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33 reviews in total

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11 out of 12 people found the following review useful:
their mummy's dead..., 20 July 2004

Author: dbdumonteil

When I checked this film on IMDB, I was surprised. Not by the popular rating, 6.7 out 10 is a good mark but by the number of votes. Only, 368 votes! How can such a good movie by largely ignored by the public?

Peter Mullan in the world of British cinema is especially known as an actor. We remember his performance in the trendy "Trainspotting" (1996) where he acted the role of a heroin supplier. With "Orphans", he decided to display his gifts as a director. He chose wisely. His real debut movie is, by any standards a remarkable one. However I am obliged to recognize that for his first direction, the place of the action which the city of Glasgow in Scotland has nothing welcoming. Indeed, most of its inhabitants are narrow-minded or unpleasant. I read a few reviews about Mullan's film and all of them had said that Glasgow's inhabitants are really like this. If it is true, truth is stranger than fiction.

But also Mullan for his first directing chose a tough topic: what can be the childrens' reactions following the death of their mother? To answer this question, the filmmaker divided his movie in 4 individual parts. Each one focuses on one of the 4 main characters. Thus, we can say the following answer to the quoted question: either with violence (John, the college boy who tries to prove himself as a hard man) either with obstinacy (Thomas, the holier-than-thou chief mourner who wants everything to be perfect for their mother's funeral). As for the two others, Michael and Sheila, they feel especially lost. What Mullan tries to reveal to the spectator is that these reactions are necessary because this painful hardship represents for them the definitive transition in adulthood and maturity. The very last sequence shows the three brothers and the disabled sister together and they seem more united.

"Orphans" is a movie that swings between humor and poignancy, violence and calm with ease. Moreover, the moment when the roof of the church is torn off by the wind gives the film a little surrealist air. In short, it easily ranks among the best British movies of the nineties and it deserves to be better known. At last, given the success of "the Magdalene sisters" in 2003, Peter Mullan is well away to become one of the finest British directors of these last years.

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6 out of 6 people found the following review useful:
Surreal and brilliant, 6 April 2000

Author: jack-310 from Glasgow, Scotland

What starts out as simple film about four siblings trying to cope with their mother's death, soon becomes a surreal tour-de-force. Peter Mullen pulls off a very tricky script and several changes of mood in the film to create something quite unique. There are some marvellous set pieces in here. It's a brave choice to use black comedy to highlight the pain of bereavement, but Orphans triumphantly pulls it off.

It's just a shame the film company buried the film, as this is one of the great British movies of the last few decades.

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6 out of 7 people found the following review useful:
Thought provocative!, 25 August 2005

Author: movie_3 (life_is_evergreen@yahoo.com) from dhaka, bangladesh

Unfortunately, i didn't watch the movie "Trainspotting", so i missed Mullan's acting in that film. I knew that "Orphans" is the first directorial debut of Mullan.

The entire film has been brilliantly directed.The story of the movie in short: four brother and sister gather at a stormy night for their mother's funeral.As they gather, their love, hate, grief, for each other are expressed individually in that brilliant drama.

The entire cast and music are nice. actually, i like Stevenson's acting as "Sheila". She is brilliant.

Congratulation Mullan to direct such a brilliant drama!

I would like to rate this movie : 8 out of 10.

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6 out of 7 people found the following review useful:
So misunderstood..., 29 October 2003
Author: Spike Nesmith (Spikey-2) from Scotsman in exile: West Virginia

I've noticed that what people seem to miss in their reviews of this fine movie is that the characters aren't really supposed to be likeable. This is not a Meg Ryan romantic comedy, it's a tough, gritty ultra-realistic portrayal of the poor sections of Scotland's largest city and the people who inhabit them. I mean really... if you're looking for "Sleepless In Seattle", this movie is not for you. If you're concerned about the language - as some previous reviewers have been - take my advice; avoid this movie and avoid Glasgow. People really talk like that.

