Goodbye Charlie Bright
| Goodbye Charlie Bright | |
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.jpg) Goodbye Charlie Bright poster |
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| Directed by | Nick Love |
| Produced by | Lisa Bryer Charles Steel |
| Written by | Dominic Eames Nick Love |
| Starring | Phil Daniels Danny Dyer Paul Nicholls Roland Manookian Jamie Foreman Dani Behr |
| Music by | Ivor Guest |
| Cinematography | Tony Imi |
| Editing by | Patrick Moore |
| Studio | Bonaparte Films |
| Distributed by | Metrodome Distribution |
| Release date(s) | May 11, 2001 |
| Running time | 87 minutes |
| Country |  United Kingdom |
| Language | English |
Goodbye Charlie Bright is a 2001 film directed by Nick Love and starring Paul Nicholls, Roland Manookian and Danny Dyer. The film is also known by the U.S. title Strong Boys.
Contents |
[edit] Plot
Charlie drifts through life as he and his friends enjoy a lifestyle of house parties, casual sex and drugs. However, after breaking into a house to rob it (they found the keys and address in a handbag they had recently stolen), three of the friends (Charlie, Justin and Damien) accidentally awaken the owner, a hefty Jamaican man who promptly chases them into the street with a golf club. The trio escape, much to the amusement of Justin and Damien. However, despite Charlie promising to tell Justin everything, decides to keep the gun a secret. They had tracked the man down after stealing his girlfriend's handbag.
Sometime later the story picks up Charlie and Justin as they walk through a disused car park. After looking in the window of a BMW it becomes clear that Julie, the girlfriend of Francis (Dyer), another member of 'The Firm', is having sex with "local nutter" Eddie (Phil Daniels), who is some 20 years older. By this time in the story it has become clear that Charlie is discontented with his lifestyle and would prefer to try to make something of his life, unlike Justin, who would clearly prefer things to remain the same. This point is highlighted when the two attend a party being thrown by Charlie's cousin Hector Moriati, with Charlie being offered a job as an estate agent. Hector eventually throws Justin out, and Hector in turn asks Charlie to stay (which he does not). On the way back to the estate the pair begin to fight, Charlie clearly annoyed that Justin has ruined an opportunity for him to turn his life around. Charlie, as the narrator, informs the audience that from that point on 'Things could never be the same'.
The following day Francis approaches Charlie in the street and the pair head off to a boxing gym where Francis announces his intention to propose to Julie. Charlie tells Francis about Julie's affair with Eddie. Francis, in a tearful rage, walks out of the room and goes on the hunt for Eddie, baseball bat in hand. When Francis eventually finds Eddie he smashes the window of his BMW, provoking Eddie to run him down. Charlie then arrives as Francis lies unconscious on the road. As Charlie waits in hospital he is visibly moved by an upset woman, presumably Francis's mother, and decides to take revenge on Eddie with the stolen pistol. After finding Eddie he loses his nerve prompting Eddie to tell him to 'Fuck of out my house before you and I fall out'. After leaving Charlie eventually shows the gun to Justin, who clearly becomes very attached to it and suggests that they should kill Eddie.
Justin is later insulted by a child in the park and threatens him with the gun, going as far as pushing the barrel into the terrified boy's mouth. Disgusted, Charlie snatches the gun from and tells him he no longer wishes to be associated with him. A distraught Justin tries to make amends but Charlie refuses, instead giving him the gun as a farewell gift. Instantly Justin runs off, pursued by Charlie who has realised that Justin intends to shoot Eddie. Before Charlie is able to stop him, Justin shoots Eddie in the leg (he survives the shot and is heard shouting afterwards) and the pair make their way to the top of a high rise building, where Charlie seemingly forgives Justin and the two embrace.
Meanwhile, the police arrive and Justin tells Charlie to leave or risk being arrested. The final scene shows the pair going down different paths: Justin as he is arrested, albeit with a smile on his face and with a crowd cheering for him and Charlie as he packs his bags and leaves. A child (who makes several appearances throughout the film) asks him where he's going as he leaves; he simply replies "Somewhere".
[edit] Critical reaction
The Sun labelled the film "Hilarious, terrifying, tender, an awesome rollercoaster ride you won't want to get off."
[edit] Cast
- Charlie - Paul Nicholls
- Justin - Roland Manookian
- Francis - Danny Dyer
- Eddie - Phil Daniels
- Charlie's Dad - David Thewlis
- Tony Immaculate - Jamie Foreman
- Tommy Mitchell's Dad - Frank Harper
- Blondie - Dani Behr
- Duke - Brian Jordan
- Duke's girlfriend - Lucy Bowen
- Julie - Nicola Stapleton
- Janet - Sian Welsh
- Damien - Alexis Rodney
- Tommy - Sid Mitchell
- Kay - Tameka Empson
- Hector - Richard Driscoll
- Gang Youth 1 - Rajeev Ahya
- Gang Youth 3 - Amar Maroo
[edit] External links
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