Spike Island (2012) User Reviews

It's no 'Second Coming', but no 'The Stone Roses' either.

[Utsuro · 6/10 · 14 October 2012]

'Spike Island' is clearly a labour of love: love for the '90s, for Manchester, and for the Stone Roses. These are loves which I share with the filmmakers. However, I have a feeling that this is what carried me through a great portion of the film. From the outset the cinematography is slick and fun, the cast are likable and solid, and it goes without saying that the Roses soundtrack elevates the film whenever it is utilised. The major downfall of the film is the script.

It's not terrible by any means, and is wonderfully funny and charming throughout. Unfortunately, it feels like a first draft for what could have been an excellent final film. It suffers from trying to cram in too much, which ultimately has the opposite effect and leaves the viewer feeling like we haven't really covered anything. All of the characters, even the protagonist, are extremely thinly sketched, each with different a Coming-of-Age cliché stuck to them in place of actual character development. The setting has been painstakingly reconstructed, and in a sense the aforementioned scantiness leaves us with an impressionistic, unfocused but very accurate glimpse of the time and place. Which is nice, but cannot sustain an entire feature film.

A major plotting fumble which could have been corrected in a redraft is that it drags on for far too long after the actual gig has taken place. This is the focus and the high point of the film. Afterwards it just feels like a slow decline in which you can't see the bottom, as the film wraps up the myriad plot strands which it never successfully committed us to in the first place.

The adulation also gets a little cringey at times, even for a film which was made with the purpose of adulation: lines like 'I feel like they made the record just for me.' 'Don't be daft, they made it just for me.' really could have been rewritten. I don't often roll my eyes to Stone Roses praise.

I've focused a little more on the negatives of the film than I wanted to, because after a single viewing those unfortunate flaws are what have left the biggest impression. The overall experience was positive, though. The timing of the release couldn't have been better. I'm glad the film was made, and I'm glad that I saw it. At the premiere, no less, where there was a lot of goodwill and anticipation from everyone, myself included. It's just a shame that I couldn't love it as much as I wanted to.

Not very original, but entertaining

[euroGary · 7/10 · 17 June 2013]

'Spike Island' takes place in 1990 and follows a teenage band as they prepare to attend a concert given by the Stone Roses rock group. The characters are strictly two-dimensional: there's the good-looking one who gets the girl, the shy sensitive one who's the only member of the band with any musical talent, the elder brother idolised by his younger sibling but who turns out to have feet of clay, etc. Nor are the situations they get into particularly new or inventive. Worth watching once, but not again. It stars lots of people Britons have seen on television (Elliott Tittensor - 'Shameless' - in the leading role probably accounted for the large number of men in the audience when I saw the film, but don't get excited - Tittensor strips to his boxers, but that's as far as he goes). Lesley Manville provides a bit of acting class.

"Well, I Liked It!"

[sarah-lou_12 · 6/10 · 8 October 2015]

As a British person, I felt a personal connection to this film - trust me, it got everything spot on! I liked this film a lot - it was your typical film bout a group of friends going on an adventure (Think Stand By Me if the characters were older and a lot more obsessed with girls and pop rock bands). It was fun, there were lot of laughs. But it was also more than that. It dealt with a lot of issues, subtly at least. The emphasis was on the music, but the underlying angst was there. I can't exactly put my finger on why I enjoyed this movie so much, but there it is: I liked it. Definitely worth a watch, and, of course, a listen to that soundtrack.

Joyful

[cinematic_aficionado · 23 June 2013]

The joy of being a carefree youth.

This story focuses on four trouble making (according to some anyway) youngsters in Manchester and how they look forward to going to the gig of their favourite band, where it would be a highlight for all their lives. On top of that as they aspire to form a band themselves they even dare to dream giving a demo tape to their favourite band.

Everything builds up to the day the gig is set to take place. My favourite moment was when the father of the four was dying in hospital and yet told his son not to be held back by his condition. They try hard, they put everything aside, they ignore all the barriers.

The day finally arrives and with a myriad of obstacles, they somehow made it to the venue but turns out the promise for tickets/places did not come to fruition. Yet, they did not seem to care as they had a ball just outside the venue and it was the night of their lives which is the one thing that mattered.

Quirky, witty and great fun to watch.

Does Mat Whitecross' film Bang the Drum?

[hitchcockthelegend · 7/10 · 2 March 2015]

It's May 1990, Great Britain, and The Stone Roses are about to play a monumental outdoor gig at Spike Island in Widnes, Cheshire. A bunch of teenage acolytes of the band, aspiring musicians themselves, embark on a journey to Spike Island whist at the same time embarking on personal journeys of the real life kind.

