'71 2014

     The setting of this film is the street riots in Belfast of 1971 during the 30-year conflict in Northern Ireland.  British soldiers try to hold back a mob of people throwing rocks at them.  A young boy steals one of the rifles and two soldiers chase him down the street to get the gun back.  One of the soldiers is beaten by part of the mob until a woman makes them back off.  Someone shoots the soldier and the second soldier, Gary Hook, gets away but he’s left behind by his fellow soldiers. 

Everyone working against the British is after this man and he needs to find a way to survive the night.

     The solders are lead by in inexperienced lieutenant.  They are heavily armed but they cannot use their guns against the mob.  Their job and mission is to hold the crowd back.  The Royal Ulster Constabulary is searching homes for firearms and roughing up the people.  The young boy shown in the beginning and later with Gary Hook is his younger brother.  3 ½* (I liked this movie)

99 min, Action directed by Yann Demange with Jack O’Connell, Jack Lowden, Paul Popplewell, Adam Nagaitis, Joshua Hill, Jonah Russell, Sam Reid, Sean Harris, Harry Verity, Peter McNeil O’Connor, Babou Ceesay, James McArdle, Sam Hazeldine, Paul Anderson.

Note:  Imdb 7.2 out of 10, 97% critic 82% audience on Rotten Tomatoes, Roger Ebert 3*.

Special Note:  Filming was in Blackburn, Lancashire, Sheffield and Liverpool.  Jack O'Connell is from England and he's recently been in Unbroken and 300: Rise of an Empire.