24 April 2011

DVD Review: IN OUR NAME

IN OUR NAME

reviewer Harry Davenport
Rated: 18 (UK)
Release: 25th April 2011
DrectorBrian Welsh



In Our Name is a British film that tells the story of a female soldier who is haunted by her experiences in Iraq when she returns home. The film is bleak and while sporting some great performances, it is melodramatic and unpleasant.

Joanne Froggatt gives a good performance as the troubled solider which is surprising as her dialogue is horrendous and her scenes over the top and unrealistic. Her subtle expressions and facial gestures tell a better story than the film does, and she is very watchable. In fact most of the performances are good despite the material.

The film takes place in the North East and with its muted colours and depressing surroundings it feels very familiar to other films set up North that show it as the worst place on earth. It simply isn’t a true representation and its dull to see a film that is constantly showing us all the shades of grey a city can provide.

The film is unrealistic despite pretending to be accurate. It takes a subject with great potential and does not do it justice. In Our Name takes itself seriously and gets more over the top as it goes on. There is not an ounce of humour in it, which makes it a hard watch. Ken Loach who tackles similarly difficult themes manages to have moments of humour in his depressing dramas and that helps greatly. This drama feels like a BBC remake of the Deer Hunter cutting out all the parts in Vietnam and failing to make much of an impact. It just doesn’t work.

Froggatt gives a moving performance in this depressing and unrealistic film.


Movie Rating: 2/5



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