Perrier’s Bounty

Director Fitzgibbon might have worried he was taking a gamble with his casting choices, but it’s one that has paid off spectacularly. Cillian Murphy appears ragged, but endearingly so; he’s physically tough, without being macho or boorish. Despite the fact that he is in imminent danger of getting at least one limb snapped, he ends up snapping, putting the smackdown on Brenda’s philandering, lying boyfriend. Maybe boys beating each other up isn’t cool, but when a woman’s honor is at stake? We like it.

Those who think Cillian Murphy can only play creepy will once again be proven wrong. His subtle shifts in facial expression are superlative in conveying the humanity beneath his would-be-cool exterior. When Jim reveals his rather serious problems, Murphy’s face transforms into that of a wide-eyed child; he seems genuinely stunned, even though we suspect there might some exaggeration on Jim’s part. And when Jim tells the truth of why Michael hasn’t seen him in months, Murphy’s wounded but guarded face fills the screen. He might not want us to know he has a heart, but those eyes give it all away. It’s not just his toughness or tenderness that punches you in the gut. His comic timing is impressive, both effective and affecting. He’s legitimately funny, but not stand-up-comedian-funny, more like the real-life funny of someone you might actually know.

The father-son chemistry between Murphy and Broadbent is palpable: they might look unkempt, but they redeem themselves in unexpected ways that prove the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.

Then there’s Gleeson as the titular character. We don’t even meet him until the end, but his presence looms large throughout, and not just because of the title of the film. Gleeson is by turns hilariously funny then disturbingly scary, and always thoroughly brilliant.

Cinematically, there is much to praise here. Fitzgibbon uses music effectively but not obnoxiously. There are lots of close-ups which obscure off-camera action until it’s a surprise to both the characters and the audience. The punches are loud, the gunshots are deafening, and the vicious dogs are terrifying. Yet, like so much else in Perrier’s Bounty, they are not what they seem, either.

Like the film’s unseen narrator, who remains all knowing but unknown until the very end, I don’t want to reveal more details and risk spoiling the many delights of Bounty‘s terrifically entertaining adventure. As the narrator himself remarks, sometimes it’s better to be “enigmatic and obscure.” Because that’s me way, man—that’s me way.

For more information on Cillian Murphy’s career, current projects, and other news, please visit The CillianSite . . . the source for all things Cillian Murphy.

Many thanks to Melty_Girl for all of her editorial assistance.

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