Tyrannosaur

TYRANNOSAUR
STUDIOCANAL
RELEASED 7 October 2011

Paddy Considine’s (‘Hot Fuzz’, ‘Dead Man’s Shoes’) directorial debut (from his own screenplay) is an instant British classic, full of outstanding performances, well-observed social decay, tragic characters, and, believe it or not, it’s one of the best photographed movies of the year too. Oh, AND the guitar-based score is a delicate work of wonder.

Joseph (Peter Mullan) is a self-destructive force living on benefits. He fights, he can’t control his anger, and is generally abusive to everybody. Although his wife died five years earlier, you’re left in no doubt that he probably wasn’t much better when she was alive. When he meets religious Hannah (Olivia Colman), an abused wife, they forge a bond, even though he boldly pronounces to her that ‘God ain’t my daddy.’

‘Tyrannosaur’ is relentlessly grim, violent, and true-to-life. Joseph seems to be a lost cause, but moments occur where you realise all might not be lost. Even when he does the right thing, it’s probably against the law. Hannah is hiding away from reality when Joseph meets her, and the two coming together spurs her on, regardless of the pain that might bring from her abusive husband, played with ruthless efficiency by Eddie Marsan. Peter Mullan and Olivia Colman really are worthy of every plaudit they receive for ‘Tyrannosaur’. They both won at Sundance, and if there’s a God out there (which the film seems to find doubtful), they should win many more acting awards. Mullan’s ‘man of anger’ is quite terrifying, and in a career jumpstarted by ‘My Name is Joe’ (1998), this is the highest of many peaks. As for Colman, known to UK audiences as David Mitchell’s girlfriend from the comedy ‘Peep Show’, just wow! Wow. Colman’s performance literally jumps off the screen, it’s so powerful, emotional and tragic.

Somewhat unexpectedly, the title IS a reference to ‘Jurassic Park’, but as you might expect, it’s not light-hearted. Even when Joseph is trying to be funny, he’s actually being a c**t.

‘Tyrannosaur’ is a film of real-life horror and sadness, but Considine has crafted something so exquisite in it’s ugliness, I can’t urge you to see it more.

FIVE OUT OF FIVE