Skellig: The Owl Man (2009)

After moving with his family into a new home, a boy discovers a bird-like man living in the old garage on their property.

Director:

Annabel Jankel (as Aj Jankel)

Writers:

David Almond (book), Irena Brignull (screenplay)

Stars:

Tim Roth, Kelly Macdonald, Bill Milner

1 win & 4 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Tim Roth	...	Skellig
Kelly Macdonald	...	Louise
Bill Milner	...	Michael
John Simm	...	Dave
Skye Bennett	...	Mina
Jermaine Allen	...	Leakey
Eros Vlahos	...	Coot
Edna Doré	...	Grace (as Edna Dore)
Alexander Armstrong	...	Mr Hunt
Navin Chowdhry	...	Mr Watson
Nickie Rainsford	...	Mina's Mother
Tameka Empson	...	Nurse 1
Lisa Zahra	...	Nurse 2
Keiron Self	...	Suited Man
Queenie Wren Dempsey	...	Baby Grace

Storyline

Unatheletic pre-teen schoolboy Michael is dragged to a new home in the countryside by his father Dave. Fitting in with new classmates is hard, but Michael bonds with protective jock Leakey and a fellow nerd nature lover. In a garden shed he discovers a strange, weak man with owl wings, who becomes a friend whom he helps regain strength and evacuates him to a tree house when father burns down the shed. Learning the 'owl man' is a rundown force of nature, Michael hopes he can help his baby sister's probably fatal medical condition.

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Plot Keywords:

owl | boy | wings | f rated | fire | 

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Genres:

Drama | Family | Fantasy | Mystery

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG for thematic elements, some peril and language

Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

12 April 2009 (UK)

Also Known As:

Skellig: The Owl Man

Filming Locations:

Cardiff, South Glamorgan, Wales, UK

Company Credits

Production Co:

Feel Films,Taking a Line for a Walk Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

102 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.78 : 1

Did You Know?

Goofs

(at around 12 mins) Louise drops on the floor flower in pot along with her mobile. A few seconds later the mobile is on top of box again.

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Soundtracks

You Get What You Give
Composed by The New Radicals

User Reviews

As good as the book? No. A fitting adaptation? Yes. A good film? Absolutely.

Skellig was one of my childhood books and it has stuck with ever since I was 10 years old (at my school there were two camps for a little while, the Chamber of Secrets camp and the Skellig camp, I was in the latter). I was always sure that in the right hands it could translate into a great film, but was never sure who's hands those were.

My mind certainly didn't ever even consider Annabel Jankel, especially after she aided in the insulting filmic version of one of my other childhood loves (Super Mario Bros.). But, all in all, I was very impressed. Casting was near perfection, especially Tim Roth and John Simm, relative newcomer Skye Bennett also did very well in what was probably the most difficult role of them all (Mina). Kelly Macdonald was also on good form as the mother, however she didn't get nearly enough face time and a good few of her better moments from the book were omitted.

Luckily that and an amusing moment involved Michael's father desperately searching for the missing aspirin while in the grip of a hangover were the only parts cut from the tale. The ending felt a bit more blatant than it had been in the book, I would've like the 'dancing' scene and Skellig's curing of the baby to have felt more distant and dreamlike as they did in the novel. Still, Skellig himself looked fantastic and the production team did well to steer clear of the temptation of religious iconography, it was as David Almond likely intended it, a heartwarming tale of love, intrigue, the natural and the supernatural. All of those ideas translated perfectly, and I'm glad to see Skellig maintained his ever entertaining penchant for brown ale and 27 and 53.