Paddy Considine's directorial debut is a bleak and brutal drama, and a forgotten 2011 gem
| Director: | Paddy Considine |
| Cast: | Peter Mullan, Olivia Coleman |
| Genre: | Drama |
| Release Date: | 06-Feb-2012 | Age Rating: |  |
Another title unduly ignored by the Academy this year was this gritty slice of social drama from
Paddy Considine.
First time director
Considine, better known as an actor in films such as
The Bourne Ultimatum and
Dead Man’s Shoes, makes a blistering feature debut from his own script. The film is actually based on his own short from 2007 (also starring
Peter Mullan and
Olivia Coleman) which, rather neatly, appears on the DVD and blu-ray.
Tyrannosaur works because it lulls you into a feeling of familiarity, presenting the audience with a tale of a middle aged thug (Mullan) who finds himself at the door of decent middle class woman (
Coleman). You think the stage is set for her a straight saviour tale but the film never moves in the direction you’d anticipate, right up to the astounding finale.
It also surprises with some terrific performances – no so much from
Mullan who has played a similar character before (though rarely with such commitment to his terrible rage) but
Coleman is the real revelation here. Familiar to most as Sophie from
Peep Show, her performance here is simply heart breaking and worthy of award recognition.
It’s not easy viewing but
Tyrannosaur is one of the best films of 2011.
Extras: A commentary with Considine plus the original short subject Dog Altogether as well as deleted scenes and a trailer.