With good acting this had potential to be a good film as the story and the Directing are good. However, the acting was really poor from the main characters with the exception of both boyfriends and Joe Calzaghe.I had to keep watching as i was curious to see what happened in the end.Definitely not a feel good film.There is a bit at the end where she says dads got you, and she replies and you have got me, it's said in the wrong context so it doesn't make sense.This film is watchable although only just.I have a friend who has suffered something similar so found parts of this uncomfortable to watch. Best scene is the jail fight.
4 Reviews
English drama, but this one isn't so overwhelming.
peterp-450-29871628 May 2017
"I spent the rest of my life trying to understand what I'd done wrong. All those years I spent on the bottle f*cking up my life. And if you could've just reached out, just told me why you'd done it."
"Solitary" is the solid proof that dramas from the UK won't guarantee proper acting, professional camera work and an impressive script. Such a movie as for instance "Broken", which made an everlasting impression on me. These characteristic qualities were largely lacking in this drama, so it felt more like an episode from some English soap. It's understandable why Nora (Katharine Lee McEwan) is rebellious in nature and she clearly has a drinking problem. But it all felt a bit too forced.
First of all, I didn't think Nora showed similarities with that of a true alcoholic. Curiously, she still looked pretty fresh, even though her friend David (Michael Wildman) says she's constantly drunk or has a hangover. However, if you consider Nora's situation, you would start drinking as well. Her life hasn't been a bed of roses. On the one hand her mother, who also disliked tap water, died early. Her sister Shannon (Sarina Taylor) is a successful business woman, while Nora is sitting unemployed at home. And then there's the matter with her father Arthur (Kevin McGowan). The moment she is forced to move back to her father, after her friend David has closed the door behind her, it soon goes downhill and the consequences are subsequently disastrous.
It doesn't feel appropriate to tell more about this movie. Otherwise there isn't much left anymore. "Solitary" is a low-budget drama. And that's noticeable when you look at the acting performances. At times, dialogues are of the same level as "Coronation street". Strange but true, the supporting roles are more impressive. Michael Wildman as the kindhearted friend showing the most patience in this movie. Anna Skellern playing Lisa, Nora's best friend. She's also someone who developed some strong shoulders for her friends to support on during difficult times. And Jack Lowe plays a modest role as Tommy, future husband of Lisa. But especially Kevin McGowan is really brilliant at times.
So, not the two sisters convinced the most. The relationship between both sisters is not really credible. The dialogues were sometimes really silly and amateurish. I understand Nora's distance towards her sister. But the reconciliation gesture at the end was a bit ridiculous. Lets not start about some of the smaller roles, such as the inmates in the women's prison. That was extremely bad. Also the footage really wasn't high quality. Take a random episode of "Eastenders" and you already have an idea of what it looks like. What remains, is a common drama about abuse (on multiple levels) and the resulting trauma. Not a suitable movie to sacrifice your free evening.
More reviews here : http://bit.ly/2qtGQoc
"Solitary" is the solid proof that dramas from the UK won't guarantee proper acting, professional camera work and an impressive script. Such a movie as for instance "Broken", which made an everlasting impression on me. These characteristic qualities were largely lacking in this drama, so it felt more like an episode from some English soap. It's understandable why Nora (Katharine Lee McEwan) is rebellious in nature and she clearly has a drinking problem. But it all felt a bit too forced.
First of all, I didn't think Nora showed similarities with that of a true alcoholic. Curiously, she still looked pretty fresh, even though her friend David (Michael Wildman) says she's constantly drunk or has a hangover. However, if you consider Nora's situation, you would start drinking as well. Her life hasn't been a bed of roses. On the one hand her mother, who also disliked tap water, died early. Her sister Shannon (Sarina Taylor) is a successful business woman, while Nora is sitting unemployed at home. And then there's the matter with her father Arthur (Kevin McGowan). The moment she is forced to move back to her father, after her friend David has closed the door behind her, it soon goes downhill and the consequences are subsequently disastrous.
It doesn't feel appropriate to tell more about this movie. Otherwise there isn't much left anymore. "Solitary" is a low-budget drama. And that's noticeable when you look at the acting performances. At times, dialogues are of the same level as "Coronation street". Strange but true, the supporting roles are more impressive. Michael Wildman as the kindhearted friend showing the most patience in this movie. Anna Skellern playing Lisa, Nora's best friend. She's also someone who developed some strong shoulders for her friends to support on during difficult times. And Jack Lowe plays a modest role as Tommy, future husband of Lisa. But especially Kevin McGowan is really brilliant at times.
