The Debt Collector (1999)

Billy Connolly is an enforcer who is "tired of bein' the headbangers' William Wallace" (great quote), who can't beat a vendetta from a cop who convicted him, who is nevertheless off his nut (or some other expression, better from Scotland). This gives you some clue that this is another loopy New=Britain type crime film with mentally deficient mosh pit types and Bob Hoskins wannabe grownups. But it stays coherent enough not to be overly self satirical or cynically detached with a breath that can't fog a mirror. There are plot twists and tragic elements that hold attention, although it's not too hard to see what happens next. If you're not thrown off by the Scottish slang -- and some of these 90's films from Scotland are incomprehensible -- It's good to see a familiar cast do their thing. The point of this film is that Scotland is a politically correct society that tends to whitewash bad morality with respectable dudgeon for 'what's good for humanity'. And behind it is a pent up rage that must make the UK one of the most passive aggressive societies on earth. You saw this in "Clockwork Orange" and even Gordon Brown's release of Adel Al-Meghrahi to Libya. What became of HIM? Time to send in Connolly to find out.

This movie really jumps away from your usual good guy bad guy characters for this genre of film. It places Nickie Dryden's character in a position where the viewer doesn't know weather to like him or not. The movie can be a little disturbing at times, but the performances by the main actors are marvelous. Billy Connely really sets a standard of good acting in this piece, and it demonstrates how broad his profile really is, ranging from brilliant comidian to this sometimes dark and un-questionable character in The Debt Collector.

This a gritty , violent movie that i found quite hard to watch. Not because of the gritty nature of the film but because it was extremely depressing , so much so it spoilt the film . The film is about a ex debt collector(Billy Connolly) who has done his time for murder and the Policeman (Kenn Stott) who sent him down , who cannot still find it in himself to forgive him for the terrible things he did even though he was a changed man. I found it hard to understand why the Cop took it so personally . The language is about as blue as i have ever heard in a film and the violence is pretty bad too. One thing is for sure , the scottish tourist board will not be using this film to promote their capital city! Check out the actor who plays flipper, he looks like he fell out of the ugly tree hitting every branch on the way down. 6 out of 10.

This was a good film, with excellent performances. Billy Connolly adds yet another great performance to his growing list of acting achievements. Violent movie, but very realistic, at points in the movie we had sympathies for main male characters, however that does not last until the end of the film, by which time we came to despise them both.Very much reminded me of the Jimmy Boyle story, for those of you who know of & about him, with Connolly performing that role, indeed I believe he spoke with Boyle prior to filming.Not a good advert for Edinburgh though!