Treacle Jr.

No one does slice-of-life drama and acerbic humor like the Brits, and the curiously named "Treacle Jr." showcases this, as well as some damned good acting from the cast, particularly Aidan Gillen ("Queer As Folk," "Game Of Thrones,") as Aidan (it seems kind of cheap when the screenwriters can't come up with their own names, anyone agree?"

Treacle Jr., as it so happens, is a kitten, Aidan is a childlike man in an unhealthy relationship, and Tom (Tom Fisher) steps quite by accident into the situation, in the process of getting out of another.

Unable to bear for another minute the responsibilities of parenthood and Family life, Tom (Fisher) walks out on his wife and baby and, after running out of cash, seeks new means of livelihood on the streets of London.

Inexplicably, he is attacked and injured by a gang of thugs, and while at the police station, he meets Aidan, who is comparing the woman at the front desk's hair to an Irish Setter's in an attempt at flirtation.

Aidan's the kind of guy most people stay away from. He's earnest, hyper, and completely free of any social graces. Aidan's naive and enthusiastic to a fault, but Tom soon discovers he has problems too- namely Linda (Riann Steele,) his 'girlfriend,' a volatile bag of nuts who beats on Aidan, dubs him a 'retard,' and in one painful scene, tries to rape him. She's a barrel of laughs.

People who find this situation unlikely need only think again. What does society think of men who hit women? If Aidan were to so much as take a swing at Linda in self-defense, she'd need only pull a pouty face to the police and Aidan would be sent up to the big house. Maybe it's a bit of an exaggeration, but it's something to think about.

The story chronicles the meeting and eventual friendship between the two men, despite Tom's initial urgent attempts to get away from Aidan, who has the boundless enthusiasm of a horny beagle. Now Aidan, he's an interesting character. Devoid of the marketability of endearing innocents like Forrest Gump, he is good-hearted but entirely oblivious to his effect on people. He was not written to be liked. I liked him.

If this was to be remade in America, there would be some adjustments mad. Linda's race would be changed (she is African-American,) because a cruel black person is against the politically correct agenda we are spoonfed nowadays. The gender roles would be switched, and the movie would become a feminist power flick. But it will not be remade because it was not highly successful, and a good thing, too. "Treacle Jr." intrigues and challenges, doing what British films do the best.

What a fantastic film. Treacle Jr is quite unlike any film I have seen! Hats off to Jamie Thraves and to the incredible cast for creating a real gem. Despite such an evident contrast between the two lead actors, the realism portrayed by both Aidan Gillen and Tom Fisher is unmatched. Firstly, you have Aidan's character of Aidan (perfectly suited), who is a kind, unknowingly funny, child-like adult whose mind seems to always be in overdrive. Despite having almost nothing, his character remains wonderfully optimistic. Then we have Tom's character of Tom (very fitting); a sullen and inhibited man whose views are seemingly pessimistic. Such a stark contrast between the pair makes for a very unlikely friendship... but as the film goes on, the audience realise that the impact they have on one another's lives is exactly what each needs in order to move on with their own lives; their desires are also incomparably different. Aidan's acting was mesmerising; absolutely flawless. There was such a helpless naivety about his character that really intrigued me. A man who has such an optimistic view on a world that's so unkind to him.... His joy in such little things and his willingness to prevail. Yet there is an underlying sadness that comes with his character; the harsh truth that his dreams are very much but a dream. It made me overwhelmingly sad as the audience realise this, and Tom realises this, but he does not... Or perhaps he does realise, nevertheless his hope shines through. Either way, this aspect of Aidan's character made the ending so much more bittersweet. I was smiling yet balling my eyes out at the same time. Tom was also fantastic. His character was played so well that I'd forgotten the pair were actors. I really felt like I was watching a man who was constantly on the verge of breaking point. Both characters' endings left me feeling fulfilled yet empty... perhaps if you've seen it, you'll understand. If not, watch it! Kudos to the two tremendously captivating performances and massive kudos to Jamie Thraves for creating such a beautifully moving film. I was sent on a real rollercoaster of emotions. Not to mention, the film certainly follows its element of "black comedy" with its extremely funny moments in particularly dark, tense scenes. This might just be my new favourite film. Also, as I'm writing this in 2020, Aidan's character has taught me to cherish the positives. I aspire to have optimism and joy for the little things in life. This film is one of them.

TREACLE JR. is an odd little independent film, filmed on the cheap in London and with an on-the-street vibe. It's a character study of two men, the principle of whom remains a mystery from beginning to end: he's a family man who one day abandons his family, flees to London, and ends up sleeping rough on the streets. He's clearly having some kind of mid life crisis, but that's about all we ever find out.

The main emphasis of the film is on Aidan Gillen, who has gone on to receive fame and recognition for his role as Littlefinger in GAME OF THRONES. Gillen plays a character called Aidan (yeah, I know) who is about as far from Littlefinger as you can get: he's a man with the mind of a child, delightfully uninhibited, and taking a natural joy in the world and in his surroundings. Gillen's character is loud, brash, and invariably annoying, but nonetheless it's an acting tour-de-force and he never fails to convince in his part.

The rest of the film is a mixed bag. It's plodding in places although the running time is very short. Some of it feels repetitive too. I found the main character a little annoying in the way he acts sometimes, although it's fair to say that Gillen makes the movie. There's some high drama when a third character, played by Riann Steele, gets involved in the story, which is all very good. In the end, TREACLE JR. is a slight piece of filmmaking, one which is well shot and made by people with talent, but it never lifted me the way something comparable like ADAM & PAUL lifted me.

I am a great admirer of Jamie Thraves's rather unique approach to drama, and his delightfully quirky, but far from syrupy character study 'Treacle Jr.' proved to be yet another earnest, vividly realised, socially conscious, idiosyncratic celluloid wonder from this talented auteur of homespun, left-of-centre drama. Sad-faced six-footer Tom (Tom Fisher) for reasons obscure suddenly leaves his wife and young child, exchanging his cosy, middle-class suburban life for the altogether more precarious milieu of South London where a violent altercation with a tree swiftly sends an increasingly dazed Tom into a busy A&E, and he is fractiously drawn into the histrionic jibber-jabbering vortex of an appealingly unfiltered, effusively enigmatic Aiden (Aiden Gillen), whose singular personality traits and consistently chaotic personal life is further complicated by the purchase of the adorable kitten Treacle Jr. Dynamic film-maker Jamie Thraves's edifying 'Treacle Jr.' is an exhilarating tonic that deftly blends gritty, melancholic drama, and lustrous comedy to truly magical effect! And if the scrumptious, honey-centred ending doesn't hit you right in the Gulliver, then it's pretty much all over, mayte!

This is a top UK independent film which really shows what the genre is capable of. Quality performances and an excellent script make Treacle Jr.one of the most memorable and interesting films I've seen for a good while. Its characters are good as on fire, there is an energy on the screen that leaves a knot in your stomach, an engaging sincerity that is neither overdone nor leadened over by any sort of hipster-esque apathy. This is what independent film in the UK is capable of doing, and what it should be doing. It can be proud of this kind of talent and I hope it will reflect this in its support of UK cinema in all its diversity.