London Town (I) (2016) User Reviews

Cool first hand story about a kid who gets introduced to The Clash (in more ways than one)

[subxerogravity · 7/10 · 11 October 2016]

I really liked Jonathan Rhys Meyers in it as Joe Strummer. It was fun to see him play a real lively character as the front man of The Clash.

The movie itself is more about how a boy named Shay is influenced by the music of the Clash while going through some hard times. His really hot mom (played by Natascha McElhone) left the family to live the life she wanted, while his father (Played by Dougray Scott), plays the classic stereotype of an adult who forgot what it was like to be young and is shifting too much responsibility on his son.

London Town is greatly similar to another Coming-of-Age film, Sing Street (which is a little better), as Shay allows a crush on a punk rock girl to greatly influence his walk down the path of punk, which leads him to meeting Joe Strummer.

The film's formula is very direct, and it's focus on punk rock makes it a perfect persona of the early days of the genre. It's a love letter to The Clash any fan would enjoy.

Clash of the teenager

[ferguson-6 · 6/10 · 6 October 2016]

Greetings again from the darkness. The late 1970's in London were filled with political, social and labor discontent. Director Derrick Borte (The Joneses, 2009) and writer Matt Brown (The Man Who Knew Infinity, 2015) use this backdrop, along with some cutting edge music of the era, to tell a coming-of-age story that is enjoyable despite its predictability.

Daniel Huttlestone (Into the Woods) plays 15 year old Shay (not Che) who carries the burden of babysitting for his sister Alice (Anya McKenna-Bruce) and cooking for his two-job dad Nick (Dougray Scott), as he dreams of meeting up with his free-spirited mom Sandrine (Natascha McElhone) who lives a bohemian lifestyle in London. Things start to change for Shay once he receives a package from his mom … his first taste of music from The Clash.

Soon enough, Shay finds himself chatting it up on a commuter train with wild girl Vivian (Nell Williams), who generously shares her own music from The Clash, as well as some insight into the band, and even a ticket to their next concert. After the best night of Shay's life, a work accident puts his dad in the hospital, requiring the son to take on even more responsibility.

More than a coming of age story, this is what I call "the teenage awakening". Once the world starts opening up to Shay, he begins to question everything. A serendipitous night in the clink with Joe Strummer (Jonathan Rhys Meyers) brings some surprisingly grounded philosophy and guidance. "Some people just burn bright" is a spot-on description of Shay's mom and a lesson to Shay that parents are people too.

The movie belongs to Huttlestone, who bounces between responsible young man, bullied teen, and anti-establishment rebel. Ms. Williams is delightful in her role, and JRM brings the necessary hard edge to Strummer. Director Borte has a really nice eye for scenes, but probably was a bit too stingy with Clash tunes. The timing for the film is a bit unfortunate, as it's released in the same year as the similar but superior Sing Street. Still it's an enjoyable little film with enough philosophy sprinkled in that we don't even mind the predictable ending with "I Fought the Law" carrying us to closing credits.

A pleasant little surprise of a movie

[randymcbeast · 7/10 · 19 December 2016]

No, this is not the greatest movie of all time and it probably won't win any awards but if you're looking for a fun, touching and nostalgic little movie for a warm Sunday afternoon, then give this one a watch. I'm also a huge Clash fan/softie so I'm a bit biased which also explains my appreciation for such a movie.

It's fairly well packed with colorful characters, scenes and musical performances. Jonathan Rhys Meyers kills it as Joe Strummer, Daniel Huttlestone carries the movie from start to finish, and Nell Williams is perfect as the rebel punk teen girlfriend. Solid cast overall and some heartwarming moments like when Vivian looks on as Shay plays the piano for her for the first time.

Yes, it's a somewhat predictable movie but in the end I didn't care. It was fun to just get lost for a bit back in the early Clash days, even though it's kind of a strange place for a coming-of-age type movie to be. Just don't expect a raw punk account of those days and you'll be just fine.

