WILD BILL
UK, 2011, 95 minutes, Colour.
Charlie Creed- Miles, Will Poulter, Andy Serkis, Olivia Williams, Jason Fleming, Sean Pertwee, Leo Gregory.
Directed by Dexter Fletcher.
Wild Bill is an interesting variation on British gangster films, although a number of members of the cast of those films also appear here in similar roles. However, despite any violence, this is a much more gentle film, with a sense of humanity. It was directed by actor Dexter Fletcher and dedicated to his own father.
Charlie Creed- Miles portrays Bill, who has just served an eight year sentence in prison, taking the rap for various drug dealers in his part of East London. As he comes out of prison, he goes home, finds that his wife has left with another man long since and that his two sons, played very well by Will Poulter and Sammy Williams, fending for themselves, the younger boy truant from school and dealing drugs in the neighbourhood, the older boy working on a building site. The older boy strongly resents his father who intends to move to Scotland but is forced to stay in London because of his parole officer, played by Olivia Williams.
The film is about Bill coming to terms with his situation, being warned by the police to keep clear of non-criminals, tangling with a prostitute friend whom he supports, meeting with his parole officer, discovering what his youngest son was doing and helping him out of the situation, a physical confrontation with the criminal gang. The film is also interesting in seeing the development of the two boys in themselves and in relationship to their father and experiencing some fathering – which is a key message of the film.
The film has an authentic feel, is well acted, bring some of the stereotyped characters to life. Charlie Creed Miles is very good and Will Poulter very good indeed. But it is the sense of humanity that takes this film a notch higher than many others of its kind.
1. The British film industry and its many gangster films? This film using the traditions, yet breaking free from many of them?
2. The title, with the focus on Bill, his nickname from the past, the effect of prison on him, eight years, taking the rap for the others, his being much more subdued? His lack of education? No definite plans for the future, meeting up with friends, planning to go to Scotland? Going home, finding that his wife had left and gone to Ibiza with another man? The initial reaction of his sons, the smaller boy really not remembering him, the older boy and his fierce resentment? The visit to the parole officer, her sympathy, making clear that he had to stay in London, that he had to look after the boys or else they would be taken into care? The visit of the supervisor, her looking at the house, the situations, the dirty toilet…?
3. The two boys? Jimmy, his age, not remembering his father, truancy from school, the threats from the teacher, his friend and they’re distributing the drugs together, round the neighbourhood? His stealing the money from Steph and Dean taking the blame? Getting into trouble with the gang, the police, putting the drugs down the drain, the gang demanding money from him, his reason to stealing the money from Steph, the continued threats, not letting him go? His father discovering this, finding Jimmy hiding on the roof, where his father had hid when he was young? the lyric scene with the paper planes? His getting Jimmy to give the money back to Steph? His going to the bar, the confrontation with the gang, the barman helping him with a weapon, the fight, the brutality against him, the barman tripping one of the gang, Bill overcoming the enemies, going home, reconciling Dean with Steph, his being questioned by the police, taken by the police? The finale and the car, the close-up on Bill, his face, serious, gradually smiling, asking the driver if he was a father, being proud of his relationship with his sons?
4. Dean, his age, having to take responsibility, the help from the neighbour so that they would not have to go into care? His work on the building site, being late, the reprimands from the boss? His going to meet Steph, the men encouraging him? His relationship with her? The visit to the house, her father turning up, the sexual encounter and its failure? Steph and her reaction to the stolen money, hostility towards Dean? The return of the money, Steph coming back, the happy reunion, sexual? His aggressive attitude towards his father, harsh words, walking out, the episode with Roxy and her being in the nbed for his birthday? Ousting her? His later compassion for her and allowing her to stay? Not wanting her to be a substitute mother? The final relenting? Jimmy and the scenes with his father, sharing, talking, the meal cooked at home, going out with Roxy for the Chinese food? His discovery of his love for his father?
5. The crooks around East London, drug deals, the sense of their own importance, violent, peer pressure? The boss, his car, the interviews, the pressure on Bill? His coming to meet Bill, Bill taking the rap for him? The minor criminals? Their codes, greed, using children for drug distribution? The final fight in the bar?
6. Roxy, on the game, in the bar, Bill getting drunk, the night together, meeting in the supermarket, in bed for Dean, the visit of the supervisor and her not going into the bedroom? Roxy and her support of the children, at the end?
7. The inspector of the homes, her consideration, expectations for the children? The parole officer and her support?
8. A glimpse of life in East London, young men going to jail and spending years there, trying to reconstruct a life, to reconnect with their family, with their children? Bill and his success?
