George MacKay is still stellar as always. He became that character. His hurt, guilt, confusion, sorrow are all very real in the film and guy feel it. Also his physical transformation as a youth with an undisclosed illness is so heartbreaking. You can see that he slimed down quite a bit to play the role. Unfortunately Duane's "poet/dreamlike/arthouse" sequences, lack of dialogue, lazy directing, terrible editing and drawn out visuals really take you out of the experience and emotion and it just works against the film. I get that the filmmakers wanted to convey the bleakness of it all in a very artistic fashion but it just didn't work story wise. Such a shame because George is such a talented actor.
16 Reviews
Extremely bleak and depressing
Vindelander24 June 2021
Great performances by a strong cast but what a depressing film. My life is like that most of the time anyway so I didn't really need this further dose of reality.
No explanation of what Tim's medical condition was either. What was the point of that ?
No explanation of what Tim's medical condition was either. What was the point of that ?
Right ingredients, wrong recipe
jackiecouchman19 May 2015
A Q&A session with the producer directly after the screening just reinforced my view of the movie. It was very self indulgent and, for me, missed the mark. The film techniques were very obvious and very contrived. The random, untied threads, that came and went without particular reason were nothing other than irritating. The story was a straightforward one and the subject matter interesting. However "Bypass" neither went anywhere worthwhile, nor offered hope or engagement. Rather a disappointing offering. The only thing that made it worthwhile was George MacKay's performance. He clearly inhabited the character; the pity was that for the viewer we didn't get to see inside his head or heart (or maybe he didn't have one).
Bypass: one to watch!
fourrpaws12 June 2015
Bypass is not the kind of movie I usually go to, but I'm glad I did. It is a gritty, compelling story about a boy trying to become a man, trapped within a society that marginalises and ignores him. He is trying to do good but outside pressure forces him into bad decisions which cause his life to spiral out of control.
The performances were all superb and the cinematography was impressive. It is a shame that it wasn't available in more theatres, for the beauty of the imagery may lose some of its impact on a small screen. That being said, I will be ordering a DVD when they become available, for this is a film I will want to rematch and share with friends. The film forces the audience to think and consider not only the lives of the characters on screen but their own as well. Post theatre discussions continued for hours. It is a rare film these days that makes the viewer think, and Bypass is one such film.
The performances were all superb and the cinematography was impressive. It is a shame that it wasn't available in more theatres, for the beauty of the imagery may lose some of its impact on a small screen. That being said, I will be ordering a DVD when they become available, for this is a film I will want to rematch and share with friends. The film forces the audience to think and consider not only the lives of the characters on screen but their own as well. Post theatre discussions continued for hours. It is a rare film these days that makes the viewer think, and Bypass is one such film.
Bypass
edmow11 June 2015
Warning: Spoilers
This film is much more than a simple depiction of a criminal underworld. What it does very effectively (particularly George MacKay as Tim) is convey the emotions one might feel when in a position of weakness and faced with apparently insurmountable controlling forces, to be constantly "up against it", and the impact this has. The film is necessarily bleak, but is punctuated with occasional slightly more light-hearted moments, such as an affectionate exchange between Tim and his sister, and excitement such as the brilliantly filmed car chase. The shots of Tim, his girlfriend Lilly and their new-born baby towards the end of the film are hopeful and visually appealing. Overall I found this film engaging and insightful.
Bypass
qasimbaig11 June 2015
Warning: Spoilers
Great film shot in the north east of England. Tim is a great character and engaging. The film explores how Tim has to survive to make a living for him and his sister and the people he engages with. The car chase was fantastic and the cinematography was outstanding. The Q & A after with the producer was a good insight into the film. The producer talked about how long the film took from idea to completion. The funding aspect and how post production was done in Sweden. Overall, a great film which challenges the idea of the working class but never establishes as a setting where they are. Also, cleverly released during the election period. A great British film and one to watch!
