Tyrannosaur

In the opening sequence of his first feature—a fierce yet moving tragedy—actor-turned-screenwriter/director Paddy Considine dares audiences to feel anything for Joseph (Peter Mullan) after having the widower kick his dog to death. Joseph regrets his actions but can't seem to help himself; he tosses insults around freely but reveals a softer side with a neighbor boy, Sam (Samuel Bottomley). Although Hannah (Olivia Colman), a Christian charity-shop worker, shows Joseph compassion after some locals rough him up, he demeans her, too. Hannah, it turns out, has her own problems, including a drunken husband, James (Eddie Marsan). If James wasn't such a rotter, she might not see Joseph again, but after the latter apologizes, they have a drink together. James suspects his wife is having an affair, and the more he abuses her, the more she imbibes and veers towards the potentially dangerous Joseph. A family friend even drops a hint that Joseph might have slapped around his late wife, the “tyrannosaur” of the title, but he continues to be kind to Hannah, who's hiding a volatile nature of her own. A hit in England, some American observers have deemed Tyrannosaur—with its working-class environs and unvarnished cinematography—overly dour. But much like Joseph there's a lot of heart beneath the film's gruff exterior. Highly recommended. (K. Fennessy)