AWAYDAYS, the film like

Here, now, this movie was released last year, and fuck knows why I'm reviewing it now, but i fuckin am. Anyway, AWAYDAYS is based on brilliant, absolute genius book by the same name written by Kevin Sampson.

For all of us who were mad into the book, it was a quite gratifying surprise when it was officially announced that a film was gonna be made. I mean fuckin hell, it's one of the best fictional accounts of the late 70's and early 80's in Merseyside, written by someone who actually was there. The brands, the bands, the places, everything.
When the film finally came out, it was like "what the fuck, OK...i need to see this again and decide whether is a good attempt or it's the football thug version of Velvet Goldmine"...


The aesthetics of the film in my opinion where pretty much spot on. Impeccable. But the storyline it's completely twisted and turned. yeah, yeah yeah I know it's not exactly the easiest thing to do to adapt a book into 90 minutes or whatever the fuck but then again I'm sure I'm not the only one who has mixed feelings about this movie.
Now, the soundtrack of the film is pretty sound as well, and I recommend you to watch the film nonetheless.
Anyway I will be comparing it constantly to the book because it needs to be done.

The film is based mainly on Carty, a young middle-class lad who has a infatuation for mysterious cool, pretty boy Elvis who is everything Carty wants to be. Their first encounter is at the terraces of their local team Tranmere Rovers, where Elvis, a member of firm called "The Pack" is seen cutting some cunt with a Stanley knife.
Carty and Elvis finally bond at a scenester club were Carty seems to have some sort of pull. They share a romantic evening (quite touching if you are into romantic evening with your best mate) throwing stones and making a pact to go to Berlin to the sound of Ultravox! when they were cool.
Carty is very pleased and wants to be part of "The Pack", but Elvis reckons him a nice, soft boy. Eventually Elvis finally gives in and takes Carty to an away game where he bashes a few woolies and gets very hard.
Carty is slowly accepted in the Pack, except for Baby who is a fat little angry man (great hair though)who ends up stabbing their leader John.
Eventually Carty and Elvis fallout over some homoerotic argument constantly, and although they pick up some girls (well one and a half) on a bus and take them home, it's actually Carty who ends up getting all the poon.
After numerous ups and downs, Carty's sister gets attacked by a bunch of posh rugby palyers and eventually kick the shit out of Carty lar. Carty realizes he needs help from Elvis to get back at the rugby boys so he returns to him bruised up and ready to kiss and make up. Carty agrees to give him a hand and brings some mates to cause a bit of mayhem, which they...kinda...do. Afterwards Elvis leaves the scene crying and has a tender moment with Carty but disappears into the night (this of course without all the poetical beauty of the book).
They meet again at John's funeral and they make a pact to go to one last away game, which Elvis misses and ends up getting Carty slashed in the face with a Stanley by baby who calls him a ponce.




BOOK: Carty is not gay. At the most Carty has a normal straight man's homoerotic fascination with Elvis demeanor.
It's important to mention that the character of Carty himself is not the complete poncey eejit that he is portrayed to be in the movie. He is a sound cunt with a pretty harsh and realistic vision of things, including his social status and his attitudes.
The scene with the girls is supposed to have these two birds who are hot as fuckin balls, and the rugby player bashing is quite more violent than in the film.
Now, BUY THE BOOK because it's completely worth it.