User reviews

Not so much a movie about Brexit as it is a feature-length propaganda piece built around capitalist fantasies of industrial deregulation.

Director/writer Martin Durkin also serves as our on-screen guide. His 'documentary' work to date is a strange bedfellow to his Revolutionary Communist political activism – this is the same Martin Durkin that brought the world the much-derided and debunked 'The Great Global Warming Swindle' in 2007, before trying to defend it against experts' criticisms with such insightful arguments as, "You're a big daft cock." Durkin clearly loves the camera, but I'm not sure it's requited. There's a comedic scene early on where he gets into a taxi in Brussels and asks to go "to the EU". The taxi driver gives this example of Durkin's "ask a silly question" stance (which he adopts throughout) an appropriate look, and an unintentional microcosm for the whole film is created.

The arguments of 'Brexit: the Movie' are pretty well-worn (and delivered as inevitabilities, despite the weight of historical evidence suggesting otherwise… as we slowly emerge from a prolonged recession triggered by – oh, look! – deregulated, uncontrolled industry). The gist is that an abundance of regulation is straitjacketing the creativity, vim and, indeed, vigour of British capitalists who would otherwise be blinding the rest of us with their brilliance, lifting the poor commoners out of their hovels and catapulting Britain into the big time (as though the suits, jargon and short-term thinking based on greed and self-interest they actually indulge in are imposed upon them from on high). The evil EU – the story goes – is the faceless, undemocratic source of all regulation, ERGO leaving it would usher in a paradise on Earth for all who swear allegiance to the Union Flag. Basically what the American Republican party keep promising its electorate and continually failing to deliver.

And that – aside from a muddy portrait of the EU filled with common misconceptions and distortions, designed to set the scene early on – is IT! If you don't buy these hackneyed delusions of the rich, or see the link between their ability to more easily increase their own wealth and your own situation, there is literally nothing else here.

Hot button topics like security, sovereignty and VAT aren't aired at all. Even immigration doesn't get a look in – maybe Durkin felt the issue was too contentious, or weak, or that maybe by the time his film came out that that whole topic would have been swept under the carpet. As things have panned out it seems weird to have have ignored it. There is also a distinct lack of expert opinion, despite a wealth of uninformed or biased views from pundits and politicians.

And yet, 'Brexit: the Movie' is slickly-made and persuasive enough if you don't actually think about or question what you're being told. It could generate a lot of 'Leave' votes from the very working classes that deregulation threatens the most, and in that small way it is perhaps to be admired as a 'job well done'.

Quintessential British Documentary. Great narrator voice, perfect transitions from past to present to past, and musical themes adding to the emotion and crescendo to the synergistic, central point. Uses quite a number of film techniques and "straight- to-the-point" characters and avoids the common documentary sins of "slow", "painstaking", "boring". Very Graphical(through-out) and Comical(at some points).

I think the film does do a great job at posing the question that the economic transferal of power has been an overall economic net loss for Britain. The point that Europe was very competitive and the "cooperation" has not always for the benefit of every trade/industry in Britain.

For open minds, this poses a great question to the British people. I personally believe government should be as local and accountable(you should be voting for them and should easily be able to fire them) as possible. As an American(freedom bias) the thought that other countries having so much authority would feel...discomforting.

Can't wait to see the referendum results for you guys! Good Luck!

This is an excellent movie that should convince anyone who wants Britain to remain in the EU to vote leave and it'll give those who want to vote for Brexit additional arguments to use when debating the issue with friends. Brexit: The Movie successfully destroys the 'Little Englander' argument Remainers use against Brexit and instead- rightly- portrays them as 'Little Europeans', as they want us to stay in an undemocratic union that looks inwards rather than outwards. It explains how the EU makes it much harder for members to trade with other countries and how it is the only declining trade bloc in the world.

It also talks about how the EU's ridiculous regulations stifle small businesses, and all this is of course a result of the lobbying that takes place involving big companies, which these regulations benefit a lot.

In short, this film makes the case for Brexit in a brilliant way. Don't take my word for it, watch it!

Vote Leave.

"Brexit: The Movie" is a bit slow at the beginning but at around the 20 minute mark it takes off. You receive a whole University course in macroeconomics that is entertaining within a little more than an hour here.

The word "Brexit" is not actually explained in the movie, and actually seems to play a minor role in this piece. Brexit is actually a combination of the words "Britain" and "exit", and it refers to a referendum that the people of Britain will be voting on to either stay or get out of the European union (EU). But the movie gives so much more than just why the Brexit referendum should be, it gives answers to many economic questions that affect our everyday lives here in the US and around the world.

Do you want to know the reasons why it is so hard to find a job these days? Or why pay scales have decreased over the years? Why jobs are leaving the country? What is the best way to keep these jobs here? Answers to these questions are in "Brexit: The Movie", along with answers to many more questions.

This is a VERY important movie to see, especially for those who want to make a more informed decision in this year's election come November.

