#18 - Scum (1979)

[NSpan]

Scum (1979) - ORIGINAL BBC VERSION
Directed by: Alan Clarke
Written by: Roy Minton


Recommended Movie-Club Sandwich:
Scum (1979) - THEATRICAL REMAKE
or
Nil by Mouth (1997)

[Buscemi]

Which version? The BBC version or its theatrical remake?

[NSpan]

Good question... I actually sent an e-mail today to my girlfriend's biological-mother's husband (who is FROM Ireland) asking him the same question... I should hear back in the next day or so.

[numbersix]

I've always been meaning to get around to this- it's meant to be amazing, and worth watching even for the curiosity of seeing a young Ray Winstone.

[NSpan]

I was recommended the original BBC version (as opposed to the film remake). So I'll be checking that out this week. Try and get your hands on it. FYI: Netflix carries both.


UPDATE: I clarified in the initial post that the original BBC version is the Movie Club Pick. But I went ahead and added the remake as the recommended double-feature.

[NSpan]

Scum (BBC) - Good movie. Not quite as "brutal" or "shocking" as I expected... More of a twist on One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest--while both stories are an attack on the hypocrisy of modern penal "rehabilitation," Scum shows that, oftentimes, all parties involved (inmates and guards alike) are prisoners to the corrupt system... The whole process is very cyclical. Also, very cool to see a young Ray Winstone kicking as much ass as ever..

while most of the dialogue is comprehensible to my Yankee ears, i found the subtitles useful for a few of the thicker accents (not to mention some of the more unfamiliar slang)


Scum (THEATRICAL REMAKE) - Almost too tired to write this (having a hard time keeping my eyes open), but this was nearly a shot-for-shot remake with the majority of the cast reprising their roles. Clearly, much better production values. I actually liked the "Archer" character better in the original. Aside from that, I thought the low-budget appearance of the BBC version actually added to its impact. While the remake dated far better, I think I might prefer the BBC "play."