An excellent immersive experience
gedgibson11 June 2015
Watching Bypass really brought me into the lives and experiences of Tim and Lilly, played respectively by George Mackay and Charlotte Spencer. The feeling of being helpless to whatever fate befalls you is enduring, and a reflection on the current malaise of Britain's youth who have been abandoned by today's ambitious, quick fix society. The film was well crafted, with excellent cinematography, soundtrack and foley that helped to create the atmosphere and prevailing sense of unease, and which was complemented excellently by the superb performance of George Mackay, and actor who will surely achieve great things. There is no generic start or ending to Tim's story, but a snippet of the lives of the characters that surround him, and it leaves you with a feeling of compassion for the characters and their future.
Convulsions of a generation
wharrison-3510912 June 2015
Warning: Spoilers
Having watched Bypass twice (and I suggest other reviewers do likewise) it seems that many have come to this film and not been aware of their own prior expectations and 'ways of seeing'. Of course many will have certain expectations given Hopkin's first feature Better Things, but they may have wrongly expected more of the same, and thus not been open to the ideas and themes that the film presents. It can be read in a typical and might I suggest, lazy way, which is one which will result in missing the richness that the film offers. Concerning the visual style that Hopkins (and his cinematographer, David Procter) employs, many have discussed the lyrical/poetic nature of it, yet what seems to have been missed is the shot-size selection and rhythm created by it. The film favours the Close-up, with sparing use of wide-shots, so that when wide/er shots are used they are used to communicate a narrative point without the need for dialogue; they tell us something (Tim standing in the empty bedroom once occupied by his mother is one such example). In scenes where mid-shots are employed, they are shot on the long-end of the lens so that the space around Tim and others is compressed. Proctor's camera is constantly on Tim's shoulder so that we relate closely to an almost POV. This visual style works in conjunction with what we are told, or rather what is withheld from us in certain scenes; we are never given omniscient knowledge, but restrained so that we know no more than Tim does; his illness and the precise machinations of the criminals remain unclear; because Tim is only a bottom of the food chain foot-soldier. As such, the camera brings us close to experience events that are just as muddled to us as they are Tim. Here we are seeing Hopkins continue to explore cinematic form as any person claiming to be a film-maker should. It's approaches such as this that appear to have gone unconsidered as many critics have decided to look for what they know, not found it, then uncritically dismissed the film unfairly. Yes the film is poetic and lyrical in its depictions, but the style is doing more in terms of story than it has been given credit for. A thematic concern that is worth consideration is the notion of fathers; the absent and the becoming, which at the same time speaks of children, protection, encouragement, safety and security and a hope for something better than what is at hand. Here it is not only Tim, his sister and older brother who feel loss, but they are representative of a generation, not just themselves. This generational comment is most profoundly communicated in Tim's fit; this is not just the unidentified illness taking its toll on one young man, but upon a generation who have no arsenal of family, contacts or qualifications with which to fight the uncertainties of the modern age; this is the convulsion of a generation played out alone, unseen and uncared for (where, if we are honest, we'd sooner it stayed). Here then, Tim should be considered as an archetype. The ending of the film has also been misread; it's only happy for a fleeting moment that surely Tim deserves, and will soon be gone when he returns to the estate to try against the odds to provide as a father. Some people have dismissed Bypass as being too heavy-handed in the rapid chain of dismal events that befall Tim and his fiends and family, that Hopkins has laid them on too thick. Not so. If you have not yet seen Bypass, go and sit in a pub in an estate like the one Hopkins depicts (if you dare, or if you can find one open), and listen to the life-stories on offer, then watch it. You may well find that Hopkins has not gone far enough. If you have watched it, look again, but only after you have given your predispositions and prejudices a Greg style right-hook.
Life in the poverty trap
robingerrard-2447112 June 2015
Bypass does a brilliant job of illustrating the grim reality of what life is like when you don't have money. As the deadlines, debts and obligations mount we see the intense pressure put on Tim as he tries to hold his life together. Duane Hopkins' script shows how the UK is at a turning point, as being working class now is an aspiration rather than a reality for many.