Us Brits do like ourselves a coming of age drama set to the backdrop of musical importance. Mat Whitecross (Sex & Drugs & Rock & Roll) taps into the era of Baggy Manchester, of a Northern Britain dominated by pills, thrills and romantic bellyaches. To many of a certain age The Stone Roses were "their" Beatles, a power pop foursome that rocked it big time, their influence on the British music industry is still being felt today. This in spite of their relatively short life span. Re: The Sex Pistols at Winterland, see The Stone Roses at Spike Island (in other words it was a pretty awful gig all told).

However, the band are secondary to the teen angst narrative threads, to the scallywag japes and sexual growing pains. As Messrs Ian Brown and John Squire weave their chordal magic in the background, a bunch of spotty Herbert's with mad mac haircuts and iffy accents try and make sense of it all, of life, death, loves and hates. Music binds them together, but does anything else?

It's all very formulaic stuff, but for those of the time, or for those with a love for how music can define your life, or at the least shape its direction, then this hits the requisite chords. It's funny at times and the cast are ebullient enough to carry the clichéd and thin material home, but come the finale you will be remembering the soundtrack more than the story itself. 6.5/10

Nostalgia for 90s teenagers

[ml-76170 · 7/10 · 11 August 2020]

I was a teenager in 1990 when this film was set and The Stone Roses formed a backdrop to my angsty early 90s teenage years. The use of music, clothing, hairstyles etc. in this film is very evocative and true to the era and positively influenced my score above what it probably really deserves.

The story itself doesn't really know what it wants to be. Most of the film is light comedy romp, a fun celebration of youth, but after coming to a seemingly ecstatic climax, we get an unexpectedly harsh comedown of an ending. Whilst this improves the film overall, a bit too much drama is injected in too short a time which jars with the tone and pace of rest of the film.

Sally cinnamon.....

[FlashCallahan · 7/10 · 30 October 2014]

Spike Island is the kind of film that makes you nostalgic. Very nostalgic. But that doesn't deter the fact that the story is something we've seen a dozen times before in this sub- genre of film.

There's your group of friends, and they are an aspiring group who are desperate to get tickets to the titular event, featuring everyone's favourite band of the nineties, The Stone Roses.

They all have their individual problems. Ones dad is dying, ones dad is abusing him, one fancies the girl, but she fancies the other from the group, so on, and so on.

But it makes it an easy watch. Its funny in places, dramatic when it needs to be, and characters are ones you've seen in endless nostalgic movies.

But it captures the early nineties down to a tee. The music was, and still is phenomenal, and The Roses music is used with the utmost respect that it deserves.

So its a good nostalgia trip, albeit a little predictable, but would make a great double bill with Shane Meadows documentary.

Disappointing.

[mrkbrwn-502-73177 · 3/10 · 15 October 2012]

The only reason you would go to see this film is if you're a Stone Roses fan, that much is obvious. Fortunately for the director this is just enough to carry you through a disjointed, underdeveloped and cliché riddled script. The intended demographic is clearly people like me, 40 + year old men who lived through the period and hold dear the Roses and whole Madchester scene. Yet the film plays like a film aimed at teenagers, with set pieces used merely as an excuse to overlay a Roses classic. Although the characters are likable their development is soap opera at best, their dialogue hugely clichéd and dishonest and when the script does enter interesting territory it is quickly dismissed to cover another bullet point on the 'coming of age movie' tick list. The Stone Roses reformation has been such a wonderful thing for thousands of fans all over the world. This film actually annoyed me as it belittles real emotion and makes honest affection appear contrived.

Feel-Good Movie for Summer 2013

[Russcity133 · 10/10 · 3 July 2013]

Spike Island is the feel-good movie for the summer. Ideal nostalgic fun for anyone really, but especially those who love The Stone Roses, or anyone who loves the 90's, or anyone who used to be in a local rock band or is still in one.

The main protagonists of the story are five lads - Tits, Dodge, Little Gaz, Zippy and Penfold - who have formed a band; Shadowcaster. They have a big love for The Stone Roses and will do literally anything to get into the spectacular Spike Island gig, without actually having tickets to get in.

It's a very entertaining film with a story that is by turns funny, moving and heartwarming. At times it's a bit like Mission Impossible meets Quadrophenia, with a bit of Spinal Tap comedy thrown in; as the boys get more and more devious in their efforts to get into the high-security gig.

