Jack O'Connell might have made his mark on Hollywood last year when he starred in the Angelina Jolie-directed Unbroken, but it's his performance in the independent movie '71 which for which he deserves far more attention. Set during the Troubles in Northern Ireland, O'Connell plays British soldier Gary Hook who is accidentally left behind by his unit in the aftermath of riots on the streets of Belfast. As the night progresses and he attempts to get back to safety, the line between friend and foe begins to blur. The pace rarely lets up once Hook is on his own, but '71 is as much an astute commentary on a complex political situation as it is a taught, streamlined thriller. On the evidence of his performance here and in last year's Starred Up, the future should be bright for O'Connell.
