What Richard Did

amdublin

RTE2 now

Anyone watching?

Ally Dick

It's a dreadful film. Full of objectionable D4 types, slack acting, poor script and generally poor

amdublin

I am finding them objectionable d4's alright.

But I am finding it all too real as well unfortunately

RoadhouseBlues

Ally Dick wrote: »

It's a dreadful film. Full of objectionable D4 types, slack acting, poor script and generally poor

I bought this on dvd when it came out. The critics were raving about it. Apparently there was nothing like it and the main character was an amazing actor. Well I never saw anything as bad in me life. And no. That's not over the top. Its as you say Ally. A dreadful film. Or are we just missing something?

SaveOurLyric

RoadhouseBlues wrote: »

Or are we just missing something?

Yes, missing something.

As with the posters above, possibly not really seeing the film's sunstance due to prejudice towards the people and society it is set in.

It explores very well the folly of youth, how easily a person's life can change, and the effect on those around them, from a simple incident that escalates quickly and tragically. It happens throughout Ireland every weekend, fortunately without the same ending. But that is simply through good fortune.

Ally Dick

There seems to be some kind of critical blind spot to everything put out by Lenny Abrahamson. Garage was atrocious too. These are not films. They're mood pieces where the silence is occasionally punctuated by some obvious unclever dialogue. As for What Richard Did, I thought the way it handled the fight at the party was very slight. And the aftermath wasn't handled well either. When it came to Jack Reynor's performance, I saw nothing special. His D4 "ok yah" back slapping and rugger bugger persona became quite tiresome after a while

RoadhouseBlues

SaveOurLyric wrote: »

Yes, missing something.

As with the posters above, possibly not really seeing the film's sunstance due to prejudice towards the people and society it is set in.

It explores very well the folly of youth, how easily a person's life can change, and the effect on those around them, from a simple incident that escalates quickly and tragically. It happens throughout Ireland every weekend, fortunately without the same ending. But that is simply through good fortune.

Hey lyric. I understand what you're saying about how easy these things happen, but I'm not prejudiced to those people or society in the movie. I just didn't think it was any good is all. Its just my opinion. I'm sure other people think its great.

lindascribbler

It's based (loosely) on the killing years ago outside Annabells nite club, I think.
I enjoyed it ....I thought the father's efforts to shield Richard irrespective of what he had done was a true to life depiction of what would happen if someone with a hugely successful future ahead got into trouble...no consideration of the moral implication just save his son's ass.

Dan Chipowski

Truly awful film.

Go Harvey Go

Ally Dick wrote: »

There seems to be some kind of critical blind spot to everything put out by Lenny Abrahamson.

That may or may not explain why What Richard Did's IMDb rating is 6.3 while Garage's is 7.1...

Also, Frank's is 7.0 - but then it does have Maggie Gyllenhaal in it.

Caimchad93

Ahaan its great movie, that I never seen before... damn awesome.

Raspberry Fileds

I think a fundamental requirement is that you find Richard endearing. In contrast to some of those around him, he is inclusive of a younger / slightly geeky school mate, stops someone being bullied, is supportive of someone from a non-rugby background, is charmingly romantic with a girl, commandingly saves another from sexual assault and is very gentle in the aftermath, and is very affable in the company of adults.

In case one hadn't noticed, therefore, almost all of the pre-fight narrative is exploring Richard's character and defining him as virtuous! Unfortunately, I imagine that, for many, his accent is a barrier to such admiration.

It's easy to criticise the moody cinematograpy with a soundtrack of wind as being hollow and pretentious. But it was well-executed and felt more accomplished than any other Irish film I can think of. I was engaged throughout that build-up during which, effectively (and purposely), nothing happens! Where the film lacks imo, though, is in its conclusion: it appears to not know what it's saying. I remember Abrahamson saying something in an interview about exploring the themes of the Annabel's nightclub incident in a more nuanced way than the media and society had - a sympathetic, though not forgiving, exploration. But it ends with Richard studying in UCD's "Orts" Block (perhaps it's meant to merely represent a university), unromantically having sex with the girl that he said he would never do so with because she was the coach's daughter, abandoned by his childhood friends, and with justice not having been served. Richard never shows non-selfish remorse and is a changed character from before. What is it trying to say?

den87

Very overrated film with a very overrated actor as the lead.

