STUNNING DEBUT FOR TYRANNOSAUR AT SUNDANCE (28/01/2011)
Paddy Considine’s directorial feature debut Tyrannosaur has become the talk of critics and audiences at Sundance, the world’s leading indie film festival, where it had its international premiere last weekend. Filmed in Leeds and Wakefield in 2010, Tyrannosaur is a hard-hitting drama, which explores how love and friendship can be found in the darkest of places. It was produced on the low budget Warp X feature slate with backing from Screen Yorkshire.
Starring Peter Mullan (My Name is Joe, Trainspotting), Olivia Colman (Peep Show, Hot Fuzz) and Eddie Marsan (Happy Go Lucky, Vera Drake). Tyrannosaur tells the story of Joseph (Peter Mullan) a man plagued by violence and a rage that is driving him to self-destruction. As Joseph's life spirals into turmoil a chance of redemption appears in the form of Hannah (Olivia Colman), a Christian charity shop worker. Their relationship develops to reveal that Hannah is hiding a secret of her own with devastating results on both of their lives.
Tyrannosaur screened in the World Cinema Dramatic Competition at Sundance, which runs 20th – 30th January in Park City, Utah. The awards will be announced at a ceremony on Saturday, 29th January. Find out more and take a look at the films that it’s up against at: https://www.sundance.org. Tyrannosaur also had its European premiere last night as part of the Bright Future programme of first and second feature films at the International Film Festival Rotterdam.
Hugo Heppell, Head of Production at Screen Yorkshire, who co-funded Tyrannosaur and gave locations and crewing support, says: ‘’In recent years, film and television productions such as Red Riding, The Damned United, Four Lions, Son of Babylon and This Is England have put the region centre stage at many of the world’s leading film festivals. Tyrannosaur will add to Yorkshire's formidable list of credits."
Paddy Considine, a world renowned actor, previously co-wrote and starred in Shane Meadows’ 2004 film Dead Man’s Shoes, as well as appearing in films including In America, The Bourne Ultimatum, A Room For Romeo Brass and My Summer Of Love. The script for Tyrannosaur, written by Considine, was based on his 2008 BAFTA winning short Dog Altogether. Tyrannosaur is produced by Diarmid Scrimshaw for Warp X and Inflammable Films, co-funded by Film4, the UK Film Council, Screen Yorkshire, Optimum Releasing, EM Media, Madman and Nonstop Entertainment. It will be released in the UK in autumn 2011 by Optimum Releasing, with Protagonist handling international sales. For more about Warp X: http://www.warpx.co.uk/
From the critics....
David Rooney, Hollywood Reporter
''That this enthralling drama never stoops to become a May-December romance or a too-tidy parable about healing is to its credit. But in Considine's confident hands and those of his tremendous actors, the emotional arc is rich and full, leaving us shaken and breathless before allowing a whisper of atonement.''
Jeremy Kay Guardian Film blog
''Truly dazzling performances…..if you want to see something special by a highly assured new director, make sure you buy a ticket. Behind all the hype there aren't that many movies here that I'm hearing a lot of normal people – festivalgoers, not the industry attendees – discuss, but this is one of them.''
Chris Bumbray , Joblo.com
''Tyrannosaur is an intensely rewarding film to watch, and a brilliant directorial debut from Considine…. Anyone who's been lucky enough to see Peter Mullan's work in films like Boy A, and the Red Riding Trilogy, knows that he's one of the finest actors currently working, and Joseph feels like the role of a lifetime.''
Dave Karger, Entertainment Weekly
“Amazing, I am absolutely speechless, absolutely amazing....Fantastic performances by Peter Mullan and Olivia Colman.''
Daniel Fienberg HIT FIX.COM
''…you can't deny the power of Tyrannosaur which features tremendous performances in all key roles.’
Adam Palcher, Salt Lake Magazine
''With all the violence, heartbreaking and bone breaking aside, Considine is able to establish a hopeful story like nothing else I’ve seen this year and top that off with monumental performances. I can easily say this is the best film of the fest. If it’s not — it’ll be tough to beat.''
Tom Brook, BBC America
“Excellent - already done a Talking Movies Facebook post to that effect”
John Lopez, Vanity Fair.com
“Fantastic”.
Jimmy Martin, Slug Magazine
“I thought it was absolutely brilliant!”
