Studs (2006)

Takes itself way too seriously

Highly Overrated But Still Good

if their story seems completely bonkers, almost like a feverish work of fiction, you ain't heard nothing yet.

Blistering performances.

This is a poor film. It certainly belongs in the how not to make a feature film category. Story, direction, acting and style are all flat as a pancake. Story consists of five – yes five – football matches spread out over the film's duration, each one more boringly filmed than the last, as a dysfunctional amateur football team go from strength to strength. That's it, that's the plot. It's hard to know who this film is aimed at. It's too banal for football fans and there's nothing in it for teens nor grown-ups. There's nothing in it for women either, there isn't even a single female character. It's dreariness wears you down as the team play game after game after game after game after game. The story, such as it is, dialogue and mannerisms seem lifted from a bygone Ireland, with all the actors spouting cod theatrical Dublin accents. It doesn't have to be seen to be believed. Avoid at all costs. Can someone give me back my 90 minutes. High point the credits at the end, low point too numerous to mention. Brendan Gleeson is in this film.

I don't believe this film should be on anyones "must see" lists for 2006, but I think it is being harsly critiqued.Bottom line:-Paul Mercier did a fine job with the direction. -The principal cast put in sound performances, especially when you consider the material they had to work with. -There was a few laughs.If you want to support independent film...go see it! It is worth spending a few of your hard earned Euros...certainly better than wasting your coin on some trash that cost 100 Million based around a car crash.

I have to disagree with the other comments. The film wasn't amazing, the story was simple and probably missed its genre but having had the benefit of reading the original script I lay this blame firmly at the door of the editor. Despite this, it was fairly entertaining, and at least it didn't try to be something it was not, it was a story about a small time team and their drunken manager, it didn't attempt to put them in the FA cup final and it didn't succumb to the traditional happy ending where they win the cup against all odds...On a side note it had a great cast who did well with poorly thought out dialog.I wouldn't buy the DVD, but I didn't regret the time I spent watching the film.

Making a film for under 1 Million might be a triumph for a line producer or an accountant but doesn't do anything for the audience. The balance sheet might have been pretty but the viewing experience was poor.What will be a triumph for Irish Cinema is when people realise that production values and the script can't be sacrificed.I don't understand why people expend the energy it takes to put a film together when the production quality is worse than a low grade TV show.The deficiencies of the plot have been mentioned in another review on this site and I totally agree with what was written. What I would add is that the film skimmed the surface of several genres without ever settling in one of them. The film would have benefited from either going the direction of a straight out comedy or social/political commentary.My overall impression was that the film was rushed, thematically under developed and visually not up to standard. On a positive note the performances and music were very good.