Lee Eisenberg
England in the late 1970s was not a pleasant time for much of the country. Unemployment began to rise, and the government didn't do much to respond (this probably contributed to Margaret Thatcher's rise to power). Derrick Borte's "London Town" focuses on a working class boy who gets into The Clash while his father is in the hospital.The movie is both about hope for the future, and about love of music. One scene features people debating The Sex Pistols vs. The Clash. Jonathan Rhys Meyers plays Joe Strummer, who enters the boy's life. It's not a masterpiece, but worth seeing. The rest of the cast includes Dougray Scott and Natascha McElhone (of "The Truman Show").
randymcbeast
No, this is not the greatest movie of all time and it probably won't win any awards but if you're looking for a fun, touching and nostalgic little movie for a warm Sunday afternoon, then give this one a watch. I'm also a huge Clash fan/softie so I'm a bit biased which also explains my appreciation for such a movie.It's fairly well packed with colorful characters, scenes and musical performances. Jonathan Rhys Meyers kills it as Joe Strummer, Daniel Huttlestone carries the movie from start to finish, and Nell Williams is perfect as the rebel punk teen girlfriend. Solid cast overall and some heartwarming moments like when Vivian looks on as Shay plays the piano for her for the first time.Yes, it's a somewhat predictable movie but in the end I didn't care. It was fun to just get lost for a bit back in the early Clash days, even though it's kind of a strange place for a coming-of-age type movie to be. Just don't expect a raw punk account of those days and you'll be just fine.
Lisa King
This is a fabulous coming of age story, set against the back drop of London in the 70's and the music of The Clash. The film is cleverly put together with a great mix of humour, emotion, gritty reality and music of The Clash. The acting is superb particularly Daniel Huttlestone as Shay, although little Alice steals the show more than once! Jonathan Rhys Meyers could be Joe Strummer, with his attitude and great voice. It's a movie that makes you think, laugh and cry. A real British film, I have already seen this twice and will happily watch again!
katzco-545-81470
Every once in a while a little film, with a tiny budget and a whole lot of heart, comes along and knocks you off your feet. London Town fulfills all the aspects of that category. I won't bother to give you a blow by blow description of the story, that's easily found elsewhere. I will tell you I was more than thoroughly entertained and, since it was a 48 hour rental via my VOD system, I took the opportunity to watch it three times because it was just that good! The film is endearing, funny and the performances are stellar, especially the youngsters. Huttlestone is already on his way as a multi-talent, but Nell Williams was a new revelation for me and she shines here. If for no other reason, you need to see this film for the incredibly brilliant work of Jonathan Rhys Meyers as Joe Strummer. He is simply mesmerizing and delivers a musical performance equal to that of any contemporary or historical rock star. (As a veteran of 7 Stones and 14 WHO concerts, I feel justified in that statement.) Derrick Borte managed to assemble a superb group of musicians to portray the rest of the band and the results are magical. London Town is a special film, with something for everyone to love. Don't miss it!
AD
