If you can make it through the first few (difficult) minutes of Tyrannosaur, I think you can make it through the entire film ... here is to hoping you can as it is a very good one.
First time feature director Paddy Considine (an actor in Red Riding, In America, Cinderella Man ) makes an impressive and solid directorial debut about tortured and abused souls starring relative-unknowns (although for NOT much longer) Peter Mullan (Braveheart, War Horse, Red Riding) and Olivia Colman (Hot Fuzz, The Iron Lady, Hyde Park on Hudson) as (him -- Joseph) an abusive, mean drunk and (her -- Hannah) a saintly consignment store owner. At a relatively short 92-minutes, Tyrannosaur packs both a literal and figurative punch. Although it is short in length it is NOT slight in subject matter -- as it is grim, austere, dark and disturbing at times but ultimately uplifting (and therefore a rewarding watch).
The film begins after a particularly rough night for Joseph (he is brutally beaten over some verbal sparrings and provoking antics) when he stumbles upon Hannah as she is opening her store one morning. The pious and kind Hannah opens her doors, arms and heart to the broken man although he isn't sure if he wants to take any of her kindness or charity and he makes this fully known (he has his reasons).
The film takes some twists and a few unexpected turns; but these two stay true to their conflicted characters as it becomes a tale of morality, faith and devotion (and not how one might expect). Soon after the pair meet, the tables are turned and Hannah seeks out Joseph for some much-needed help/support on her side. These characters are highly flawed (but well written -- don't misread that -- as this is what makes Tyrannosaur stand out for good reason) in search of someone else who might value them as "something". There is a searching, a longing, a desire, a grasp, a yearning (or) a hunger present in THESE characters that is not commonly found in film today. These two simply have an URGE to be valued (flaws-and-all) by a fellow human being!
I will (safely ?) bet that the majority of us are not as flawed as either Joseph or Hannah but their NEED should resonate with us all! These two destructive personalities find solace in one another; but they initially do not know what to make of the other and the film plays out their developing relationship. This is a particularly good watch although it is a tough one -- and I am glad to recommend it as I also see it as an important one.
First time feature director Paddy Considine (an actor in Red Riding, In America, Cinderella Man ) makes an impressive and solid directorial debut about tortured and abused souls starring relative-unknowns (although for NOT much longer) Peter Mullan (Braveheart, War Horse, Red Riding) and Olivia Colman (Hot Fuzz, The Iron Lady, Hyde Park on Hudson) as (him -- Joseph) an abusive, mean drunk and (her -- Hannah) a saintly consignment store owner. At a relatively short 92-minutes, Tyrannosaur packs both a literal and figurative punch. Although it is short in length it is NOT slight in subject matter -- as it is grim, austere, dark and disturbing at times but ultimately uplifting (and therefore a rewarding watch).
The film begins after a particularly rough night for Joseph (he is brutally beaten over some verbal sparrings and provoking antics) when he stumbles upon Hannah as she is opening her store one morning. The pious and kind Hannah opens her doors, arms and heart to the broken man although he isn't sure if he wants to take any of her kindness or charity and he makes this fully known (he has his reasons).
The film takes some twists and a few unexpected turns; but these two stay true to their conflicted characters as it becomes a tale of morality, faith and devotion (and not how one might expect). Soon after the pair meet, the tables are turned and Hannah seeks out Joseph for some much-needed help/support on her side. These characters are highly flawed (but well written -- don't misread that -- as this is what makes Tyrannosaur stand out for good reason) in search of someone else who might value them as "something". There is a searching, a longing, a desire, a grasp, a yearning (or) a hunger present in THESE characters that is not commonly found in film today. These two simply have an URGE to be valued (flaws-and-all) by a fellow human being!
I will (safely ?) bet that the majority of us are not as flawed as either Joseph or Hannah but their NEED should resonate with us all! These two destructive personalities find solace in one another; but they initially do not know what to make of the other and the film plays out their developing relationship. This is a particularly good watch although it is a tough one -- and I am glad to recommend it as I also see it as an important one.