Eric is sent to his first grown-up prison (where his father is also an inmate). His violence leads him to be suggested as a candidate for a group therapy programme.
I want to talk about two things: the film in general, and Jack O'Connell, who plays Eric. First, the film. It is strong stuff, well played, enormously atmospheric, and mostly fairly gripping. It is also depressing, nihilistic, ultimately goes nowhere, and it is unclear what (if any) points it is trying to make. Also, it won't travel well - as a Brit, I might be expected to understand the dialogue, but I often didn't (apart from the prodigious quantities of all types of profanity, of course). Subtitles are recommended. It has been heavily trailed over here: now I've seen it, and it is not a film that I care to see again. Despite its undoubted quality in many respects, don't go and see it unless you are sure it is the sort of film you like.
Now to Jack O'Connell. I knew I had seen him in Eden Lake, in which he also played a young psycho thug. When I looked him up, it turns out that I have also seen him in Harry Brown and Tower Block. In which he plays young psycho thugs. If I am fair, he plays them very well indeed, and Eric in Starred Up is a dream of a role for a young actor. But I did find myself wishing he would play parts which are not young psycho thugs, so that I could see if he has any range. Then I noticed that he was in the 300 sequel, and I thought "I don't remember him" - and yet, thinking about it, yes I do remember him, in a non-young psycho thug part. The lad does have range. I look forward to watching his career grow: he has screen presence and should go far.
I want to talk about two things: the film in general, and Jack O'Connell, who plays Eric. First, the film. It is strong stuff, well played, enormously atmospheric, and mostly fairly gripping. It is also depressing, nihilistic, ultimately goes nowhere, and it is unclear what (if any) points it is trying to make. Also, it won't travel well - as a Brit, I might be expected to understand the dialogue, but I often didn't (apart from the prodigious quantities of all types of profanity, of course). Subtitles are recommended. It has been heavily trailed over here: now I've seen it, and it is not a film that I care to see again. Despite its undoubted quality in many respects, don't go and see it unless you are sure it is the sort of film you like.
Now to Jack O'Connell. I knew I had seen him in Eden Lake, in which he also played a young psycho thug. When I looked him up, it turns out that I have also seen him in Harry Brown and Tower Block. In which he plays young psycho thugs. If I am fair, he plays them very well indeed, and Eric in Starred Up is a dream of a role for a young actor. But I did find myself wishing he would play parts which are not young psycho thugs, so that I could see if he has any range. Then I noticed that he was in the 300 sequel, and I thought "I don't remember him" - and yet, thinking about it, yes I do remember him, in a non-young psycho thug part. The lad does have range. I look forward to watching his career grow: he has screen presence and should go far.