500 Days Of Film Reviews The Angel’s Share And Finds A Heart-Warming Blend Of Social Realism And Fantasy
Robbie (Paul Brannigan) has (narrowly) avoided jail because he is about to become a father.
While determined to be a good father, Robbie finds himself trapped in a hopeless and (extremely) vicious circle.
However, when a visit to a Scottish whisky distillery uncovers a hidden talent, Robbie sees a chance to turn his life around.
Is It Any Good?
The Angels’ Share is an amazing film. For me, it has two faces - one of social realism and one of, well, wishful thinking.
The social realism in the film presents the situation faced by young offenders who are trapped by their past crimes, unable to move forward.
(This part of The Angels’ Share is not an easy watch featuring as it does some brutal violence and sustained strong language.)
What struck me from the start of this film, is just how natural the performances are - it almost feels like a documentary. The characters are so real and you really care about them.
This is why I was willing to go with the movie as it moved into its second stage.
The second part of The Angels' Share is fantasy. It is about wish fulfillment. What if someone gave that person a chance, a break? What if life dealt out a lucky hand for once?
At first, I felt that the plot was becoming too contrived. However, once I realised and accepted that we were no longer dealing with a realistic story, I was happy to sit back and watch things play out.
However, I did have a lingering sense of dread, worried that real life would interrupt things once more. This makes me want to watch the movie again - so that I can just relax and enjoy its heart-warming tale.
Random Observations
I felt that I was on an actual tour of that whiskey distillery - fascinating stuff.
Have you seen The Angels’ Share? What did you think? Do let me know in the comments section below :)