'71

Jack O'Connell Turns Rambo

Director: Yann Demange
Release Date: 2014
Rating: 15
Running Time: 95 mins
Genre: War/Action/Drama
Starring: Jack O'Connell, Sean Harris, Sam Reid

"I won't even be out of the country"

I think it's fair to say we give a lot of credit to the big films, the ones that churn the big bucks and fill every seat in the cinema for the month or so that the film is out on the big screen for. We spend our times watching either the films that are going on to win the Academy Awards, The BAFTAs, The Golden Globes or in other cases the complete trash that's only out because it has that one funny actor in it and they can afford to push their film to success, no matter how awful. But there's no denying that us Brits have managed to produce some unforgettable independent films, some that have in fact gone on to win awards, like The Kings Speech, but also some that just didn't get the publicity they deserved. I suppose these days its fair to think that the best gritty British films that are being released are films like Essex Boys and some of those gangster films that seemingly try and compete with the likes of Lock Stock or Snatch. Yet credit where credits due to Film 4's production companies, they've made some pretty exceptional films in recent years. In the case of '71, this is no different. It's one that has ultimately verified my love for Film 4 and proves that we know what we're doing behind a camera. '71 is a film that depicts recent British History in a way that can still hold it's own as a wholly original and compelling film that undoubtedly will fill up seats and be well received by audiences.

We are introduced to Jack O'Connell, who in quick succession of his last big screen project, returns to our screens, this time as a young private thrown into the IRA war between the Protestants and the Catholics in Belfast. The hope being that the British may be able to save the Irish from any more bloodshed and rioting that had been going on prior for far too long on the undeniably violent and dangerous streets of Northern Ireland in 1971. During the height of all the fighting, Private Gary Hook (O'Connell) is separated from his squad and has to stand alone to find his way back to his units base after a riot lands him on the brink of death and away from any friends he may have had. Left on the run from two particularly angry IRA boys prepared to do whatever it takes to find him, (after one of the most fantastic chase scenes I've ever witnessed) we find our hero ditch the soldier and turn into a young Brit Rambo as he fights not only to get home but just to survive the night.

It's not necessarily a film that shows the Catholics or the Protestants to be the villains nor the Brits for that matter, and it could be interpreted as a fairly unbiased film due to their being mistrust and hate filled on both sides. It not only highlights the danger that existed and still goes on today, but also highlights the crookedness and the corruption of war. I doubt it will go on to offend anyone as this is clearly not the intention of the film, it's just a story that's worth telling, and furthermore needs telling.

The are some unbelievable scenes that fill out the film, with some unbelievable cinematography, (I am a sucker for a long period tracking shot). Yet all this incredible talent came from a director credited for being involved with UK TV dramas; The Secret Diary of a call girl, Dead Set and more recently Top Boy. Hopefully there's more to see from this director as he seems to know exactly what he's doing behind a camera. The acting as well in this was brilliant, particularly from the young Irish boys that were cast, making for the perfect and detestable villains/freedom fighters...villains.  After only 6 months of being off screen, since the hard-hitting brutal prison drama Starred Up, O'Connell returns in a more diverse role to ones he's been seen as previously in other projects like Harry Brown or Skins. It could be said that Gary Hook has a certain innocence to him that O'Connells previous alter egos haven't possessed and there's no denying that this time, he's a character we can really get behind and hope will come out on top, though in the circumstances he faces in the day that the action takes place in, it becomes more and more unlikely that we will see our hero succeed. Although this isn't the last we'll see of O'Connell this year as he'll be returning at the end of 2014 in  Angelina Jolie's next directorial film Unbroken and hopefully he'll just keep getting better.

I've seen a few newly released films this year, but '71 exceeded expectations (perhaps a reason why I have praised it so highly), it is definitely sitting as one of the best I've seen so far and I imagine it may stay there a good while longer. A true masterpiece, certainly worth a watch,

8/10