Heartlands (2003)

Simply Perfect

Redundant and unnecessary.

One of the most extraordinary films you will see this year. Take that as you want.

The film never slows down or bores, plunging from one harrowing sequence to the next.

Decked out in a goofy hobbit wig, Michael Sheen plays Colin, a Sheffield candystore owner who sets off for the bright lights of Blackpool in pursuit of his runaway wife. The opening scenes show promise, but the local accent can be hard to parse and Colin's adventures on the road are pretty low impact—he gets a haircut from a friendly biker, chats with a Brownie troop leader, marvels at a windfarm and some gorgeous rolling hills… Funded with lottery money, this film was meant, I guess, to celebrate the joys of the old-fashioned simple life in the North—darts and trad music at the pub, garish seaside resorts and such. I'm usually a pushover for this kind of thing, but despite an expert cast (including the fabulous Ruth Jones of "Gavin and Stacey"!) and a great soundtrack (esp. Kate Rusby, a Maddy Prior–type folksinger), I just wasn't feelin' it most of the time. Full disclosure: I put this on because my wife wanted "something quiet" to help her get to sleep. It worked.

Col, a nobody played by Martin Sheen, loves darts and lives a boring life minding his corner store with his spoiled wife, played by Jane Robbins. She runs off to Blackpool with Col's darts team captain, who throws Col off the team. Col follows them to Blackpool on his Honda moped and has various rewarding adventures on the way. The whole picture is very low-key and undemanding, but yields many charming moments at the hands of Sheen, who is a gifted actor. At no point does Sheen look at all like his well- known movie impersonations of Tony Blair. He is almost unrecognizable as himself in the first reel with his huge mop of tousled hair that gets cut off during his road-trip. Playing this insignificant character was a sharp swerve for an actor known for his emotional and rage-filled roles hitherto. A thoroughly entertaining and humane picture that wins over any thoughtful audience. Strongly recommended.

'Heartlands' is a British made bittersweet tale of an ordinary guy, Colin, who is abandoned as his wife runs off to Blackpool with a copper (Colins local darts team captain and best mate to boot).The tag line reads - an epic journey......on a small scale - and thats quite apt.Michael Sheen is really good as Colin, very different role from Clough in 'The Damned United' or Frost in 'Frost/Nixon'. Loads of well known actors involved including Mark Addy (Dave in 'The Full Monty' & more recently Friar Tuck in 'Robin Hood') Ruth Jones (Nessa from 'Gavin & Stacey'), Celia Imrie ('Dinnerladies' etc etc), and another from 'Gavin & Stacy' - a very young looking James Corden is a member of the darts team although he has practically no lines.The wife and her lover are a right pair of selfish creeps and while he was making his epic journey to win her back - on his Honda 50 - I had the sinking feeling of an inevitable cheesy happy ending. Much to my surprise about half way through, the film shifted in tone a little and a variety of possible endings appear. I think the one they went with works as it wasn't the one I feared but neither was it the one I expected.

Heartlands is wonderful. It is beautifully shot and, as I have come to expect of Mr. Sheen (Colin) at least, remarkably well acted. The movie made me laugh out loud - twice - without having to resort to potty jokes or sloppy slap stick humor. It also made me cry, not because it is an intrinsically sad film, but because it is in part the story of Everyman. Unless a person is remarkably dull or a recluse, there will be moments in this film that could have been taken from the pages of anyone's life. Granted the characters and situations are a bit larger, if not more colorful, than one might typically expect to encounter, it is Mr. Sheen's ability to humanize them that touches. Without spoiling things for people who haven't seen the film, there is a scene in this movie that will stick with me forever. It is so full of simple, unburdened joy that anyone who sees it will be instantly both amused and completely charmed.Call me Quixote, as I am off in search of windmills.....