Perry Kate Very very predictable, including the post credit scene !!!

SnoReptilePlenty Memorable, crazy movie

WillSushyMedia This movie was so-so. It had it's moments, but wasn't the greatest.

Mandeep Tyson The acting in this movie is really good.

James Bonato 10 rated movies in my book are few and far between. In all the movies I've seen I have maybe given out this highest rating a dozen times. What are some of the elements that garnish this rating? The obvious well directed and well acted attributes are there as well as a wonderful intriguing script. The fact that the language spoken in this film is English and needs subtitles is an added fascinating element which only adds to the story itself. You are almost tempted not to read the subtitles and guess what the actors are saying. And it fascinates me as a sidebar to the main thrust of the movie. But the ending is what got me. All artists try to make a product that is outside the box. And I have never seen a better example of that than this film. Without giving away plot lines of the film, you walk away with a something very thought provoking which in itself is the mark of a great film.Do you remember a comedy show "Monty Python"? The writers approach was to never really end a skit as sometimes a punchline is a let-down. So they would write skits and then right in the middle of the script it would end. Take that concept and apply it to this gripping gritty film. The end credits role and you say to yourself "Huh?! It's over?" Then about five minutes later you understand where the director was trying to lead you and you realize the brilliance of this film. For days later you will be thinking of the film and draw your own conclusions of what transpired afterwords with several (I counted four) plots never coming to a conclusion. And the feeling of Liam's somewhat futile love for his mother sets in and rips at your heart. And you find yourself actually rooting for a drug dealer. Now that's something.I can only imagine the writer giving the plot line to the producer and trying to sell it. The producer would say "What? You think I'm going to put money into that? Who would see it?" I must disagree with an earlier review of this film on this site that says you would not want to watch it again. In fact, I would argue if it appeared on a channel and you came across it you would most definitely put the remote down and watch it again.

Elle Smith I wasn't that fond of this film if I'm going to be truthfull. The acting was good for a low budget film and the storyline was quite good but most of it was just confusing. I have met some Scottish people in my life and i understood them but the accent in this was unbelievably strong, i might as well have put it on mute. I enjoyed the realism of the film and i could actually believe it happened. I got confused at the end when Liam was on the beach and on the phone to Chantelle, i couldn't understand the phone call. I also though Liams 16th birthday party was a housewarming party, the mis-en-scen clearly didn't impress me that much. Give it a watch if you like gritty British films with crude language

slake09 Another excellent tale of gritty Glasgow from Ken Loach, well told from the eyes of a 16 year old boy trying to get another chance for his imprisoned and heroin addicted mother.The boy, Liam, makes one wrong choice after another although you can hardly blame him. His choices are limited, his environment unfriendly, the role models in his life are bad ones. There isn't a lot of room for him to maneuver, but he does the best he can.You can pretty much see where he is going to end up before you're too far into the film, but that doesn't make the story any less fascinating. You keep hoping he's going to transcend his background and somehow come out on top, even though you know he won't.Fine acting and production, there is nothing about the movie that strikes a false note. It flows well from the first minute to the last.

jpk1-2 Loach does it again - he could make a film of himself boiling an egg and it would still be the best thing ever. There is one scene in which the protagonist has to prove himself by stabbing someone - I shan't spoil it for you but the denouement provoked several loud gasps from the (normally very restrained art-house cinema) audience. I had to half carry my wife out of this one at the end, she was so distraught, but don't let this put you off - this is adrenaline film making, taking you to an edge and dropping you off it. The man's a genius - but if you're not up to the misery of this film then watch Bread and Roses instead - it's awesome too, but happier, and inspires you big time! Well done loach