Before I start this review, I'll confess that I am a Vote Leave supporter, so already I agree with this film politically. However, that doesn't mean I let the filmmaking aspect slip by the wayside, as I have enjoyed good films with (in my opinion) bad politics and vice versa. Thankfully however, this film doesn't fall into that trap. While I would argue it is an important film for British politics, it is also a very good documentary. Well researched, detailed, very accessible & surprisingly very funny, this is not only a great film politically but also one technically.

The structure of the film is very straightforward. The film explains why the poor economy of a post war Britain led them to join the EU, the initial benefits of it & (for most of the film) argues why the EU is no longer good for us, both democratically and financially. While the film does give the viewer a lot of information to digest and is slow at points because of it, it never once bores the audience. This is because of how well paced the film is which never drags on the same point for too long, and how it uses humour to deliver the facts. This is mainly encapsulated by how they discuss how over regulatory the EU is, where they make sarcastic jibes at why there are hundreds of laws for towels & toasters. All of this helps to balance the dark nature of the film about the UK's future and it's light tone, so it never becomes a heavy headed seminar but never too light to undermine the seriousness of the piece.

And boy, are things seriously wrong with the EU indeed. I will find it hard for anybody not to be shocked at how corrupt it all is, regardless of where you stand. The fact that they are in bed with corporations who constantly lobby them to give them more power and kill competition or the staggering wealth it's MEPs get (even so much as to have an exclusive shopping mall for them) it's fantastically corrupt. Meanwhile, the film does a good job of demonstrating the lack of democracy and unaccountability the EU has, explaining how the people don't vote for (and a lot of the time don't even know) those who run it. The film also highlights how it negatively affects small businesses (as shown by the shocking interview at the once rife fishing market) & helps bigger ones. From this film, it is clear that the EU is a terrible prospect to be in these days, and it will only get worse if we stay in. One thing you can't accuse the film of it's arguing it's case passionately, that's for sure.

And while the film is lacking in balance, it does at least do a decent job of presenting why the EU was good for Britain at first. After WW2, countries like Germany thrived due to an economic revolution whereas those who had won the war like the UK were floundering due to an overly regulated market, which had killed Britain's workshop of the world status. When we entered in the 70's, it was the best choice for Britain, especially considering how weaker the economy had become and how inflation had rapidly increased at that point. It was good for stabilising us back then. However, the film presents how the EU became the antithesis of what it stood for. This included when it screwed over it's own citizens by eventually allowing foreign competition in the EU which severely crippled economies of countries who had benefited from such monopolies before, leading to the rise of unrest and the far right.

It also discusses what alternative system we could adopt post-Brexit, and offers Switzerland as it's main example. It's quite faniscating to see how strong it is in comparison to the EU economically, with more trade deals and a higher economic growth rate. While some could argue that Switzerland's portrayal in the film is slightly rose tinted, it still seems like an interesting example of what a post-Brexit Britain could look like.

All of this information is presented well, particularly with interesting facts and statistics and the compelling interviews from people like UKIP leader Nigel Farage, Conservative MEP Daniel Hannan, former Chancellor Nigel Lawson & many others. Add to that the humour and animated parts, and you have a case where all the parts make a satisfying & cohesive whole. While I will admit that it is very one-sided and slow at points, I would highly recommend it to all British voters, especially those who are undecided. It may preach to the converted, but I think it is definitely the most important film of the year and something you have to watch before casting your vote. Remember this: you future is at stake, and hopefully this film will help you determine which road you want Britain to go down. Choose wisely.

STAR RATING: ***** Saturday Night **** Friday Night *** Friday Morning ** Sunday Night * Monday Morning

A series of talking heads, including journalists, politicians, and key figures in the Leave Campaign (including Nigel Farage) comment on various issues raised by filmmaker Martin Durkin, who travels to Brussels and attempts to untangle the myriad layers of the European Union headquarters, with the numerous courts, and layers of red tape and bureaucracy, as well as the illusive heads of this cryptic organisation.

There are near enough only forty eight hours to go now as I'm writing this review, before the polling stations will be closing, the votes cast and the fate of the future of Britain's infrastructure will be changed forever one way or the other, after which doing this review would be somewhat irrelevant. The campaign is well and truly at fever pitch, and it's all now resting on a knife edge. Martin Durkin would appear to be in favour of leaving, and it shows with this little feature that illustrates how illusive it is, what a negative impact it's having on various people, and how the country could have a better future without it.

Durkin appears mainly concerned with highlighting what a bossy, bully boy institution the EU has become, imposing restrictions on fishermen in the North East, for example, and reducing their intake from their heyday, as well as the various quotas and tariffs imposed on small businesses trying to compete against failing common stock. In this sense, it certainly emerges as a very persuasive case, and the raft of evidence is certainly very engaging. While it's a shame alternative viewpoints are not allowed to put their cases forward, they are at least considered, and a rosier outlook to their gripes is presented.

For Brexiteers, it's certainly an illuminating showcase of their arguments, mainly in the fields of democracy, accountability and fairness, without fixating too much on sovereignty. As one sided as it is, it's well worth a watch in what is now the final countdown to the end decision. ****