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Looking For Eric (2009)
Director: Ken Loach
Movie review
From Time Out London
By now, you’ll know that Ken Loach’s new film stars Eric Cantona as the imaginary mentor of a Manchester postman who suffers panic attacks and can’t cope with his two mouthy stepsons. It’s a playful but never gimmicky set-up that turns hero worship on its head, as the cool-headed Cantona appears in the life of scruffy Eric Bishop (Steve Evets) to tell him in that familiar sagely mumble to pull himself together and reconnect with his pals. Oh, and Cantona takes him for a jog, shares Bishop’s spliffs and shows off his own, limited, trumpeting skills.The pair swap tips on how to cope with the dark times and reminisce over Cantona’s goals, cueing several stirring montages of balls hitting the back of the net. Eric might tire a little of the Frenchman’s gnomic advice (‘I’m still getting over the seagulls one!’), but an amusing, touching friendship emerges that slowly nudges a suicidal man back towards the solidarity of the workplace and the terraces – a fading solidarity that the film both celebrates and laments.
But there are two, not one, intimate, winning relationships at the heart of this film – one imagined, the other real. There’s the rapport between postie and ex-footballer, and there’s the softly-softly reconciliation of Eric Bishop and his ex-wife Lily (Stephanie Bishop), a woman he hasn’t seen for 20 years after their youthful marriage turned sour. They meet cautiously, initially for practical reasons as they share the childcare of their granddaughter, but later they begin to inquire into each other’s lives and try to work out what went wrong many years before. Their scenes together are the film’s highlights, and both Evets and Bishop – neither of whom have had such demanding acting roles before – give honest and warm performances.
The beauty of Loach’s film is that both these relationships feel equally relevant to Eric’s life and Loach’s examination of it. The winning power of ‘Looking for Eric’ lies in this meeting of the magic and the mundane. It’s mainly a film about men – men who fail themselves, like Eric, and men who fail society, like the hoodlums we see tempting Eric’s sons into crime in the film’s less successful climactic storyline, which involves angry dogs, kidnapping, YouTube and gunplay, and feels a little out of place after the film’s quiet tête-à-tête. But then Loach and his writer Paul Laverty are nostalgists for lost causes, and this is their chance to grieve again for the changing world of work.
Their last film, ‘It’s a Free World’, mourned a more moral approach to employment; here they mourn the lack of opportunities for Eric’s sons. But ‘Looking for Eric’ is more of a cheerful wake than a funeral. Football might be corporate, Eric might be going gaga, teenage boys might be all adrift, but what win out are humour, love, friendship and the support of your mates. It’s a Loach film all right – with added optimism and laughs.
Author: Dave Calhoun
Time Out London Issue 2025, June 11 - 17, 2009
User reviews of this film
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- David said...
- Posted on Jun 15 2009 15:04 Delightful entertainment about an enigma and a very gritty side of life. Disturbed about Mr Sloan's view that the gangster was soft; I don't think I would like to have had to deal with him.
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- Gavin said...
- Posted on Jun 13 2009 03:25 Just saw the movie and it is every bit as good as the reviews. Steve Levets is a revealation as the depressed and hangdog Eric who is roused into action by summoning his hero Cantona into his life. The funny moments come when he bluntly ctitiques some of the more colourful life observations from his football hero, but he doesn't fail to take up the rallying cry to follow his heart. Cantona is perfect as the noble life coach, never afraid to send himself up. Eric's "team-mate" pub pals also excel, especially the captain of the team Meatballs. Typical Loachian Northern Soul.
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- Brpaul said...
- Posted on Jun 12 2009 16:21 Sloan -transformers 2 opens soon. Be a lamb and just sit tight till then .
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- Harry said...
- Posted on Jun 12 2009 12:22 My wife and I loved this film! I don't think I've ever been to a film that got a genuine round of applause at the end. I am not a football fan and neither is my wife, but this film has very little to do with football. It's more about a working class hero having a nervous breakdown and then piecing his life back together with the help of some wonderful postie mates. It's about love, friendship, forgiveness and has some serious moments as well as some genuinely laugh out loud moments. I know Cantona has been everywhere, but in a way the 'Hero' of the story could be anyone. Go and see it, I guarantee it will not dissapoint.
