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, Lena Headey, Emma Gilmour

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 officers. 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:

frame up | cctv | bank | murder | parole officer | 

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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:

Shaw, Grains Rd., Oldham, England, UK

Box Office

Budget:

$6,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

£902,028 (United Kingdom), 12 August 2001, Limited Release

Company Credits

Production Co:

DNA Films,Figment Films,Toledo Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

93 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Despite the title of the film, Simon Garden is portrayed and referred to as a Probation Officer throughout, which is the correct title for his job in both the UK and the U.S.

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Goofs

The ring in the model pig's nose changes from horizontal to vertical before and after the pig is cut in half. The blade would otherwise have had to cut through the ring, which is intact throughout.

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Quotes

[in the police interview room]
Simon Garden: [smugly] You can't intimidate me.
Inspector Burton: Let me give it a shot. If you open your mouth, I won't lay a finger on you. But you'll go to prison. And when those nonces and those perverts get hold of a clever boy like you - and I'll make sure they do - they'll be queueing up round the block. You're going to end up with an arsehole like a clown's pocket.
Simon Garden: [gulps] That was pretty good.

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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 Reservoir Dogs (1992)

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Soundtracks

Ain't Got No - I Got Life
Performed by Nina Simone
Written by Galt MacDermot, James Rado and Gerome Ragni
Published by EMI United Publishing Ltd
Courtesy of RCA Records/BMG Entertainment

User Reviews

COOGAN DOES IT AGAIN

Steve Coogan is a hero of mine from Paul Calf to Alan Partridge to even Tony Ferrino he is a master of comedy. He has constructed in this film a fantastic premise filled with brilliant set pieces and fabulous 1 lines.

This film is the comedy of the year dont miss it.

5 out of 5