Film Review: "Tyrannosaur"

There's a really sad story that's been built around "Tyrannosaur", and it's one that's been largely brushed over by just about everyone. The fact that it's been out for a month means next to nothing, as it's gotten absolutely no traction domestically. Within a few seconds of the film, it was abundant why. "Tyrannosaur" is exactly the sort of film the trudges along to a small distributor, because at least then it's getting distribution. The problem is that Strand Releasing has absolutely no idea what to do with it. The film is resting in the same situation that "Margaret" has been quite for some time, and somehow critics haven't been doing much for it.

Not that you could blame them, for a film this moored in bleakness and anti-popular opinion. Of course you don't quite get that inclination from the trailers, which strike a rather more eloquent note to lure viewers in on. They smooth over the fact that Peter Mullan's Joseph kills his dog in the opening of the film. What's his reason behind it? General rage that he takes out on the poor beast. It's not long after that that we gravitate Joseph's story towards Hannah, played by Olivia Colman, a thrift shop worker dealing with an abusive husband of her own. And, of course, the two find a bond with each other through their troubles. Typical right?

"War Horse" Theatrical Trailer

There's a lot more of the same in the new trailer for Steven Spielberg's "War Horse", and why the hell shouldn't there be? After all, the teaser trailer played brilliantly with pretty much every demographic, and even those who weren't quite so taken with it could still admire it as a trailer. But, it's still all there in the trailer. It's a war film. There's a devoted horse trying to get back home. There's a boy who loved the horse, though NOT in the same way as "Equus". And there's that Niels Arestrup line, which got people illogically pushing for a Supp. Actor nod, even though his presence in the film is likely confined to that scene. And somewhere along the way there are cameos from Emily Watson, Peter Mullan, David Thewlis, Benedict Cumberbatch, and Tom Hiddleston. What more do we need to know? We'll see it. That will certainly happen.

"Tyrannosaur" Trailer

And yet another film on the seemingly insurmountable list of films I'd like to see before the year is up, "Tyrannosaur" made quite a slam at Sundance this year. While I heard a great deal about it, I still had no idea what it was about. And then this trailer came up to shed light on that question. I'm certainly interested in whatever first time director Paddy Considine has put together, but even more interested in the performances constructed by the wonderful Peter Mullan and Olivia Colman. When is this one coming stateside?