VeteranLight I don't have all the words right now but this film is a work of art.

BeSummers Funny, strange, confrontational and subversive, this is one of the most interesting experiences you'll have at the cinema this year.

FirstWitch A movie that not only functions as a solid scarefest but a razor-sharp satire.

Humaira Grant It’s not bad or unwatchable but despite the amplitude of the spectacle, the end result is underwhelming.

The_late_Buddy_Ryan Decked out in a goofy hobbit wig, Michael Sheen plays Colin, a Sheffield candystore owner who sets off for the bright lights of Blackpool in pursuit of his runaway wife. The opening scenes show promise, but the local accent can be hard to parse and Colin's adventures on the road are pretty low impact—he gets a haircut from a friendly biker, chats with a Brownie troop leader, marvels at a windfarm and some gorgeous rolling hills… Funded with lottery money, this film was meant, I guess, to celebrate the joys of the old-fashioned simple life in the North—darts and trad music at the pub, garish seaside resorts and such. I'm usually a pushover for this kind of thing, but despite an expert cast (including the fabulous Ruth Jones of "Gavin and Stacey"!) and a great soundtrack (esp. Kate Rusby, a Maddy Prior–type folksinger), I just wasn't feelin' it most of the time. Full disclosure: I put this on because my wife wanted "something quiet" to help her get to sleep. It worked.

Liam Smith A Wonderful film. Even though it is little known, it is still totally worth watching! The shots are beautiful and quite different from other films. It makes it quite artistic and unique. Being half British, I felt it showed a side of England that is not usually known. The "quite" side. There are no special effects. There are no gun shots. There are no dazzling lights or loud noises. The film is simple. But that is what makes it so enjoyable. It is just a good story. It is one of my favorites, and I always like making new friends watch it. They usually always love it (or at least they don't tell me otherwise). It will have you cheering for "Colin" in the end!

settdigger I love a good independent film, and I love England.Loving those two things was not enough to love this film.The line between quaint and catatonic, between heartwarming and smarmingly saccharine, is rather fine at times.This director hasn't quite figured out how to keep his feet on the kosher side of the line.He has a good eye, and the pacing isn't bad, but it isn't good either. He lingers 10 seconds too long on just about every shot, 2 minutes too long on every scene.I love a good movie about nothing. But this is merely a mediocre one.

talltale-1 There is a real and wonderful visual artist behind HEARTLANDS, but I am not certain if it is the director--or his director of photography. This movie is so beautiful to view in terms of composition, clarity and color that I found myself trying not to blink for fear of missing something. (Even the beginning, set in a heavily "industrial" neighborhood, manages to look interesting. Then, two-thirds of the way through, there is a "grainy" section in an amusement park, and damned if THAT isn't beautiful, too!) I don't recall director Damien O'Donnell's "East is East" as being anything special visually, so perhaps the beauty is due to the photographer. Whatever: "Heartlands" is utterly lovely to look at--and more. It's that rare movie in which kindness takes a front seat, and you find yourself increasingly joyful due to the simple, caring things that one person does for another.The main character here is a poor schlub who wife soon leaves him. Played beautifully by Michael Sheen (of the OCD-driven "Dirty Filthy Love"), this guy seems borderline feeble (particularly when he tries to tell a certain story/joke and can't begin to manage it: the writer and director go a bit too far here). But as he begins to re-order his life, he--and the movie--just gets better and better.In its quiet and thoughtful way, this one left me feeling buoyant--on some non-drug-induced "high"--as any film I can remember in a long while. I hope it'll have the same effect on you.