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Wild Bill

Wild Bill (2012)

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Average Rating: N/A
Critic Reviews: 1
Fresh: 1 | Rotten: 0

audience

83

liked it
Average Rating: 4/5
User Ratings: 3,050

My Rating

Movie Info

Out on parole after 8 years inside, Bill Hayward returns home to find his now 11 and 15-year old sons abandoned by their mother and fending for themselves. Unwilling to play Dad, his arrival brings them to the attention of social services. With the danger of being put into care looming, Dean forces his Dad to stay by threatening to grass him up for dealing. Dean soon connects with Jimmy and through this new bond starts to realize what he's been missing. He has a family and a place in the world,

Unrated,

Art House & International, Drama

Dexter Fletcher

Jul 16, 2013

- Official Site External Icon

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All Critics (23) | Top Critics (1) | Fresh (23) | Rotten (0)

There's no faulting Fletcher's unfussy, quietly impressive directorial style. A solid start.

March 14, 2012 Full Review Source: Time Out
Time Out
Top Critic IconTop Critic

With a concept and influences consciously in mind; fine performances by Creed-Miles, Poulter, and Williams; and approving cameos...Fletcher is able to put his best foot forward in this creditable debut.

August 8, 2013 Full Review Source: Groucho Reviews
Groucho Reviews

There's a lot more to this likeable crime flick than your usual dunderheaded Danny Dyer vehicle.

March 14, 2013 Full Review Source: Daily Star

An unusually affecting movie, with pitch-perfect comic moments, a lot of heart, and a beautiful final shot that acts as a crowning achievement for Creed-Miles.

September 13, 2012 Full Review Source: TheShiznit.co.uk
TheShiznit.co.uk

The direction by Dexter Fletcher to illicit the very strong performances by the juvenile actors, is a testament to his current strengths as a director

July 1, 2012 Full Review Source: Dial M For Movies | Comment (1)
Dial M For Movies

Dexter Fletcher doesn't overplay the cowboy angle. Instead, he puts most of his efforts into creating a believable dynamic between the father and his sons, and it's in this tangled skein of shyness, suspicion, loyalty and love that the film's heart lies.

March 30, 2012 Full Review Source: Movie Talk
Movie Talk

[Fletcher] injects new marrow into some creaky bones.

March 25, 2012 Full Review Source: Observer [UK]
Observer [UK]

It wears its lion heart firmly on its sleeve with bouts of good humour and sense, making it impossible not to be drawn into its rugged charm.

March 24, 2012 Full Review Source: Real.com

Suspenseful, exhilarating and genuinely moving, galvanised by strong performances and breathlessly orchestrated action sequences.

March 23, 2012 Full Review Source: Liverpool Echo
Liverpool Echo

Gripping, intense and with a razor-sharp wit, this marks Fletcher as one to watch.

March 22, 2012 Full Review Source: Sun Online
Sun Online

Why can't all British crime dramas be so well written and well acted, and have a splash of comedy as confident as this?

March 22, 2012 Full Review Source: Guardian [UK]
Guardian [UK]

Directed with flair by Fletcher, Wild Bill is more affecting family drama than conventional gangster pic and it's an outstanding achievement.

March 22, 2012 Full Review Source: Daily Express
Daily Express

Fletcher has fashioned a deft, likeable addition to a crowded genre, the cockney comedy thriller. It will be good to see how he fares when he moves on.

March 22, 2012 Full Review Source: Financial Times
Financial Times

The story won't win awards for originality but Fletcher has created a film that's both charming and true to life.

March 22, 2012 Full Review Source: Little White Lies
Little White Lies

There's more than enough good stuff here to whet the appetite for Fletcher's follow‑up.

March 22, 2012 Full Review Source: Daily Telegraph
Daily Telegraph

Works well when it sticks to its filial bonding story, but falters when it brings on singularly unconvincing neighbourhood drug dealers in an attempt to increase tension.

March 22, 2012 Full Review Source: Radio Times
Radio Times

An impressive directorial debut from Dexter Fletcher, thanks to a superb script, heartfelt characters, a great soundtrack and terrific performances from a fine ensemble cast.

