"They said I was sub normal."
Added 10/3/2009
"Let Him Have It" tells the real-life story of 1950s British teen, Derek Bentley (Christopher Eccleston). As a child during WWII, Derek's home was bombed, and he sustained a head injury which left him with low intelligence and poor decision-making skills. He ends up falling in with a bad crowd, who take advantage of Derek's desire to fit in and his naivety. He's sent to an "approved school" (reform school) for years, and after his release Derek's family does everything they can to keep him out of trouble. However, a group of teens, lead by Christopher Craig, soon persuades Derek to join in their robberies. Derek tries to break free of their influence, but the situation leads to tragedy.
The film does a nice job telling Derek's story in a sympathetic way and adroitly combines the crime elements and court trial to tell a cohesive story. The movie raises interesting questions concerning how we hold people accountable based on issues of age and intelligence. Although its somewhat low-key story-telling style could have been pumped up a tad, the movie avoids unnecessary melodrama, which adds gravity to the finale. The acting is uniformly fine, with many of the supporting roles taken up by top-notch actors, including Tom Courtenay, Eileen Atkins, and Tom Bell. What really makes the film worth-while, though, is its superb look. As he did with "The Krays" a year previously, director Peter Medak beautifully recreates the look and feel of London crime in the 1950s and 1960s. It really helps place this thought-provoking story in context.
0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
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Craig and Bentley.
Added 5/11/2008
I am old enough to remember the case. A miscarriage of justice if ever there was one. The DVD is brilliant. Well worth buying. Enjoy.
0 out of 1 people found this helpful.
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A Warning for Parents of Special Needs Children
Added 11/1/2007
This is the heart wrenching tale of what happens when an intellectually delayed young man, starving for social interaction, gets mixed up with characters likely to socialize with intellectually delayed young men. Not to give too much away, but the protagonist, Derek Bently, is mentally slow, but comes from a good, loving family. Due to his special needs, he doesn't have any peers to interact with (besides his sister). The result is that some low-life juvenile hooligans use him in the participation of criminal behavior. When things go wrong and the police move in, who ends up holding the bag? I'll give you a clue, it's not the juveniles. The movie is based on a true story. It has a very solid cast of characters, including the actors in secondary roles. The best roles, however are played by Derek's parents, solid working class people who do everything right to protect their son, but fail nonetheless.
It's alarming, not just because I'm the parent of a special needs child, but because in my profession, I've seen this same scenario played out a hundred times. Most frequently, the "users" befriend the slow witted-individual and ask him to pawn stolen property, or to participate in its theft. The excuse give is that it's okay because the property owner told them they could take it, but they need help lifting the property, or they don't have an I.D. to present at the pawn shop.
In the movie, the above M.O. is being carries out, when things go horribly wrong. Although the movie is meant as a social commentary and an argument against the death penalty, it's lessons are valid for anyone who might be drug "unwittingly" into a criminal escapade.
2 out of 3 people found this helpful.
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Definitely a gotta have it!
Added 7/30/2007
A haunting drama, based on a true story, which takes you back into the past of 1950's London to follow the life of Derek Bently (Christopher Eccleston). Christopher Eccleston's portrayal is quite realistic and draws you into Derek's plight (I'm a RN and I had to fight not to spring to Chris's aid during his scenes where he seized as Derek- yes, they were THAT convincing). Fair warning, if you cry at movies, have the tissues handy. If you are a new or long time fan of Christopher Eccleston, you have to get a copy of this work.
1 out of 1 people found this helpful.
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depressing, realistic look at a justice case gone wrong.
Added 3/5/2006
christopher plays the main character put to death for a crime he didn't do.
he was hanged for it.
mixing in with the wrong set of people, he finds himself the
center of conviction for a man's death in a shooting.
a "friend" of his is on a rooftop with him, being chased by
police. his friend points the gun at the guy. the cop says
to hand the gun over. he refuses. then christopher, not wanting
any more trouble with the law, says "let him have it"----
meaning give the cop the gun....NOT SHOOT HIM.
thus began a trial of a misunderstood phrase with led to a death sentance. to this day, family members in england are still trying to clear his name for innocence.
sad, well acted, and extremely thought provoking.
3 out of 3 people found this helpful.
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"They said I was sub normal."
Added 10/3/2009
"Let Him Have It" tells the real-life story of 1950s British teen, Derek Bentley (Christopher Eccleston). As a child during WWII, Derek's home was bombed, and he sustained a head injury which left him with low intelligence and poor decision-making skills. He ends up falling in with a bad crowd, who take advantage of Derek's desire to fit in and his naivety. He's sent to an "approved school" (reform school) for years, and after his release Derek's family does everything they can to keep him out of trouble. However, a group of teens, lead by Christopher Craig, soon persuades Derek to join in their robberies. Derek tries to break free of their influence, but the situation leads to tragedy.
The film does a nice job telling Derek's story in a sympathetic way and adroitly combines the crime elements and court trial to tell a cohesive story. The movie raises interesting questions concerning how we hold people accountable based on issues of age and intelligence. Although its somewhat low-key story-telling style could have been pumped up a tad, the movie avoids unnecessary melodrama, which adds gravity to the finale. The acting is uniformly fine, with many of the supporting roles taken up by top-notch actors, including Tom Courtenay, Eileen Atkins, and Tom Bell. What really makes the film worth-while, though, is its superb look. As he did with "The Krays" a year previously, director Peter Medak beautifully recreates the look and feel of London crime in the 1950s and 1960s. It really helps place this thought-provoking story in context.
0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
|
Craig and Bentley.
Added 5/11/2008
I am old enough to remember the case. A miscarriage of justice if ever there was one. The DVD is brilliant. Well worth buying. Enjoy.
0 out of 1 people found this helpful.
|
A Warning for Parents of Special Needs Children
Added 11/1/2007
This is the heart wrenching tale of what happens when an intellectually delayed young man, starving for social interaction, gets mixed up with characters likely to socialize with intellectually delayed young men. Not to give too much away, but the protagonist, Derek Bently, is mentally slow, but comes from a good, loving family. Due to his special needs, he doesn't have any peers to interact with (besides his sister). The result is that some low-life juvenile hooligans use him in the participation of criminal behavior. When things go wrong and the police move in, who ends up holding the bag? I'll give you a clue, it's not the juveniles. The movie is based on a true story. It has a very solid cast of characters, including the actors in secondary roles. The best roles, however are played by Derek's parents, solid working class people who do everything right to protect their son, but fail nonetheless.
It's alarming, not just because I'm the parent of a special needs child, but because in my profession, I've seen this same scenario played out a hundred times. Most frequently, the "users" befriend the slow witted-individual and ask him to pawn stolen property, or to participate in its theft. The excuse give is that it's okay because the property owner told them they could take it, but they need help lifting the property, or they don't have an I.D. to present at the pawn shop.
In the movie, the above M.O. is being carries out, when things go horribly wrong. Although the movie is meant as a social commentary and an argument against the death penalty, it's lessons are valid for anyone who might be drug "unwittingly" into a criminal escapade.
2 out of 3 people found this helpful.
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