Black Label MediaPaul Greengrass's movie Bloody Sunday might have set the benchmark for films which take a look at the conflict in Northern Ireland, but this year's '71 stands as a worthy addition to the canon, with another great central performance from up and coming British star Jack O'Connell. After becoming separated from his unit during a riot in Belfast, soldier Gary Hook (O'Connell) finds himself lost in the alleys and lanes of the city desperate to return to his squad. Ostensibly an action thriller, where '71 succeeds is in the way in which the line between friend and foe becomes blurred, effectively mirroring the hazy dynamics of the conflict being depicted. O'Connell handles the physical and emotional requirements of the role perfectly - this is visceral, heart-pounding cinema which proves that tension and action can be mastered without the need for a gargantuan budget.
