Happy New Year, Colin Burstead *** (2018, Neil Maskell, Sam Riley, Bill Paterson, Charles Dance, Joe Cole) – Movie Review

Writer-director Ben Wheatley’s semi-improvised ensemble comedy drama Happy New Year, Colin Burstead (2018) is dark and sour, with a bunch of really horrible loser characters, but it is undeniably funny in places in its black comedy kind of way, as well as strikingly dramatic. It is the kind of film we expect from Mike Leigh, but this time it is Wheatley’s turn. He does it with much relish. Wheatley provides the story framework and some of the dialogue, and attends to the crucial job of the editing to keep it moving smartly along.

The performances see it through to some considerable success, with Neil Maskell starring as the unpleasant piece of work that is Colin, who hires a lavish country manor for his extended family to celebrate New Year. Unfortunately, his long-estranged brother David (Sam Riley), another apparently unpleasant piece of work, has also been invited, along with his German girlfriend. Sparks fly. It is a long time till they can happily sing Auld Lang Syne.

Bill Paterson enjoys a role worthy of him as the brothers’ amiable father, about to lose his property, and the brothers won’t help him out. It is unfair to single anyone out, because all the performances hit the nail on the head, but Charles Dance is amusing as crazy old Uncle Bertie (Charles Dance in earrings!), Doon Mackichan is excellent as the hard-faced mother Sandy, Richard Glover is good as the bewildered lord running the stately home, and Asim Chaudhry gets his laughs as Sham.

Also in the cast are Joe Cole, Alexandra Maria Lara, Hayley Squires, Peter Ferdinando, Sinead Matthews, Mark Monero, Vincent Ebrahim and Sarah Baxendale.

Happy New Year, Colin Burstead is a nominee as Best Film in the Official Competition at the London Film Festival 2018.

© Derek Winnert 2018 Movie Review

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