The Parole Officer (2001)

A failed parole officer framed for murder must enlist the help of his former clients to clear his name.

Director:

John Duigan

Writers:

Steve Coogan, Henry Normal

Stars:

Steve Coogan, Emma Gilmour, Susan Jane Tanner

2 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Steve Coogan	...	Simon Garden
Emma Gilmour	...	Secretary
Susan Jane Tanner	...	Stern Woman
Iain Mitchell	...	Tribunal Chairman
James Smith	...	Tribunal Man
Om Puri	...	George
Steven Waddington	...	Jeff
Ben Miller	...	Colin
Emma Williams	...	Kirsty
Stephen Dillane	...	Inspector Burton
Bruce McGregor	...	First Policeman
Lena Headey	...	Emma
Justin Burrows	...	Mills
Marc Goodhall	...	Death / Student (as Marc Goodall)
Clive Kneller	...	Deacon

Storyline

Failed parole officer Simon Garden (Coogan) is framed for a murder committed by one of Manchester's leading police constables. The only evidence proving his innocence is a CCTV video tape locked inside a bank vault. With the help of four inept ex-criminals and token love interest Emma (Lena Headey), Garden must break into the bank and steal the CCTV footage in order to clear his name.

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Plot Keywords:

framed | bank | cctv | parole officer | murder | 

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Taglines:

Steve Coogan Is....[The Parole Officer]

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Genres:

Comedy | Crime

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for some sexual content/nudity and language

Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English Japanese

Release Date:

10 August 2001 (UK)

Also Known As:

Das B-Team: Beschränkt und auf Bewährung

Filming Locations:

Blackpool Pleasure Beach, Blackpool, Lancashire, England, UK

Box Office

Opening Weekend:

£902,028 (UK) (10 August 2001)

Gross:

£3,214,144 (UK) (14 September 2001)

Company Credits

Production Co:

DNA Films, Figment Films, Toledo Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

93 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.78 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The stuffed koala with the drugs in it is a reference to director John Duigan's Australian background. It was originally to be a rabbit, so the ears of the stuffed toy could be seen peeping out of the top of Inspector Burton's bag.

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Goofs

When Kirsty breaks them out of jail with the stolen van, you can see the fake wall.

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Quotes

[at Victor's grave]
Sarah, Victor's Wife: After he worked with you he tried to give up his life of crime. He channelled his interests into amateur dramatics. One night he sneaked off to do the safe at Jackson's - you know, the food-processing plant? Two days later, one of the machines was playing up. They reckon he must have fallen into the mincer.
All: Ugh!
Sarah, Victor's Wife: By that stage the order's already gone out. They tried to recall them, but all they got back was half-a-dozen pies and a couple of pasties.
Simon Garden: And is that what's...
[...]

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Crazy Credits

During the first part of the credits there is footage showing the cast dancing to "Heroes" by David Bowie

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Connections

References The Island of Dr. Moreau (1996)

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Soundtracks

"Bubble Bath"
(The Wiseguys Remix)
Performed by 10¢
Written by Shawn Calizo, Tina Link, Phil Hartman (as Phil E. Hartman), John King (as John Robert King),
Michael Simpson
Published by Quaddel-B Publishing, Oak Bar Music Publishing and Universal-MCA Music Publishing
A Division of Universal Studios, Inc on behalf of itself and Dust Brothers Music (ASCAP)
Courtesy of Mammoth Records/Ideal Records

User Reviews

My 10th Review: Hugely Enjoyable Caper

Best surprise I've had in a long time: funny, sweet, and just well, good. It's not crude, or rude ('cept for a couple of obligatory phallic jokes and a couple of swear words) : it could be Rowan Atkinson in the title role. Here Steve Coogan, for my money, leaves behind the skewering satire and parody that made him a household name and a cult figure on UK television, and by half way through the film develops a character that you root for 100%

Nice storyline, a fun caper, and mixed bag of personalities make this a much better mix than expectations might lead you to believe.

I love Ealing Comedies, and good British comedies like Brassed Off, and thought the recent US remake of the Ladykillers was just about everything you don't want a crime comedy movie to be...

... the thing about the Parole Officer is that it is simply enjoyable; it has great pace, some tension and thrills, good laughs, with enough silliness, and ideas to keep it afloat; but it also has a sweet heart and a decency at its center. We thoroughly enjoyed it: especially the last hour: once Coogan stops trying to prove he can develop figures only to poke fun about - he becomes a really likable character - and that's no bad thing.

It's fun - pure and simple - which is a quality sadly lacking in films these days. Definitely worth viewing.