paolo_piponi
Great character story. No good guys and no bad guys, just human beings. Yes, we find it difficult to sympathise with any of them, but then it's not supposed to be an emotional story, just a series of character sketches. Connolly did not give a great performance and in many scenes where others might survive a close-up we see his head drop out of view (what's he hiding - lack of ability perhaps?). However, I would recommend it to anyone who likes sombre tales about ex-cons who do or don't make it. I'd like to see a remake with De Niro and Pacino - although I think they've already done it. What's it called?
zenya
I have just seen this movie and thought I should make a comment on it. The performances by Billy Connolly and Ken Stott deserve accolades,Connolly is just as good as he was in Mrs.Brown,playing a man who after spending years in jail is determined to go straight. Newcomer Iain Robertson also gives a very good performance as a gangster wannabee. This film is a must see movie for Connolly fans,and just for people who like to watch a good quality movie.
Kiwinick
My title isn't to imply that this movie isn't worth seeing. If you can stand the despair, this movie is fantastic. I found that the words of the Greeks came back to me as I was watching The Debt Collector. "Those whom the gods will destroy, they first make mad". It seemed apt for a modern tragedy in the tradition of Sophocles.The best technique that Neilson used was lighting. It's rare to have a movie that goes from such brightness to such gloom. The wedding scene, for instance, was as bright and cheerful as you expect such a scene to be, but after Keltie's parting shot, we are outside, in the rain, the dark, the gloom... perfect!The violence is something that others have commented on. It is so unlike the Hollywood violence that we are accustomed to seeing. This violence is very real, and more shocking and horrifying because of it. All the male lead characters were capable of violence, and it made me wonder how close we all are from such displays.The Debt Collector is a story of hatred gone to extremes. It spoke to me of how hatred and revenge are empty ideas... and how it is much more important, if difficult to forgive those who have harmed you, and not to live in the past.This movie is not for everyone, but if you are interested in tragedy, then you should see this film.
Ron Plasma
Ewan's birthday video choice and he picks The Debt Collector. (Now is not the time for the censorship debate.) His choice was probably affected by the Billy Connolly star billing. He thinks the Big Yin is very funny. I blow hot and cold. I fell about with his tales of Clydebank and shipbuilding. I stopped laughing when it came to polo on elephants with Ringo. It got positively boring during the bodily function years. Still, all in all, I like Billy. I think he is funny. And intelligent. And an actor worth his salt. Here he spends the whole film without a smile yet carries me with his stony expressions. The Debt Collector is a whole hod of hard bricks without a soft edge amongst them, cemented into one big wall. Nothing fancy, but you can't ignore it.Ron
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