Son Of A Gun

I love Trainspotting.

It was one of the best films of the 90´s, and one of the best scottish films i have ever seen. A young Ewan McGregor making a mess in the streets of Edinburgh, gave us a ride like no other. I actually walked on the same street they filmed the famous running scene in Edinburgh. Once you started talking to scottish people about Trainspotting in pubs, most of them could share many wonderful scenes that they loved. I would never have guessed that Ewan McGregor would get a part in Star Wars Episode 1: The Phantom Menace, but he did and continued to develope his characters in many different films. One of my personal favourite films with Ewan is actually Roman Polanski´s film The Ghost Writer. Here he got a chance to show his brilliant acting side, in a much darker tone than usual. It may not have been a huge success, but The Ghost Writer turned out to be a very good thriller drama, with a very intelligent plot. Over the years Ewan continue to choose many different genre films, and does not seem to be afraid to cross new limits. Son Of A Gun is an australian crime thriller film that became praised at the Cinefest Oz Film Festival 2014 by critics. When i heard that both Ewan McGregor and young talented actor Brenton Thwaites worked together on this film, i became curious to see the results. Is this Another australian highlight release that should be discovered by a larger audience, or is this a film Ewan McGregor could have skipped to choose a better film ?

19 year old JR ( Brenton Thwaites ) have been sentenced to 6 months in prison. He tries to adjust in prison life, and always remember to stay wide awake. He encounter long time criminal Brendan Lynch on a chess game, as he teach him how to make a certain move. Brendan is impressed and begin to help JR in different situations. Brendan suggest that JR will help him, get connected with some friends of his, so he can get out. After 6 months in prison, JR is released and begin to get help to get Brendan out of prison. They succeed and now they can begin to plan a job together, from criminal lord Sam ( Jacek Koman ). The problem is that JR is falling in love with Sam´s daughter Tasha ( Alicia Vikander ). Brendan finds out about their night out, and warns JR not to see her. Sam count on Brendan to do their planned operation, with JR, and don´t need any problems. JR want to get out, but need to find a way before it is too late.

Son Of A Gun is a film that really move in different directions. At first you might think this is another prison drama, since we start to learn the characters from prison. But director Julius Avery makes a smart move, and let us see what happens when JR is released from prison. If he will make a better decision is something you will have to find out yourselves. The asutralian landscapes are captured well on cinematography, and i really enjoy some of the actors for their brutal portraits of people living in misery. We have seen many motion pictures in ther past, taking on the subject of criminals and their personal problems. Son Of A Gun may not have anything original to offer, but it is thanks to a good cast, with realistic portraits, that makes this film worth your time. Ewan McGregor really knows how to put on a show, as the brutal Brendan Lynch. One detail i found myself enjoying is that the game of chess is a very important detail in these criminals lives, almost if their lives is affected on how well they play a game of chess. Director Julius Avery have only directed short films in the past, so this is his first feature film. For his first time directing a full feature film, i think he have managed to put together a powerful film. Son Of A Gun gives you a view into the lives of criminals, and how bad things can go wrong, depending on what choices you make. We have seen similar stories before, but it is the great actiing that saves this film from feeling cliché. Every choice we make, can change everything, and this is something you will notice in this film. Ewan McGregor really shines as the evil Brendan, he have no feelings for nothing, as long as he gets everything his way. Brenton Thwaites was really good in last years sci fi film The Signal ( buy it if you have not seen it ), as he delivers again in Son Of A Gun. I would personally say that i recommend The Signal over this film, simply because it is more in my taste, but in this genre, Son Of A Gun pulls in the right strings. By the way, great to see swedish actor Alicia Vikander in a very different role, nice to see she tries to step on new ground.

Rating: DDD