'71
2015 review number 41:
'71: (Drama/Action/Thriller): 85 out of 100: If you are after a tense thriller that never lets up, you will definitely fancy this. It's so jam-packed with force and power that you will be compelled to follow the scenes as if you are actually a witness to the proceedings.
Jack O'Connell stars as Gary Hook, a young British soldier who has been left stranded by his unit after a riot on the streets of Belfast. He must find a way to survive in the deadly landscape until he can be rescued. During the night he encounters different people and being in an 'alien' world, he finds it difficult to differentiate between friend and foe. While Hook is fighting for his life, we bear witness to the dealings of the IRA and the conspiracies among his own people.
This is a rattling good yarn where you will not notice the time go by. Not once did I check my watch; that's how engrossed I was in the movie. The pacing is excellent, ensuring that the narrative never stalls and keeps the audience guessing. It is brilliantly directed as you feel part of the story. This is achieved through the unsteady camera in some scenes which I am not usually a fan of but this time around it serves its purpose well as it creates the tension following Hook around.
A lot of the colours have been deliberately drained to create a dour, dangerous world. The cinematography deserves credit for showing us the violence that existed in 1971, hence the title of the movie. The music score with its ethereal, pulsating beats is also a highlight and adds to the tension generated by the plot, screenplay and direction.
O'Connell is superb as the stranded soldier. You feel for his every dangerous encounter and dilemma. He is surrounded by an excellent support cast, convincing you that they are either in the IRA or the British army. Just a word of warning about the accents...there are some thick Irish accents which will make you have to concentrate hard to understand what they are saying.
This is an early candidate for my top ten in 2015. It's a gripping and gritty account of the threats posed by the IRA during a time of violence in Britain. With the action focused so much on the one central character, it makes the viewing a more personal, tangible experience.
Starring Jack O'Connell and Richard Dormer
(99 minutes)
Parental advice: Coarse language, violence and adult themes
Additional scene during or after credits: No
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J-BaKfl1Ms4 (Movie trailer)
(Reviewed on Wednesday 18th March, 2015)
© 2015 by LAI FILMS
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