REVIEWS
Reviews edited by Mark Adams
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screendaily.com
The Angels’ Share Reviewed by Allan Hunter
The tried and trusted partnership of Ken Loach and screenwriter Paul Laverty has created one of their warmest and most accessible films in The Angels’ Share. The grim statistics behind Britain’s ‘lost gen- eration’ of unemployed and unemployable young people have been transformed into a heartwarming social-realist fairy-tale with enough rowdy humour and sweet sentiment to appeal to Loach’s dedicated global followers and beyond. A Cannes Competition premiere will only elevate its profile before a domes- tic UK release on June 1 via Entertainment One. The Angels’ Share marks a return to familiar ter-
ritory for the Loach-Laverty partnership, blending the gritty social concerns of a Sweet Sixteen with elements of the broad comedy and whimsy found in Looking For Eric. The central figure of Robbie, impressively
played by screen newcomer Paul Brannigan, could easily be related to Martin Compston’s troubled, well-intentioned teenager Liam from Sweet Sixteen. Robbie is a volatile, hot-tempered thug who has spent a lifetime being told he will amount to noth- ing. Barely escaping a prison sentence for a vicious assault, he is sentenced to 300 hours of community service where he meets sympathetic social worker Harry (Henshaw). Robbie is devoted to his girlfriend Leonie
(Reilly) and his newborn son Luke, vowing to renounce his violent ways and make a fresh start. Fate seems unwilling to afford him a second
n 8 Screen International at Cannes May 23, 2012
COMPETITION
UK. 2012. 106mins Director Ken Loach Production companies Sixteen Films, Why Not Productions, Wild Bunch Sales contact Wild Bunch
www.wildbunch.biz Producer Rebecca O’Brien Screenplay Paul Laverty Cinematography Robbie Ryan Editor Jonathan Morris Production designer Fergus Clegg Music George Fenton Main cast Paul Brannigan, John Henshaw, Roger Allam, William Ruane, Gary Maitland, Jasmin Riggins, Siobhan Reilly
chance but when Harry introduces him to the joys of fine malt whisky, he discovers a talent for spot- ting the subtle nuances of the drink and subse- quently embarks on a caper that could allow him to escape the shackles of the past. The Angels’ Share is almost a film of two halves,
with the first half unsparing in its depiction of Rob- bie and his temper. A scene in which he is con- fronted by the victim of his crime is among the most powerful and moving in the film. Then we are asked to believe that the birth of his
son inspires a complete transformation in his character. The second half changes gears into lighter, Ealing-esque territory as Robbie unites with his new community service chums Rhino (Ruane), Albert (Maitland) and Mo (Riggins) to plot a daring raid on a Highland distillery. Laverty’s keen ear for salty dialogue is well
displayed in some uproarious one-liners, mostly entrusted to Gary Maitland’s deceptively slow-
witted Albert who provides a good deal of the comic relief. Loach regulars such as John Hen- shaw, William Ruane and Roger Allam as a slip- pery whisky specialist provide solid support and newcomer Brannigan is sincere and entirely believable as Robbie, suggesting he has the poten- tial to become one of the Loach discoveries who sustains an acting career. The role of Robbie’s almost saintly, long-suffer-
ing Leonie is the one that feels underdeveloped and the film shows a belief in broad brushstrokes storytelling and the uplifting power of a Proclaim- ers anthem that cynics might find easy to resist. They will be in the minority as The Angels’ Share deftly balances heartbreak and hilarity to offer a cheering, feel-good ray of hope from what often seem like the bleakest of lives.
SCREEN SCORE ★★★
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