Benjamin Dilloway & George MacKay's time together on the screen is a highlight as the two brothers with different personalities, the older street smart hard man & the younger naive innocent tackle the problems life throws at the family.
Chris Barwell's edit plays with space and time, giving a further sense of the lack of control the characters have over their lives.
Benjamin Dilloway & George MacKay's time together on the screen is a highlight as the two brothers with different personalities, the older street smart hard man & the younger naive innocent tackle the problems life throws at the family.
Chris Barwell's edit plays with space and time, giving a further sense of the lack of control the characters have over their lives.
A reflection of modern Britain
thanksforthemessage29 June 2015
'A Britain within a Britain' - Bypass is a film that captures the life of those in a post-industrial world. Where Thatcher's legacy is the choice between going hungry or sleeping in a cold room.
I found this film to be a breath of fresh air and a step down a path British cinema hasn't delved for far too long. Portrayals of the working class have become a rarity and austerity has become the norm. To find a film that isn't another form of escapism but has the bravery to point the camera at our own lives should be applauded.
Third Films always reward those that delve deeper into their work, and Bypass is no exception, it is rife with metaphors and solemn themes that act as the undercurrent within the film, adding gravity to the choices Tim must make.
The narrative picks up a swift pace, coupled with the striking cinematography of David Procter, I found myself being pulled through some intense scenes, especially when Tim's illness (a reflection of the world he lives in) begins to take hold. Each pause from the action only adds to the weight on Tim's shoulders which builds and builds to a climactic finish.
George Mackay delivers a performance that makes it hard not to sympathise with Tim's plight, making it hit home that Bypass' setting isn't diegetic, but a place many of us live in.
I found this film to be a breath of fresh air and a step down a path British cinema hasn't delved for far too long. Portrayals of the working class have become a rarity and austerity has become the norm. To find a film that isn't another form of escapism but has the bravery to point the camera at our own lives should be applauded.
Third Films always reward those that delve deeper into their work, and Bypass is no exception, it is rife with metaphors and solemn themes that act as the undercurrent within the film, adding gravity to the choices Tim must make.
The narrative picks up a swift pace, coupled with the striking cinematography of David Procter, I found myself being pulled through some intense scenes, especially when Tim's illness (a reflection of the world he lives in) begins to take hold. Each pause from the action only adds to the weight on Tim's shoulders which builds and builds to a climactic finish.
George Mackay delivers a performance that makes it hard not to sympathise with Tim's plight, making it hit home that Bypass' setting isn't diegetic, but a place many of us live in.
Bypass, worth pulling over for..
claire-7702111 June 2015
Is morality a luxury? Bypass provides the platform to reflect upon this. It's a film that at the moment may only be liked if the 'in crowd' say it's cool. It is cool. It's one of those films that in twenty years time film tutors will automatically suggest their more insightful students watch but why wait? It not only washes the viewer into its own world beautifully by its striking cinematography and sound score that slow dive may gleefully dive towards but more importantly it enables its viewer to think. It enables its viewer to ask why. It enables and instigates its viewer to empathize, really empathize, not feel moved then ten minutes out of the cinema lose the feeling and never remember why. Maybe that's too easy, maybe that's what society wants now, quick bursts of highs and lows with no consequence. Every action, even no action brings reaction. The question is, why aren't we pulling over and is morality a luxury? Personally I thought this film was one of the most important I've had the luxury of seeing for quite some time.
George MacKay is a revelation
mikey-forshaw16 June 2015
In a cinematic landscape dominated by superhero franchises, BYPASS provides a platform for the kind of characters the peerless Alan Clarke regularly gave a voice too. Set in a community that has been decimated by industrial decline, the film follows Tim (George MacKay) as he struggles to hold the last fragments of his family together. Much like Jérémie Renier's character in L'Infant (2005), Tim lives on the fringes of society and survives through petty crime. When faced with the reality of losing his family home, Tim is left with no option but to follow the path that led is older brother (Benjamin Dilloway) to jail – and his circumstances are further complicated by his rapidly deteriorating health.
