John McVicar died on 6 September 2022 of a heart attack, aged 82. He was a seasoned ex-convict who turned his hand from armed robbery to a career in journalism, writing about crime and justice for the Guardian, the New Statesman and Spiked. However, this biopic is not about McVicar, the autodidact. Instead, it is a crime film about McVicar’s 1968 prison break that’s told with an austere, turn-of-the-’80s aesthetic comparable to Scum, The Black Panther and The Long Good Friday.
Roger Daltrey’s presence may raise questions about McVicar’s seriousness, but this isn’t a lazy rock star vehicle — Daltrey assumes the role with a sinewy attitude that doesn’t want for credibility. Credible too are McVicar’s fellow inmates and the staff who corral them at Hmp Durham, where life is stark but not without goodwill. There is a fair amount of camaraderie, in fact, with conflict rarely going beyond coarse words.
Roger Daltrey’s presence may raise questions about McVicar’s seriousness, but this isn’t a lazy rock star vehicle — Daltrey assumes the role with a sinewy attitude that doesn’t want for credibility. Credible too are McVicar’s fellow inmates and the staff who corral them at Hmp Durham, where life is stark but not without goodwill. There is a fair amount of camaraderie, in fact, with conflict rarely going beyond coarse words.
- 9/8/2023
- by Jack Hawkins
- HeyUGuys.co.uk
In a statement released today, actor and independent film producer Billy Murray has backed Jeremy Hunt’s decision to axe the UK Film Council.
Murray has been one of the best-loved faces on British screens for over thirty years, including films such as Performance, Essex Boys and cult classic McVicar. More recently he has become known for his TV work, appearing as bent cop Don Beech in top-rated ITV drama The Bill, and later, the iconic TV villain, gangster Johnny Allen in Eastenders. He’s also the voice of Captain Price in the two Call of Duty: Modern Warfare video games.
Since leaving Eastenders, Murray has moved behind the camera and owns the production company Black and Blue Films, whose movies include Rise of the Footsoldier and Doghouse, as well as the forthcoming vampires vs gangsters horror thriller Dead Cert, which premieres at the London Film4 FrightFest on 26th August.
Murray has been one of the best-loved faces on British screens for over thirty years, including films such as Performance, Essex Boys and cult classic McVicar. More recently he has become known for his TV work, appearing as bent cop Don Beech in top-rated ITV drama The Bill, and later, the iconic TV villain, gangster Johnny Allen in Eastenders. He’s also the voice of Captain Price in the two Call of Duty: Modern Warfare video games.
Since leaving Eastenders, Murray has moved behind the camera and owns the production company Black and Blue Films, whose movies include Rise of the Footsoldier and Doghouse, as well as the forthcoming vampires vs gangsters horror thriller Dead Cert, which premieres at the London Film4 FrightFest on 26th August.
- 8/3/2010
- by Phil
- Nerdly
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