Movie Review by Vivienne Messenger
Starring: Billy Connolly, Ken Stott, Francesca Annis, Iain Robertson, Annette Crosbie
Director: Anthony Neilson
Bare naked aggression, street fighting with knives and rape all feature in this movie from director Anthony Neilson which is set in Edinburgh, Scotland.
The film follows the downward spiralling of Nickie Dryden (Billy Connolly) a supposedly reformed former dept collector whose violent ways led to murder for which he has done his time in prison, and now made a new life for himself as a sculpturist, married to Val Dryden (the lovely Francesca Annis). However because of the destructive and relentless harassment by the policeman who arrested him (Ken Stott) and the equally violent behaviour of Flipper (Iain Robertson), a yob out to prove to himself and his mates that he has what it takes to follow in his idol, Nickie Dryden’s footsteps, all hell breaks loose and totally destroys the serenity Nickie Dryden has tried so hard to build for himself.
This is a very violent movie with a stark view of life. Exceptionally strong performances from all of the cast and a “policy”, that is an eye opener equally to the viewer and Val Dryden, gives this film that something extra.
Well worth seeing.
