Solemplex To me, this movie is perfection.

Lumsdal Good , But It Is Overrated By Some

Kien Navarro Exactly the movie you think it is, but not the movie you want it to be.

Philippa All of these films share one commonality, that being a kind of emotional center that humanizes a cast of monsters.

bernie-28312 I went to the cinema on a bad day, a bad week actually. Ken Loach and Eric put a smile on my heart. Thank you guys. A beautiful film.

dierregi Contrary to what written by some reviewers, knowledge of football is required to fully enjoy this movie. I have none, nor do I care about football. I even had no idea who Eric Cantona was. Even if it was easy to understand that he is a French ex-footballer who played for some English team, it was not so to understand what sort of person he is and why he was so popular.Besides, the main twist in the plot revolves around football supporters (the infamous British hooligans). Therefore, there is a lot of football, and not being interested in it is definitely detrimental to the enjoyment of the movie.The main character, Eric the postman, is a weak, insignificant man who dumped his first wife Lily, after they had a baby and then squandered his life, ending up with a depression and two no-good stepsons from the second wife. In an attempt to drag him out of this slump, his co-workers and friends football supporters invite him to follow a role model.The fact that Eric chooses a footballer as role model is already saying a lot about his standards. Suddenly Mr. Cantona starts appearing to Eric to guide him through the difficulties of his life. It is very difficult to understand how Mr. Cantona does so, because he speaks with a very thick accent that makes his speeches barely understandable. Also, the content of his advice seems quite trivial.However, thanks to this support, Eric manages to patch it up with Lily. Amazingly, she seems interested in getting back with the man who dumped her with a new-born baby for no reason, except lack of responsibility. He also manages to straighten up the situation with the almost-criminal older stepson. This happens in the movie finale and it is by far the funniest and liveliest part of an otherwise very boring movie.For me it was 80% boredom, as I could not empathize at all with spineless Eric and thought it was just right that the second wife dumped him, leaving a hot potato to tackle, just as he did with Lily. The 20% enjoyment comes from the final part –really unexpected twist, but still underlying the fact that hooligans will be hooligans.

beewise oooh aaaah Cantona.... OK - middle aged woman fantasy he maybe - but not for me except in the footballing sense! lol - as a Chelsea fan at the time of his greatness even I was totally enthralled by this man's footballing prowess. He was special. Even before the Special One... Then this film comes along - and wow - he can act - and the part he plays - well! WOW! Amazing - it's all you'd ever want in a best friend. It's even got romance (not too yucky - but maybe a bit too much for men who've had a similar experience like Eric the Postman and for whom there is no going back...) But, all in all a totally wonderful film. And, to end in a footballing vein, who is out there in now that is, as this man was? Absolutely no-one. More's the pity. (Cue seagulls...)

druid333-2 I have been an fan of the films of Ken Loach since I saw 'Hidden Agenda' some years back. In the years since he first directed films for television,working up to his first feature film,'Poor Cow',up until recent,he has painted a portrait of the English blue collar working class,most times unvarnished (they live their day by day lives,drink, smoke,swear a lot,and are sometimes brutal,unflinchingly,but generally never demonize them). In this tale,a middle aged man,Eric Bishop,is at the lowest point of his existence. His ex wife wants next to nothing to do with him (he walked out on his marriage early on),and his two sons (one adopted)are a stranger to him. About all he has is his football chums that he spends most of his time in pubs,arguing football,etc. to call his own. One night after sneaking some of his son's Marijuana,Eric is sitting in his room in a depressed gloom,wondering what went wrong with his life,when he gets a visit from the kindred spirit of French born footballer,Eric Cantona (Eric's hero,as exemplified by the posters of Cantona in the bedroom),giving Eric advice on how to get his life back in check. Heeding Cantona's advice,Eric sets about to make amends for his short comings (including a sub plot element involving his eldest son Ryan,who is hanging out with gangsters who make Ryan hold onto a gun used in a shooting). Will Eric Bishop clean up his act,become the father he is supposed to be to his sons,and try to reconcile with his wife? That is for you,the audience to find out. Ken Loach (The Wind That Shakes The Barley,Hidden Agenda,and way too many to list here)directs from a screenplay written by Paul Laverty (who wrote the screenplay for 'Barley',as well as 'My Name Is Joe',also directed by Loach). Featuring Steve Evets as Eric Bishop,Eric Cantona as himself,Stephanie Bishop as his wife Lily,Gerald Kearns as Ryan,and Stefan Gumbs as Jess,Eric's other son. With Matthew McNulty,Laura Ainsworth,Max Beesley,Kelly Bowland & John Henshaw. A flawed,but crowd pleasing,life affirming comedy/drama about finding one's own niche later in life. Not rated by the MPAA,this film serves up pervasive strong language,adult content,including drug references & some harrowing confrontations for our protagonist.