Tyrannosaur (2011)
Strong sexual violence and themes; frequent strong coarse language
| Director: | Paddy Considine |
| Actors: | Peter Mullan, Olivia Colman, Eddie Marsan |
Joseph (Peter Mullan, My Name is Joe and War Horse) is a man plagued by violence and a rage that is driving him to self-destruction. Hannah (Olivia Colman, The Iron Lady) is a worker at a charity shop, a respectable woman who appears wholesome and happy. When circumstance brings the pair together, Hannah appears as Joseph’s guardian angel, tempering his fury and offering him warmth, kindness and acceptance. As their relationship develops, Hannah’s own dark secrets are revealed and Joseph emerges as her potential unlikely saviour.
With striking, award-winning performances and a deeply felt story, actor-turned-writer/director Paddy Considine's film is a stunning debut about the emergence of grace and redemption from the least likely of places.
| Status: | QuickPick |
|---|---|
| Run time: | 91mins |
| Origin: | UNITED KINGDOM |
| Aspect Ratio: | 16:9 |
A loud roar
by Simon Miraudo, 15/07/2011 9:10:00 AM
Directorial debuts are rarely as brutal or furious as Paddy Considine’s Tyrannosaur. The reasoning behind that title becomes apparent late in the piece, but even if no explanation was given, it perfectly evokes the ferociousness of its lead character. Peter Mullan stars as Joseph; we’re introduced to him in the middle of a blind rage, during which he accidentally (or rather, uncontrollably) kicks his dog to death. Joseph temporarily feels remorse, but it isn’t long before his insatiable hatred for everyone resurfaces, even after the buzz of alcohol has worn away. The only person who doesn’t send him into a baseball-bat toting frenzy is Christian shop worker Hannah (Olivia Colman). She treats him with kindness; an act Joseph can barely fathom considering his abrasive personality. However, a...
Directorial debuts are rarely as brutal or furious as Paddy Considine’s Tyrannosaur. The reasoning behind that title becomes apparent late in the piece, but even if no explanation was given, it perfectly evokes the ferociousness of its lead character. Peter Mullan stars as Joseph; we’re introduced to him in the middle of a blind rage, during which he accidentally (or rather, uncontrollably) kicks his dog to death. Joseph temporarily feels remorse, but it isn’t long before his insatiable hatred for everyone resurfaces, even after the buzz of alcohol has worn away. The only person who doesn’t send him into a baseball-bat toting frenzy is Christian shop worker Hannah (Olivia Colman). She treats him with kindness; an act Joseph can barely fathom considering his abrasive personality. However, after discovering the horrible truth about her home life with abusive husband James (Eddie Marsan), Joseph realises that to Hannah he’s merely the lesser of two evils, and maybe that’s as close to a good person he’ll ever be.
Tyrannosaur is a movie about compromise, which is ironic considering Considine’s inability to compromise as a director (his camera does not shy away from the shocking moments). It’s about the compromises Joseph must make; even though he reveals he’s just ‘not a good person’, he might be the best person for Hannah. It’s about the compromises Hannah fails to make; when simple prayer can’t save her, she thinks she’ll find her salvation with some less-than-holy actions, and must deal with the consequences. Mullan and Colman put it all on the line for Considine; also rare for a first time writer/director to achieve from his cast, but perhaps his ability to sympathise as a fellow actor helped them, Cassavettes-style, to lower their guards. Marsan similarly gives a bold performance (he always does), but his character almost crosses the line of believability. Considine seems to have gone a little over the top in writing James; relishing his outrageous awfulness. Even though the film traffics in inexplicable human cruelty, this character seems more like a Bond villain than a socio-realist depiction of a violent husband.
Not a pleasant viewing experience by any stretch of the imagination, and perhaps a little too on-the-nose at times, Tyrannosaur is nonetheless a visceral roar of a debut feature from Considine. As an actor, you can’t take your eyes off of him. Good to see that he’s got that electricity behind the camera too.
3.5/5
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Member Reviews (11)
11 Member
Reviews
Monica
says
Honest and raw to the extreme. Great film. Love UK movies for their depth and understanding that life really sucks but there are still good people...
Gordo
says
Gritty well acted movie. Plenty of bad language so maybe don't watch it with your grandmother (or your own mother for that matter).
I liked it - so will you if real life issues with violence and angry people is of interest.
Robert
says
Very stark and realistic. Enjoyable while making me feel a bit sqeemish. The end scenario was abit puzzling
taipan
says
Gritty and down to earth with a thud.
Brutal,confronting but ultimately uplifting with performances
from the cast that is nothing short of brilliant.
Neillsm
says
I am a big fan of Mike Leigh's gritty, but witty slices of working class life in poverty. Leigh captures the humour in the midst of desperateness perfectly - as I grew up on council estates in South London, I can identify with Leigh's character's ability to find 'the crac' as the Irish like to call it, in very difficult circumstances. However, I've just finished watching this 'Tyrannosaur' piece of garbage. Not only is it probably written by an upper middle class toff desperately trying to write a gritty working class memoire because they now live in London or something and that gives them the right to identify with and at the same time get back at the oiks who beat them up at school. Working class life is not this bad!!!! Writers may see characters like this on the underground or from their posh bedroom windows or on Eastenders, but that does not give them the right to represent them. Working class people are funny, intelligent, streetwise, clever, compassionate, and sympathetic. I am fed up of middle classes and upper classes misrepresenting urban working class life - just because they can afford to live in inner cities does not mean they understand inner cities. Do not watch this tat!
says
Listen hard or get the subtitles on. If you like Ken Loach movies you'll be into this one. Gritty & unpleasant as Jan says.
Jan k
says
Very gritty and not a pretty or pleasant movie in any way. I had difficulty understanding the accent most of the time, but that did not take away from the storyline. Be warned also, the language was very disturbing and there is a lot of violence. Having got all that out of the way though, this movie is very, very good - if somewhat depressing. The acting was excellent, the characters tragic but the storyline uplifting amongst all the sadness, violence and grit.
CL-D
says
Hard to fault this one. I found it hard to understand the broad accents at times but realsim is more important than perfect diction, switch on the subtitles. "Cindy" has summed the movie up perfectly but I would add that there is a glimmer of hope for the characters. When you disect it, there is actually a very good storyline threaded in but it is a very uncompromising movie that stayed with me for days after. Acting and cinematograhy was a highlight.
doddery76
says
i was not pleased with this one very slow and took too long tell tell the story give me action every time
Tess
says
Not a great story line, very slow movie. Wouldn't recommend.
Cindy
says
Two types of people inhabit Tyrannosaur - really, really angry people (even their dogs are cranky) and desperately sad people slowly suffocating in a mire of quiet desperation. Clearly, this is not a feel-good flick. It's inevitable that Tyrannosaur will be compared to the kitchen-sink dramas of British auteurs Mike Leigh and Ken Loach. And it's a reasonable comparison - although first-time director Considine is clearly a far angrier man than either of his peers. Tyrannosaur is a film about poverty, about injustice and the de-humanising effect both have on the British underclass. It's also a film about forgiveness, and ultimately, an unflinching celebration of the resilience of the human spirit. Incredibly raw and realistic performances, a compelling script and assured direction make Tyrannosaur a memorable viewing experience.