There's love, sex, violence, elation and sorrow; great acting, an uplifting summery atmosphere and an awesome musical score. At the centre of it all it's a very human, real story. I absolutely love this film.

Pretty Emilia falls in love with a musician or British movie about the idols of the nineties

[lyubitelfilmov · 7/10 · 13 March 2020]

Drama, music. Fate itself prompted me to watch this movie, I was especially interested in the reviews - only three in Russian (two in Kinopoisk, one in Yandex), on IMDb - nineteen from the audience and thirty-one from critics. And I thought - why not look, the more Emilia Clarke starred here. I tried it - and did not at all regret the time spent. Until now, I am moving away from the pleasant impression that this picture had on me, but for now let me tell you my brief opinion - British cinema about musicians of the nineties. As in any picture, there are pluses that were pleasant, and cons that were a little annoying when viewing. Therefore, I intend to dwell on them in more detail and convey to you those thoughts and what I experienced. The preface turned out to be very short this time, so pour a cup of tea, sit back - go! So, the pros: 1. Musical atmosphere - one of the reasons for my interest in this picture was that I almost never watched pictures about musicians, and I even successfully missed the recent "Bohemian Raspoda", which, by the way, I do not regret, so viewing this picture became for me new experience in the movie - and it was great! The picture about the musicians of the early nineties is saturated with music a little more than completely. The film contains songs by the mega-popular (at that time) British band "The Stone Roses", the concert of which our heroes rush to the island of Spike Island. I liked the music, and all the musicians of The Stone Roses, and the characters of the picture, and the usual clockwork tracks. I conclude that I like paintings of a similar genre, and I will continue to watch them. If you can recommend something like that - welcome in the comments. 2. Youth style - the picture was created for youth, with its eternal problems of finding oneself, impudent and defiant behavior, problems in the family, misunderstanding, ambitions, naive dreams, craving for the forbidden. The target audience will definitely like the picture, as for the rest - is debatable. Personally, I haven't seen such youth films for a long time, the last thing I remember is the "Road Trip"of 2000, but now I won't watch this movie. 3. History - the picture tells us about a group of musician friends called "Shadow Caster", whose idols are "The Stone Roses". The guys commit bold acts and dream of getting to the concert of their idols in Spike Island, but as always, various difficulties arise. And if at first, the story seemed boring to me, where you shouldn't wait for anything interesting, then in the middle I noticed that I was starting to closely monitor what was happening, and closer to the final it was impossible to tear me from the screen. And the finale - so it turned out to be vital, as if someone did not relate to it. Well, the romantic line harmoniously screwed. This is not the best story told, but I liked it! 4. Dramatic moments - drama was added to the picture, and very strong, which will definitely cause an emotional response from the viewer. Actors at these moments really tried. There's nothing to complain about. And for those particularly impressionable, these moments can survive a tear, or even more than one! So cons: 1. Drugs, foul language and so on - since the picture is youth, then the language of communication among the heroes is the same. Here and there, and sometimes through the word slanderous words slip. Heroes use drugs, all of this is here, and not everyone can like it. Yes, this is due to the context, but when viewing the amount of it all was very annoying. And yet - the creators of the picture were clearly inspired by the works of Guy Ritchie, because the style, dynamic installation and some moments damn much resemble his early paintings. This is not a minus, but rather an emphasis on fact. Is it bad - no! Did it interfere with perception? A little about the main characters: 1. Tits performed by Elliott Tittensor is the charismatic leader of Shadow Caster, a young man at a crossroads whose dream inspires others. A born leader with a head on his shoulders. The song in his performance is a hymn to the generation of the nineties, and how many feelings! And what simple, but at the same time strong words! You have to listen to it yourself to feel it! Elliot did a great job with this role. He didn't even play - he lived as his hero! Well done! 2. Dodge performed by Nico Mirallegro - the most responsible member of "Shadow Caster" and a certain antithesis of Tits - a little reserved, timid, which, nevertheless, is the mainstay of the group and a talented musician. Those tests through which the Dodge passes are well known to me. We, creative people, sometimes need strong trials, because the emotions that they awaken can inspire us to create something new, extremely strong, which will go through the most callous holes and get into the heart. Niko is great! 3. Sally performed by Emilia Clark - a classmate of the band members, a young, romantic girl who loves music. Emilia, besides all the reasons, you were the one for which I looked at this picture, I decided to appreciate the acting. My findings are Amy! You know how to play when you want! Your pretty and romantic Sally turned out as it should. The image is classic and always working. I love your heroine Kate from "Last Christmas", and your Louise from "Me Before You", and your Sally from this picture - was a great addition to your piggy bank! Bravo! Good girl! Well done! Well, the conclusions that the picture brings are very instructive and truthful, although we have already seen it thousands and thousands of times, and we will see more than once, as long as there is a movie in the world! As a result, we have a drama about young, daring and talented musicians, whom fate leads to a mega-cool event, with excellent and atmospheric music, excellent acting, sunny Emilia Clark and with tearful dramatic moments. My rating is 7 out of 10 and my recommendation for viewing!

