Young Adam (2003)

User Rating:

6.5/10   

Director:

David Mackenzie

Writers:

Alexander Trocchi (novel)
David Mackenzie (writer)

Release Date:

4 September 2003 (Netherlands)

Genre:

Drama | Crime | Thriller

Plot:

A young drifter working on a river barge disrupts his employers' lives while hiding the fact that he knows more about a dead woman found in the river than he admits.

Plot Keywords:

River | Barge | Drifter | Dead Woman | Box Office Flop

Awards:

7 wins & 16 nominations

Cast

Ewan McGregor	...	Joe Taylor
Tilda Swinton	...	Ella Gault
Peter Mullan	...	Les Gault
Emily Mortimer	...	Cathie Dimly
Jack McElhone	...	Jim Gault
Therese Bradley	...	Gwen
Ewan Stewart	...	Daniel Gordon
Stuart McQuarrie	...	Bill
Pauline Turner	...	Connie
Alan Cooke	...	Bob M'bussi
Rory McCann	...	Sam
Ian Hanmore	...	Freight Supervisor
Andrew Neil	...	Barman
Arnold Brown	...	Bowler Hat Man
Meg Fraser	...	Stall Woman

Also Known As:

Young Adam (France)

MPAA:

Rated NC-17 for some explicit sexual content.; Rated R for strong sexual content, some disturbing behavior and language. (edited version)

Runtime:

98 min

Country:

UK | France

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

New Zealand:R18 | Norway:15 | Iceland:16 (video rating) | Iceland:L (original rating) | Singapore:R21 | Netherlands:16 | South Korea:18 | Australia:MA | Canada:R | Finland:K-15 | France:-12 | Germany:16 | Hong Kong:III | Ireland:18 | Italy:VM18 | Japan:R-18 | Portugal:M/16 | Spain:18 | Switzerland:16 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:16 (canton of Vaud) | Switzerland:16 (canton of Zurich) | UK:18 | USA:NC-17 | USA:R (edited version)

Filming Locations:

Clydebank, West Dunbartonshire, Scotland, UK

Company:

Film Council

Trivia:

This was the first film which Mcgregor did not take his family along for the shoot.

Goofs:

Continuity: The position of the arms, and also the rag covering the body, change.

Quotes:

Joe Taylor: [after having sex with Ella] Are you sorry?
Ella Gault: Fat lot of good that would do me.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Long Way Round" (2004)

Soundtrack:

HAITIAN FIGHT SONG

Full Review...

Movie: Young Adam Rating: Edited Version: Rated R for strong sexual content, some disturbing behavior and language. Uncut version: Rated NC-17 for some explicit sexual content.

Starring: Ewan McGregor, Tilda Swinton, Emily Mortimer, Peter Mullen.

Summary: Based on the book by Alexander Trocchi, the story takes place in 1950's Glasgow and tells the story of Joe (McGregor) who doesn't have a plan of where he's going in his life and is a drifter currently working as a second-hand man with barge owners Leslie (Mullen) and his given-up-on-life wife, Ella (Tilda).

One day while at a stop on the barge, Joe discovers a woman's lifeless corpse wearing only a thin petticoat floating in the river. Both he and Leslie fish it out and lay it down on the barge. Leslie goes to get a blanket to cover the body, and we soon see a shot where Joe places his hand on the woman's bare skin, his expression not easy to explain, but the viewers watching will immediately assume that Joe knows more about this woman's body than he's saying.

As questions are asked and the investigation for a suspect begins, Joe suddenly for some reason looks at Leslie's wife Ella in a whole different way. It is not explained but Joe unexpectedly starts a full-blown affair with Ella right under Leslie's nose.

As the present story continues, we are eventually taken back into Joe's past, the first scene of him meeting Cathy, of whom was also that corpse Joe found. Again as with Ella, Joe begins an affair with her that's both disturbing and unpredictable. As we all know, this woman Cathy eventually dies and arouses the question: Was it suicide? Murder? An accident? Only Joe knows what happened the night of her death.

Opinions: In simpler words, you'll either love or hate this movie. You'll either hate it for the gloom feelings you get that never cease, or you'll embrace it and attempt to delve deeper into the main characters.

I have been interested in psychology and the study of human behavior for over a year now and this movie is so compelling and so confusing, but if you're a person who will take time to try to understand, the more you'll like the movie.

Just about every scene of this movie is unpredictable, and Joe is very unpredictable, which is what makes this movie so intriguing. The movie never tells you what Joe is thinking, only what's going on on the outside. An example of this is the first opening shots of the film with a swan floating peacefully on the water. Underneath the surface it is constantly pedaling it to move. In conclusion, there's more beneath the surface.

This movie isn't a who-did-it mystery concerning Cathy's death. The sum of the story focuses on Joe: his view on life, his usual questionable actions, and how he uses sex as a weapon while running from himself. After watching this movie, you may actually feel bad for our antihero, despite his wrongdoing throughout the whole movie. One scene involves an intense sexual assault involving Joe with catchup bottles and a bag of sugar. Whether it was only in good play or rape, Joe is obviously wanting to feel something in life. As David Mackenzie says, "Joe is a man on the run, from himself and from his conscience. He is rebellious, irresponsible and dangerous...He is a character who is about as far from innocent as you can get, but he is also not guilty."

So to sum it all up, this movie is not a happy one and very dark. The ending isn't even assuring but will instead leave people in thoughts. I can't exactly say what makes this movie so interesting but the whole aspect of Joe's human flaw and ambiguity will make many become interested in wanting to know this man better and we may sometimes think, "If I had lived in these similar situations, wouldn't I have done the same as him?"

Total: 9.6 out of 10 (This is a movie you'll either love-it or hate-it.)