Offender

Watched this at the Cinema months back and hadn't seen it since, so I decided to buy it the other day on DVD. A brilliant film, not entirely original but a fresh take on a done subject. 'Offender' stands comparison against the great British films of today, such as 'Kidulthood', 'Adulthood', 'Harry Brown', 'Ill Manors' and so on. After a blistering opening sequence, the film continues to impress with its bleak vision of prison life. Joe Cole stars as Tommy, the good young lad who thrown into hell when his girlfriend is assaulted. He's out for revenge. Need I say more. With his moody baby face and mental transformation, Joe Cole is sensational as Tommy. You can feel his pain and anguish and you want nothing more than for him to get his revenge. The other performances are good too. English Frank is both laughable and menacing. The soundtrack is superb at times, the settings feel genuine and the violence is swift. While this isn't cheery stuff, it's sure to impress and entertain certain viewers. Cole really delivers and I hope he goes far after this. ****/*****

Thoroughly enjoyed this film! The lengths the main character Tommy went through for revenge is something special. The actor who played Jake I felt didn't act well enough, it looked to me that his over acting which didn't come off well and perhaps another actor could have done a better job. Would have liked to know what happens to Tommy now that his purpose to go in prison is fulfilled but guess I'll have to make up my own theory. This is definitely a film to watch with an open mind with no expectations Overall very good film! Great acting from the main character! Rated a 6 just due to some of the acting.

The pregnant girlfriend of Tommy Nix is assaulted causing her to miscarry . Tommy assaults a couple of police officers so he can be jailed in order to carry out his revenge on the men who committed the crime against his girlfriend

A simple revenge plot and perhaps mindful of this director Ron Scalpello goes out of his way to make sure the audience don't get bored by a simple tale of revenge . Massive big mistake because Scalpello almost undermines the movie with his " hey look at me " directorial flourishes that makes a MTV ident look like a static painting in comparison . The more you might be reminded of Alan Clarke's gritty realist cinema borstal drama SCUM the more Ronnie boy tries to distract you

I've no idea of Mr Scalpello's background but he's obviously influenced by adverts and music videos and never resists the temptation to have a blasting soundtrack with moody stylistic sharply edited visuals . You don't like drum and bass bruv ? Don't worry because in a few minutes we'll get a long montage with some indie guitar sounds . You want romance ? Good because we'll have a smoochy song for a flashback . You want the film to just get on with telling a story ? You're being a little bit optimistic for real bruv innit

This is something of a pity because Scalpello does manage to develop Paul Van Carter's screenplay intermittently but perhaps not often enough . I was very impressed with Joe Cole who very often doesn't get to say much but does manage to give an angst ridden performance and I look forward to seeing this young actor in more suitable material . Of the other performances the stand out is English Frank ( Not I take it his birth name ) as Jake the prison daddy . Yeah okay it a in your face OTT performance that possibly has no basis in reality but it is memorable and is in keeping with the entire style of the movie

OFFENDER ends up being a very curious film where less might have been more . It can never be accused of being boring or having a sluggish pace but it's a film that can't be taken seriously either . In other words it's disposable entertainment

Very enjoyable well made film however English Frank is not good. Proper crap actor, not a much better rapper to be honest.

It confounds me how many people find this a 'realistic' film blah blah. A "kid" with no record ends up on the same cell block as offenders with multiple convictions? A youth facility with only one female officer? The uncontrolled behaviour of offenders and staff alike is ridiculous and "realistic?" And I don't think I saw any one offender who looked less than 20 and most looked much older. Even Cole in the lead role was 24 when this was made and he's the youngest looking of the bunch.

The injuries are typical film make-up and if you think a washroom beating leaves you with a bruised eye, you don't know "realistic." The probation officer works alone, doesn't call police, then leaves work in the stereotypical dark and gets punched out in front of typically no witnesses, even though she was initially terrified and HAD to know something could happen. Duh. And she has a shiner to show for it and loses the baby. OMG. How contrived. How stereotypical.

Those of you who think this movie has ANY redeeming qualities, you need to see more films. You also need a prison tour. A realistic stint in prison is boring and I get the need to spice it up. But don't be predictable and stereotypical to the point of insulting. Waste of time.