Review of Tyrannosaur (2011) by Joao Manuel A — 21 Jul 2012

Paddy Considine is one of the best-kept secrets of British cinema. Fact. As an actor Considine proved on both sides of the Atlantic how versatile he is, so many awaited with great anticipation for his feature film debut. Following on the story of his short film Dog Altogether, Tyrannosaur tells us the story of Joseph and Hannah.

Throughout the first act, we are presented to Joseph, a middle-aged widower with scruffy beard and anger management issues. We see in the first five minutes how deep his anger is rooted as the main characters kills his dog, breaks the windows of a convenience store and manufactures a bar fight. Anger is not just pathology for Joseph it is a way of living and those feelings makes it impossible for him to make friends. An opportunity for friendship appears as he tries to hide inside a clothes store as he runs from the men he just attacked. Hannah, the owner, offers to pray for him and to make him a cup of tea, after telling him that she is from an affluent part of the town he writes her off as bourgeoisie and leaves. Joseph has no one therefore eventually comes back and as both understand how similar their situation is their friendship grows. However, both have their own demons that as they are revealed contribute to enhance the dramatic value of the final climax that will leave the audience breathless and emotionally drained, despite not being completely unexpected it is quietly shocking.

One aspect that helps audiences connect with the story and the final climax in particular are the breathtakingly believable performances from Peter Mullan and Olivia Coleman. There is an emotional intensity seldom seen on films today, Olivia Colemanâ(TM)s facial expressions in particular have thousand lines of dialogue hidden inside them, even when we are not aware of her plight on the beginning we can see that there is much more to that smile then what she tries to show. Another aspect of note is Paddy Considineâ(TM)s writing and directing that helps to create a story in which the audience feels empathy for a man who from the beginning seems to be irredeemable.

However ultimately what makes Tyrannosaur such a unique film is how much cruelly frank it is. There are no heroes, only fallible men and women who are prey of their own fears and weaknesses.