A TV film adaptation of the critically acclaimed novel of the same name by Jonathan Trigell, it was originally shown on Channel 4 in the UK in 2007. It shared many similarities to the notorious James Bulger case from 1993 as the two murderers had since been released from prison having served their sentence. Andrew Garfield who plays the main character won a BAFTA for Best Actor in a TV role.
Jack Burridge (Andrew Garfield) meets with his rehabilitation officer Terry (Peter Mullan) as he prepares for life outside of prison under a new identity, Jack is really Eric Wilson who with his friend Phillip Craig was involved in the murder of a schoolgirl. The film shows him struggle to adjust to normal life with the constant threat of his past being revealed with flashbacks to his life as Eric Wilson leading up to the murder.
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| Andrew Garfield as Jack Burridge/Eric Wilson |
Andrew Garfield was thrust into prominence for his performance in Boy A and rightly so, incredibly troubled yet conscientiously trying to do the right thing whilst Peter Mullan is the rehabilitation officer with his own personal problems that mire his work. Mullan puts in another impressive performance playing the sort of character he is renowned for portraying so well.
It creates a moral dilemma for the viewer, Jack is certainly a man who has reformed his behaviour after the murder and just wants to lead a normal life free from his past. So throughout the movie you really feel for him but then the flashbacks constantly remind you that he was a murderer as a teenager even if the film doesn't show you how much involvement he has. Some critics disliked the ambiguity of the ending for both Jack and young Eric but the film implies heavily enough for you to understand what has happened, the showing of the murder would have been criticized given the subject matter and it's clear enough that Eric participated in the murder even if it was Phillip who instigated it. Whilst the ending with the phone messages being played over the top leaves you in no doubt as to the fate of Jack.
3.5/4 harrowing and thought provoking drama with an outstanding lead performance
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