Buster (1988)

Powerful

Like the great film, it's made with a great deal of visible affection both in front of and behind the camera.

Watching it is like watching the spectacle of a class clown at their best: you laugh at their jokes, instigate their defiance, and "ooooh" when they get in trouble.

Actress is magnificent and exudes a hypnotic screen presence in this affecting drama.

Buster takes an extremely interesting subject-the Great Train Robbery of the 1960s-and turns it into a tedious romantic comedy. Although the lead performances by Phil Collins and Julie Walters are good, they are not enough to save the picture.The film's main flaw is that it only deals in passing with the one thing that makes Buster Edwards really interesting-the Great Train Robbery. The robbery itself is dealt with roughly a half hour into the picture. We get no sense of how a small time crook like Buster-a man whose main accomplishment seems to be stealing mannequins from shop windows-got involved with such a major criminal enterprise. Furthermore, we only get the vaguest sense of who the planners of the crime were. At times, I found myself wishing the film had been about the ringleaders instead.Instead, we get over an hour about Buster and his family's time on the run. It isn't particularly interesting, and even comes across as repetitive as Buster moves from one hide out to another. Although the strain on his family makes for some touching moments, it's not enough to carry the movie.The film's "happy" ending especially falls flat, given the real life Buster Edwards's suicide a few years after the film came out. Seeing Buster walk away with his wife, seemingly happy, when the real man was actually an alcoholic haunted by personal demons, is almost heart breaking.The film's one reason to be remembered is for its soundtrack, which features two classic Phil Collins hits. Unfortunately, they only appear at the end of the film.

I "boycotted" this film for a long time for two main reasons. Firstly i hate Phil Collins brand of smarmy music, and secondly ,glamourising a nasty crime by paying to see it was morally not something i was prepared to do.Although i stand by my original two points i have to confess that i got it wrong about the film.It is an affectionate retrospective view of Sixties England and has a touch of the "Ealing Studios" about it. The "mechanics" of the robbery are glossed over, and Phil Collins does a pretty competent job " carrying" the film, ably supported by the versatile Julie Walters as his long suffering wife.Crime doesn't pay, the main players get picked up pretty quickly, and those that don't are either getting ripped off themselves or are looking over their shoulder all the time, or both. The period touches are largely sharply observed, the contemporary soundtrack faithful and enjoyable, Collins "Two hearts" and the Four Tops "Acupolco" totally dis-resonant from proceedings.Viewed as a piece of period fiction it is entertaining, pacey, light and humorous.As an insight into the Robbery, Edwards or the gang it is laughable.

Buster is possibly Phil 'The Brusier' Collins' finest ever moment. The film itself is a roller-coaster ride from comedy to emotion. The film, in places is dreary and sluggish, however a tour de force performance by Collins makes up for its shortcomings. The film could be improved with additional musical accompaniment from the 'bruiser'as only 'two hearts' stands out. The supporting cast is not up to Phil's acting standards. Julie Walters is particularly annoying.But seriously this film should rank alongside The Great Escape and Flashdance as a classic Sunday afternoon film. In fact it is as important as the dinner that precedes it.

I think Buster is a great film. Phil Collins and Julie Walters are great. I only seen the film for the first time this week and I really enjoyed it and I will never get board of it. I thought it was great when he was running about with that dummy so he could have the suite for a funeral which he turned up late for and then he stole the flowers. I think they picked the right man to play Buster Edwards and the right women to pay June Edwards. After all that hassle he had and then got sent down for 15 years he was still on about that dream which he left sunny Mexico for foggy cold and dirty old London and for his family and that made it a happy ending. He broke the law but he was a nice robber.