Trevor Fox	...	Mr. Ellison
Bridie Hales	...	Bridie
Nicky Hayer	...	Nicky
Jacqueline King	...	Mrs. Peacock
Dominic McHale	...	Geography Teacher
Andy Mulligan	...	Harold
Mark Ross	...	Sproat
Jordan Routledge	...	Scout

Storyline

A young boy believes he can save his dying father if he can become an angel.

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Plot Keywords:

character name in title

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Genres:

Drama

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Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

2 November 2001 (UK)

Also Known As:

Gabriel y yo

Filming Locations:

England, UK

Company Credits

Production Co:

British Screen Productions, Film Consortium, The, Film Council

Technical Specs

Runtime:

84 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

User Reviews

Geordie lad meets the Angel Gabriel

The writer of "Billy Elliot" should have quit whilst he was ahead.

"Gabriel and Me" is as flat as "Billy Elliot" sparkled.

Jimmy Spud (the lead 11-year-old) lives in yet another north east dysfunctional family and, for reasons which remain obscure, decides he wants to train as an angel (the usual qualification - being dead - does not seem to apply in this plot). He applies to The Archangel Gabriel - in the human form of Billy Connelly - who obliges by appearing at unpredictable points to tell him how he is progressing. (Not well). Meanwhile Dad contracts lung cancer and Jimmy is disgusted when Gabriel refuses to cure him. This movie is implausible in the extreme - even if "Gabriel" is a figment of Jimmy's imagination. Apart from David Bradley's Grandad, the characters are two-dimensional, inconsistent and, worst of all, uninteresting. Any emotional content is crassly handled to the point of embarrassment - up to and including the death of Jimmy's father. On the plus side it is beautifully photographed; but can we PLEASE have a contemporary film, set in Newcastle, which DOESN'T make it look like a place which is slowly crumbling into non-existence?