Tyrannosaur

Peter Mullan is Joseph, a man battling his inner demons, and Olivia Colman is Hannah, a woman he meets by chance in this character driven drama from Britain. Mullan and Colman are magnificent, especially when on screen together.

Joseph is a rage filled alcoholic who is mad at the world and living alone after the death of his wife years earlier. He meets Hannah, a woman running a consignment shop; she prays for him even though he doesn't believe in God. Her husband is an abusive controlling monster. This is not a happily after story and it feels very realistic, portraying everyday working class people struggling with loneliness, regret and doubt. Mullan and Colman radiate genuine human emotion, never looking like Hollywood,s usual pretty faces. This is worthwhile just for the two leads who are riveting.

Just be aware that this film will not leave you feeling good about life in general.

This film is an exceptional, very challenging and thought-provoking piece of work. Viewing it, as I did, at a morning showing on opening day, however, is not to be recommended. Having said that, I am not sure when the optimum time for seeing this film would actually be.

There is a lot of very uncomfortable viewing here. The subject matter - such as it is - is very bleak, but, paradoxically, more life-affirming than depressing. That is to say, I looked at the majority of the characters on screen and thought: please don't let me end up like that.

The plot is thin - that is not meant pejoratively, it's not a plot-driven film - but the performances of the cast simply roar off the screen. Peter Mullan and Eddie Marsan are fantastic, but then again, they always are (as an aside, does Marsan not tire of playing scumbags?), but the real revelation in this film is the performance of Olivia Colman.

She is perfect in this, absolutely note-perfect; incredible acting. Awesome in her delivery. So good, in fact, that you forget this is just a movie. Her performance here is definitely going to propel her into the upper echelons of British acting - if she is not already there.

Tyrannosaur is not faultless, there are some scenes that linger too long and others that linger not long enough, but for an early effort from Considine this promises much for the future. This is Considine's 'Taxi Driver' and I will queue around the block for Considine's 'Goodfellas'.

Superb writing and gritty direction; performances better yet and Colman delivers on every level. Bravo Ms Colman, and bravo to everyone else associated with the best British film of the decade.

See it.

You have an anger, frenzy, torture that consumes, from every orifice a poison floods then flumes, overwhelming, uncontained - all your pasts ingrained and chained, the smallest spark enough to ignite, raging fumes. An encounter with a lost and lonely soul, you start to gain some self-constraint, take back control, she presents as being normal, soon find out she has turmoil, a reflection of your broken, distressed whole. Time is found to help this woman in distress, though you're too late for a young lad who's been regressed, events take consequences, in a world that's lost its senses, this is a bleak and soul destroying, dark abyss.

Out of this world performances.

2011 hasn't been a great year for movies. In fact I'm struggling to think of a film that has blown me away but just as you start lose faith a film comes along that knocks you bandy. Tyrannosaur is that film.

This is a grim film. Grim in every way but where there is despair there is always a chink of light and Tyrannosaur is all about that little chink of light.

Joseph is an angry man . A very angry man. A man who's life is not good. When he's life is at it's worst he accidentally comes across a good Samaritan in Hannah who see's the good in people yet in reality is having a far worse time than Joseph.

I have to say that the performance of Olivia Colman has to be the best i have seen by any actor this year. A quite stunning portrayal of a battered woman who has nothing good in her life yet always has a smile for someone. Peter Mullan is fantastic also and it goes without saying that Eddie Marsden is brilliant.

Writer and director Paddy Constantine should be proud of what he has done here and i cant recommend this film highly enough and if this does not pick up awards in the new year then there is no justice.

Seeing "Tyrannosaur" is an experiment of life: the reality described is not so different from the everyday life of many of us.

Mr. Considine is able to realise, thanks to a perfect script and superb actors, a small masterpiece and a perfect debut.

The story set in a Leeds of charity shops and pubs, tells the anger, frustration, domestic violence, so common in this early-century England.

Over time we learn that the request for aid between the main characters becomes mutual, up to a finale as unexpected as disturbing.

Well done to everyone, but honour to Peter Mullan about holding the entire film with a surprising force and fragility.

Highly recommended.