Memorable, crazy movie

This film is so real. It treats its characters with so much care and sensitivity.

The acting is good, and the firecracker script has some excellent ideas.

The film's masterful storytelling did its job. The message was clear. No need to overdo.

Superb performances by both Olivia Colman and Pete Mullen, who star in this raw, gritty story of repeated, hard hitting material.Directed by Paddy Considine, another who is more than familiar with the great British Drama and actor driven films.Truly unmissable, a powerhouse of a film, that once seen, will never be forgotten!

Both the main actors should be congratulated and Olivia Colman nails the "vulnerability" aspect completely. Such honesty.Likewise, Peter Mullen's honesty in his portrayal is like something seldom seen. He portrays without caricature. This is a character who seldom yields, so much so that when his humanity is revealed, no matter its warts, it is moving--- and Mullan makes that utterly believable.

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.

To start with i thought this film was brilliantly acted,the main leads played by Peter Mullen and Olivia Colman were so realistic and their different type of living conditions says a lot about modern England today.She lives in a nice home in a nice part of town but has an abusive husband,her dilemma is it worth putting up with him?as she has nowhere else to go.He on the other hand lives in poverty because he has in a way just given up,he knows its to late to better himself and to change his life style.So when the two opposite characters meet each other they form a sort of bond and give each other a sense of hope. However the negatives i had with this film was with the Peter Mullen character,in the films opening scene he gets angry and takes his spite out on his dog who he brutally kicks,he then leaves his dog to die alone in a cold shed over night.I was disgusted with this scene and thought he should have been arrested and charged.Also later on in the film he kills the neighbours staff who i don't think was entirely to blame for what happened to the little boy. Why does the film have to use a Staffordshire Bullterrier as the bad dog?this breed is already misunderstood ,on an average week the statistics of Staffordshire Bullterriers who get put to sleep in pounds across the UK is as high as 80,most are very loving dogs that mix well with others and generally love people.Unfortunately they have been overbred and a lot end up as strays and dumped before they reach aduldhood.This film has not done their breed any favours so for this reason i am giving the film 5 out of 10