Mean Machine (2001)

User Rating:

6.3/10   

Director:

Barry Skolnick

Writers (WGA):

Tracy Keenan Wynn (earlier screenplay "The Longest Yard")
Charlie Fletcher (screenplay) ...

Release Date:

26 December 2001 (UK)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama | Sport

Tagline:

Not Your Usual Suspects

Plot:

A soccer star jailed for assault leads a group of inmates in a match against prison guards.

Plot Keywords:

Prison | Prison Guard | Soccer Star | Soccer | Inmate

Cast

Vinnie Jones	...	Danny Meehan
David Kelly	...	Doc
David Hemmings	...	Governor
Ralph Brown	...	Burton
Vas Blackwood	...	Massive
Robbie Gee	...	Trojan
Geoff Bell	...	Ratchett
John Forgeham	...	Charlie Sykes
Sally Phillips	...	Tracey
Danny Dyer	...	Billy the Limpet
Jason Flemyng	...	Bob Likely
Jason Statham	...	Monk
Martin Wimbush	...	Z
David Reid	...	Barman
David Cropman	...	Second Barman

MPAA:

Rated R for language and some violence.

Runtime:

99 min

Country:

UK | USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Iceland:16 | Singapore:NC-16 | South Korea:15 | Australia:M | Canada:14A | Germany:12 | Netherlands:16 | Portugal:M/12 | Spain:13 | Sweden:11 | UK:15 | USA:R | Singapore:PG (cut) | Norway:15

Company:

Paramount Pictures

Trivia:

David Kelly replaced Warren Mitchell.

Goofs:

Continuity: When 'Nitro' is bundled into the back of a prison van, he knocks a guard's hat off. As the prison van doors are slammed shut, the guard's hat is still firmly on his head.

Quotes:

Danny Meehan: Oh right lads, you wanna be nothing, prisoners... numbers... that's fine But you win out there today and you'll have something to remember forever, talk about it over and over, because up and down the country there are cons that are pig sick of not being here in your shoes... just to have one crack at those bastards next door!
Danny Meehan: Run your guts out, and you'll have somethin' in 'ere
[points towards heart]
Danny Meehan: they can never touch, guards and nutcase governors... NOW... ask yourselves one question... ARE YOU READY?
[...]

Movie Connections:

References Tarzan the Ape Man (1932)

Soundtrack:

Let Me Entertain You

Need more of these from our British cousins!

I could understand not liking this movie if someone was expecting Citizen Kane (and if you were, you should be flogged). For a straight to video/cable movie, it had great prod. value, sharp dialogue, and a great supporting cast of Guy Ritchie characters. Throw in some solid football and you have a film to help you forget the worries of your day. The commentary by the two Bobs alone makes it worthwhile. Jones is good, but Statham steals the show in almost all of his scenes. Like the original (The Longest Yard), it was made to entertain the audience, not to provoke some deep introspective thought on the existence of God. See it, rent it, buy it! If you cant discern the heavy British slang, throw on the subtitles. If you don't have a DVD player, how in the hell are you managing to read this?