Peacock (2010)  

Review: written Mar 2014

Tour de force performance by Cillian Murphy in psychological drama

Cillian Murphy portrays a young man, John Skilpa, with multiple personality disorder, something he has learned to live with through an almost invisible job and compulsively strict routine. However, when a train carriage lands in his back garden, it is his life that starts to off the rails as the balance of his personalities shifts. The event brings others into his orbit; a young woman from his past (Ellen Page who I wager you have never seen quite so vulnerable), the mayor, and his wife (Susan Sarandon) as well as the kindly law officer (Josh Lucas). It also forces him to interact more with his almost equally kooky boss (Bill Pullman) and the bank manager (Keith Carradine). Quite a cast, and they are all quite fantastic.

Murphy wrings believability out of a role which could have been farcical – we believe the at-times almost unbelievable, that the town do not recognise his alter ego for who he really is. If the story might not be to everyone’s taste, just a little weird and dare I say it, Gothic, it should be relished that here is really good storytelling, with a willing and able cast. There’s an expectation here that the audience will engage their brain and fill in the cracks.. when sympathies are evoked for characters who do unsavoury things – you are meant to consider what that means, rather than just let yourself be manipulated in Hollywood style. If the elegant and thoughtful portrayal of someone with this condition is the plus point, the ending is where it falls slightly off track. By that I don’t mean it’s a bad or a wrong ending, just a bit more average than what had preceded it.

With no fanfare and zero visibility at the time of release, and only belatedly surfacing on DVD, you might expect this to be a non-event of a film.. but I suggest this is a film worth watching. It is not an easy or engaging watch – it is fractured, and a little disturbing – an ominous mood pervades, and your feelings for the lead will be torn between sympathy and horror, but presumably not identification. And yet, it is a compelling portrayal by Murphy and his supporting cast, and a well crafted piece. If something a little quirky and low key that does not fit in the usual Hollywood mould is your thing, give this a shot. At less than 90 minutes, you’re not being asked too much.. and you’ll likely never see Cillian Murphy the same way again.