I don't know about you, but the prospect of someone both stunning and talented like Gillian Anderson teamed up with someone utterly crap like Danny Dyer makes my mouth fill up with sick. Danny has been a very fortunate soul in the fact that most of his movies are great success stories, unfortunately his acting ability is limited and he can only ever play one character.... Himself! That being said the combination of Gillian Anderson adding a new dimension to her previous performances, and Danny Dyer playing himself actually works incredibly well. Unfortunately after the first 60 minutes of Straightheads the movie itself turns into a bit of a damp squib.
Straightheads message is one that is close to my heart, and that is revenge is good. I'm a strong believer that if someone ever does something to harm you whether it be physical, mental, or even a little backstabbing that they should be hunted down, hung drawn and quartered; and that would be my most lenient resolution to such an offense.
Alice (Gillian Anderson) is an incredibly powerful woman, what she seems to lack however is a
relationship. When Adam (Danny Dyer) a young CCTV installer comes to install at Alice's home she sees the opportunity to fulfil a need, well at the very least a pressing need in the form of a date for an important party. Having used her womanly ways to lure her young stud on this excursion the two head off for the country. After a party the couple engage in a little alfresco sex, before heading home. But a great night goes horribly wrong when the two end up victims of some violent country thugs; and incident that finds Alice brutally raped and Adam disfigured for life. As the couple struggle to come to grips with their emotions an opportunity for revenge introduces itself to them.
Straightheads is without a doubt Anderson's show, never before has she been seen so strong and aggressive, both before and after rape. It's hard to believe that this is the same woman that graced our screens for the best part of 10 years as Dana Scully (The X-Files), because there is no trace of that person left in Anderson's character here. Anderson plays someone detached from feeling so incredibly well, this is not someone you want to have in your phone book, not by any means. I love the confidence of her character, and no doubt she'll have been an inspiration to the next generation of power crazed individual.
What I find quite annoying about Straightheads is the fact that its frequently compared to Straw Dogs, anyone with the slightest bit of common sense will end that thought no sooner have they inserted the DVD. Straighthead and Straw Dogs are a million miles apart, yes both females get raped, yes there are country thugs, but that is where the comparison ends. In Straw Dogs the truth about the rape victims assault is never revealed, whereas here it is as subtle as a car crash; never are our lead characters allowed to get away from this issue. Furthermore Straightheads simply does not have the fuel to power it in the same way as Straw Dogs, the latter was consistent but Straightheads after an energetic 60 minutes just fizzles out into nothing, nice build up with abysmal final delivery.
Sex is a big focal point of the film, from the first five minutes of the movie sex is brandished like a weapon. Later as the movie progresses the couple go from experiencing great sex, to experiencing complete sexual breakdown damaged by the reminders of recent events. Dyer is seen attempting to engage in a little solo sex, but this just does not work for him anymore; paired sex with Anderson has even more damaging results. Anderson's character on the other hand appreciates that sex is no longer something of interest to her and quickly seems to dismiss it as an unnecessary task. While the sex is not something that is graphic, it's very harsh even from the offset, there is something quite cold and mechanical about it. A later scene of revenge rape is a final statement to this, at first shocking, then offensive and finally laughable.
I find the emotions of both characters during the last quarter of the movie quite unbelievable, and the end resolution comes across as being a cop out. Worse still we are given an almost unexplained ending, which while easy to understand in method is no way understandable in reality. While Anderson becomes strengthened still, Dyer seems to reach meltdown; and a scene in a girls room while on a certain level having meaning, leaves the final results of the movie hollow.
In summing up Straightheads begins incredibly well, and just slows down before reaching a sudden and very annoying stop. I'd been waiting for six months to see this movie and I cannot pretend not to be disappointed.
I watched a rental version of the movie, which is the only way I'd recommend seeing it. A feature laden DVD is due for release at the end of September which will include deleted footage, behind the scenes footage, an audio commentary and audio description for the blind.
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Production Year: 2002 - Thriller - Director: Bharat Nalluri, Rob Bailey, Andy Wilson - Original Language: English - Classification: 15 years and over - Starring: Matthew MacFadyen, Keeley Hawes, David Oyelowo, Peter Firth, Jenny Agutter, Lisa Faulkner
Thriller - Original Language: English - Classification: 15 years and over - Starring: Timothy West, Neil Morrissey, Tara Fitzgerald, Annette Crosbie, Pauline Quirke, Rob Brydon, Denise Van Outen, John Thomson, Kevin Whately, David Suchet
![Straightheads Dvd [2007] | Gillian Anderson Danny Dyer](http://picnicb.ciao.com/uk/106090575.jpg "Straightheads Dvd [2007] | Gillian Anderson Danny Dyer")
Sep 13th, 2007
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