Film Review - Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory is a grim tale of life in a northern factory town.

Charlie, played by a 19-year-old Ricky Tomlinson, sees no life for himself at the chocolate factory where all his friends work, but in a town with little other employment, he's unlikely to escape his fate.

As ever with these types of films, it is when the action is at its grittiest that the film's heart shines through. At one point, Charlie's mother, played by Pauline Collins implores young Charlie to take a job on the production line, as he has been out of work for months and the family have been reduced to eating chairs. Charlie stands his ground and tells her that Bertie Bassett came to him in a dream and revealed himself as an alternate employer. As his mother breaks down in tears, it's impossible not to feel for her - the liquorice allsort factory is in the neighbouring town.

This film is by turns uplifting, soul-destroying, mind-numbing, intoxicating and gay.