“Tyrannosaur” is the feature-length expansion of Paddy Considine’s short film “Dog Altogether.” Aside from adding the anecdote that justifies its title, “Tyrannosaur” expands the 16-minute short into a 91-minute feature, adding narrative nuance and character depth. The result is a disturbing and haunting, yet ultimately rewarding character study about two people who are not as unlike as they first seem.
Peter Mullan stars as Joseph, a man with unsuppressed rage and a violent past that gradually unravels as the film goes on. After a violent encounter, Joseph takes refuge in a charity store operated by Hannah (Olivia Colman). The two, a gruff middle-aged man and a forgiving young Christian wife, form an unlikely bond. While Hannah says she feels safe around Joseph, he insists that “no one is safe around me.”
It’s hard not to believe him, and that is one of the many strengths of “Tyrannosaur.” Considine takes no short cuts when delivering his two protagonists to the radical reaches of their character arcs. At the end of the film, it is hard to believe Hannah and Joseph have ended up where they are, yet none of the steps that got them there feel forced or overwrought.
This is Considine’s first film. An actor, known for “In America” and “The Bourne Ultimatum,” Considine brings a tender touch to his contemplative drama and his experience as an actor coaxes layered and lived-in performances from his entire cast.
Mullan, Colman and Eddie Marsan are all fantastic. Mullan (“Braveheart,” “Trainspotting”), with his gruff voice, is easily believable as a troubled man who has lost all faith in himself and anyone else. Mullan’s wrinkled face is like a map of his own character’s history, making the slightest facial expressions equally unsettling and sympathetic.
Colman (“Hot Fuzz”) deserves an Oscar nomination for her turn as Hannah. I would hate to give away too much information about her character, but the quite reserve, inner turmoil, and innocent faith in forgiveness and the goodness of people is heart-breaking. In one scene, a roughed up Joseph verbally insults her for several minutes. Considine’s camera chooses to focus on Hannah, as she silently bears the verbal abuse. Her struggle to hold back tears induces goosebumps. As the film progresses, her character becomes more and more nuanced, and Colman hits every beat. This is the best performance I’ve seen at SLIFF this year.
Marsan (“Happy-Go-Lucky,” “Sherlock Holmes”) follows suit, bringing a dark interior that bubbles under a charming surface. He’s a fine character actor, capable of playing men sad and soft, or psychotic with equal success.
“Tyrannosaur” is about how far creatures can be pushed before lashing out in violence. “And how can you blame them?” the film asks. It’s no one’s fault. All of our characters are products of a gritty environment of moral decay. While this is daring territory and Considine navigates with confidence, parts of “Tyrannosaur” are brutally and shockingly violent. Similarly, the portrait of the impoverished and violent underbelly of Britain borders on poverty-porn at times (think “Precious”). The film has an unflinching honesty and sincerity, though, from its screenplay through every performance.
“Tyrannosaur” is a brave first feature, though it contains some of the errors that first features often do – trademarks of a slightly-overzealous director. But I’ll take over-zealous over tired and recycled any day.
4/5
[“Tyrannosaur” will screen at SLIFF again at 7 p.m. on Sunday, November 13 at the Plaza Frontenac Cinema.]
