An uncompromisingly frank portrait of a particular sector of working-class family life in south-east London (where Oldman grew up), it's a powerful, astute, authentically foul-mouthed account of unfettered machismo, booze and drugs, petty crime and domestic abuse. The performances are excellent throughout, especially those of Winstone as the volatile but self-pitying Ray, Burke as his long-suffering wife Val and Creed-Miles as her junkie brother Billy. Shot and scripted in a deceptively casual realist style reminiscent of 70s Cassavetes, this profoundly personal and humane film eschews sensationalism and sentimentality to illuminate a vicious circle of abuse and criminality.

GENRE: Drama
MPAA RATING: R
RUN TIME: 1h 59m
RELEASE DATE: February 06, 1998
STARRING: Ray Winstone, Kathy Burke, Charlie Creed-Miles, Laila Morse, Edna Dore
DIRECTOR(S): Gary Oldman
PRODUCER(S): Luc Besson, Gary Oldman, Douglas Urbanski
WRITER(S): Gary Oldman
STUDIO: