Leofwine_draca A hybrid of social drama and London gangster film, WILD BILL marks the directorial debut of actor and personality Dexter Fletcher. It's the story of the titular character who returns home to care for his two boys and who soon finds himself mixed up with his old criminal friends. The narrative draws towards an explosive climax in which Bill must decide whether friends or family come first.I wasn't too sure about WILD BILL if I'm honest. I appreciate what the film was trying to do, but the whole narrative felt as familiar to me as the usual gangster story. You can't fault Fletcher's assured and confident direction, but the script lets it down; you never really care about what happens to Bill or his slightly obnoxious children.The casting of Charlie Creed-Miles doesn't help; I've always felt that this guy was a poor man's James Nesbit, and I didn't like him from the outset. Lots of familiar faces pop up (like Andy Serkis) but it's the weaselly bad guys who really stand out, particularly the ever-nasty Iwan Rheon (A GAME OF THRONES). WILD BILL boasts an impressively choreographed climax but other than that it's all rather humdrum.

robinski34 If Mike Leigh had directed Lock Stock, it might have turned out something like this charming and enjoyable drama about family. Dexter Fletcher displays a sure touch in the direction of a script co-written with Danny King and there are fine lead performances from Charlie Creed-Miles and rising star Will Poulter (Son of Rambow, We're The Millers, etc.), with a liberal sprinkling of able support from a fine range of British thesping talent, including Marc Warren, Olivia Williams, Jason Flemyng, Sean Pertwee and Andy Serkis, deservedly permitted to leave his ping-pong ball-covered leotard in the cupboard again. The mobster tropes are predictable but, thankfully, the snappy script keeping things moving and avoids proceedings ending up in that derelict siding reserved for rusting gangster clichés. Credit for that goes to Fletcher, who has generated some real expectations with this fine beginning.

FlashCallahan After 8 years inside Bill Hayward returns home to find his now 11 and 15 year old sons abandoned by their mother and fending for themselves. Dean the older boy has found a job and is doing his best to bring up his younger brother Jimmy, but the arrival of Bill has brought them to the attention of social services. With the danger of being put into care looming, Dean forces his Dad to stay by threatening to grass him up for dealing. He agrees to stay for a week to fool social services that the boys are being cared for. Bill quickly connects with Jimmy and through this new bond starts to realise what he's been missing. He has a family, he is a father. However, their happy family is short lived when Jimmy gets into trouble with Bill's old cohorts....You would be forgiven, if you thought this was just another one of those kitchen sink type London dramas that arrived ten a penny after the arrival of one Guy Ritchie.And while this has similarities to many of those films, thanks to Fletchers great direction, and the genius portrayal of the titular character by Miles, this is one of those rare cases where a British film about a criminal trying to go straight, despite his past catching up with him, is very, very good.It helps too that the chemistry between the screen family is solid, and it's pretty believable. Apart from the typecast white guy who thinks he is of a different ethnicity, its very believable, the villains are to your typical wide boys, and it's very funny and sweet in places.It's a shame that it does carry the burden of an atypical Brit crime flick, but it's a very powerful family drama, that carries emotional depth, and a very funny streak throughout.Recommended.

misschifflou this guys can do everything it seems!! not only did he do sterling work in the Harry Brown film but here he takes centre stage and owns it! Charlie has been a musician amidst his acting career and is also in a band called NORTH OF PING PONG which won the peoples music awards in 2010. They were fortunate to have Adam Smith direct their first two hits "What goes up must come down" and 'Lairy Bitch Project' which featured Cathy Burke and many other famous English actors and actresses. The first album has been in the making for some time so as to develop their sound to encorporate other influences, such as Latin. The Album is due to release end of November 2012.. and they are performing for first time since this WILD BILL film at SWERVED 19 October http://www.facebook.com/events/435892143119493/