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Common (2014)Jimmy McGovern's gritty drama stars Nico Mirallegro as guileless 17 year old Johnjo O'Shea, who goes from innocent bystander to accessory to premeditated murder after giving a few friends a lift. Director:David Blair |
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Title: Common (TV Movie 2014)
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Cast
| Credited cast: | |||
| Michael Gambon | ... |
Judge
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| Michelle Fairley | ... | ||
| Jodhi May | ... |
Coleen O'Shea
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| Nico Mirallegro | ... |
Johnjo O'Shea
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Andrew Ellis | ... |
Kieran Gillespie
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| Robert Pugh | ... |
DI Hastings
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| Andrew Tiernan | ... |
Peter O'Shea
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| Daniel Mays | ... |
Tommy Ward
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| Susan Lynch | ... |
Margaret Ward
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| Louise Delamere | ... |
DC Jane Pearson
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| David Westhead | ... |
Barnes-Williams
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| Jack McMullen | ... |
Colin McCabe
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| Tanya Moodie | ... |
Jennifer Fielding
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| Ben Smith | ... |
Patrick O'Shea
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Finn Atkins | ... |
Karen O'Shea
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Plot Summary
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Storyline
Young Johnjo O'Shea drives his cousin Tony and two friends to a takeaway, unaware that they intend to beat up another youth. In the fracas one of the trio, psycho Kieran Gillespie, stabs to death innocent bystander Thomas Hughes and threatens Johnjo not to go to the police. However Johnjo voluntarily gives a statement to DI Hastings but finds himself remanded in custody despite being guiltless of any crime. Under an ancient legal process known as Joint Enterprise which holds that any accomplice was aware of malicious intent he stands trial with the others. His lawyer puts up an excellent case for him but the judge feels unable to oppose Joint Enterprise and, although only Gillespie gets life, the other boys are forced to plead guilty to GBH and get five years. Parallel to the O'Sheas' plight is the reaction of Thomas's estranged parents, especially his mother Margaret, who ultimately feels a kinship with Johnjo's mother after receiving a letter of apology from the boy. As the credits ... Written by don @ minifie-1
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Details
Country:
UKLanguage:
EnglishRelease Date:
6 July 2014 (UK) See more »Filming Locations:
Southport, Merseyside, England, UKCompany Credits
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Technical Specs
Runtime:
Color:
Color
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If you're reading this review, I might assume that you are American, as I am. This movie, obviously, occurs in Britain, and the subject matter(Joint Enterprise Law) is strictly British. Still, I assure you that this foreignness will not hinder your enjoyment or lessen the movie's criticism of the law.
The movie's crux is fairly simple. The protagonist is a 17-year old named Johnjo O'Shea. He drives 3 of his brother's friends to a pizza store, with the sincere belief that they only wanted a pizza. In actuality, however, the trio --- Colin McCabe, Hugo Davies, Kieran Gillespie --- intended to non-fatally confront an enemy, and during the altercation, Kieran Gillespie inexplicably stabs an innocent bystander. Johnjo O'Shea, who waited outside in the car the entire time, drove the trio away. He had no knowledge of the murder until after.
Based on those facts, you would assume that only Kieran Gillespie would be charged with murder because only he wielded the knife, no? There is where you are wrong, and there is where the movie's criticism begins and ends.
Courtesy of the "joint enterprise" law, all four boys get charged with murder, with the frightening prospect of life in jail. I would say more, but I won't spoil.
The movie nicely highlights the injustice of the law. Policemen, judges, prosecutors, defense attorneys -- all are frustratingly heartless, devious, or dull in this flick. Joint enterprise becomes glaringly villainous because the viewer feels sympathy towards the protagonist, which arises from his own circumstances as well as the movie's depiction of his mother's worries (well-acted by the beautiful Jodhi May).
If I had one criticism, I wish the movie had been about 30 minutes longer (2 hours) to more fully develop the legal process. But this criticism is minor and clearly insufficient to prevent my conferring a 10 rating.