Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #3673 in DVD
• Released on: 2005-07-18
• Rating: Suitable for 18 years and over
• Aspect ratio: 1.78:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Formats: Anamorphic, PAL, Widescreen
• Original language: English
• Number of discs: 1
• Running time: 84 minutes

Amazon.co.uk Review
Goodbye Charlie Bright, Nick Love's 2001 rites of passage drama about a teenage group of petty criminals in a steaming South London summer, was never going to be a massive box-office hit. But it might prove to be a rather significant piece in the long run. If Paul Nicholls' star continues to rise as anticipated, it may well come to be seen as the film which first revealed his genuine potential as a big screen actor. The former Eastenders heartthrob turns in a fine, sensitive performance as Charlie, gradually realising that he has to find a way to escape the constraints of the life that is shaping up in front of him.

However, this isn't solely a Nicholls vehicle. Roland Manookian is outstanding as Justin, the dangerous, troubled companion for whom Charlie is the only source of stability. There's another good cameo from the ever-reliable Phil Daniels as an unbalanced Falklands veteran who becomes the catalyst for the rupture in their relationship and Charlie's escape. Other familiar faces cropping up include two more Eastenders veterans Nicola Stapleton and Edna Doré, and television presenter Dani Behr who is particularly good as the nurse Charlie befriends. The story is slight, but between them, partly thanks to Love's tight direction and script, the actors in Goodbye Charlie Bright generate a rather haunting little tragicomedy with moments of real pathos which deserves a long shelf life. --Piers Ford

DVD Description
DVD Special Features:

Animated and scored interactive menus
Scene access
Trailer
Feature-length audio commentary by director Nick Love
Cast and crew interviews
B-Roll footage
Cast and crew filmographies
Production notes
Storyboards
Aspect ratio: 16x9 Anamorphic Widescreen
Soundtrack: English Dolby Digital 5.1 & 2.0

Synopsis
The friendship between two boys from a council estate one summer.

Customer Reviews

Undiscovered gem
As the directorial debut of Nick Love - the filmmaker who brought to life John King's excellent book, The Football Factory - Goodbye Charlie Bright will hopefully be given a retrospective second chance by the British filmgoing public, who largely ignored it on it's original cinematic release.

A humorous and touching tale of friendship and loyalty, the film bears what one imagines to become future Nick Love trademarks - short running time, quick edits, rapid pace and colourful characters, as well as a knowing and confident authenticity about the subject matter.

What marks this film out from other British films that take place on a council estate is that Love taps into the youthful mindset - the estate is not a bleak, depressing and hopeless place when you're young... it is your whole world... It is represented in the film with vibrant colours and a scorching summer setting. People picked on the fact that the 'adult' characters were mostly exagerrated, but what the film is really doing is tapping into the youthful fantasy and fascination with the 'grown ups' - they ARE larger than life to youngsters, hence we have the cowboy-wannabe Tony Immaculate, and the faux-posh geezer Paul 'Hector' Moriarty. Only Charlie's dad, in a superb cameo by David Thewlis, seems grounded, almost pathetic - a world apart from the other adults his son encounters and, as a result, his is the most minimal of impacts on his son's life and narrative.

The two lead actors are Paul Nicholls and Roland Manookian, both of whom turn in fantastic performances. Nicholls, in particular, exudes a presence and star quality that begs the question why he isn't a bigger star. Manookian has a tougher role, but somehow makes his 'loser' character oddly endearing; sadly, as evidenced by his equally impressive turn in Love's second film, his is a specific look, and it's very hard to see him playing anything other than directionless losers... but what he does, he does brilliantly.

The film moves along at such a pace that certain characters wander in and out, often seeming undeveloped. This is not a flaw in the writing so much as it is a virtue of the screenplay - the film, stylistically, is caught between slice-of-life and urban-thriller, subscribing to neither, fusing, rejecting and critiquing contemporary British cinema.

Energetic, lively, with humour and pathos that elevates it above most modern British films, Goodbye Charlie Bright is a highly entertaining film from a promising director, with far more depth than you might first believe.

Highly recommended.

Everyone involved is at their very best
I had seen this film before, but it was only on seeing it again recently (after being told it was filmed not far from me on the Cambridge Road estate in Kingston, Surrey, standing in for Millwall territory) that I realise just how good it is.

Director Nick Love went on to do 'The Football Factory' and 'The Business', both of which were more obvious crowd-pleasers also exploring some of this film's central themes to some extent, but you can't help feeling that what he made up in audiences with his later projects, he perhaps lost a bit in heart (until his recent 'Outlaw' which is just plain rotten from start to finish).

Friendship, loyalty and masculinity are all key themes in Love's films and here they are right up front. The acting performances are fantastic. I have been fortunate enough to see Paul Nicholls, Danny Dyer and Roland Manookian on stage doing some of their best work, but it is easily matched here. Manookian as the best friend of Nicholls's Charlie is a particular triumph. Most of us know or have met someone like him!

This film has warmth, excitement, danger and feels extremely real. If I had a complaint at all, it would be that everyone in it looks so young compared to their later work that it makes me feel really ancient!

'Outlaw' aside, I have enjoyed Nick Love's films, but I wonder if he'll ever do something quite this good again...

You'll be surprised at how much you like it!
I saw this film when it was on at the cinema and eagerly awaited its release on DVD. The film is well-acted, entertaining and thought-provoking. Paul Nicholls looks fabulous and acts even better. If he doesn't become an A List actor very soon then the world is an even stranger place than I thought.

My advice is give this under-rated, under-advertised British film a chance. Watch it as soon as possible. The Next Full Monty - that old cliche! Goodbye Charlie Bright is ever bit as good as any Brit film I've ever seen and better than many Hollywood overhyped junk film that I have suffered.