Red Riding 1974

 

Red Riding 1974 (2009)

• Director: Julian Jarrold
• Seen by this director: Becoming Jane, Kinky Boots, White Teeth, Great Expectations
• Based on the book by David Peace
• Cast: Andrew Garfield, Robert Sheehan, Jennifer Hennessy, and many other greats who only played small rolls (David Morrisey, John Henshaw, Anthony Flanagan, Warren Clarke, Mary Jo Randle, Michelle Dockery, Eddie Marsan, Daniel Mays)
• Personal “oh yeah him/her” reaction, i.e. have seen this actor in:
• Andrew Garfield – Under the Silver Lake, Breathe, Hacksaw Ridge, Social Network, Never Let Me Go, The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus, Boy A, Doctor Who
• Robert Sheehan – Mortal Engines, Fortitude, Misfits
• Jennifer Hennessy – Doctor Who, Marchlands, South Riding
• Why? Many good actors in the trilogy
• Seen:  19 October 2022      

       Eddie Danford (Garfield) is an ambitious young journalist who is investigating the series of abductions and murders of young girls in York in 1974. Not only does he not get help from the police, but his boss wants him to stop looking. He doesn’t. The police don’t like that.

       It’s complex and it’s hard to keep all the characters straight but the story pulls me in. Garfield’s strong performance in the role of the troubled and confused young man is the main reason that the film works as well as it does, but there’s a slew of top-notch British actors here and they all do a fine job.

       It’s not a pretty picture of Yorkshire here but it’s a helluva film. 

4* of 5

 PS Andrew Garfield is always good but he’s best in his British roles.