Review of Neds (2007) by Kinnon P — 03 Feb 2011

First new film from Peter Mullan in years, since the incredible Magdalene Sisters, so it was a case of keeping expectation in check on this one. Needn't have worried though as Neds is a blistering portrait of teenage life on 1970's Glasgows meaner streets. Mullans gift is for marrying both really authentic dialog with genuine unaffected acting, and the young cast he's assembled here are uniformly riveting and completely free of any pretense. Conor McCarron is a find akin to a young Ray Winstone, he's absolutely real, and very intense, along with Gregg Forest (Johns younger incarnation) in portraying this lads promising (and hard earned) future being systematically snuffed out by his surroundings, until he simply becomes what people expect him to be.

As much a commentary on how badly kids are let down by the system, it's a believable descent from exceptional student to a boy who excels at violence, but Mullan never glorifies, he just presents it starkly, as commonplace among these young men as breathing. It's a jarring reminder that in some places knife crime was far from a modern thing, and that in this particular dead end, violence was all these kids had to define themselves.

Here if you're outside of it as John McGill is to begin with, it isn't so much a case of turning towards the gangs, it's the fact you're already surrounded by it. John is initially exceptional in the surroundings because he's a good kid trying to keep straight, he doesn't so much go bad as give in, or stop resisting, and it's heartbreaking to watch...... up to a point. After then it's up to you as a viewer how you feel about second chances, Mullan puts it in your hands.

Still, the central character both gains and loses our sympathy in equal measure in his journey, and while there's a degree of exploration in his relationship with his abusive father (Mullan in a great role), I felt there was a missed opportunity to draw sharper parallels and explore a relationship with his brother, an older boy, who's already lost to the world young John will eventually join. There's comparisons here with great works such as Kes, and the best of Ken Loach and Alan Clarke, but Neds is every bit their equal, and my reservations with missed story opportunities not withstanding, it's a powerful Scottish film that pulls no punches whatsoever verbally or physically.