PERRIER’S BOUNTY

Ireland, 2009, 88 minutes, Colour.
Cillian Murphy, Jim Broadbent, Jodie Whittaker, Brendan Gleeson, Liam Cunningham, Conleth Hill, Domhnall Gleeson.
Directed by Ian Fitzgibbon.

Perrier’s Bounty is a story about Dublin gangsters (though much of the film was made in England). Cillian Murphy is Michael Mc Crea, a young man in debt to the gangster chief, Perrier, played by Brendan Gleeson. Perrier is surrounded by murderous thugs. He is also in league with other money lenders and crooks, especially one played by Liam Cunningham. On the other hand, there is Jim Broadbent as Michael’s father, thinking that he is going to die, wanting to reconcile with his son. There is also Jodie Whittaker, Michael’s neighbour, rather in despair about her relationships.

When this is put in a mix, it comes out in an Irish style of comedy-drama – in the vein of I Went Down, In Bruges and The Guard.

The film is often witty – but is burdened by rather wearying incessant swearing as well.

The film was directed by Ian Fitzgibbon who also directed A Film With Me In It. The film was written by Mark O’ Rowe, writer of Intermission as well as the moving telemovie, Boy A.

1. Irish gangsters? Crime? The serious, the comic?

2. The Dublin settings, the neighbourhoods? The feel of Dublin? The countryside? The musical score?

3. The language, wit and literate, yet incessant swearing? The overall effect?

4. The voice of the Grim Reaper: Death, the voice-over, the introduction to Michael, the comments on the ironies of the tragedy, of the comedy? The comments as regards Jim Mc Crea and his death?

5. Michael, the initial situation, sleeping, being watched by Ivan and his fellow thug, the threats of violence, Michael in debt? Perrier and his demands? The time limit? Michael and Brenda, her being suicidal, her drinking, her boyfriend and his infidelity, taking Michael’s gun after he hid it under the bed? Michael going to the pool hall, the drug information from Clifford? Seeing Jerome with the girl, Michael attacking him? The bar and the fight? Seeing the Mull and his offsider? The offer to participate in the robbery? Michael going along with it? The promise of money?

6. Michael finding his dad on the footpath, the past history, Michael and the assault, saving his mother, alienated from his mother? His mother and father separated? Jim and his preoccupation with death, his vision, thinking he would die if he went to sleep, his efforts at keeping awake, standing on the hill, getting Brenda to slap him, needing the cocaine? His character, manner of speaking?

7. The return, the threats? Ivan and his fellow thug, the irony of their relationship? Brenda shooting him? Taking the body in the car, with Jim, burying it on the hill?

8. Perrier and his type, arrogant, surrounded by yes-men, the issue of the homosexual relationship? His alleged broadmindedness?

9. The Mull, his deal with Michael, the attack on Michael, trying to put him in the boot, Jim coming to the rescue? The Mull going to Perrier, the plans, the money – and Perrier shooting him?

10. Capturing Michael, tying him up, Ivan and the preparation to cut him, the interruption, Michael getting the gun, getting them all on their knees, giving up their guns, his escape?

11. Brenda, her love for Jerome, going to see him, the nude girl, her disillusionment, his return, the break-up?

12. Perrier and his torturing Jim, Jim going to sleep, Michael and the rescue, Jim killed? The prior talk, the reconciliation, Michael’s promise to see his mother?

13. Brenda, telling Michael to get over himself? The importance of the visit to his mother, going to the water, her swimming and waving?

14. The Grim Reaper, his final comments about what the audience had seen? The enjoyment value? The point?