Tyrannosaur (2011)

Pretty Good

It's entirely possible that sending the audience out feeling lousy was intentional

The story-telling is good with flashbacks.The film is both funny and heartbreaking. You smile in a scene and get a soulcrushing revelation in the next.

Exactly the movie you think it is, but not the movie you want it to be.

Superb performances by both Olivia Colman and Pete Mullen, who star in this raw, gritty story of repeated, hard hitting material.Directed by Paddy Considine, another who is more than familiar with the great British Drama and actor driven films.Truly unmissable, a powerhouse of a film, that once seen, will never be forgotten!

Man, saying Tyrannosaur is not a happy movie is quite an understatement. The main character is a rude and unlikeable man who beat and mistreated his overweight wife (the titular Tyrannosaur, she's dead), has an extremely hostile attitude towards his environment and to top it off is a raging alcoholic. He comes across a religious upper-class woman who turns out to have some problems of her own. The film has a very bleak color palette matching the bleak outlook on life of most people in this story. Though I would not really recommend this movie as a must see, I do have to say that it is well made and acted for what it is. But what it is, is a dark depressing film about people living on the edge of society who have a different state of mind than average Joe. Still a better watch than most American Comedies these days.

This film to me, is the best film ever made bar none. There have been many great films and some are rated higher by critics and IMDb followers alike but I beg to differ. Paddy Considine's direction is flawless and the main three characters acting is a master class of how it should be done. Hard to imagine this coming out of Hollywood as it has no polish, just pure realism. Eddie Marsan is a loathsome character, played superbly but the other two main roles played by Peter Mullen and Olivia Colman are the best I have ever seen. Colmans performance always moves me to tears and why she did not get the Oscar is beyond me. The story is simple, raw and 100% realistic. The culture of violence on the estate, the rage and pity then ultimately hope will bring goose bumps up all over you. Watch this carefully, the attention to detail is breath-taking and I promise, it will leave a lasting impression that you cannot forget.Literally a masterpiece and master class of acting.

As I admire greatly the work of Peter Mullan, I went out of my way to find this film in its limited run in the states. Peter Mullan, as he does with all his work, again layers this performance with so many wonderful, complex and interesting moments, it becomes impossible to look away. I also found myself extremely appreciative of Paddy Considine's mesmerizing dark script and perfectly nuanced direction. But perhaps I am most grateful for introducing me to the work of Olivia Colman. Ms. Colman gave in Tyrannosaur, undoubtedly one of the most brilliant female performances of the year in one of the most overlooked films of 2011. Even while the dark nature of this film makes it less a candidate for multiple viewings, I found myself upon a second watch, surprised to find so much more to appreciate within Tyrannosaur. Erik Wilson cinematography is wonderful and just so very right for this story. Dan Baker and Chris Baldwin's original music was a delight and made you want more. Simon Rogers's production design and Andrew Ranner's art direction immersed you in this too somber world. I can find no editor's credit, but assume it likely Paddy's as well. Yes, that was spot on also. But to sum up, while the dark and brooding nature of this film may give some viewers pause or lessen its appreciable merit, this is no less than a truly masterful little film done to perfect precision by writer/director Paddy Considine. Which excites us about his upcoming project, The Leaning. When Paddy, when? Soon please, sir!