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- John Clements said...
- Posted on Jun 10 2009 12:31 Unfortunately this review page has been hijacked by Sloans comments. I think he/she has achieved there aim, attention. To anyone who enjoys a down to earth movie with real people, real emotions and great humour, go and see it. Ken Loach must have run over Sloan's cat :-)
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- Pete said...
- Posted on Jun 10 2009 11:46 Excellent film. A truly great British film showing walks of life that are not depicted enough in British cinema. The banter between friends is excellent as are the leading two performances. The pacing of the story could have been a bit better but that is my only criticism and one that a lot of modern films are guilty of. the film had some very funny moments but to label it a comedy maybe misleading for some. One final note Sloan you are entitled to your opinion but do you have to try and destroy the reader average whilst being so argumentative? For others looking for an honest review of this film you have ruined this page.
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- oldbrit said...
- Posted on Jun 10 2009 07:59 Saw this at a Secret Screen showing and it wasn't a film I would have otherwise gone to see. More fool me - as it was marvellous. Funny, touching and a bit strange.
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- Sloan said...
- Posted on Jun 09 2009 17:12 Not embarrassed at all about my views. Did you imagine, WIll P, that I would somehow 'fall into line' with your reviews in some Damascene revelation after reading your opinions? Then again, maybe if I was to appear in one of KL's films as a nay-saying provocateur railing against the tide of opininion those around me, then you'll revise your opinion of me as somebody to be admired and patronised. Just a thought. Oh and this film remains resolutely one star.
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- Will P said...
- Posted on Jun 09 2009 16:24 Sloan its slightly embarrassing that no one agrees with you, so people wont listen to your idoitic review. This film was touching and funny (not laugh out funny), and I would recommend it to anyone. The Man U connection it totally irrelevant - I hate football but I loved this film.
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- Jo said...
- Posted on Jun 05 2009 15:34 Sloan I think you are in the minority if you didnt find this funny - the audience I was in loved it as well. As for your comment about the Utd fans that is just pathetic. I was referring to the clips of Cantona etc which would make it appealing for a different reason. Your comments sum you up, and I give little credibility to your critical comments.
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- John Clements said...
- Posted on Jun 05 2009 15:28 Loved this movie, and by the applause at the end so did the whole audiience. Some real laugh out loud moments, and great performances from an excellent cast.
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- Sloan said...
- Posted on Jun 05 2009 13:00 I'm sorry but to use the expression 'amaazing storyline' for something that is so obviously incoherent - hence the tacked on third act involving possibly the softest, least aggressive gangster I've ever come across - just ludicrous. I couldn't care less what the Cannes festival think of this film. It's the emporer's new clothes. THe fact that it would appeal to Man U fans - actually any football fan - is a recommendation tells you everything you need to know.
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- Jo said...
- Posted on Jun 05 2009 12:47 Just to add on - Steve Evets was fantastic, would love to see him in more films, and will be looking out for him from now on!!
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- Jo said...
- Posted on Jun 05 2009 12:47 Just to add on - Steve Evets was fantastic, would love to see him in more films, and will be looking out for him from now on!!
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- Jo said...
- Posted on Jun 05 2009 12:44 This film was funny, and clever, and a good 'british' feeling film. Definitely good for Man U fans, but also a touching and feel good film about a man who is struggling. This film isnt stupid funny, it is clever comments that make it funny, a good choice of lines here and there in the script. The first few minutes I wasnt sure, but before long I was really enjoying it. The only thing is I struggle to understand Cantona's accent on some lines, but all in all a great film I would happily watch again.
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Cast & crew
Director: Ken Loach
Cast: Steve Evets, Eric Cantona, Stephanie Bishop, John Henshaw full cast
Genre(s): Comedy
Rated: 15
Duration: 116 mins
UK Release: Jun 12 2009
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