A powerful and affecting award-winning drama from feature writer / director Paddy Considine (Dead Man’s Shoes), TYRANNOSAUR follows the story of two lonely, damaged people brought together by circumstance. Joseph (Peter Mullan) is an unemployed widower, drinker, and a man crippled by his own volatile temperament and furious anger. Hannah (Olivia Colman) is a Christian worker at a charity shop, a respectable woman who appears wholesome and happy. When the pair are brought together, Hannah appears as Joseph’s potential saviour, someone who can temper his fury and offer him warmth, kindness and acceptance. As their story develops Hannah’s own secrets are revealed – her relationship with husband James (Eddie Marsan) is violent and abusive – and as events spiral out of control, Joseph becomes her source of succour and comfort. Starring: Peter Mullan, Olivia Colman, Eddie Marsan
Directed by: Paddy Considine
Runtime: 92 minutes
Studio: Optimum Home Entertainment
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Paddy Considine’s drama is one of the grittiest I have seen for quite some time and comes with a firm warning for the faint-hearted to stay clear. The story focuses on Joseph (Peter Mullan), a widowed and middle-aged man who enjoys a drink but has a frightening and near uncontrollable anger problem. The opening scene alone is one of the most upsetting as Joseph loses money at the bookies and takes his anger out on his dog. Joseph’s bursts of rage dissipate as swiftly as they begin and he is left full of remorse for his lack of control but the damage is already done. One day he is involved in a fight with three teenagers at the local pub and needing to be alone he ducks into a charity shop and hides behind a rack of clothes. The shop owner, Hannah (Olivia Colman), is a devout Christian who shows Joseph kindness and prays to God to help him. Initially dismissive of Hannah, Joseph soon finds himself drawn to her and they slowly form a fragile friendship.
What Joseph perceives to be a happy life for Hannah is anything but. She lives on a rich estate but is a victim of severe domestic abuse at the hands of her cruel husband, James (Eddie Marsan), whose actions add to the gritty tone of the film and will be tough for some people to stomach. As Joseph grows suspicious of sudden bruises on Hannah’s face, she begins to spend more time with him in his world. Being with Hannah, Joseph begins to try and control his anger and turn his life around. This isn’t easy given a hostile neighbor across the road who has no issue with his bull terrier attacking his girlfriend’s young son, one of the few people Joseph converses with and remains calm. Joseph manages to keep his cool with his neighbor but when Hannah leaves her abusive husband and seeks sanctuary with him, his anger is put to a severe test.
Tyrannosaur is a well-acted but uncompromising drama that should be approached with caution. The many unpleasant scenes won’t suit everyone but if you can brave those moments there is a harsh but well-crafted drama here with two excellent performances from the two leads. While I enjoy the escapism that films have to offer, I do appreciate a story like this one that holds a mirror to the real lives that many people have to face.
Verdict: 4/5
(Film source: reviewer’s own copy)
About the Author:
I was born in Barnsley, South Yorkshire, England and have always been a bookworm and enjoyed creative writing at school. In 1999 I created the Elencheran Chronicles and have been writing ever since. My first novel, Fezariu's Epiphany, was published in May 2011. When not writing I'm a lover of films, games, books and blogging. I now live in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire, with my wife, Donna, and our six cats - Kain, Razz, Buggles, Charlie, Bilbo and Frodo.
David M. Brown – who has written 809 posts on Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dave.
