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Mean Machine (2001)
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Overview
User Rating:
Director:
Writers (WGA):
Release Date:
26 December 2001 (UK)
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Tagline:
Not Your Usual Suspects more
Plot:
A soccer star jailed for assault leads a group of inmates in a match against prison guards. full summary | add synopsis
Plot Keywords:
Prison
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Prison Guard
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Soccer Star
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Soccer
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Inmate
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NewsDesk:
(8 articles)
"He Doesn't Have My Permission to Die Yet!": Twelve Evil Movie Wardens
(From IFC. 3 September 2009, 7:43 AM, PDT)
Live action Wacky Races!
(From Comicmix. 31 July 2009, 4:46 AM, PDT)
(From IFC. 3 September 2009, 7:43 AM, PDT)
Live action Wacky Races!
(From Comicmix. 31 July 2009, 4:46 AM, PDT)
User Comments:
unmatched soccer movie, great prison film
more (72 total)
Cast
(Cast overview, first billed only)| 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 |
Additional Details
MPAA:
Rated R for language and some violence.
Parents Guide:
Runtime:
99 min
Language:
Color:
Aspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
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:
Fun Stuff
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.
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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.
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Quotes:
Massive:
[introducing himself] Massive is your man!
Danny Meehan: Massive?
Massive: It's ironic!
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Danny Meehan: Massive?
Massive: It's ironic!
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Movie Connections:
References Tarzan the Ape Man (1932)
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Soundtrack:
Carnaval De Paris
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FAQ
This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.more (72 total)
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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.