hyped garbage

Watch something else. There are very few redeeming qualities to this film.

This story has more twists and turns than a second-rate soap opera.

It's the kind of movie you'll want to see a second time with someone who hasn't seen it yet, to remember what it was like to watch it for the first time.

Joseph (Peter Mullan) is a volatile violent drunk. After a violent outburst, he takes shelter in a Christian second-hand store run by Hannah (Olivia Colman). She tries to help him but he verbally picks her apart. She's a drunk suffering under her abusive husband James (Eddie Marsan). Joseph befriends young Samuel who is suffering under her mother's boyfriend and his aggressive pitbull.Peter Mullan and Olivia Colman are perfect in portraying these heavily damaged people. These are award worthy performances. The story is brutal although it's a little scattered. There is limited hope and questionable redemption. It's an unrelenting dark brutal tale.

Some films thrill you, some scare you, some make you laugh. You choose which one depending on how you want to feel. Tyrannosaur is a fantastic movie, but you have to be in the mood for it. It's not a feel good type of film. It's gritty, nasty, dark, but ultimately uplifting (in a sad sort of way).The main character, Joseph, is introduced to us as he kicks his beloved pet dog to death, smashes a Post Office window and gets into a fight with some youths in a pub. And he's our 'hero' - he's the guy we're expected to root for. If you don't like the sound of him already, you're probably not going to enjoy his tale. He's not the most sympathetic of characters. Olivia Coleman (best known for her comedic roles, such as 'Sophie' in Peep Show) is outstanding, showing just what a versatile actress she is.Some people have criticised it as 'yet more British miserablism.' That's a fair comment. It is pretty miserable. That's why if you're looking for something cheery, it's not for you. However, if you're willing to see just how depressing some people's lives are, you'll be glad you did - I'm guessing not many people are as trapped in such a downward, self-destructive spiral as the two central characters. If nothing else, you'll be glad you're not them.Oh, and don't get your hopes up about seeing giant dinosaurs - it's a metaphor - Jurassic Park, this isn't.

The British film industry. While never being the juggernaut that is the American film industry, it can still give the world great films, many of which are highly regarded. Sure, many recent British films have been utter atrocities, but there are definitely many diamonds among the rough, the best of recent years being The Impostor. One reason that many British films have been poor is that they're too real. Sure, many films are aided by the fact they're realistic, but still have some element of escapism. However, these recent British films have attempted to reveal how modern Britain is 'Broken Britain', and how it isn't just something the tabloids write in order to sell more papers (because Britain was always perfect now, wasn't it?), and because of it while many are gritty and bleak, they are often boringly one-note and forget to entertain at all. This film unfortunately falls into that trap, as while it is gritty, dark and has collection of depressed, moody characters, you won't care due to how little it has to offer outside of that and by the end you go 'so what?'The story is that Joseph, a Scottish middle aged man, is having a rough life, getting into fights with teenagers, his neighbours and is resentful of everyone he meets. After one of his fights, he runs and hides in a charity shop owned by Hannah, who he resents due to her beliefs and her seemingly perfect life. However, as he comes to discover, she is more pain than he first thinks and takes her in, forming a strong friendship. Now while the story may sound interesting at first, it suffers from a major problem that affects the rest of the movie: it is so interested in piling on the darkness of their lives (i.e. Spoilers Joseph killing his dog, Joseph's best friend dying of cancer, Hannah being urinated on by her abusive one- dimensional husband, Hannah describing why she is infertile) that eventually you lose interest, due to how boringly one-note they become and the amount of plot holes that there are.(i.e. why doesn't Hannah divorce her husband, considering how vile he is to her? why doesn't anyone call the police when something bad happens?)This problem also affects the rest of the movie as well. The characters are either depressed, horrible, violent or a mixture of the three and while that make them seem more realistic, it doesn't make them in any more intriguing or interesting, as none of them ever extend beyond that. Sure, this isn't as bad as American Beauty where ALL of the characters were annoyingly whiny, despite their luxuries (which none of the characters have in this film), but they're still very uninteresting. It doesn't help that the acting, while good, isn't outstanding. Sure, there has been much written about how good Olivia Colman is, and how she should have been nominated for more awards than she was, but she isn't that good. Sure she's a great actress, but she's about as good as everyone else in this movie, which is good, but doesn't go beyond what her character is restricted to. Unlike another underrated female performance of Pam Grier in Jackie Brown, where everyone is great, but she was a standout who truly owns her role, Olivia Colman doesn't stand out, as she doesn't go beyond the restrictions of her character or show any personality in the role, much like everyone else.It doesn't help that none of these characters get any sort of redemption throughout the film. If Paddy Considine was to make all of this misery truly mean something, than he would've had these characters rise above it, and truly make something of their lives despite their problems. However, this never happens, and the characters don't really change that much. Sure this may be like "real life", but this sense of realism is hampered by the extremes these characters go to by the end of the film. (SPOLIER) For example, when Joseph's younger friend is attacked by a dog, he kills it, rather than letting it slide or calling the police. At least while there are hints that his character will change by the end, as he sends a letter to Hannah telling her that he is getting his life back on track, Hannah isn't so lucky. Instead of divorcing her husband or (again) calling the police to get him arrested for his abuse, she (SPOLIER) kills him, in a very violent manner I should add. I understand that she was still in love with him to get any help as there are relationships like that in the real world (even if I hope there aren't many couples similar to Hannah and her husband), but if she was that in love with them, would she have really gone to that extreme? It doesn't seem very plausible, as it is completely out of character for her. It's more worrying considering that (SPOLIER) despite being in prison, seems happier that he is gone. What kind of message is that sending out? That murder solves all problems? I understand that I'm probably reading too much into this, but that is what it comes across as.Overall, while the acting is good and there are some nice scenes here and there, there isn't enough in Tyrannosaur to make it worth watching, and by the end of this miserable bore, you'll feel like you've wasted an hour and a half of your life that you could have used more productively rather than making it become extinct by watching this film. Stick to acting, Paddy.

Peter Mullan is one to take a very similar character in a number of his films, yet each is different in their own way and relate to the viewer a good new story.He leads the film along with Olivia Colman in a down to earth and very gritty movie based in Yorkshire (England), directed by Paddy Considine. We find Mullan's drunken violent character wishing to turn the page and relent, so finds solace in Olivia Colman's character's Christian & charitable nature. However, not all is as it seems and the victim becomes the helper and the helper is one who really needs the help, trapped in a violent and frightening marriage with a dark secret.This isn't a film about directing as such, although is a debut for Considine who does a great job. The film is about the themes, acting and story, and that is a gem.It's harrowing to watch but still gripping. Certain aspects you've seen before, but it's a change from the celebrity obsessed film fare we're used to.It plays like a good theatre play, and there's lots to admire here. Olivia Colman as the main victim in this film (admittedly amongst a set of them) is fabulous in this role, and you'll ride the difficult emotional journey with her.I'd say give it a go if you're interested in some gritty drama. A good directorial debut, and Mullan is again great to watch.