March 21, 2012 Full Review Source: ViewLondon
ViewLondon

Overall, Fletcher should be as pleased as punch with his debut efforts.

March 21, 2012 Full Review Source: Birmingham Post
Birmingham Post

One of the best British films of the year, from the mind of Dexter Fletcher, who emerges from his presenting/acting days as an exciting new writing/directorial voice.

March 21, 2012 Full Review Source: Film4
Film4

While eschewing the mockney flash of his Lock, Stock mucker Guy Ritchie, Fletcher's kitchen sink is brighter than most, filled more with Shane Meadows brass than Ken Loach gloom.

March 21, 2012 Full Review Source: Sky Movies
Sky Movies

Full of quirky, absorbing characters and performances, Fletcher's debut is a hugely enjoyable East End western and a lesson on how to avoid the excesses of the Brit-crim-com.

March 19, 2012 Full Review Source: Total Film
Total Film

Audience Reviews for Wild Bill

I can't stand the archetype cliched South London geezer/gangsta/council estate film. The last time it was done well was Nil by Mouth (not including films like Harry Brown or Attack the Block which were really about other things). Luckily this is the film that bucks the trend. Sure, there are unfortunate stereotypes in this film that do detracted but they are small niggles compared to the wonderful emotion that is delivered from the main characters. I'm sorry to say I didn't like Will Poulter very much in this, he tried too hard and is really more of a character actor but everyone else does a good job. It's Charlie Creed-Miles who really makes the film though, it's about time he had a lead role and he is absolutely superb. Dexter Fletcher hasn't done too badly either in his debut, some of the shots (like the paper aeroplane scene) are very professional. All round, this is the British films we should be making that are unfortunately often overlooked by crap horrors and shite comedies.
October 3, 2012
SirPant

Super Reviewer

It's pretty much inevitable that throughout each year a British working class drama will make an appearance. What's surprising about them though, it that whoever steps behind the camera, they seem to find some more mileage and deliver something different from a now tiring formula. Paddy Considine done it last year in "Tyrannosaur" and now (another) actor turned director Dexter Fletcher does it with this.
"Wild" Bill Hayward (Charlie Creed-Miles) has just been released from prison. He heads back to his home where he finds that his partner has abandoned his children in his absence, leaving his 15 year old son Dean (Will Poulter) and 11 year old Jimmy (Sammy Williams) fending for themselves. When there is a threat of them being taken into care, Bill reluctantly decides to stick around but his youngest has got involved in drug dealing, dragging Bill back into the life he's been trying to avoid.
I'll be honest in my judgement of this film beforehand; I was expecting another attempt at ripping off Guy Ritchie and the success of his film's "Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels" and "Snatch". I'm happy to say that wasn't the case here. Sure, this film possesses a similar gritty feel and similar touches of humour but Fletcher has crafted a very personal film that has an appeal of it's own. This doesn't follow the conventions of the British crime flick but delivers a touching and heartfelt family drama. It also pays homage to the classic western in a very understated and clever way; apart from the title itself, the main character of Bill has a tattoo of a Sheriff badge on his chest; he refuses to be run out of town and stares down the local nasties - climaxing in a bar room (saloon) showdown where it becomes apparent why he has received his moniker. All the elements are here and writer/director Fletcher does well in managing them with a subtlety without losing track of the job at hand. Despite the downbeat, and sometimes threatening characters and dysfunctional family element, there is a lightness of touch to be found here and the whole cast deliver memorable shows. Ultimately though, it comes to the leading man himself; Charlie Creed-Miles. A lot of people may be unaware of this highly underrated actor's talents but he had previously delivered excellent supporting roles in Gary Oldman's directorial debut "Nil By Mouth" and Luc Besson's "The Fifth Element".
Whether or not this film gets him more work remains to be seen but he's certainly deserving of it and shows impressive range here as a decent hearted father with an underlying protective ferocity.
This is a film that manages to juggle several themes and moods and marks a very successful debut from Dexter Fletcher. I only hope that more of an audience get to see this little gem.
August 22, 2012
MrMarakai

Super Reviewer

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