Why so much hype?

Pretty Good

Best movie of this year hands down!

By the time the dramatic fireworks start popping off, each one feels earned.

To me, this is one of those films, whose scenes linger, almost haunt long after the vague and slightly off-putting title is long forgotten.Mixing raw emotional drama, worthy of any work by Lars von Trier and the Catholic-induced fantasies that Neil Jordan fused so well into the grime and poverty of modern society this is one hell of a bumpy, but rewarding cinematic ride. In Jordan's case, Ireland, in this, Scottish director Peter Mullan is mid 90's Glasgow.There's a gutter encrusted language that refuses to shock as it seems so much a part of the angst and misunderstanding of a modern society losing its religion but that same religion has never been more needed. In the same way of Mullan's 'My Name Is Joe', (in which he takes lead part) life is sheer hell at times and grasping onto what you know and rely on is paramount. Whether that faith be in alcohol, drugs, the church or family. Or all four.So, the mother of the family dies and everybody is highly overwrought. Scotland's finest actors, often only seen in more lame films (Douglas Henshall, for instance is outstanding in this) or the current gritty Scots TV D.I 'Taggart', who ends up not in quite as much control as he's used to. Stalwart actor Gary Lewis (Full Monty, Brassed Off) is the lay priest and brother who tries to keep his family united as well as his church and when a storm hits...On this, my third viewing, those scenes are worthy of anything - and more - that Hollywood can do. Truly making me goose-bumped and, frankly, perspiring as the score, the focused direction plus performances as good as anything you'll see ably pumps up the melodrama. A revenge plot for a stabbing that leaves Henshall running for cover, injured, blood- soaked and delirious leads him screaming for Sanctuary at his estranged brother's church. Will the Will of God allow personal bitterness to be overcome?Unusually, another lead - and thankfully, without mawkishness, is a sister to the brothers and who is severely disabled with cerebral palsy and in an electric chair. The sort of plucky girl who thanks people for calling her a 'spastic'. Totally un-PC, but she's grateful for their full frontal honesty. Don't expect a shrinking violet...'Orphans' might well not be as topical as Mullan's most well known film 'The Magdalene Sisters' and hasn't got the fantastic fantasy and hip- soundtrack of Boyle's Trainspotting. But, for my money, in its own ways it sits up there with the two as some of the very finest Scottish set, or originated, films, ever.

A magnificent film that deals with grief in a very black yet warm manner.Three brothers and a sister are torn apart upon the death of their mother. In the lead up to her funeral they all express their loss in different ways, from the recklessly violent to the automated responses of dealing with the ritual of the funeral itself.Peppered with wonderful moments of Glaswegian humour - the graveside scene, though obviously contrived, is a moment of pure comic genius - this film is both deeply touching and funny.If you like your humour dark, see it now.

As usual about 2 people went to see this film but i seriously recommend the film though i would not watch it if there had been a recent bereavement in my family. It has strong moments emotionally and some of the humour may be offensive to a certain category of people. The film combines serious drama with comedy making it a very mixed emotional film but one which is sure to make you laugh. It's got to be one of the best british films unseen by the masses.

Orphans is what they describe as darkly comic, its bleak, emotional, lump in the throat stuff which in places makes you laugh and in others would bring tears to the proverbial glass eye. There are flaws, but on the whole its a great movie with fine performances from a fairly unknown cast. If you like "real" movies and can understand scots accents don't miss out on this superb film.