So, not the two sisters convinced the most. The relationship between both sisters is not really credible. The dialogues were sometimes really silly and amateurish. I understand Nora's distance towards her sister. But the reconciliation gesture at the end was a bit ridiculous. Lets not start about some of the smaller roles, such as the inmates in the women's prison. That was extremely bad. Also the footage really wasn't high quality. Take a random episode of "Eastenders" and you already have an idea of what it looks like. What remains, is a common drama about abuse (on multiple levels) and the resulting trauma. Not a suitable movie to sacrifice your free evening.
More reviews here : http://bit.ly/2qtGQoc
Solitary
a_baron16 February 2017
Warning: Spoilers
What word best describes this film - how about rubbish? Nora and her sister were raised by their widowed father after their mother died. Nora was about thirteen at the time, at any rate she was thirteen when her father accused her of staying out late (true) and dressing like a slut (subjective). So what does he do for punishment? He takes her to the woodshed - in American parlance - and rapes her. Seriously?
We are led to believe this is why Nora is one of life's failures while her sister is a high flyer. We see the rape in flashback - nothing graphic, just suggestion. We also see Nora acting like a slut, and far, far worse, driving three times over the limit which results in her killing her best friend and ending up behind bars where she is first forced to fellate a male prison officer and then sexually assaulted by a lesbian cellmate. While she submits to the former, she gets the better of the latter, and ends up in solitary.
Towards the end she confronts her father, who admits his foul deed, but he is in a wheelchair and clearly not much of a protagonist, although he tends to put on a front.
What is the point of this rubbish? Perhaps it is a feminist propaganda document, but most likely it is simply rubbish. The film's one saving grace is its soundtrack, but even Roger Taylor - he of Queen fame - can't save it from the ignominy it deserves.
We are led to believe this is why Nora is one of life's failures while her sister is a high flyer. We see the rape in flashback - nothing graphic, just suggestion. We also see Nora acting like a slut, and far, far worse, driving three times over the limit which results in her killing her best friend and ending up behind bars where she is first forced to fellate a male prison officer and then sexually assaulted by a lesbian cellmate. While she submits to the former, she gets the better of the latter, and ends up in solitary.
Towards the end she confronts her father, who admits his foul deed, but he is in a wheelchair and clearly not much of a protagonist, although he tends to put on a front.
What is the point of this rubbish? Perhaps it is a feminist propaganda document, but most likely it is simply rubbish. The film's one saving grace is its soundtrack, but even Roger Taylor - he of Queen fame - can't save it from the ignominy it deserves.
Demons and Ghosts never fully disappear.
matt-levett21 November 2016
Warning: Spoilers
I think there is a lot in this production that will resonate with many.
Nora is a binge drinker, aggressive and self centered. She has a loving boyfriend and sister who look out for her but through the alcohol and simmering pain this is overlooked by and she is on self destruct.
An accident happens and it is from then that we see a very good build up to actually who Nora is and why.
This is not a masterpiece by any sense of the imagination. Too many long drawn out panning of the camera which made me think, "Oh Come on". A few uncomfortable performances....but this did to detract from the very good performances and the essentially extremely impressive narrative that as mentioned may hit a nerve for many. The plot is plausible and well directed and all credit to all involved in a very low budget film.
All in all, a very good film which will stay in your thoughts for many days.
I would have given this an 8/10 but have only marked it down due to dodgy casting in my opinion.
Enjoy!
Nora is a binge drinker, aggressive and self centered. She has a loving boyfriend and sister who look out for her but through the alcohol and simmering pain this is overlooked by and she is on self destruct.
An accident happens and it is from then that we see a very good build up to actually who Nora is and why.
This is not a masterpiece by any sense of the imagination. Too many long drawn out panning of the camera which made me think, "Oh Come on". A few uncomfortable performances....but this did to detract from the very good performances and the essentially extremely impressive narrative that as mentioned may hit a nerve for many. The plot is plausible and well directed and all credit to all involved in a very low budget film.
All in all, a very good film which will stay in your thoughts for many days.
I would have given this an 8/10 but have only marked it down due to dodgy casting in my opinion.
Enjoy!
See also
Awards | FAQ | User Ratings | External Reviews | Metacritic Reviews
