Rex in waiting to succeed Leigh and Loach

As one of the finest British actors of his generation, Paddy Considine’s directorial debut Tyrannosaur proves that he has the potential to be a masterful filmmaker as well.

Set in the drab pastures of Leeds, we first meet our anti-hero Joseph (Mullan) after he is thrown out of a betting shop. Drunk, disorderly and in a fit of rage, he kicks his dog to death. It’s a devastating opening scene, illustrating not only how the now companionless widower is a tormented soul, but also just how dark and distressing the following ninety minutes of Tyrannosaur will be.

Running away from another crime scene, he stumbles into a charity shop only to be greeted by an affluent woman of God, Hannah (Colman). Initially afraid, she consoles Joseph and, after a few heated exchanges, they strike up an unlikely kinship, sheltering them from their harsh living situations outside. For Joseph, it’s from his martyrdom and loneliness; and for Hannah, her turbulent marriage with an abusive and degrading husband (Marsan).

Famous for his many acting roles in Shane Meadows’ films (Dead Man’s Shoes, A Room For Romeo Brass), Considine expresses the same level of austerity in his own filmmaking. Rather than presenting a highly stylised portrait of underclass Britain, he focuses on characterisation and performance, managing to reveal three of the best performances this reviewer has seen all year. Peter Mullan (Trainspotting, Warhorse) is both enchanting and sympathetic as the hapless Joseph, whilst Eddie Marsan (Happy Go Lucky, Sherlock Holmes) invokes terror whenever his gleaming eyes and insincere grin fill the screen. Best of all, Olivia Colman (the unsung star of British comedy series Peep Show) is finally given the breakout role she deserves as Hannah. Fragile and sympathetic, she is the beacon of light amongst the darkness, leading to an inevitably devastating closing scene.

Tyrannosaur continues the social realism trend set out by the politically conscious Ken Loach and the wryly-comical Mike Leigh. It’s a story of disconnected people looking for humanity. One of the best British kitchen sink dramas of recent years, it might be relentlessly miserable, but Tyrannosaur suggests that Considine has a bright future ahead.

Tyrannosaur (15)

Dir: Paddy Considine; UK drama, 2011, 91 mins; Peter Mullan, Olivia Colman, Eddie Marsan
Premiered November 29
Playing at Grand Teatret

 

 

TOP STORIES

  • Analysis shows that many students from Bangladesh are enrolled in Danish universities

    Analysis shows that many students from Bangladesh are enrolled in Danish universities

    Earlier this year, the Danish government changed the law on access for people from third world countries to the Danish labor market. Yet, there may still be a shortcut that goes through universities

  • Danish Flower company accused of labor abuse in Türkiye

    Danish Flower company accused of labor abuse in Türkiye

    Queen Company, a Denmark-origin flower producer with pristine sustainability credentials, is under fire for alleged labor rights violations at its Turkish operation, located in Dikili, İzmir. Workers in the large greenhouse facility have been calling decent work conditions for weeks. The Copenhagen Post gathered testimonies from the workers to better understand the situation

  • Advice for expats: Navigating Life as an International in Denmark

    Advice for expats: Navigating Life as an International in Denmark

    Beginning this month, Expat Counselling will be contributing a monthly article to The Copenhagen Post, offering guidance, tools, and reflections on the emotional and social aspects of international life in Denmark. The first column is about Strategies for emotional resilience

  • New agreement criticized for not attracting enough internationals

    New agreement criticized for not attracting enough internationals

    Several mayors and business leaders across Denmark are not satisfied with the agreement that the government, the trade union movement and employers made last week. More internationals are needed than the agreement provides for

  • Let’s not fear the global – let’s use it wisely

    Let’s not fear the global – let’s use it wisely

    Copenhagen’s international community is not just a demographic trend – it’s a lifeline. Our hospitals, kindergartens, construction sites, laboratories and restaurants rely on talent from all over the world. In fact, more than 40% of all job growth in the city over the past decade has come from international employees.

  • The Danish Connection: Roskilde gossip, a DNA scandal & why young Danes are having less sex

    The Danish Connection: Roskilde gossip, a DNA scandal & why young Danes are having less sex

    With half of the population of Copenhagen at Roskilde this week, Eva away in Aalborg and the weather being a bit of a joke , Melissa and Rachel bring you a chatty episode to cheer you up looking into three of the top stories in Denmark this week.

Connect club

Connect Club is your gateway to a vibrant programme of events and an international community in Denmark.

Sign up here

Career

  • “It’s possible to lead even though you don’t fit the traditional leadership mold”

    “It’s possible to lead even though you don’t fit the traditional leadership mold”

    Describing herself as a “DEI poster child,” being queer, neurodivergent and an international in Denmark didn’t stop Laurence Paquette from climbing the infamous corporate ladder to become Marketing Vice President (VP) at Vestas. Arrived in 2006 from Quebec, Laurence Paquette unpacks the implications of exposing your true self at work, in a country that lets little leeway for individuality

  • Deal reached to bring more foreign workers to Denmark

    Deal reached to bring more foreign workers to Denmark

    Agreement between unions and employers allows more foreign workers in Denmark under lower salary requirements, with new ID card rules and oversight to prevent social dumping and ensure fair conditions.

  • New association helps international nurses and doctors Denmark

    New association helps international nurses and doctors Denmark

    Kadre Darman was founded this year to support foreign-trained healthcare professionals facing challenges with difficult authorisation processes, visa procedures, and language barriers, aiming to help them find jobs and contribute to Denmark’s healthcare system

Want to advertise your job with CPH Post?

Contact us

Jobs