Have you ever had someone wrong you so bad that you felt like killing them? Sure you have, we all have. But in most cases, the targets of our anger don’t really deserve that fate, and we don't have it within ourselves to go through with it. For me personally it would take someone hurting or killing a member of my family before I would strike out in such a manner. As a matter of fact, my father was murdered almost thirty years ago and I know who did it. Actually, even the courts new who did it, but they were released on a technicality. While I have not made any attempt to find this person, if they were ever to have the misfortune to get in front of me again, my first response would be to want to kill them. The only thing that would stop me would be my responsibility to be there for my wife and kids. I love them too much to send myself to jail. So for now I have to get my gratification vicariously through others by watching films like "Dead Man's Shoes." There's nothing like a good revenge film to help personal feelings of revenge by delivering a cathartic experience.

"Dead Man's Shows" introduces us Richard (Paddy Considine), a man who takes the law into his own hands to avenge the mistreatment of his mentally retarded brother (Toby Kebbell).

As directed by Shane Meadows, "Dead Man's Shoes" is unlike most revenge movies I've seen, partly because it is devoid of all the special effect grandstanding that usually comes with films like these. Meadows keeps it grounded in reality going so far as to humanize the perpetrators in order to keep them from being viewed as real monsters. This becomes a very important plot point towards the end of the movie.

Paddy Considine, who co-wrote the film with Meadows, delivers a very strong performance as Richard. But as good as it is, there still seems to be a little something missing from the film. Its simplistic plot doesn’t leave much room for any real action so the film feels a little slow at times. It is only the performances that keep it moving.

"Dead Man's Shoes" is being released by Magnolia Home Entertainment this month. Included in the release is an audio commentary featuring Meadows and Considine, who are joined by producer Mark Herbert. The three offer up some interesting points as to why the film took some of the turns that it did, and in retrospect I can agree with some of their choices. There are also some deleted scenes and an alternate ending, the last of which I didn't think held the power of the one that was finally used.

In spite of some of its shortcomings, "Dead Man's Shoes" is still a very worthwhile film that is at least worth a rental if not necessarily a purchase.,

Directed by: Shane Meadows
Starring: Paddy Considine, Gary Stretch, Toby Kebbell
Extras: Audio Commentary by Director Shane Meadows, Actor Paddy Considine and Producer Mark Herbert, In Shane's Shoes Featurette, Deleted Scenes, Alternate Ending
Specifications: Widescreen (1.78:1), Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound
Studio: Magnolia Home Entertainment
Release Date: 9/5/2006
Region 1
MPAA Rating: NR
Website

We'll give Dead Man's Shoes a C.