Five lads from Manchester

[bkoganbing · 5/10 · 9 February 2019]

Set around 1990 Spike Island concerns five young British lads who have a pickup band in their after school hours and they are a rambunctious bunch when not making music. They decide to go on a mission to see a concert by their idols the Stone Roses who originated in Manchester. They've got no money so they have to use all kinds of wiles and strategy to get there. The object: get a demo tape to their idols.

I suppose if I watch this a few times as I had to with A Hard Day's Night to get down the Manchester accent the way I had to get what John, Paul, George and Ringo were saying in their Liverpudlian speech. Made it kind of hard on these American ears.

Leads Elliott Tittensor and Nico Millenegros are quite talented and appealing. And if you were a British youth of the period I think you'll like this film.

Another great British film...

[dash-wortley · 8/10 · 19 October 2014]

The UK is good at this...creating great cinema. Some of the drivel Hollywood is churning out at the moment (constant re-boots because they have frankly run out of ideas), makes you realise how good the UK film industry is at this game. I enjoyed this film immensely. One reason- I remember the time and music-I was 25 when this film was set, and I remember the big furore around The Stone Roses. I didn't fall for it myself at the time. I was (and still am) a big fan of New Order, and they for me were the greatest Manchester band, but fair play to the fans of the Roses, everyone likes different things. The film is a bright, very watchable, and at times funny experience, each character played very well. The film doesn't always follow the rules of predictability-I won't spoil it, but certain aspects could have turned out differently, but the writers didn't go down that route, and I found it better for it. All in all, if you like The Stone Roses it's a no brainer-see this film. Music fan? See this film. Great soundtrack too. 8/10.

Not just for Stone Roses fans.

[MUFCOK · 7/10 · 11 January 2015]

I didn't watch this movie for the Stone Roses reference, The Stone Roses are of no particular interest of mine, I have nothing against them it's just the music simply isn't my scene.

Having read reviews on here after watching this movie, I seemed to rate it more than many others and the factor which I believed allowed me to enjoy it more, was ironically, my non-existing interest in The Stone Roses. If you went into this movie solely on the basis that it is marketed with the Stone Roses i believe you would be disappointed. Spike Island is a run of the mill, coming of age, British indie flick. It's a very familiar story, Five lads from Manchester who are all in their last year of school travel to Spike Island in hope of watching the Stone Roses in concert. The usual story of falling outs, romance, friendship, loyalty and most of all growing up are covered in this movie. The Stone Roses are really a back story, a focal point of their interests but it is not relevant in the story or character development. The acting is good, but the characters lack any real substance. They all seem very clichéd and predictable, the manc accent is also overdone at times, we get that you're from Manchester, its based around the Stone Roses!

Overall Spike Island is a feel good, entertaining watch with good acting and a pleasant if not clichéd, storyline.

7/10

Not bad... Because I ain't no stone roses fan

[dazjohnson · 4/10 · 23 May 2020]

Stumbled across this mainly because I saw Emilia Clarke on the cover being a huge Game Of Thrones fan she had starred in this before she got her big break in that series, to be honest she's not in it that much obviously they put her on the cover after she later found stardom. The film follows a group of teens on their way to watch the stone roses at Spike Island and the troubles they get into getting there. The film is worth a second look alone as a British viewer just to see how many familiar faces you will encounter along the journey of this movie as it is basically a spot the established stars today as we all know them now among them Doctor Who Jodie Whitaker in a small cameo.

Feel good film

[Sh1sh · 1 June 2020]

A film about being young, carefree and the most important thing in your life being your favourite band. A great summer film with an amazing sound track (unless you don't like the Stone Roses).

Spike Island

[BenTramerLives78 · 6/10 · 13 April 2020]

This film is set in England in 1990 and is about a group of friends in a band who desperately want to go to a Stone Roses concert and hand them a demo tape.

The first hour of the film offers very little, although the main character is struggling with his father dying. There seems to just be a bunch of hooligans running around having fun while waiting on a scalper to supply the concert tickets. Once the group actually get to the concert, the film picks up, but is almost over by that point.

