Sing Street

Sing Street 2016

• Director: John Carney
• Based on book: no.
• Cast: Ferdia Walsh-Peedo, Lucy Boynton, Jack Reynor, Mark McKenna, Ian Kenny, Percy Chamburuka, Ben Carolan, Maria Doyle Kennedy, Aidan Gillen
• Personal “oh yeah him/her” reaction, i.e. have seen this actor in:
• Lucy Boynton – Murder on the Orient Express
• Jack Reynor – Macbeth
• Maria Doyle Kennedy – Orphan Black, Jupiter Ascending, Tara Road, The Commitments
• Aidan Gillen – The Maze Runner Scorch Trials & Death Cure, The Dark Knight Rises, The Wire, Some Mother’s Son, Circle of Friends
• Why? Music
• Seen: 21 December 2019

             1985, Dublin. An Irish couple, Penny (Doyle Kennedy) and Robert (Gillen) are having marital and financial troubles. They move their fifteen-year-old son Conor (Walsh-Peedo) to a Catholic school, infamous for its brutal teachers and bullying students. Life at the new school is hell for Conan. Until he meets Darren (Carolan). To impress the cool girl (Raphina) (Boynton) they form a band.

       Baby Commitments. Only they write their own songs and the film doesn’t have anywhere near the same bite.

       They’re sweet kids but it’s a cruel world.

       I would dearly love to give this film 5*. It’s got good music, a decent story, mostly an appealing cast but sadly Walsh-Peedo just isn’t convincing as Conor. He’s too rosy-cheeked, soft-lipped and wimpy, despite his tough guy pretence. The whole film has a bit of a cliché feeling.

       But it’s a nice film.

      

3 ½ * of 5