The only distinction between "Liam" and one of British director Ken Loach's humanist dramas is that this one lacks the subtitles that make Loach's characters' sometimes incomprehensible accents understandable.

OK, that's not completely true. As downbeat as some of Loach's movies are, they never sink to such overwrought, melodramatic depths or rely on as many unbelievable plot contrivances as does "Liam."

In concept, "Liam" resembles too closely the similarly downbeat and uneven big-screen adaptation of "Angela's Ashes."

But "Liam" is perhaps more ambitious, broaching dicey political and ethnic subplots that make it even more of a muddled mess — despite the fact that it's supposed to be a period drama about the title character, an English boy whose family has fallen on hard times in 1930s Liverpool.

As played by 8-year-old new- comer Anthony Borrows, Liam is painfully shy and, due to a constant stutter, rarely utters a word. Thanks to a strict upbringing, he's deathly afraid of committing sin, though of late he's become obsessed with the female body.

His father (Ian Hart) has just lost his job at the shipyard and is embittered, especially at the expense of Jewish immigrants he believes have taken over the country.

With the family bread-winner out of work, Mom (Claire Hackett) has to be more conservative with her penny-pinching and older brother Con (David Hart) and older sister Teresa (Megan Burns) both have to find jobs — though Teresa's puts a strain on her relationship with Dad.

To be fair, the material does have promise, and the director, Stephen Frears, is a talent returning to his low-budget indie roots. Unfortunately, he's not served very well by John Murphy's loud, intrusive musical score, or by cinematographer David Dunn, who uses camera angles that wouldn't be out of place in an episode of the old live-action "Batman" television show.

Still, there's no arguing the strengths of the performances. Hart and Hackett are believable as loving-but-bickering parents, while newcomer Borrows doesn't force his performance.

The best of the lot may actually be Burns, whose tragic Teresa emerges as possibly the most interesting and compelling character of the film.

"Liam" is rated R for violence (rioting, crowd suppression and corporal punishment), occasional use of ethnic slurs as well as scattered, strong profanities, and glimpses of full female nudity (and nude artwork). Running time: 90 minutes.

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