MEAN MACHINE
UK, 2001, 88 minutes, Colour.
Vinnie Jones, David Kelly, David Hemmings, Ralph Brown, Vas Blackwood, Sally Phillips, Jason Fleming, Danny Dyer, Jason Statham.
Directed by Barry Skolnick.
Mean Machine is a remake of Robert Aldrich’s 70s prison and football drama, The Mean Machine with Burt Reynolds and Eddie Albert. This film does the unusual, adapts an American film for a British location. It is based on the original screenplay by Tracy Keenan Wynn.
While Burt Reynolds was an obvious football hero for the American version, actual footballer turned actor, Vinnie Jones, is ideal for this film. However, Vinnie Jones looks like a criminal and is more comfortable with the villainous side of things rather than the heroic. This is the story of the footballer who is pressurised by the governor to fix matches rather than win them – and, with the help of fellow prisoners, defies him. The film has a good strong supporting British cast including such heavies as Jason Flemyng and Jason Statham. David Hemmings is the governor. Hemmings has a long career as a child and young adult actor but made a breakthrough with Blow Up, Camelot, The Charge of the Light Brigade, The Long Day’s Dying, Only When I Larf, Barbarella and Alfred the Great between 1967 and 1969.
The film has familiar material, is interesting in it British portrayal of sport – as well as tough British prison life.
1. A remake of a Burt Reynolds vehicle directed by Robert Aldrich? The transferring of the film to the United Kingdom? Characters, interactions, the different kinds of prison, football codes?
2. The British settings, London, the streets and the pubs, the prisons, the playing fields, the prison areas? The musical score and atmosphere?
3. The title, the focus on Danny, the focus on football and the teams?
4. Danny Meehan, British champion, throwing the match against Germany, his lost reputation, his angers, drinking, the assault on the police, the courts, his prison sentence?
5. Danny in prison, the clashes with Burton, Burton down on him because of his football reputation and his coaching the team? The governor, his betting, debts, wanting a team between the prisoners and the officers? Burton urging Danny to refuse? Danny's diplomacy against the governor?
6. The fights in the prison, the usual themes of going into prison, search, cells, cellmates, clashes in the dining area, the showers, the yard, sport? Sykes and his gang, the fights? Danny and his dealings with Sykes? His also rescuing Massiv from the guards and their beating?
7. Danny becoming the coach, setting up a team, the auditions for the players and the usual comedy of the range of different characters with their strengths and weaknesses? Massiv and his being the promoter? Billy the Limpet and his inefficiency? Sykes and the clash, his victory over Sykes, the members of the gang on the team?
8. The angry prisoner, his mania, wanting to be on the team, confronting Danny? Getting the bomb, putting it in the locker, the irony of Doc going to the locker and being killed? The background of Doc and his long time in the prison, his story, friendship with Danny, helping him, his story about the murder and his great regrets? The poetic retribution in his death?
9. The governor, his wheeler-dealings, phone calls, bets, being in debt? The bookies and their domination of him? His relationship with Burton and the other members of the staff?
10. The match, the prisoners and their training, their success, the rather brutal comedy of everybody trying out their tackles and tactics on poor Danny and his believing that he was important? The playing of the match, the prisoners taking the lead, the reaction of the guards? The techniques, especially of getting the guards angry, comments about their family etc?
11. The governor and his pressure on Danny at the half-time, that he will be guilty of murdering Doc, that he will have a life sentence? Danny going back, not being successful, the exasperation of Massiv, the other players? His going off and pretending that he is injured? The examination, Massiv and his support? His going back on, eyeing off the governor? Setting up the goal, Billy kicking it? The achievement of the team?
12. The governor and his anger, Burton and his change of heart because of the game? The governor and his arrest? Danny and his being rehabilitated and restored?
