Journeyman (2018)- BFI London Film Festival 2017

Review

92min

Genre:       Drama

Director:    Paddy Considine

Cast:         Paddy Considine, Jodie Whittaker, Tony Pitts…and more

Writer:      Paddy Considine

-Synopsis-

When British boxing veteran and middleweight champion ‘Matty Burton’ suffers a catastrophic brain injury during a fight, he’s forced to effectively re-start his life, with huge emotional implications for his wife and infant daughter . . . and the people around them, in this second directorial effort from versatile British screen star Paddy Considine.

Having made a successful transition from accomplished supporting actor in both comedy and drama, to writer with Shane Meadows’s memorable ‘Dead Man’s Shoes’, and then fully-fledged filmmaker with his impressive 2011 directorial debut ‘Tyrannosaur’—Considine has always gravitated towards emotionally troubled people who struggle try to survive the toxicity of the world around them. Now for his second feature as writer/director, the Staffordshire native also stars in this British indie about struggle and disability, in an emotionally raw story of tragedy and rebirth.

Considine himself stars as journeyman British boxer Matty Burton, left with life-changing brain trauma after a title defence and struggling to effectively start his life from scratch with wife ‘Emma’ (Jodie Whittaker) and their baby girl. Now forgotten by his guilt-ridden former trainer (Tony Pitts) and close friend (Paul Popplewell), Matty struggles to keep his family together while reconciling his challenging new personality with his almost forgotten former self—on the way to finding new purpose in life . . . for him and those around him.

At first glance ‘Journeyman’ might seem like a classic boxing drama, but that’s ultimately just the story’s backdrop and the catalyst for a traditional human drama and poignant narrative about tragedy and conquering adversity through strength of spirit. However the film does confront fans and practitioners of the ‘sweet science’ with the potentially devastating consequences of pugilism—although not enough to make you forget it’s a sanctioned and closely controlled, consensual activity between adults who clearly understand and accept the ramifications.

There’s also a part of the human drama which subtly focuses on the obstacle of masculinity when dealing with tragedy and emotional struggle. In this case encapsulated by a man with the skills and the body of a top athlete and his ability to inflict considerable damage, but effectively with the mind of a confused and potentially scared child—which can prove a dangerous combination—plus his frustration with the inability to provide for his family and fulfil an expected gender role, not to mention the struggles of the men around him who are incapable of dealing with his condition.

‘Journeyman’ is every inch the poignant, touching and often confronting human drama, but its minimalist approach means that it often looks and feels like a TV movie melodrama in both narrative and style, albeit a well crafted one. Ultimately what raises it above that is the way it deals with the central theme of disability and struggle, and it rises and falls on the performances of its actors—so it’s just as well that its writer/director and star delivers a nuanced tour-de-force.

While he’s ably supported by new ‘Doctor Who’ star Jodie Whittaker as the loyal wife who becomes a de-facto carer to a husband who has transformed into a frustrated needy stranger, plus the adorable scene-stealing baby playing their toddler—‘Journeyman’ is undoubtedly the Paddy Considine show, as the already accomplished and respected actor delivers a performance as impressive as his role in ‘Dead Man’s Shoes’.

Playing someone with a mental disability or learning difficulties is a potential minefield in today’s social climate, but Considine’s studied, measured and respectful approach relies on research and uses his own personal experiences with mild Asperger syndrome and socially peculiar behaviour—expertly capturing the physical and raw emotional nuances of someone suffering from extensive neurological damage. He also undergoes the pre-requisite boxing drama physical transformation, and honing of boxing skills—although we only get a glimpse of them in a brief first act bout, which is just the necessary set up for the dramatic meat of the film.

While it may not be a particularly polished drama or the most intricately written character study you’ll see in the upper echelons of indie cinema, ‘Journeyman’ is honest and well-acted enough to prove an insightful and affecting human struggle drama—frankly depicting disability with consideration and grace, while providing confronting food-for-thought for fans of boxing, or any activity which can result in head trauma.

The Bottom Line…

A poignant and powerful character piece and challenging human drama, ‘Journeyman’ may be a simplistic project with occasional TV movie tendencies and a Spartan narrative, but it’s elevated by yet another honest and intense performance from Paddy Considine—who continues to prove his worth as a fully-fledged indie filmmaker . . . while shinning on both sides of the camera, and studio movie line.

‘Journeyman’ is out on the 30th of March in UK cinemas.

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