Plot
A disaffected soldier (Considine) returns to his hometown to get even with the thugs who brutalized his mentally-challenged brother (Kebbell) years ago.

Release Year: 2004

Rating: 7.7/10 (23,312 voted)

Critic's Score: 52/100

Director: Shane Meadows

Stars: Paddy Considine, Gary Stretch, Toby Kebbell

Storyline
Richard returns home from military service to a small town in the Midlands. He has one thing on his mind: revenge. Payback for the local bullies who did some very bad things to his brother. At first his campaign employs guerrilla tactics, designed to frighten the men and put them ill at ease. But then he steps up his operation, and one by one these local tough guys are picked off by the terrifying angel of vengeance that Richard has become.

Writers: Paddy Considine, Shane Meadows

Cast:
Paddy Considine - Richard
Gary Stretch - Sonny
Toby Kebbell - Anthony
Jo Hartley - Jo
Seamus O'Neill - Big Al (as Seamus O'Neal)
Stuart Wolfenden - Herbie
Paul Sadot - Tuff
Paul Hurstfield - Mark
Emily Aston - Patti
George Newton - Gypsy John
Neil Bell - Soz
Craig Considine - Craig
Matt Considine - Matt
Andrew Shim - Elvis
Arthur Meadows - Mourner

Taglines: He's in all of us.

Release Date: 1 October 2004

Filming Locations: Bonsall, Matlock Bath, Derbyshire, England, UK

Opening Weekend: $1,825 (USA) (14 May 2006) (1 Screen)

Gross: $6,013 (USA) (28 May 2006)

Runtime: 90 min

Trivia:
Mark and Marie's two little boys Craig and Matt were played by real life brothers Craig and Matt Considine, Paddy Considine's nephews.

Goofs:
Continuity: When Sonny, Soz and Herbie set off up the stairs with weapons to check for Richard's presence, they get to the top of the stairs in a different order than they started.

Quotes:
[first lines]
Richard: [narrating] God will forgive them. He'll forgive them and allow them into Heaven. I can't live with that.

A dirge, but my god, a riveting one.

Rating: 9/10

On paper I can see the argument that there is little morally redemptive quality to a film like Dead Man's Shoes, no diamond polished by the end credits to reward an audience going through the trauma. But to actually sit through the film, and most importantly, to be subjected to another of Paddy Consadines' electric performances, is an extra-ordinarily vital, if viceral experience.

In 'A Room for Romeo Brass' Considines character shifted from comical to threatening in a truly unsettling way, although in the end his promise 'to go dark on you' is easily thwarted by the decisive action and confidence of a father-figure. In this film, again, there is some uncertainty on the audience's part as to how far the character will go, as until the end, we are uncertain of exactly what he is revenging.

Rest-assured, Considine delivers an absolutely convincing depiction of a man struggling to balance his desire for revenge and redemption, he invokes sympathy and fear from the audience in a performance to rival DeNiro in 'Taxi Driver'.

I judge a film on the value of the experience it gives you, and 'Dead Man's Shoes is more than worthy of your time.

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