Angels Share

Ken Loach's The Angel's Share was most certainly one of those. Considering Loach has a reputation for bleak, brilliant dramas, some might be surprised to see the light comic touch he's applied to this winning mix of comedy and drama. That said, it still has a fair amount to say.

The Angel's Share initially starts on a sombre note, as it's not long before we meet the main characters in a courtroom. Here, they're being sentenced for a series of offences, and young father Robbie is only saved from prison by the fact that his girlfriend is shortly to give birth.

But from these foundations comes a triumph of a film, as community service brings whiskey into Robbie's life. The Angel's Share also certainly makes a few points as it tells its story, and there's a political subtext here. Yet Loach injects warmth and humour into the film, and his young, inexperienced cast prove really rather special, too. Tonally, The Angel's Share shifts around a little, and it does have a change of direction that's likely to be divisive. Yet it's a smart, enjoyable film.

The disc includes a featurette that digs into the making of the feature, and it also includes some interesting deleted material, too. There's certainly enough there to make the film and DVD both warmly recommended. A drop of whiskey to accompany it wouldn't hurt, either. 

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