'71 (2014)

Newly released thriller/action film about a young man behind enemy lines

Rating:      4.3 out of 5

Directed by: Yann Demange

Cinematography by: Tat Radcliffe

A really gripping well paced tense and exciting thriller about a young private in the British Army, who gets trapped in Belfast during the Troubles in Ireland in 1971.

I did like this film, but at the same time there were points in it that were slightly cringe worthy and typical of any action film. Namely the boy who is trying to become a man and join the gang of fighters against the brits. He is given the task of shooting the main character and as luck would have it compassion takes over and it all ends happily ever after. 

The most appealing and brilliant aspects of this film were the camera movement, acting, editing and sound. All these things come together to provide suspense and even hints towards the horror genre in there. 

Jack O'Connell as he did in the recent 'Starred Up' gets a lot of screen time and is very much the main focus as an individual in a hostile environment. Even the scenes where he spends time with his regiment are very focussed on him, I don't think a single member of main unit of soldiers gets a line apart from a bit of shouting. 

Jack O'Connell in '71

Jack O'Connell in Starred Up