A story of resilience

[Gordon-11 · 6 December 2016]

This film tells the story of a teenage boy who faces a series of misfortunes, and ends up having to make a living while taking care of his young sister. He perseveres through the hardship, and meets the famous rock star from The Clash, and his life is changed for the better.

People say this film is about music, but I view this film as a film that chronicles how hard life is for people who are not well off. When misfortune strikes, prior don't even lens a hand of support. The boy faces adversity with striking resilience, which I think is a good example to people. I enjoyed watching the film because of this resilient character.

A nice easygoing movie

[foxtografo · 7/10 · 1 September 2019]

I really enjoyed this movie, it's a light drama about a complex subject and era and a kid living a difficult time in it. It's true that it feels a bit naive and unrealistic in many ways, but the good acting, likeable characters, bit of humour and the music (I'm not even a fan of punk music or The Clash, but it was a plus for me) made me forgive the lack of realism and enjoy a light-hearted adventure. Also, as I've been living in London for the last 8 years, I really enjoy watching movies portraying the city as it was before I got here, so this is an interesting aspect of the movie for me. Great movie, not as serious as some may wanted it to be, but very enjoyable.

If you ever wanted to watch Karen from "Californication" sing an Only Ones song...

[Twins65 · 7/10 · 17 December 2018]

...YOU'RE IN LUCK!

Being that it was a British production, I hadn't even heard about it until recently. And since it was very "Clash themed", I had to check out LONDON TOWN. It was a nice, not-totally believable late-70's period piece that breezed by in about 90 minutes. And you also get to hear "(White Man) In Hammersmith Palais" again, which will surely put a smile on your face.

I couldn't really buy all of the adult life responsibilities the boy was saddled with, nor could I see the Clash's lead singer befriending a high school kid to that degree, but I just went with it.

I was unfamiliar with all of the actors except D. Scott, N. McElhone & Jonathan Rhys Meyers (as Joe Strummer), but they were all quite serviceable. The lead (Daniel Huttlestone) looks like somebody we may be seeing big things from down the road.

So do check this out if you're still a fan of the Clash all these years later.

A film that is music for the eyes, the ears and the heart!

[katzco-545-81470 · 10/10 · 12 October 2016]

Every once in a while a little film, with a tiny budget and a whole lot of heart, comes along and knocks you off your feet. London Town fulfills all the aspects of that category.

I won't bother to give you a blow by blow description of the story, that's easily found elsewhere. I will tell you I was more than thoroughly entertained and, since it was a 48 hour rental via my VOD system, I took the opportunity to watch it three times because it was just that good! The film is endearing, funny and the performances are stellar, especially the youngsters. Huttlestone is already on his way as a multi-talent, but Nell Williams was a new revelation for me and she shines here.

If for no other reason, you need to see this film for the incredibly brilliant work of Jonathan Rhys Meyers as Joe Strummer. He is simply mesmerizing and delivers a musical performance equal to that of any contemporary or historical rock star. (As a veteran of 7 Stones and 14 WHO concerts, I feel justified in that statement.) Derrick Borte managed to assemble a superb group of musicians to portray the rest of the band and the results are magical.

London Town is a special film, with something for everyone to love. Don't miss it!

Bit predictable

[happycarrot68 · 5/10 · 9 October 2016]

Coming of age tale about a young boy who discovers the Clash via his estranged mother and a girl on a train.

From the opening minutes you can perceive a nice tale which frankly is pretty unbelievable from some wooden acting, a poor portrayal of Joe Strummer and a teen romance than frankly is a bit wishy washy.

The whole punk scene is frankly pretty badly portrayed, the Anti Nazi League concert is mixed with some footage from the Clash's own rude boy film, factually incorrect as far as timelines are concerned for the die hard Clash fan but frankly all a bit dull and predictable.

