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. ****/*****

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

I found this movie to be somewhat entertaining. However you can't ignore the complete lack of acting ability and intimidation factor that English Frank presents. If he were to walk into an actual prison walking and acting as he does. I have a feeling he would not be the "boss" but the joke of the prison. His acting abilities annoyed me throughout the movie. He was terrible! The goal isn't to look like a bully at recess during your teen years. The goal is to look like an intimidating, overpowering, and scary inmate. I did feel that Joe Cole did a great job as the main character. Putting him up against a "gangster wannabe" who is very bad at acting definitely hurt what could have been a much better movie.

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

i too was suspicious of the low scores this film is getting (too many haters out there who don't like the genre?). Anyway it was packed when i saw at cineworld on Saturday night and got a good reception from a mostly young crowd. The lead actors are very good, some of them fresh talent. Joe Cole from TV's Skins is a revelation. The film goes at a fast pace and has some great fight scenes. Not really a remake of Scum but more a contemporary Brit thriller. You should like it if you have a taste for films like Taken and the Bourne trilogy. Lifted above the hoodie genre tag by the eclectic score of new music and classic soul tunes. Offender deserves to be a hit as its something a bit different from recent British films like Adulthood, Ill Manors etc.