Mean Machine (2001)

Director:

Barry Skolnick

Writers (WGA):

Tracy Keenan Wynn (earlier screenplay "The Longest Yard")
Charlie Fletcher (screenplay) ...

Release Date:

26 December 2001 (UK)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama | Sport

Tagline:

Not Your Usual Suspects

Plot:

A soccer star jailed for assault leads a group of inmates in a match against prison guards.

Plot Keywords:

Prison | Prison Guard | Soccer Star | Soccer | Inmate

Cast

Vinnie Jones	...	Danny Meehan
David Kelly	...	Doc
David Hemmings	...	Governor
Ralph Brown	...	Burton
Vas Blackwood	...	Massive
Robbie Gee	...	Trojan
Geoff Bell	...	Ratchett
John Forgeham	...	Charlie Sykes
Sally Phillips	...	Tracey
Danny Dyer	...	Billy the Limpet
Jason Flemyng	...	Bob Likely
Jason Statham	...	Monk
Martin Wimbush	...	Z
David Reid	...	Barman
David Cropman	...	Second Barman

MPAA:

Rated R for language and some violence.

Runtime:

99 min

Country:

UK | USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Iceland:16 | Singapore:NC-16 | South Korea:15 | Australia:M | Canada:14A | Germany:12 | Netherlands:16 | Portugal:M/12 | Spain:13 | Sweden:11 | UK:15 | USA:R | Singapore:PG (cut) | Norway:15

Company:

Paramount Pictures

Trivia:

At the end of the movie the match commentators give the following speech: "Guards of Pentonville, guards of Wandsworth, Walton nick in Liverpool, policemen of Britain, traffic wardens and parole officers, wheel clampers, your boys have taken a hell of a beating today! A hell of a beating!" This speech is a direct reference to Norwegian sports commentator Bjørge Lillelien who made British headlines, when in 1981, Norway beat England during the 1982 World Cup qualifiers and he gave the following emotional response: "[In Norwegian] We are the best in the world! We are the best in the world! We have beaten England 2-1 at football! It is totally incredible! We have beaten England! England, home of giants: Looooord Nelson, Looooord Beaverbrook, Sir Winston Churchill, Anthony Eden, Clement Attlee, Henry Cooper, Lady Diana. We have beaten them all, we have beaten them all! [In English] Maggie Thatcher, can you hear me? [In Norwegian] Maggie Thatcher, I have a message to you during the election: We have beaten England out of the World Championship in football! Maggie Thatcher, as they say in your language in the boxing-bars around Madison Square Garden: [in English] Your boys took a hell of a beating! Your boys took a hell of a beating!" However, despite the loss, England continued on to qualify for the World Cup finals, while Norway did not.

Goofs:

Continuity: When 'Nitro' is bundled into the back of a prison van, he knocks a guard's hat off. As the prison van doors are slammed shut, the guard's hat is still firmly on his head.

Quotes:

Massive: [introducing himself] Massive is your man!
Danny Meehan: Massive?
Massive: It's ironic!

Movie Connections:

References Tarzan the Ape Man (1932)

Soundtrack:

Carnaval De Paris

unmatched soccer movie, great prison film

I'm not a fan of sport movies and I am not able to watch a soccer match without dozing off, but this one got me. A sympathetic cast I know from the Guy Richie's Snatch with lovely variety of British accents, this film features a lively plot, very funny quotes and a good physical humor, elaborate shots, and an interesting range of prison characters. No matter the characters are rather flat, this simplification I was willing to accept, since the story was so good.

Even though I may have seen better prison movies, and even some that are similar in plot; the Mean Machine is unmatched in the rather distant, ironical view of the prison world, honoring fair-play and manly virtues. Moreover, I was very happy not to see any homosexual relationships among the prisoners, no matter the actual prison reality. (On the other hand, I liked the bookie, he had a style.)

All in all, I enjoyed this film very much. Do not expect food for thought but rest assured this is not a dumb entertainment either.