Review of The Offence (1973) by Dave A — 07 Feb 2009
Certainly not the easiest film to watch - the lengthy duologues betray the film's theatrical origins - yet it remains a compelling viewing experience, not least for the ambiguous way it treats the material and Connery's character in particular.
Much praise is naturally heaped upon Connery, and rightly so - he is in practically every scene and fills the screen like an enraged bear - but he is matched by Ian Bannen as the wily suspected child molester, and Viven Merchant.
The latter, as Connery's wife, only appears in one scene yet it is a blistering one - with Connery exposing how corrupted he has become in the twenty years on the force. Equal mention should be made for the film's sense of location - with Lumet perfectly capturing the wintery bleakness of an early '70s New Town in all it concrete glory.
This review of The Offence (1973) was written by Dave A on 07 Feb 2009.
The Offence has generally received positive reviews.
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