Is one one for the DVD bargain bin in months to come, shame as The Clash still stand up as one of Britain's best bands shoulder to shoulder with The Whos of this world and expected a little more in the Quadrophenia or Sid and Nancy mould, this more a twee film that a 14 year old would find sweet more than a tale of 1978 and punk rock.

Fabulous, humorous, emotional, real.....

[lisajking · 10/10 · 13 October 2016]

This is a fabulous coming of age story, set against the back drop of London in the 70's and the music of The Clash. The film is cleverly put together with a great mix of humour, emotion, gritty reality and music of The Clash.

The acting is superb particularly Daniel Huttlestone as Shay, although little Alice steals the show more than once! Jonathan Rhys Meyers could be Joe Strummer, with his attitude and great voice. It's a movie that makes you think, laugh and cry.

A real British film, I have already seen this twice and will happily watch again!

Let's Leave The Clash out of This

[archaeotypetw · 5/10 · 23 January 2017]

I liked this movie more than I thought I would. When I first heard about it my first thought was "why not just watch Rude Boy" if you want to see a great movie about The Clash.

As I discovered, this isn't a movie about The Clash and Joe Strummer at all. In fact, they didn't even need to be included. It's really the story of a 15 year old boy who's forced to grow up in a big hurry.

Shay lives with his dad and little sister in a suburb of London. He clashes with his father, who owns a piano repair shop and drives a cab to make ends meet. Shay is bullied by other kids in his neighbourhood and dreams of moving to London and living with his mother who ditched her family and is now living in a squat. Shay somehow thinks that his father is a loser and he's the reason his mother took off.

Shay's dad, who is actually a good, hardworking man but a bit broken, sends his son off to London to pick up some piano parts and he meets Vivian, a punk girl, on the train. She introduces Shay to the music of The Clash, and when he gets back home at the end of the day, he begins to transform himself into a punk.

Shay's dad has an accident moving a piano and is laid up in the hospital for several weeks. This is where the movie gets really interesting. Shay is forced to step up and take care of his little sister. He learns how to drive his dad's cab and does everything he can to try to keep a roof over his little family's head. He goes to London and tracks down his mother who turns out to be a promiscuous, drug and alcoholic abusing wannabe musician who you know will never make it.

Eventually, Shay realizes what his mother really is, and that his dad is a good and decent man. Along the way, he meets Joe Strummer. There are actors playing the rest of the band but I don't remember any of them saying a single word in the movie - as I said, this isn't a movie about The Clash. Shay gives Strummer a lift in his cab (while he's dressed as a woman so he looks older), romance blooms with Vivian, and he learns what his father has to deal with every day.

Eventually, Shay gets into a tussle with some skinheads at a Clash show and ends up in a jail cell with guess who, Joe Strummer. He discovers that Vivian is actually a rich girl (but a really sweet one) and he breaks it off with her. He ends up back at home, determined to save his father's business and enlists Joe Strummer's help to make it happen (without actually asking Strummer). Again, another appearance by Joe Strummer that's not very realistic and not really necessary - the story stands on its own.

I'm a huge fan of The Clash - they've always been my favourite band but I thought their inclusion in the movie was unnecessary. Perhaps it was a marketing ploy to draw Clash and punk fans to the movie. What I found most interesting about this movie was the family dynamic, and one kid's struggle to survive in malaise era England. It's a great story and really well played by all of the actors in a very watchable and entertaining movie.

life in 1970s England

[lee_eisenberg · 10/10 · 1 June 2017]

England in the late 1970s was not a pleasant time for much of the country. Unemployment began to rise, and the government didn't do much to respond (this probably contributed to Margaret Thatcher's rise to power). Derrick Borte's "London Town" focuses on a working class boy who gets into The Clash while his father is in the hospital.

The movie is both about hope for the future, and about love of music. One scene features people debating The Sex Pistols vs. The Clash. Jonathan Rhys Meyers plays Joe Strummer, who enters the boy's life. It's not a masterpiece, but worth seeing. The rest of the cast includes Dougray Scott and Natascha McElhone (of "The Truman Show").

