Cast: Clive Owen, Helen Mirren, David Kelly, Warren Clarke, Danny Dyer, Adam Fogerty, Paterson Joseph, Natasha Little
Director: Joel Hershman
Producers: Travis Swords, Daniel J. Victor
Screenplay: Joel Hershman
Cinematography: John Daly
Music: Guy Dagul
U.S. Distributor: The Samuel Goldwyn Company
Greenfingers is very much in the tradition of recent U.K. exports like The Full Monty, Waking Ned Devine, and Saving Grace - a light comedy that sporadically works because it offers servings of laughter while presenting characters that audiences can relate to. And, as in those other films, there's an underlying social message. In this case, it's that if a country is serious about using prisons for rehabilitation (as opposed to strictly for punishment), a certain amount of creativity and "out of the box thinking" is necessary. Greenfingers does not preach its philosophy from a pulpit, but it's there for anyone who cares to look.
The premise of the film is that five hardened criminals who are residents at the experimental minimum security Edgefield Prison become gardeners. Each prisoner is required to be part of a work detail and, when the taciturn Colin Briggs (Clive Owen) shows an aptitude for growing flowers, the warden (Warren Clarke) decides that he will head up a group assigned to create a garden in the prison yards. Also on Colin's "team" is the terminally ill "lifer", Fergus (David Kelly); the burly, appropriately named Raw (Adam Fogerty); Jimmy (Paterson Joseph), whose life's desire is to get his young son to believe in him again; and Tony (Danny Dyer), the local Lothario. Colin's garden is a huge success, attracting the attention of celebrity author and gardener, Georgina Woodhouse (Helen Mirren), and her pretty daughter, Primrose (Natasha Little). With Georgina's help, Colin and his group appear headed for a spot in the prestigious Hampton Court Flower Show until an unfortunate turn of events creates a roadblock.
Greenfingers is essentially the familiar sports motif played out in a different arena - call it Rocky with pruning shears and hoes. But, while Joel Hershman's screenplay follows the formula in a broad sense, his characters don't always talk in cliches and act like cardboard cut-outs. (Point of interest: writer/director Hershman is an American.) The dialogue has its high points, although, like much British humor, it's more likely to provoke chuckles that guffaws. Colin and his mates are presented as likeable, albeit flawed, individuals. The tendency in most films about prisoners (especially those doing hard time) is to demonize them; Hershman goes in the other direction. However, those looking for any true invention won't find it here. Greenfingers is nothing if not blandly non-controversial.
Over the past few years, Clive Owen has risen to the level of a major sex symbol in Great Britain (to the point where he has occasionally been mentioned as a possible successor to Pierce Brosnan as James Bond). North American viewers may recognize him best as the title character of Mike Hodges' Croupier, 2000's unexpected art house hit. Owen has a tendency to underplay his roles - an approach that serves him well here. His interpretation of Colin is straightforward and low-key, allowing us to accept both his participation in the gardening contest and his romance with Primrose.
Helen Mirren is, as usual, wonderful. She brings expert comic timing to her part. David Kelly, who co-starred in Waking Ned Devine (but is probably still best remembered as O'Reilly in "Fawlty Towers"), has a solid supporting turn, as do Paterson Joseph and Adam Fogerty. Fogerty is often used for humorous purposes - he's a big, burly man who often waxes poetic about the kinds of flowers he wants to plant. (Think of him as the British equivalent of Hulk Hogan.) Natasha Little, who is not too familiar outside of the U.K., is appealing as Primrose.
Greenfingers has all the ingredients to appeal to art-house audiences, although it's likely a little too sedate and eclectic to find widespread success in multiplexes. For those who appreciate low-key British comedies, Greenfingers is a passable entry - a somewhat pleasant diversion, but nothing more. The movie is short enough not to wear out its welcome, and, like the plants tended by the caretakers, the situations and characters grow on you.
© 2001 James Berardinelli