Neds (2010)

Encompassed by violent street gangs, neglectful parents, bullying teachers and a dearth of positive role models, a studious but emotionally abandoned kid turns thug.

Director:

Peter Mullan

Writer:

Peter Mullan

Stars:

Conor McCarron, Greg Forrest, Joe Szula

7 wins & 6 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Conor McCarron	...	John McGill
Greg Forrest	...	Young John (as Gregg Forrest)
Joe Szula	...	Benny McGill
Mhairi Anderson	...	Elizabeth
Gary Milligan	...	Canta
John Joe Hay	...	Fergie
Christopher Wallace	...	Wee T
Richard Mack	...	Gerr
Paul Smith	...	Key Man
Khai Nugent	...	Tam
Ryan Walker	...	Sparra
Lee Fanning	...	Minty
Ross Greig	...	Fifey
Greg McCreadie	...	Tora
Scott Ingram	...	Casper

Storyline

Despite having a drunken, abusive father and a brother who leads a local gang John McGill is a studious boy for whom a bright educational future seems to beckon. However his studiousness isolates him and when he is invited to join the gang it gives him a sense of belonging. However he becomes increasingly more violet, stabbing a boy in the neck, for which his brother is blamed and jailed, and dropping a breeze block on a rival gang leader, causing him permanent brain damage. John is temporarily thrown out of his home by his mother and suspended from school though when he is readmitted he is placed in the remedial class. John now has no interest in education but in being the top boy amongst the NEDS or non-educated delinquents. He is invincible, and even the lions at the local safari park let him pass without attacking him.

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Plot Keywords:

abusive father | bridge | brother brother relationship | kissing | broken window | 

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Taglines:

Some people need to be taught a lesson.

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Genres:

Drama

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Certificate:

TV-14

Details

Official Sites:

Official site

Country:

UK France Italy

Language:

English Scots Latin

Release Date:

20 April 2011 (USA)

Also Known As:

Chuligani

Filming Locations:

Clydebank, West Dunbartonshire, Scotland, UK

Box Office

Budget:

£4,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

£283,210 (United Kingdom), 23 January 2011, Limited Release

Company Credits

Production Co:

Blue Light, Fidélité Films, StudioUrania

Technical Specs

Runtime:

124 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Peter Mullan first formulated the idea for the script in 2006.

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Goofs

The male characters should have longer hair as the story is set in the 1970s.

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Quotes

Aunt Beth: They love us 'cause we tell it like it is, and we don't bow down to anybody.

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Connections

References Daktari (1966)

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Soundtracks

20th Century Boy
Written by Marc Bolan
Performed by T. Rex

User Reviews

Non-Educated Delinquents

John McGill is a bright student and hounded by a local bully. His father is a volatile drunk. His older brother leads a local gang. He is put into the lower class due to his brother's reputation. He gets out at the first opportunity by being the top student of the lower class. As a teen, John becomes more brash and more rebellious. He becomes a volatile leader of the local kids taking on all rivals.

I like these two movies and they are two separate movies. John McGill as a kid is interesting in his struggles. Then the movie jumps in years to a teenage John McGill and he's a completely different character. The in-between years is missing. It seems like interesting things happened during that time but it's not on the screen. The teenage years do hold some fascinating violence but it gets a little repetitive and the movie goes on a little too long.