Rather amateur

[MUFCOK · 5/10 · 6 July 2017]

I like low-budget British films, I like films based around the working-class, I like movies based around the British music scene and I like era based movies such as the 60s, 70s and 80s. London Town ticks all the above boxes, but does it deliver? Not so much.

London Town is based in 1970s London, its a sort of coming of age movie which follows a teenage boy trying to find himself in a world which is moving fast and he simply has to grow up quick in order to keep up. His mother has left to pursue her own music career and he is left with his younger sister and father, when he father is injured and hospitalised, he is forced to become the man of the house and provide for the family. He meets a girl on a trip into London and along with some help from his Mother, he is introduced to The Clash and the lifestyle that goes along with following such a band. The Clash are a plot and marketing point, they aren't a primary focus. They aren't all that important in the end, similar to the Spike Island movie in which The Stone Roses are used in a similar way.

A big problem I had with London Town is that it really fails to deliver on any level of realism and in failing to do so you feel very detached from the characters and story lines. We are introduced to many different characters from many different backgrounds and everyone seems to be the ultimate stereotype of their character. Every character is portrayed as the extreme. It tries for emotion, really hard at times but ultimately doesn't reach the levels it tries to and feels quite poorly finished in the end. The main actor does a pretty decent job but the supporting cast don't offer too much in terms of quality, everything just feels a little wooden and the script is lacking, resulting in no real stand out scenes.

It isn't all doom and gloom though, some of the settings are very nicely done and you do feel transported back to 1970's England. The story, while clichéd, watered down and predictable, is a feel good, coming of age drama and there were moments which I enjoyed, it's just a shame they were few and far between.

I won't be watching London Town again and I wouldn't necessarily recommend it as it is quite a forgettable movie. IT has a decent run-time though which helps keep the pacing solid and there will be people out there who will appreciate it more than myself.

5/10

The ONLY band that matters

[apauldunn · 10/10 · 3 December 2016]

Introducing the only band that matters to a new generation = Priceless.

Excellent soundtrack.

Fair enough there area few factual errors, but totally enjoyable nonetheless.

Jonathan Rhys Meyers did a wonderful job as Joe Strummer.

The entire idea of the power struggle was portrayed in a real way that the people could understand - combining a romantic story with real life. As stated previously Excellent soundtrack. Congrats all round on a Job well done.

Thoroughly enjoyed it.

London Town by an outsider!

[ingamajic · 4/10 · 8 April 2017]

A second 'goof' was that Shay bought the English version of the Clash first album (green cover) and replayed 'White man in Hammersmith...' repeatedly in his bedroom. This single only appeared on the US release of the album, in the blue cover. Still. It achingly needed to be called London Calling, but I guess the Clash wouldn't allow that. I'd love to know what happened there.

The film itself is so full of extreme stereotypes I wondered who it was aimed at. I mean the Clash were very 'marmite' as a band. Clash fans are all 50plus now, and without being a fan and having a bit of knowledge about the band and the Clash's outlook (on life and Rock'n' roll) it would be too fantastical to add up. As a Clash fan, frankly it was barely OK.

You can't recreate old with new

[emelineward · 1/10 · 7 June 2020]

They tried to capture 70s but it's not as good, it's obvious it's a modern day film, and that spoils it for me

Not Strictly Terrible, But Low Grade And Forgettable

[ArmandoManuelPereira · 4/10 · 18 February 2023]

Not strictly terrible, but low grade and forgettable. It aims at being intense, but didn't arrive there, in my opinion.

I was drawn in to borrowing it from the Library, because I mistook it to be a film about Joe Strummer, who I'm a fan of. I didn"t realize that it was a family drama, with Joe Strummers character, coming in as a sort of punk angel.

Whike watching it, I found myself distracted over and over again, and checking my Facebook. Which is a sort of red flag as far as a movie, and whether I find it interesting.

I gave it 4/10, which is my way of saying, not horrible but not worth watching either.