Fr Tod Umptious

I have not seen it nor do I plan to make an appointment to see it.

However I have heard the likes of Tubridy rave about it.

Would it be a case that the people who like it most are people from the same demographic as the characters, just like I love the Hardy Buck cos I'm a Mayo mucksavage ?

WinnyThePoo

Ally Dick wrote: »

There seems to be some kind of critical blind spot to everything put out by Lenny Abrahamson. Garage was atrocious too. These are not films. They're mood pieces where the silence is occasionally punctuated by some obvious unclever dialogue. As for What Richard Did, I thought the way it handled the fight at the party was very slight. And the aftermath wasn't handled well either. When it came to Jack Reynor's performance, I saw nothing special. His D4 "ok yah" back slapping and rugger bugger persona became quite tiresome after a while

Garage was superb. The best Irish film I've seen in years.

Ally Dick

WinnyThePoo wrote: »

Garage was superb. The best Irish film I've seen in years.

It was a minimalist "emperor's new clothes" mood piece

BlatentCheek

It's a good movie but was very overrated by Irish critics who were overjoyed to see the South Dublin milieu most of them come from portrayed on screen.

Garage is better and Adam and Paul is streets ahead.

In general I find the Irish media to be shamelessly uncritical of domestically produced movies.

GerB40

I've never seen it and have no interest in ever watching it so I have to ask, what did he do?

evolving_doors

I think Lenny Abrhamson's films (garage,what richard did) are more about social commentary than acting TBH.

Folk here say that the acting in wrd is bad but never really point out why its 'bad or examples. The whole script is downbeat anyhow with a series of events (like a crime reconstruction on Crimecall).

in the end I thought it was ok as it pretty much mirrored aspects of the real event. Social class, misogyny, lack of appropriate parenting, group think, protecting their own, gaming the system thru money etc..

I sometimes wonder did critics of WRD expect it to be Transformers 4 or something.

It is what it is, how could the film have been any better?

amacca

Armelodie wrote: »

I think Lenny Abrhamson's films (garage,what richard did) are more about social commentary than acting TBH.

Folk here say that the acting in wrd is bad but never really point out why its 'bad or examples. The whole script is downbeat anyhow with a series of events (like a crime reconstruction on Crimecall).

in the end I thought it was ok as it pretty much mirrored aspects of the real event. Social class, misogyny, lack of appropriate parenting, group think, protecting their own, gaming the system thru money etc..

I sometimes wonder did critics of WRD expect it to be Transformers 4 or something.

It is what it is, how could the film have been any better?

I wasn't expecting it to be transformers 4 (I only liked the first one of those shia le bolox aside anyway)

I just thought it was bland, I didn't care about the characters - I was just totally apathetic to their fate whatever it turned out to be - I don't care how technically good a film is if I'm not wondering whats going to happen next (or hoping something will happen) or have some sort of feeling for the characters (like or dislike) or enjoyment of the events on screen its a non event for me

Even films I like due to stunning cinematography, great editing etc etc usually have a character I feel something for or have been made feel something for either due to the acting or the plot etc

I don't think it was a D4 bias on my part either (although it could have been a sneaky buried one!)

MJ23

GerB40 wrote: »

I've never seen it and have no interest in ever watching it so I have to ask, what did he do?

He did nothing. Terrible film. Irish critics of an Irish film. Sure it'd have to be great.

evolving_doors

MJ23 wrote: »

He did nothing. Terrible film. Irish critics of an Irish film. Sure it'd have to be great.

he did nothing?
Didn't he kill a fella and get away with it!

Ya there's plenty of paddywhackery ****3 (brendan gleeson comes to mind) out there. But this was a story that could have been set anywhere.

Ally Dick

Armelodie wrote: »

he did nothing?
Didn't he kill a fella and get away with it!

Yes. But the film handled it very poorly. Such bad pacing and tension. I was shocked when I saw the fight scene. Done very slightly. The same goes for the aftermath. Reynor's acting was very ordinary indeed, even when he was supposed to be at his wit's end