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As the title suggests, there are sly nods to the spaghetti-western genre in this tale of love and loyalty in Nottingham. But writer/director Shane Meadows also crafts a story of working-class Britain that despite its last-minute sentimentality is as letter-perfect in detail and characterization as any Mike Leigh or Ken Loach fan could wish for. Charming small-time hood Jimmy (Robert Carlyle) is watching daytime TV in Glasgow when he sees the wife he left behind, Shirley (Shirley Henderson), being proposed to by her nerdy but sweet boyfriend, Dek (Rhys Ifans). When Shirley refuses Dek, Jimmy decides he’s still got a chance and heads south. After a hilarious hold-up involving some rainbow-wigged clowns, Jimmy ditches his partners-in-crime with the loot in tow. Meanwhile, Shirley and Dek have survived their 15 minutes and are continuing their cozy life with Shirley’s daughter Marlene (brilliant newcomer Finn Atkins), but when Jimmy shows up, the trio are shaken and Shirley has second thoughts. The accents are thick (Welsh, Scottish, Midlands), but the performances from this fine ensemble cast are as enjoyable as a fresh pint. (104 minutes)
BY PEG ALOI
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