The film is worth a watch if you are a Stone Roses fan (I am), an Emilia Clarke fan ( I am) or if you grew up in England in the early nineties ( I did not).

Not mad for it

[Prismark10 · 5/10 · 17 December 2017]

Some years ago I used to go pass Ian Brown's house every day on my commute to work. When I say house, it was actually the prison he was residing in after Brown was convicted for threatening behaviour.

Spike Island is a meandering low budget film of a fictional Manchester band made up of teenagers with terrible nicknames planning to attend The Stone Roses concert at Spike Island in Merseyside and hand a demo tape to them. It is a daft plan, they have no tickets, they take a van from of the boy's uncle and they try to blag their way into the concert.

The film's characters are thinly sketched out and it consists of the usual family issues and girlfriend problems. It does have some nice Stone Roses tunes though but relies on nostalgia too much and the Madchester scene is a fading memory to many.

Top British Nostalgia!

[sophiedeanna · 10/10 · 29 January 2015]

I never usually write reviews, but I really think this movie needs more credit!

I grew up in the 90s and this movie sums it up perfectly! From getting drunk with your friends and trying to get into places with no back up plan, whilst underage, to having a laugh with your friends whilst dealing with issues at home! There were serious elements to the film, whilst being really lightheaded and it left me feeling really happy and craving a adventure!

I thought the film was shot really well, and acted brilliantly! Overall just a all round awesome film, with an EPIC soundtrack...

72 hours in the life of these boys from Manchester.

[face-819-933726 · 8/10 · 28 December 2013]

Nice story. Simple straight forward, and well acted. These young actors take you on a journey that changes all of their lives forever trying anything they can think of to get into the concert of their generation. There is a very strong sense of family in this movie, you see both the good, and the bad sides, and you see how people will create a family to shield themselves from all of the bad. I Enjoyed the youth, and vigor of these people, and the feeling that they are all giants walking among the people always above the rest, and sort of worshiped all the more. Mostly though this is just a nice little coming of age film with some good music, and acting.

An amazing film. I f you love british film, just DO NOT miss it.

[iriekingdom · 10/10 · 19 May 2018]

What can I say? Young lads in love with music and in love with life itself... Emilia Clark more attractive than ever, Stone Roses tunes that stick to your mind, the feeling of that era in your face... Excellent. TOTALLY RECOMMENDED.

Really excellent movie

[Saiph90 · 10/10 · 21 December 2014]

I was not that young in the 90's and I am not from Manchester and was not a great Stone Roses fan but I loved this film. In a nutshell it is about a band, Shadowcaster and there efforts to see Stone Roses play at Spike Island, the band consist of Tits, Dodge, Little Gaz, Zippy and Penfold. The story also weaves each individual plot and in my opinion the sub plots work effectively . This is a coming of age movie, good acting, good pace, funny and poignant. It faithfully reflects the 90's and the music of the 90's, it works on a lot of levels and The story has several threads and I have un-ticked the spoiler box as I do not want to spoil anyone's enjoyment of this excellent film.

Brilliant film - spike island

[lorenemily · 10/10 · 30 July 2015]

Spike island was an amazing film that I would happily watch over and over. I was inspired to watch this as I like the period it was set in (1990s). As a teen I thought it was brilliant as well as many members of my family. Before this film I had never really listened to the stone roses but watching this film influenced me and now I really enjoy their music. Also some of the main cast in spike island I like such as 'dodge'. I like the whole atmosphere of the film and the themes as there is sadness, love and fun. I would suggest this film to anyone as I enjoyed it so much. It's great!! Another reason why this film is so fantastic is because it is so funny in some parts. I think this film is to varied people's tastes and you don't really have to be a fan of the stone roses as it's not that much about them it's more about how they bring people together nearer to the end. This film made me want to have been bought up during this period. I thank the producer for making this film as its so so so so good and amazing!!!!! 😊😊🎉😜🎶🎶

A work of genius

[filks1 · 10/10 · 22 January 2023]

Fabulous direction, sensitive creative camera work, wonderfully scripted with lines beautifully delivered with love and understanding by a carefully chosen and glorious cast. A British film that refreshingly lacks the normal British film buffoonery but instead captures the sharp wit, passion and quirky eccentricity of British youth. The attention to detail is wonderful and gives to the rendering of a very authentic piece of work. It certainly took me back. The love scene is sweet and in fact nothing in the film is gratuitous. A niche masterpiece of film making that should be adored. This is the one to watch.