Mullen, already an accomplished actor both on stage and film, shows that his talent stretches far beyond performance and delivers both in the script and directorally a solid and enjoyably depressing movie with equal laughs and tears. It puts the viewer on a relentless, unforgiving emotional rollercoaster; up in parts and down the next with little warning and not much time to adjust. This makes for uncomfortable viewing at times, but therein lies the genius behind it.

It amazes me that people waste time on the pointless "Trainspotting" when gems like 'Orphans' (and "My Name Is Joe") are around. It's masterful film-making, taking realistic characters and settings down dark and noirish surrealistic scenarios with spot-on performances by all. If you know Glasgow, you'll see it in all its glory, good and bad, perfectly portrayed on the screen. If you're not from Glasgow but you have an open mind, don't miss it.

And remember... every f**ker loves Connolly. ;)

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6 out of 7 people found the following review useful:
one of the most unique films ever, 12 May 2001
Author: deltoro12 from Chicago, IL

orphans is truly one of the best films i have seen in a long time. written and directed by peter mullan (who is already an amazing actor--miss julie, my name is joe), orphans takes us through the lives of four siblings who have to cope with the death of their mother. gary lewis (billy elliot) is the eldest, but most childish, son who cannot let go of mummy; stephen mccole (rushmore) is the juvenile delinquent of the family; rosemarie stevenson is their wheelchair-bound sister; and douglas henshall (twice upon a yesterday) is the adult of the lot who has to keep the family together. we see how each of the siblings deals with her death--whether it's by singing a song in a kareoke bar or getting into a brawl with another person, the siblings act on their emotions and often get into trouble.

the movie was a good mix of comedy (watch for the priceless scene with stephen mccole spying on a neighbour), drama, and action. douglas henshall was amazing, as he has to deal with his siblings as well as his own ex-wife and son while he is coping with mum's death. his character is so real and believeable. there are also many sweet scenes in the film, such as the scene in the beginning where they all remember being comforted by their mum during a storm. this movie kept me interested with its great script and acting, and everyone in it was excellent. stephen mccole especially did a great job--before orphans i knew his as just the mean scottish kid in rushmore. he represented the frustration of youth and also offered a lot of comic relief to the plot too. this is not your typical film, and i think it follows in the tradition of good scottish filmmaking. definitely check out orphans if you are looking for a dark comedy that is well-written with a cast of very talented actors. and it does come with subtitles, if you aren't good with scottish accents.

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3 out of 3 people found the following review useful:
Orphans: Ingeniously Funny, 4 February 2011

Author: Baron Ronan Doyle (imagiking@gmail.com) from Ireland

With his third film as director Neds seeing release just recently, the previous two films of Peter Mullan were given a back-to-back television showing. I managed to catch his first, Orphans, having never before heard anything of it.

Meeting to mourn the loss of their mother, four Glaswegian siblings gather in a pub. When an inconsiderate group laugh at the lugubrious singing of the eldest, one of his brothers retorts physically and is stabbed. The remaining brother vows to avenge this whilst the handicapped sister finds herself stuck in a darkened alley, her wheelchair broken.

Orphans begins with a solemn scene, the four siblings gathered around their mother's coffin. Some gentle humour is created through the siblings' confusion at their elder's request that they place some hair in the coffin. This introduces us to the film's primary structure: scenes of genuine heartfelt drama lined with a subtle comedy to balance the mood. As things progress, we begin to see in increase in this comic factor, the film's clever blending of its contrasting elements creating a wonderful dichotomy. The true beauty of the film, however, is in its juxtaposition of its constituent elements. Many are the scenes which Mullan allows to play out, drawing us in with a barrage of riotous laughter, before effortlessly turning this on its head with a disarming simplicity and forcing us to comprehend the dramatic implications of the events unfolding before us. In a simple moment, we go from laughing at something to considering its grim seriousness. It is a stunning effect, one often attempted but rarely realised so fantastically as here. Mullan ends his scenes by inviting us to reconsider what we have just seen; we find ourselves looking at events with a melancholy when just moments ago they had us reduced to breathless laughter. He allows us to indulge ourselves in the fantastic comedy his writing engenders before showing us that these scenarios are in fact tremendously dark and dramatic. We may chuckle at Michael's determination to pass off his stab wound as an industrial accident, but we quickly reevaluate the true humour of this when we realise that he is slowly dying, his lightening pallor eventually quite frightening. This is just one example of the many such twists Mullan throws at us, showing himself to be as dramatically dark as he is ingeniously funny.

