England Is Mine (2017), directed and co-written by Mark Gill, is the story of one Steven Patrick Morrissey, who would become better known by his last name alone. This unauthorized biopic is set in dreary Manchester mostly in the mid to late 1970s, before Steven became the sullen, handsome devil of a frontman with gladioli in his pocket. That said, it’s not the story of the rise of the Smiths but a coming-of-age tale of this charming (young) man, forced to interact and smile at people who he’d much rather kick in the eye.
Buy England Is Mine Blu-rayManchester 1976. A shy, introverted young man wants to write and make music but his painful shyness and ego prevent him from making the connections that will bring his dreams to fruition. Steven’s days are spent with the books and records he loves while he writes in his journals/notebooks, occasionally submitting reviews to the music magazines. Steven quietly broods but keeps writing as he reluctantly takes a miserable job as a filing clerk. His best pal, artist Linder Sterling, sees the promise in him and keeps nudging him to get what he wants, to make music. Steven eventually connects with guitarist Billy Duffy and starts his musical journey.
As Steven begins to sing his life, he slowly shows signs of happiness but Billy is soon called to tour with a major rock band and leaves Steven lost and alone. Billy does leave Steven a phone number of a budding young innovative guitarist named Johnny. Steven tosses the number away and sulks about until 1982 when Johnny, last name Marr, shows up at his door ready to blend his jangly guitar sound with Stevens sullen vocals and lyrics. We watch as Steven hammers out new lines on his typewriter and Johnny strums a few sad chords. The movie closes with quiet still shots of the places Steven will leave behind as he and Marr move forward forming the nucleus of alt rock band the Smiths which will transform Steven into the bequiffed performer known simply as Morrissey.
At its core, England Is Mine is the usual coming-of-age drama about an awkward, clumsy and shy youth who hides away and broods until fate literally comes knocking on his door, forcing him to make a choice. The movie’s unique angle is that Morrissey is its subject matter. Young Steven Patrick isn’t just painfully shy he also comes across as a bit of a moody prick at times. Though in more intimate scenes we’ll see that it’s mostly due to his awkward demeanor, love for eloquent speech, and an odd sense of humor stemming from his feelings of being unappreciated. Jack Lowden presents this morose youngster’s wit and hidden charms very well and it helps that his speaking voice is similar to Morrissey’s. Jessica Brown Findlay does a fine job as Linder, that friend that sees in us what we’ve yet to show the rest of the world and urges us on, no matter how reluctant we may be. Director Gill captures it all on camera using creative angles to get a fresh look at boring old places and long zooms to highlight moods.
For those looking for a more music-based biopic, this isn’t it. This is shaggy-haired, ’70s Morrissey before (the trademark quiff) Marr and the Smiths so the music we’re treated to are the sounds that inspired and influenced a young Steven. A few of these tunes are included on an album Morrissey released in 2006 titled Under the Influence. As the movie plays on, we get a look at scenes and situations that cause Steven to run for his journal, madly taking notes and jotting down lines that will make their way into songs such as “Still Ill,” “Heaven Knows I’m Miserable Now,” “Half A Person,” and “Ask.”
The MVD and Cleopatra Entertainment Blu-ray edition bonus features are two short featurettes and a full length audio commentary by director Gill and star Lowden. Sad Facts Widely Known is eight minutes of behind-the-scenes footage arranged in an artful, somber manner which suits the movie well. Smoke and Mirrors is a 22-minute spotlight on cinematographer Nic Knowland.
England Is Mine isn’t La Bamba or The Doors and it isn’t meant to be, as I’m sure Morrissey himself would have wanted it to be, had he been involved. England Is Mine is the story of an aspiring poet and writer as he struggled to make his way to the path that would eventually lead him to stardom. It also serves to remind us all to thank that certain someone who was brave enough to zoom down a flight of stairs, embrace us in their golden light, and remind us that there’s more to life than books…but not much more.
