Out of Control

Extremely well-produced drama, showing the problems that many single-mums have in present-day Britain with bringing up their kids. So well made that I felt I was watching a real-life documentary, rather than a TV drama. Tamzin Outhwaite gives an excellent performance as a mum who is trying desperately to make sure that her son gets a good education, and fighting his street-wise friends who have other ideas.......

Tamzin's departure from Eastenders was a sad occasion for us "Mel" fans, but her performances in "Out of Control" (and before that in "Red Cap") show that she is a brilliant young actress who will go from strength to strength.....

"Out of Control" is one of the finest pieces of work in the medium I have ever had the pleasure of watching. It is difficult to sum up the film well; my best attempt is to say that it gives as true a picture of inner city Britain today, in 2002, as could be possible. This doesn't sound that glowing a recommendation really, but judgement should be reserved until after you have seen this stunning, tragic film. The acting is truly brilliant; the characters simply live as real people, in a way that I haven't seen for a long time. The writing and dialogue is brilliant - much of it is skillfully improvised. Overall, every Briton should see this film; and really every person with any humanity.

This excellent program should have been extended and become a film instead. It would have done brilliantly. It was an indie program and therefore, the camerawork wasn't exactly at its best. But that doesnt matter at all, when the plot, characters and acting is SUPERB.

This film totally and truly sums up the life of youngsters on Britain's streets in 2002. With the ever-present news of rising crime in the UK these days, this film gives a true picture of life in Britain. The real eye-opener was the actual youth instituition itself.

A bully boy inmate torments a young 15 yr old, who becomes psychologically affected. It will make you sometimes laugh, with very memorable quotes, one including: "Newboy, come to your window and sing me ba ba black sheep!" watch it, and you will understand. But from laughter, it will bring you tears as well. Gauranteed.

Definitely one to watch. Every British person should watch it.

i watched this way back in 2002 and recently watched again and was stuck-fast to the screen yet again. Tamzin Outhwaite was so good in this that i actually thought at times i was there in the story with them. Danny young who plays dean was also a gem in this fascinating drama.. another actor who stood out was Jamie Forman he plays his parts so well and gives 110% in everyone even though most of his parts are only small... the story centres around dean a troubled fifteen year old boy who gets in a bit of bother with the law and is sentenced to four months in youth offenders jail where from the start of his sentence gets bullied by Sam Johnson (Leo Gregory) a downward spiral continues until dean is forced to commit suicide, leaving his mom in a state of shock and trauma... Im rating this as a ten out of ten you really cant ask for more with this drama all actors showed the ability of real acting and i will be watching this again in another ten years to enjoy for a third time.....

STAR RATING:*****Unmissable****Very Good***Okay**You Could Go Out For A Meal Instead*Avoid At All Costs

Casting an uncompromising glance at the condemning modern stand-point on crime and punishment in the UK,Dominic Savage's Out of Control is very much a modern film for modern times.The first thing you will notice about the TV flick is it's rather unusual camera style,which anyone who saw the Michael Douglas movie Traffic will be familiar with.Once you've gotten past the initial disconcertment of it,it's actually quite ingratiating and likely to be the same style many future movies are shot in.

The movie itself basically plays as an unrelentingly dark and grimy lurk into life inside a young offenders institution.You are really given the full impact that an act of crime (one stupid mistake,you might say) can have on the life of a criminal,and the lives of those closest to them,especially their nearest and dearest.It also plays on the theory of whether or not institutionalising those who offend will make them repent their offence,or merely distort them into rebellious haters of society and everything in it.More than anything,it is also an alert to the potentially horrendous psychological scars imprisonment can leave,and how the mentally and psyically weakest will probably not survive it.By the end,you're just left with a feeling of regret and despair that will stay with you long after you've seen it.

On the performances front,Leo Greggory is impressively mean and chilling as the bullyboy inmate who's own feelings of hopelessness and isolation play with his mental yearnings for violence and empowerment.But the real star of the show is Danny Young ,playing a young man with intelligence and goal,who has unfortunately been brought up in a rough area where these qualities stood next to no chance of being pursued or encouraged,and who may even have really just been coerced into his life of crime.Tamzin Outhwaite certainly packs a punch as the distraught mum,although she is a little young to be playing the mother of a boy of 15 (unless she was meant to have had him as a gymslip mum).

In the end,you come to realize Out of Control is not solely being used to describe the law-breaking youths in the institution,but also perhaps the state that crime,the causes of it and it's punishments have been allowed to deteriorate into.***