The Goob (2014)

At times this is an uncomfortable watch, to say it's gritty is an understatement. The story focuses on school leaver Goob and his sudden transformation into adulthood. Set in a rather downtrodden bit of Norfolk it shows how bleak life is for him. Goob's stepfather Gene makes his life hell, but things are turned upside down for Goob when he meets young Eva and falls for her.Truly excellent performances, the young man himself Liam Walpole is fantastic as the lead, and I will be stunned if further roles don't follow for him. As is so often the case though, my attention is grabbed by Sean Harris, i'm not sure what it is this guy has got, but he's got something, he actually manages to scare me somehow. When he's angry he means it. Sienna Guillory manages to show us how versatile she is, one minute she does historical drama, and the next she's like a contestant on the Jeremy Kyle show, she is a superb actress.I've read of people comparing this to Tyrannosaur, I can see the resemblance but I think that hit much harder then this. It's an excellent film, all about the acting, no gimmicks, no special effects, no gun scenes, all about the performances. 8/10

Set during a hot summer we meet Goob who at sixteen has spent his time helping his mother out at her roadside café and farming pumpkins in the adjoining filed. Sounds a bit dull, but there is always the stock car racing and his mum falls for a womanising violent cliché of a man in the shape of Womack (Sean Harris '71' and 'Southcliffe') who likes to race his battered old motors. He and Goob do not get on and the inevitable friction develops with the very easily foreseen violence.There are asides to the story and some well observed teenage bonding and Elliot (Oliver Kennedy) makes for a very diverting interlude. Goob also starts to explore his own sexuality -in being attracted to one of the foreign seasonal workers – completing the coming of age theme.This is a film with a linear narrative and no back story. It relies on an immediate connection with the players and that is often very sparse as there is not much time to build empathy. That said the performances are all assured with only a few clichéd moments, and they mostly work given the context and the fact the Womack is a bully and therefore a child and a coward. All in all a well made independent film, that will not be to everyone's taste but has enough to ensure that we see more from writer and director Guy Myhill – recommended to fans of truly independent films.

There is an awful lot of popcorn pap that comes out of Hollywood that doesn't deserve the attention given, so it is refreshing to see a film that has no fuss. The Goob is a wonderful film, very much in the tradition of Tyrannosaur and Fish Tank and tells a local story of life in the Fens. Some new faces and the lead is mesmerising and convincing as a young man on the edge of manhood.Very reminiscent of Tyrannosaur with some tough acting, characters and life in the raw, sometimes not pretty but recognisably real.Go see it, this is a good story, fantastic acting and the Brits have the best nutters!

Director Guy Myhill's coming of age film is edgy and impressive, with an eye-catching turn by Liam Walpole matching Simon Tindall's eye- catching photography of a depressing, down-at-heel part of Norfolk. Myhill's feature debut stars Walpole as 16 year-old Goob Taylor, who returns home to his mother (Sienna Guillory) for the summer in rural Norfolk where he grew up. The material in many ways is pretty familiar, but Myhill brings it up entirely fresh, as though this is the first time this kind of story has ever been told, making it feel unique. It's just 80 minutes, but it's got all the story you need packed in there. http://derekwinnert.com/the-goob-2014-movie-review/