A truly fantastic combination of drama and comedy, done in a subversive way which forces us to reevaluate what we thought of a scene just seconds before, Orphans is a fantastic exploration of the closeness of drama and comedy. Splendidly supported by fantastic, hilarious, and realistically authentic Glaswegian performances, this film has certainly proclaimed Peter Mullan as a masterful director.

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4 out of 5 people found the following review useful:
A magnificent film that deals with grief in a very black yet warm manner., 15 February 2002

Author: John Reilly from Glasgow, Scotland

A magnificent film that deals with grief in a very black yet warm manner.

Three brothers and a sister are torn apart upon the death of their mother. In the lead up to her funeral they all express their loss in different ways, from the recklessly violent to the automated responses of dealing with the ritual of the funeral itself.

Peppered with wonderful moments of Glaswegian humour - the graveside scene, though obviously contrived, is a moment of pure comic genius - this film is both deeply touching and funny.

If you like your humour dark, see it now.

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5 out of 7 people found the following review useful:
Extremely funny most enjoyable, 1 January 2001

Author: (mjennings07@hotmail.com) from Herne Bay England

As usual about 2 people went to see this film but i seriously recommend the film though i would not watch it if there had been a recent bereavement in my family. It has strong moments emotionally and some of the humour may be offensive to a certain category of people. The film combines serious drama with comedy making it a very mixed emotional film but one which is sure to make you laugh. It's got to be one of the best british films unseen by the masses.

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2 out of 2 people found the following review useful:
I'm not from Glasgow, 16 July 2000

Author: Dianne Martin (dianne.martin) from London, England

I'm not from Glasgow, but I rate this film as one of the best British films in recent years. It certainly deserves all it's awards and nominations. The film is a powerful drama with some humorous moments. It is often intense and explores grief and the relationship between the four siblings coping with the death of their mother. All the action takes place the night before the funeral. Sometimes the accents are difficult to understand, but it is well worth making the effort to try and understand. It is a mystery as to why the still photographs from the film are not actually scenes from the final addition of the film. I understand that film four accidently destroyed a lot of the original footage, so maybe some of the original scenes are lost forever.

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1 out of 1 people found the following review useful:
Superbly directed, acted and written., 1 June 2008

Author: Ro J Goodwin from United Kingdom

Don't read any reviews... WATCH THE FILM FIRST...

First of all - This is my first feature film comment. I felt compelled to do so like never before after watching a film. I've seen the short film called the Fridge also written and directed by Mr Mullen. I guess I must be a fan then! Why did I like this film so much? It's a rich tapestry of plot lines centred around the death of the mother of four grown siblings - a brilliantly crafted and extremely well written script. I wondered several times where the plot was going. I loved the way the dry humour enhances the dark theme and at one point I was in hysterics. I know not everyone will share my view as everyone has different opinions of life but I'm one of those people who can laugh during funerals anyway.

Totally realistic characters were acted by a brilliant cast - I use the term acted because it didn't seem like any of them were acting.

The best way to watch this film is without expectations and not even seeing trailers or reading synopsises (my preferred way). If you haven't already seen it let it take you with it and let it carry you along as it did with me with no preconceived ideas or judgements. Let it surprise you with it's honesty of character and delight you with its humour. I see it as a gritty drama with funny moments rather than a comedy as such.

It's firmly in my top three favourite films along with Fargo and Life of Brian.

This comment hasn't done the film any justice and I'm hoping you've already seen it before you've read this far. I just wanted to show support for this British, nay Scottish, gem of a film.

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