Lawless Heart **** (2001, Douglas Henshall, Tom Hollander, Bill Nighy) – Classic Movie Review 7132

Three men take stock of their lives after the death of a gay restaurateur friend in writer-directors Tom Hunsiger and Neil Hunter’s 2001 British intersecting stories film Lawless Heart.

The acclaimed, extremely well-acted and very carefully and grippingly written emotional drama is graced with spot-on performances by Tom Hollander (as the man’s bereaved lover Nick), Bill Nighy (the dejected brother-in-law Dan) and Douglas Henshall (as the drifter cousin Tim).

With such strong, engrossing performances, it is unfair to single anyone out, but Nighy is especially outstanding.

It won Best Screenplay at the British Independent Film Awards and Evening Standard British Film Awards.

Also in the cast are Clémentine Célarié, Josephine Butler, Ellie Haddington, Sukie Smith, Dominic Hall, David Coffey, June Barrie, Peter Symonds, Will Hunter, Jessica Napier, Sally Hurst and Richard Cant.

Lawless Heart is directed by Tom Hunsiger and Neil Hunter, runs 99 minutes or 110 minutes, is made by BskyB, British Screen, Film Council, October, Overseas FilmGroup and Isle of Man Film Commission, is released by Optimum, is written by Tom Hunsiger and Neil Hunter, is shot by Sean Bobbitt, is produced by Martin Pope, is scored by Adrian Johnston, and is designed by Cristina Casali and Lynne Whiteread.

It has strong sexuality, nudity and strong language.

© Derek Winnert 2018 Classic Movie Review 7132

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