Finally got round to seeing Nil By Mouth. Never had I known Gary Oldman was such an accomplished director, not to mention writer and producer also. With regards to said film, this could be partly attributed to his growing up in the environment portrayed, but that'd be pernickity and unfair.
Nil... is real. Painfully real, and, ironically, that's part of its saving grace; the inherent humour found in the expectedly Cockney (eastend Londoners - entertaining) dialogue being part of its poignant charm. Without this, the movie would mostly be one big, bleak dirge.
On the other hand, Ray Winstone is brutal. In fact, this might be the best and most gritty performance of his I've seen so far (surprising given his nails case lead role in Scum). Playing an abusive, neglectful alcoholic in a dysfunctional family, he is essentially the film's central focus, and it's moving to see the hell he causes and endures, yet regrets and wishes to rectify. Speaking of grittiness, the subplot involving young junkie Billy and the imperfect, kinda shaky camerawork throughout are sadly authentic also. I liked the ending because it allows the viewer to assume for themselves what will become of Mr. X and Mrs. Y's future (not to give out any spoilers!). A sometimes harrowing, and at others touching and funny movie with pathos, I recommend it.