Buster (4½ Stars)

This is a film that's been lying unwatched on my shelf for many, many years. I don't know exactly how long, but it was before I started writing my blog in September 2010. I had a DVD that was a free gift with the News Of The World, a British Sunday newspaper. The date on the DVD cover is 2003, so it was possibly one of my first DVDs. I have about a dozen free DVDs from various newspapers. The trouble is that I've kept them all these years on a small pile in the corner, not with all my other DVDs, so they're easy to overlook.

"Buster" is a film that shouldn't be overlooked. It's the story of Buster Edwards, one of the main participants in the Great Train Robbery in 1963. For those not acquainted with it, it was the biggest ever cash robbery in British history. A band of 15 robbers stole £2.6 million, all in small denominations, either five pound or one pound notes.

The robbery itself isn't dealt with in any great detail. The film is about Buster himself. There have been more detailed films about the robbery for those who're interested. Buster is a likable rogue. The film begins with him stealing a suit so he can go to a funeral. Then he steals flowers from the grave as a gift for his wife.

After a lifetime as a petty thief, the participation in the Great Train Robbery is his breakthrough. The press claimed that it was a million pounds in cash – see the newspaper above – but when they counted the money they realised it was almost three times as much. Most of the robbers were caught by the police within a few months, but Buster fled to Mexico with a forged passport.

Buster could have lived the rest of his life in luxury, but the problem was that his wife wasn't happy. Together they visited fine restaurants, but she just wanted steak and chips. She missed London's rain and fog. After three years she flew back to London with her daughter. That broke Buster's heart. He couldn't stay in Mexico without her. He returned to England and handed himself over to the police. He was sentenced to 15 years in prison, but released on probation after nine years.

The film is a touching love story. Phil Collins is best known as a musician, but he's an incredible actor. He wins our hearts with his performance. The film was very successful, but critics were more cautious in their reviews. They criticised the fact that the film's hero was a thief, as if it was justifying crime. Let's not take it too seriously. Those were the old days of crime. It was a career, and there was a certain nobility amongst thieves. No guns were used in the Great Train Robbery. They didn't want anyone to get hurt.

My only criticism is the cinematography. Many of the scenes are too dark. I like to see what's happening. That's why I've deducted half a star from an otherwise perfect film.

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