Review for Tyrannosaur (2011)

The newly released Tyrannosaur, is Paddy Considine's directorial debut (he also wrote the script for the film), following on from his BAFTA-winning 2007 short Dog Altogether.

The film follows Joseph (played brilliantly by Peter Mullan), a violent drunkard who is consumed by anger, which, as the film progresses, appears to be pushing him towards the brink of self-destruction. His chance for redemption, and also the opportunity to change the course of his life, comes when he stumbles across, and eventually befriends local charity shop worker, Hannah (Olivia Colman). As Hannah, a religious woman, attempts to tame Joseph, a dark and disturbing secret is revealed about her very existence, which ultimately has significant repercussions on both of their lives.

Paddy Considine's debut film is a vigorous study on the destructive and volatile nature of human beings, in particular the male species. We are presented with images of men, namely Joseph and James (Hannah's savage husband - played by Eddie Marsan), as they display capricious temperaments (perhaps more so the case with Joseph) and viciously abuse their counterparts. At the start of the film, Joseph is seen leaving a betting shop, violently lamenting the loss of money, and subsequently kicking to death his pet-dog, Bluey. In a similar fashion, later on in the film, James thumps Hannah's face, after she vociferously deplores his callous treatment of her, and proceeds to brutally rape her, while she is slumped helplessly on the floor.

As we are clearly shown during the course of Tyrannosaur, both men recognise the destructive implications of their inhumane actions and act accordingly in their own ways to ultimately put an end to their erratic reactions to situations that stimulate these mental imbalances. Joseph, discovers some much-needed solace in Hannah, whom he gradually moves closer to, throughout the film's narrative. Whilst Hannah's husband, James, chooses to end his own life, perhaps suggesting the "illness" he refers to in the film, namely his violent nature, has finally taken its toll. The performances from both Peter Mullan (Joseph) and Olivia Colman (Hannah) are intense and Considine's preference to often frame their characters' faces in close-ups effectively accentuates their emotional states, as well as their yearning for an untroubled existence, throughout the film's brutal journey. As the film progresses, it becomes increasingly apparent that Joseph and Hannah need each other, if they are to finally put to rest, the "nightmares" they have to withstand and to essentially change their lives for the better.

I was somewhat fascinated by Considine's debut film, and although many may perhaps find the film's overlying themes of compulsive violence, "illness", redemption (the brutal journey one must endure to finally get there) etc. a little on the heavy side (there were numerous groans from spectators during the screening of Tyrannosaur), the film's end does have an arguably uplifting aura, as Joseph marches away from the prison, having just visited Hannah, and having finally redeemed himself. 

It will certainly be interesting to see if, and how, Paddy Considine develops and examines the film's core themes in possible works he may direct in the future, and of course, to see what other issues/themes he may choose to explore. For now though, Tyrannosaur is a fine debut film from Considine, sure to provoke much thought and discussion, and is, in my opinion anyway, worth the cinema admission.