Review of Tyrannosaur (2011) by Jesse T — 19 Jan 2012

Ever since I saw Paddy Considine in Jim Sheridan's "In America" back in 2003 I've loved the guy. He's had some great roles and is one of my personal favourite British actors. He's had stand out performances in "Dead Man's Shoes", "My Summer of Love" and "Cinderella Man".

This time around, Considine takes the reins and directs this visceral picture. "Tyrannosaur" is Considine's first time working as a director and it's easily one of the most memorable directorial debuts in recent years.

I saw this film at a screening here in Toronto at the International Film Festival and Considine was there for a question and answer session. The way he spoke about this project gave me goosebumps; he's a real passionate filmmaker and he's absolutely fantastic at what he does.

Considine made the short film "Dog Altogether" back in 2007 [it won a BAFTA award for Best Short Film] and that was the beginning of "Tyrannosaur". "Dog Altogether" featured the same cast, characters and story of "Tyrannosaur", but only ran a mere 16 minutes.

Considine said at the Toronto screening that after making the short film, he talked with Peter Mullan [who plays Joseph in the films] about turning it into a feature film and he was very much on board.

He shot "Tyrannosaur" with Peter Mullan and Olivia Colman reprising their roles and I have to say that after seeing it the other night, I still can't shake it from my mind. It's one of the most powerful, beautiful and well acted films I have seen in recent years.

It's perhaps the most moving film of this nature since "The Wrestler". It's very much a character driven film and it runs on its two lead performances. Peter Mullan is superb, as he is in most things, but the performance from Olivia Colman is absolutely mind-blowing.

She's a revelation and she had me shaking my head in disbelief. I couldn't believe how brilliant this performance was. She's best known in the U.K. for her comedic roles on TV and film and this role in "Tyrannosaur" is basically her first drama-heavy role.

You would never know this woman had never done drama before, she knocks it right out of the park. This is a dark film and it can be really hard to endure at some points, but the pay-off is so satisfying.

It won three prizes at Sundance earlier this year: Best Director and two prizes for acting for Colman and Mullan. It's one of the best films of the year and features a great directorial debut and one hell of a lead actress performance.

My favourite film of 2010 was a Sundance smash hit ["Winter's Bone"] and "Tyrannosaur" will undoubtedly be up there as one of my favourites of 2011 at the year's end as well.

(A-).