Although BYPASS is set amongst a social-realist landscape, Hopkin's has infused Tim's world with a striking aesthetic - were dialogue is sparse and the cinematography and sound design propel the narrative. David Proctor's cinematography is beautiful, and as Tim's life spirals out of control the imagery carefully immerses the audience in his increasingly desperate situation. As the central protagonist George MacKay (FOR THOSE IN PERIL, SUNSHINE ON LEITH, PRIDE) is a revelation, and his scenes with Lester (Matt Cross) in particular, bristle with tension and menace.
BYPASS isn't what David Fincher calls popcorn cinema; it demands its audience to engage with its themes, and asks them to reflect long after they have left the cinema
BYPASS is a confident and provocative film which despite another 5 years of potential privatisation, is optimistic for its characters futures. If you truly care about British independent cinema then please ignore the critics, watch BYPASS on VoD* and make up your own mind
*http://www.bypassthefilm.co.uk/
Although BYPASS is set amongst a social-realist landscape, Hopkin's has infused Tim's world with a striking aesthetic - were dialogue is sparse and the cinematography and sound design propel the narrative. David Proctor's cinematography is beautiful, and as Tim's life spirals out of control the imagery carefully immerses the audience in his increasingly desperate situation. As the central protagonist George MacKay (FOR THOSE IN PERIL, SUNSHINE ON LEITH, PRIDE) is a revelation, and his scenes with Lester (Matt Cross) in particular, bristle with tension and menace.
BYPASS isn't what David Fincher calls popcorn cinema; it demands its audience to engage with its themes, and asks them to reflect long after they have left the cinema
BYPASS is a confident and provocative film which despite another 5 years of potential privatisation, is optimistic for its characters futures. If you truly care about British independent cinema then please ignore the critics, watch BYPASS on VoD* and make up your own mind
*http://www.bypassthefilm.co.uk/
An underrated gem of a film that deserves more attention.
saulmasters2728 November 2015
Only too often depictions of working class life is questionable at best but with Bypass, director Hopkins has made a perfectly crafted realistic drama that tackles the Shakesperiean theme of the sins of the father and shines a light on a version of Britain we rarely see film. While not everything works, the tension built up throughout is lost as the film comes to it's conclusion, the film's performances and beautifully gritty cinematography, which has the impressive ability to make the greyest areas of the north look attractive, creates a visually poetic depiction of living on the breadline that needs a wider release to demonstrate the power of independent cinema.
Duane Hopkins' hypnotic tale...
babakjalali16 June 2015
The most urgent and necessary film to come out of the UK in quite some time. Having made the wonderful 'Better Things', Duane Hopkins had a lot to live up to but with 'Bypass', he has not only matched his debut feature, he has taken things a step further. With a great cast of actors and technically stunning, there is something very hypnotic about this film. Cinema can mean many things, but so few are displaying courage when taking on the responsibility of making a film. Above all, this is a film full of courage. If you choose to see one film this year of all years (particularly with the political events and elections in this country), make sure it's Bypass. Time will show that very few films manage to address issues the way that this poetic and eloquent film so vividly does.
Fluid narrative about the UK's abandoned youth.
freya-5333818 June 2015
An incredibly fluid narrative which powerfully portrays the on-going confusion and despair faced on a daily basis by the central character. Whilst the people out to get him continually change, his living in perpetual fear and anxiety doesn't. The radical approach to the storytelling feels exciting and original, adding a very believable, claustrophobic feel to a life lived in a grim reality. There is nothing Tim can do and nowhere he can go to change his situation because, like the audience, at no point does he have the whole picture. Instead he has to deal with everything that is thrown at him without any support or understanding. The performances are excellent and the film is a devastating watch.
Amazing movie
tuks-1718527 November 2017
Laid back, self contained and simply an amazing film to enjoy with either loved ones or the whole family. family god mankind amazing literature espionage literacy amazing constructive criticism and a neck for the dark arts and return would have said amazing and excellent stuff sending a good vibe to those that return the loyalty and the favor.
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