Nil by Mouth

Actor Gary Oldman's directorial debut is the kind of film that many people tend to wonder why the hell they ought to endure: a harrowing, unflinching, largely plotless examination of a brief period in the lives of a handful of very unhappy people, none of whom learns any valuable life lessons before the closing credits roll. Watching it is not "fun" in any sense of the word, and the picture is "entertaining" only if you feel giddy while experiencing first-rate filmmaking no matter how aggressively bleak the subject matter. Oldman has no agenda here, no message to impart; he simply depicts, with the same acute perception that he's demonstrated time and again before the lens, the pain-addled world of one particular South London family, awash in drug abuse and (singularly hideous) domestic violence. The no-name cast is uniformly terrific, and their work is supported and enhanced by Oldman's fluid, dynamic direction, which is quietly and subtly magnificent. For a first effort, this is simply stunning. Highly recommended to those who aren't necessarily looking to "unwind" of an evening. (M. D'Angelo)[DVD Review--Jan. 26, 2004--Columbia TriStar, 119 min., not rated, $29.95--Making its debut on DVD, the 1998 film Nil By Mouth sports a solid anamorphic widescreen transfer (it may look dark and grainy, but this is a gritty little film that's always looked that way), backed by a good Dolby Digital stereo soundtrack (and subtitles for us poor wankers who struggle with South London accents), but--unfortunately--no extras. Bottom line: although extra-less, this still packs a powerful punch and it's well worth adding on DVD.]