Helped considerably by a relatively high budget for a 1988 British film, Buster perfectly remade the 1960s caper-film experience. Rock star Phil Collins plays Buster Edwards, who's only one of a gang who all seem doomed to be captured after their £2.5 million train heist. The caper is over within 30 minutes. However, the film is really about the love story between Buster and his doting yet long-suffering wife June (an excellent Julie Walters). When the action switches to sun-drenched Mexico, you just know her loyalty is going to be tested to extremes because that's when Collins's award-winning songs kick in! "Two Hearts" and "Groovy Kind of Love" may not be '60s-styled, but the message is that love always conquers time and place. --Paul Tonks
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"Full of comic gems!" -Variety
Pop legend Phil Collins "makes an impressive acting debut" (LA Herald Examiner) in this "endearing" (Los Angeles Times), award-winning comedy about love, life and family on the lam. "Tinged with scruffy, good-natured charm" (Boxoffice) and the Colins hits "Two Hearts" and "Groovy Kind of Love," Buster will steal your heart!
Based on actual events surrounding the Great Train Robbery of 1963, Buster follows the exploits of a lovable husband and father who provides for his family... by stealing! Wanted for his involvement in one of the most daring robberies of all time, Buster (Collins) must pack up his clan and hightail it to Mexico. But when his wife grows tired of sunshine and margaritas and moves back to England, Buster faces a tough choice: remain a free man in Mexico... or face the music in London so he can one day be with his family again!
3.
In 1987, Buster was as much an experiment in film as its subject matter was in robbery. Could audiences ignore the rock singer status of Phil Collins in the lead role? Would audiences still be interested in a 25-year-old cash grab that had been considerably devalued by a currency gone metric? By and large the answer to both was "yes", helped considerably by a high budget (for a British film) it perfectly remade the 1960s experience. Collins as Buster Edwards is only one of a gang who all seem doomed to be captured after their £2.5 million train heist. The caper is over within 30 minutes. However, the film is really about the love story between Buster and his doting yet long-suffering wife June (an excellent Julie Walters). When the action switches to sun-drenched Mexico, you just know her loyalty is going to be tested to extremes because that's when Collins' award-winning songs kick in! "Two Hearts" and "Groovy Kind of Love" may not be 60s-styled, but the message is that love always conquers time and place.
On the DVD: The transfer is rather average, as are the talent profiles of Collins, Walters, Ralph Brown (the legendary Ronnie Biggs), and director David Green. Making up for them is a 50-minute "Making of" featurette that interviews everyone involved, including the real-life Buster. There's lots of on-set tomfoolery, and some first attempts at the hit songs that hardly flatter Collins' live singing voice! --Paul Tonks
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