The Kid

A great story well handled by Director: Nick Moran, who guides us through the life of the main character Kevin Lewis. The film is set in the 1980's and early 90's and looks and feels right with camera work and film lighting that supports the storyline. However, it is Rupert Friend's performance that sets the high standard for this film. The character is carefully observed to provide a man who is not aggressive but can explode when pushed. For me the biggest achievement is that the film deals with violence and in no way glamorises it.

Why would you go and see this film? Because it is a story of a mans survival thoughtfully made and performed and the temptation to make it into a 'Lock Stock' fairytale has been resisted.

In contrast to the other reviews I must say that this film was surprisingly bad. I am not sure where it went so wrong really, but it is probably the casting. I just could not see one person that was actually believable in his/her role. The mother of the boy was just so badly acted I felt actually embarrassed in the cinema. Also I think they could have done much better with the casting of the lead. I am not from UK, but the poor people from the council estates where the characters came from do NOT sound like some posh Chelsea public school prick. He was much better in the Pride and Prejudice. Only character that was even slightly OK was the guy that played the Kid in his early teens. I actually could see that kid being abused at home. All in all the film fell flat on many occasions, too many stereotypes, too many things we have seen already.After an hour I felt so board I started playing with my phone.I know I may sound like a overly negative person, but I go to movies 2 times a week and don't remember the last time I walked out on the movie before the end. Unfortunately The Kid was the case... 3 points for the effort though as obviously someone worked on this film, but I would never recommend this to anyone....

I'm afraid I didn't like this film. I can handle difficult-to-watch with the best of them - I think Tyranosaurus is the best film of 2011, but 'The Kid' catapults us through far too many years, characters and emotions, that it makes one giddy and rather nauseous.

I haven't read the novel and I'm sure that that more successfully tells Kevin's story. An unrecognisable, but usually very beautiful Natascha McElhone is Kevin's almost inhuman mother, a screaming, shouting performance that not only repels but disgraces both the actor and the film and her alcoholic husband (whose actor's name I cannot find) beat, scold and swear at their child that is so over-the-top that it's almost unbelievable.

Understandably, Kevin gets taken into care and at last, credible acting from the reassuring Uncle David, Bernard Hill and Heartbeat's Niamh Cusak, as the school nurse, who finds bruises all over Kevin's body. James Fox comes to both Kevin's - and our - rescue as the kind-hearted and good Alan, a comfortably-off married adopter.

However, where I feel director Nick Moran goes wrong is pitching 'The Kid' as both a gritty, urban Two Smoking Barrels movie and a sentimental rite of passage. They just don't mix. We, OK, I, find it difficult to empathise with Kevin, even and when it turns to running loss-making bars and getting beaten to a pulp in boxing matches (does Rupert Friend seriously look like he has the physique of a boxer?), then I began to dismiss the film more and more.

Yes, the tentative relationship with Jackie (Jodie Whittaker) was both welcome and touching but even that got a bit crazy toward the end. I know many found the film embracing and gripping, but I'm afraid I was left rather cold, with a slightly bad taste in my mouth.

British films tend to be either comedies about class (Full Monty et al) or rock hard dramas. This is the latter without a doubt, but it is not out and out gangster violence - it is a serious and thoughtful drama punctuated with several bare knuckle fight scenes and frankly the home life is starker. For my money this is the best British drama since the excellent Brick Lane and it bought to mind most though earlier films of the 80s, the era it depicts, Mona Lisa and The Long Good Friday.

Yes, it is gritty and the script doesn't need any Nick Hornby touches to get to reality - this is a frankly startling look at the underside of an abusive family and the story of the Kid and how he tries again and again from childhood to manhood to get out from under only to find himself trapped again and again by unbelievable twists of fate.

Knowing this is based on a true story adds poignancy.

This really is an involving film, even given the excessive language and violence which in its context is (just about) justifiable.

At the end of the day this was, for me, a brilliant drama, totally engrossing, well-made, the performances were unbelievably believable, though God help the child that has parents like that.....

Highly recommended as being one of the best and strongest British dramas - it captures the spirit of the 80s and the amazing true story involved.

Based on the memoir by Kevin Lewis, The Kid is an intense British drama film which focuses on the theme of child abuse. It is a riveting story, about fighting adversity. It shows that no matter how dark things are, there is a light at end of tunnel.

Kevin Lewis grew up in utter hell, but he didn't follow the same destructive paths as his parents. His mother Gloria (an unrecognizable Natascha McElhone), constantly abused Kevin, both mentally and physically. His father was an alcoholic, whom sometimes helped him and sometimes, gave him a punch. After social services became involved, Kevin was in and out of the system, bouncing from foster home to foster home. He found kindness in the form of a social worker (Bernard Hill), however, his violent inherited attitude became unforgivable to the foster families. Kevin was introverted and fragile in his teen years (played by Augustus Prew), but is able to escape his bleakness with the help of his teacher (Ioan Gruffudd) and the foster parent that makes the biggest impact on him (James Fox).

His teacher was like the good angel because his physical education teacher did nothing to help his situation, even when he saw all the bruises all over his body. But Kevin is tough and smart and just needs a break to fulfill his true potential. Kevin as an adult decides to quit studying to join the striving millionaires, thus attempting to be an entrepreneur.

A kind soul at heart, even adult Kevin (Rupert Friend) is taken advantage of for other people's gain. Even his foster mother turned out to be only looking after her own interests as she wouldn't give Kevin his inherited money or home after his foster father dies. It was important for him to keep the home that meant so much to him as that was the only place where he had some happiness.

Meeting cunning con men along the way and becoming involved in street fights, Kevin soon ended up in the worst possible state. Until, he met the love of his life.

The lovestory is the crucial point in the film showing how love conquers all. His love for Jackie (Jodie Whittaker) is why he wrote the book that the film is inspired by. He wrote the book for the right reasons, out of love. It was originally supposed to be for her eyes only, but she sent it to a book publisher and it went on to become a bestseller. Through the love he felt for his wife he turned his life around. His nightmare became a dream.

Each performance by every actor portraying Kevin were inspiring, however I wish they would have stuck to one actor for the teen/adult portrayals of Kevin. I am sure Augustus Prew could have pulled it off. You have already bonded with one actor and when the actor is changed yet again for the adult Kevin, it starts to take you out of the film and makes it loose it fluidity. You have to get use to them again and their new mannerisms.

One of the first things to strike you about The Kid is the unassuming style it's directed with. Director Nick Moran really captures the 80's grain of TV and film of the time. The way in which Moran directs it just makes it feel all the more real and authentic.

Certainly a triumph over adversity tale, and one that has been told before in different guises, but it's the heart that is put into The Kid that makes it resonate. Everyone involved obviously had a strong connection to the material and the film handles this difficult subject matter with aplomb. The Kid shows you that you have to look in yourself, look at the voice within, and be strong. You also can't rely on other people to dig you out, you must believe in yourself. A fantastic British film you need to check out, just make sure to have tissues handy!

More film reviews at http://breakawaydaily.com