ID – Vincent O'Connell

It’s no secret I was unhappy at how this film turned out. I kept quiet at the time it was released, not talking to the press and so on, but I was in grief that a powerful cinematic vision had come out looking like a standard bit of British tv social realism. I’d trusted Phil to direct it as he is such a superb actor, and this film had to stand or fall on the central performance, but he just couldn’t see the cinematic potential of the script. My view has slightly mellowed over the years, as people keep telling me what a good film it was, and seeing the excitement that generations of students especially have expressed about it. It is also made to look rather good by the frankly pathetic string of films that followed in its wake to cash in on the football film genre. I have written a commission for ID2 which, if it is ever made, will hopefully kill off that genre and revenue stream for good.

Produced by Parallax Films in 1995

Written by Vincent O’Connell

Directed by Philip Davis

Produced by Sally Hibbin

Starring Reece Dinsdale, Saskia Reeves, Claire Skinner, Warren Clarke, Philip Glenister.

The first feature film to establish the football gang genre, Vincent was shortlisted for Best Screenplay at the Writer’s Guild Awards, and won the inaugral British Script D’Or. Based on true events surrounding the collapse of trials against Millwall football fans for conspiracy to cause acts of violence, it follows a team of undercover policemen as they infiltrate a gang of hard core hooligans. In particular, it charts the story of John, who goes so far into his role, he is unable to come out again.

(And yes, Vincent DID write the film, albeit based on an original story by James Bannon –Undercover Writer )

PDF Script Extract

Trailer here, full film to come shortly.