Offender (film)

Offender
Directed by Ron Scalpello
Produced by Paul Van Carter
Nick Taussig
Written by Paul Van Carter
Starring Kimberley Nixon
Shaun Dooley
Joe Cole
English Frank on YouTube
Tyson Oba
Vas Blackwood
Ruth Gemmell
David Ajala
Doon Mackichan
Music by Chad Hobson
Cinematography Richard Mott
Edited by Johnny Rayner
Production
company
Gunslinger Films & Revolver Entertainment. An RDT Co-Production
Distributed by Revolver Entertainment
Release dates
  • 8 August 2012 (2012-08-08)
Running time
102 minutes
Country United Kingdom
Language English

Offender is a 2012 British action film which follows a hard grafting, 20-year-old working-class man, Tommy Nix, who while avoiding getting mixed up in the wrong crowd sees his girlfriend fall victim to a brutal attack.[1] It stars Kimberley Nixon, Joe Cole, Shaun Dooley and Vas Blackwood. It is written by Paul Van Carter and directed by Ron Scalpello.

Cast

Reception

The film received mixed reviews from critics, with a 68% score on review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes.[2] Empire magazine and Total Film both rated it 3/5, with Empire Magazine stating it was "a solid revenge thriller in which Cole excels"[3] The Guardian gave it one star, stating "the plot and characters are lame and implausible, the dialogue is banal and the acting mediocre".[4] Time Out claimed the film "feels less Scum and more like the back-story of one of Guy Ritchie’s knuckle-headed footsoldiers."[5]

The film received a 4/5 rating from Heat magazine stating "this bloody borstal drama makes quiet political points alongside a powerful revenge storyline" and a 4/5 rating from Sky Movies calling it an "admirably crafted a compelling drama" and likening it to French prison film A Prophet and Alan Clarke's 1979 film Scum.[6]

CineVue presented a 3/5 review for the film, stating that "Scalpello's Offender is far from original" However it presented "enjoyable performances and an entertaining revenge plot."[7]

The Daily Star's Andy Lea also rated it 3/5 stating "Director Ron Scapello handles the tension superbly, despite a jarring soundtrack which features strangely upbeat dance and Northern Soul music. But it’s the performances that really carry this film. Cole’s intense portrayal marks him as one to watch and rapper English Frank also impresses as the prison’s posturing, cod Jamaican kingpin Jake."[8]

In general the reviews rate the film for its depiction of characters involved in and affected by the riots. The Londonist states "It’s a surprisingly comprehensive look at the lives of young criminals, in particular their sense of isolation and disenchantment with a corrupt system."[9]

Urban and music press

The film has gained overwhelmingly positive reviews from urban and music press including [The Grime Report] who rated the film 10/10, calling the film "one of the few modern day UK classic's [sic]."[10] Music sites Bring The Noise and MTV have rated the film 8/10[11] and 7/10[12] respectively.

References

  1. "OFFENDER greenlit for production January 2012". casarotto.co.uk. Retrieved 14 February. Check date values in: |access-date= (help)
  2. Offender at Rotten Tomatoes.
  3. Smith, Anna. "Offender Review Empire". Offender Review Empire. Empire Magazine. Retrieved 8 August 2012.
  4. Offender - Review - The Guardian, 9 August 2012
  5. Offender - review - Time Out, 9 August 2012
  6. Evans, Tim. "Offender Review". 21st Century Scum. Retrieved 8 August 2012.
  7. http://www.cine-vue.com/2012/08/film-review-offender.html
  8. Lea, Andy. "Offender Daily Star Review". Offender Daily Star Review. Daily Star. Retrieved 8 August 2012.
  9. Fowler, Ben. "Offender Review". The Londonist. The Londonist. Retrieved 8 August 2012.
  10. "Offender Review". The Grime Report. The Grime Report. Retrieved 8 August 2012. |first1= missing |last1= in Authors list (help)
  11. Malick, Sherin. "Offender Review". Offender Review Bring The Noise. Bring The Noise. Retrieved 8 August 2012.
  12. O'Neill, Lorenzo. "FILM REVIEW: 'OFFENDER'". FILM REVIEW: ‘OFFENDER’. MTV. Retrieved 8 August 2012.
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