My Brother Tom (2001)

A fascinating and disturbing study of two damaged teenagers who find solace in each other's company.This is what film is all about. The use of hand-held DV - the unselfconscious performances of the two leads - the harsh portrayal of the selfish acts of cruelty perpetrated by unthinking adults on vulnerable, impressionable children. I love this film, but I could barely watch it at times.The two leads reminded me of a young Joanne Whalley (Jenna Harrison should go far if there's any justice in the film industry) and a seriously unhinged Lee Evans without any of the comedy - just his style of manic lashing out.Spoiled on its UK TV airing by the booming Channel 4 Big Brother voice ruining the mood over the credits. Channel 4 seems happy to destroy the end of its own movies. Sad.8 out of 10. At least. Should be shown in schools.

Broadcast on UK terrestrial TV for the first time last weekend, in the early hours of the morning, *My Brother Tom* sums up where the ailing FilmFour went wrong: while admirably uncompromising, the film manages to be both histrionic and flat at the same time, its depiction of doomed teens in perverted suburbia ratcheted to pure absurdity and never managing to convey any greater purpose other than to be grim for the same of it. It's no surprise that the film was virtually ignored on its cinema release - who were its intended audience? The saving graces are the fabulously committed lead performances, particularly Ben Whishaw as 'Tom'. Unsurprisingly, the film has led to better things for him: it's easy to see why Trevor Nunn picked him to play a young Hamlet on the London stage recently.

Films like this scare the s**t out of me. I thought it was all a bit seedy with the naked dancing in the woods, the tree filled with bible pages, the self harm and the forceful teacher. But when the dad opens his flies to his son you know there is something seriously disturbing about the film. Along with this there is the fact that Tom talks like a toddler and misses out necessary words in his sentences, and the fact he likes chucking himself from trees and falls over every few minutes just for the crack...as do all abused teenagers I'm sure.The makers of the film also only seem to know one scene transition, fade to bright light, which I'll admit is effective, but it's no Starwipe thats for sure.Aside from the aforementioned disturbing stuff I found the film to be fairly strong and almost uplifting in places to see two people who have had a crap time of things find a sort of happiness with each other, though this is shattered eventually. The funeral scene is also fairly strong and well done, however I find it hard to believe that a teenage girl could move a 6ft + coffin with a dead weight in it with such ease.A stellar performance from Monsieur hedgehog as well who awoke us all to the pitch cry of the pained hedgehog. It struck me that it would have been hilarious when Tom puts the hedgehog out of his misery if he'd of gone "Oh s**t he's stuck in my foot!" and hopped around for a while.Overall I give this film 6 out of 10 as it loses marks for being disturbing and for not having any automatic weaponry or busty women.In conclusion...stop falling in the lake...you'll catch cold...and fade to bright light.

Don't understand why here are so many bad comments. Yes, the camera was maybe little unusual, but the story goes to your mind. This film gives you something to think about. After this film you will love yourself, at least i did. A MUST SEE FILM, SO SEE IT! ***** out of *****