Mean Machine ***½ (2001, Vinnie Jones, David Kelly, David Hemmings) – Classic Movie Review 968

Vinnie Jones puts the muscle into director Barry Skolnick’s feisty 2001 reworking of the old Burt Reynolds film The Mean Machine (aka The Longest Yard) about an epic footie match between prison warders and cons. Jones plays Danny Meehan, a soccer star jailed for assault, who at the urgent urging of the governor leads a group of inmates in a match against his guards.

Jones gives his best film performance so far in Skolnick’s surprisingly exciting, expert and convincing 2001 transfer of the 1974 black comedy action movie to a British setting. David Hemmings enjoys himself enormously as the jail governor. It’s a fun turn but he’s no match for the original’s Eddie Albert in polished villainy, though.

Charlie Fletcher, Chris Baker and Andrew Day adapt the original story by Albert S Ruddy and 1974 screenplay by Tracy Keenan Wynn.

David Kelly (as Doc), Vas Blackwood (as Massive), John Forgeham, Ralph Brown, Robbie Gee, Geoff Bell, Sally Phillips, Danny Dyer (as Billy the Limpet), Jason Flemyng (as Bob Likely), Stephen Walters (Nitro) and Jason Statham (Monk) are also in the sterling cast.

It was advertised as ‘From the producer of Snatch and Lock, Stock‘ – Matthew Vaughn. It got two thumbs up from Roger Ebert. By 2016, it is Skolnick’s only movie as director.

© Derek Winnert 2014 Classic Film Review 968 derekwinnert.com

Director Barry Skolnick.