As an old school left winger, I obviously have a lot of time for Dennis Skinner. The idealistic, committed socialist’s life and work, including over 40 years as a Labour MP, are celebrated in Daniel Draper’s biographical documentary. I use that adjective deliberately as this is a very uncritical examination of the man. With access to numerous interviews with the subject and his surviving brothers that isn’t really surprising, and it is only in discussing his life outside of politics that the unexpected appears. He talks at length about his love of nature and London’s parks and; more interestingly for me, his admiration of Woody Allen.
The rest of the time, the run through his career is never less than entertaining with most of his most famous moments remembered. It would have been nice, once in a while, to have heard a critical voice or for him to have had a few tougher questions in his interviews. In light of his defiance of his own party with his vote for the EU Withdrawal Bill in the last few days, clarification of his Brexit opinions would have been welcomed.
However, this was not that film and admirers of the man will find much to enjoy in it.
Rating: 7 out of 10