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Author: Phil Sealey
Common People Reviews
After the nationwide cinema release on June 14th, the reviews are in. Here are some excerpts:
“A positive, life affirming film… plenty of laughs, moments of tenderness and very nicely drawn performances… a micro-budget film with a big heart.”
BritFlicks
“There’s some incredibly good (and very funny) dialogue here, and an innate sweetness and charm… will have you cheering.”
Total Film
“Defiantly optimistic, this is a bittersweet celebration of England’s green and pleasant places… the cast radiate charm, raise a smile, and warm the heart.”
The Sunday People
“A sweet and huge-hearted story of London Life”
Danny Leigh from BBC Film 2014
“Raw, compelling and hilarious, ‘Common People’ offers something for everyone, leaving your heart touched and your belly ripe with laughter.”
Live for Films
“Stewart Alexander and Kerry Skinner have managed to create a little slice of real life film making that is a joy to watch… it has a charm and friendly quality you just don’t get in movies anymore.”
The Cult Den
“It captures the location ambience, while the earnestly played vignettes celebrate everyday decency and community spirit… A folksy but charming celebration of communal life.”
Empire Magazine
“(Sam) Kelly and his on-screen wife, Diana Payan, are pitch perfect as they mix tenderness and pathos. To see romance still in full bloom in later life is delightfully refreshing…. a film that provides genuinely laugh-out-loud moments and others that need tissues. It may have been made on a small budget, but it’s big on heart….”
The Coop’s Review
“…funny and moving… Skinner and Alexander, it seems, have the common touch.”
London Evening Standard
“A funny and poignant film…Sam Kelly gives a splendid turn as a devoted but ageing husband.”
Every Film
“Alexander’s script deftly captures the sense of community that prompts strangers to make the effort to communicate with each other or do good deeds. Sam Kelly and Diana Payan stand out as the pensioners relishing each other’s company, while Skinner amuses as the naive singleton awaiting the birth of an unknown soldier’s baby.”
Radio Times
“Moving and beautiful….The performances that stood out from all the others was the late great Sam Kelly and Diana Payan as Pam & Derrick, a loving elderly couple discussing the twilight years of their life together…A very funny and very moving piece of cinema.”
Fraking Films
These types of films are the lifeblood of independent cinema and Common People is a heart warmer for the masses.”
NeonReels
Common People & Sam Kelly Honoured At Toronto’s Reelheart Film Festival
Our dear friend and colleague, the late Sam Kelly, has been honoured with the Best Actor Award at the ReelHeART Film Festival in Toronto where Kerry Skinner & Stewart Alexander also received The Indie Spirit Award and COMMON PEOPLE was runner-up for Best Narrative Feature.
According to ReelHeART: “The ReelHeART Spirit Award goes to the filmmakers who most demonstrate the “Indie Spirit” through pride of film production, promotion of film, audience engagement and producing a memorable contribution on film. This year we give this award to two people who embody this spirit for their tireless efforts in promoting their film and their passion for making it.”
Common People Gets The Thumbs Up On Toronto Film Scene
Ada Wong from Toronto Film Scene describes Common People as, “a hidden indie gem that fans of heartfelt, Richard Curtis-type films will surely enjoy.” The full review is available here: http://thetfs.ca/2014/06/27/reelheart-2014-review-common-people/#.U-pF-lYbrwJ
Common People At Directors UK Festival
Kerry Skinner and Stewart Alexander were interviewed about the making and marketing of Common People at the Directors UK’s first festival. Other panels featured interviews with Tom Hooper, the Academy Award winning Director of ‘The King’s Speech,’ Mike Newell, Director of ‘Four Weddings and a Funeral,’ and Amma Assante, Director of ‘Belle.’
https://storify.com/Directors_UK/directors-festival-2014-first-time
Common People on the Gaby Roslin Show
Kerry Skinner and Stewart Alexander are interviewed by Gaby Roslin on BBC Radio prior to Common People’s nationwide cinema release. The full interview is available to listen to here: http://goo.gl/F8TbLB
Common People Gets Nationwide Cinema Release
After a nine week, sell-out run at the Clapham Picturehouse in London, Common People is to be released nationwide in Picturehouse Cinemas across the UK. Paul Ridd, Acquisitions Coordinator at Picturehouse UK blogged about the filmmakers’ amazing progression from local phenomenon to nationwide success.
You can read it here: https://goo.gl/O4i1zY
Common People Goes To Hollywood
COMMON PEOPLE will screen at the legendary Chinese Theatre on Hollywood Boulevard as part of the official selection at The Beverley Hills Film Festival.
Common People Wins Excellence Award
We are delighted to announce that Common People has been honoured with the Excellence Award at The Rincon International Film Festival in Puerto Rico.
More Audience Feedback – Still Loving Common People 6 Weeks On and Still Selling Out!
Six weeks on, and still selling out in Clapham, we recorded more feedback from our lovely audiences.
You can see a youtube video of it here:
