Fionn O’Shea and Nicholas Galitzine in Handsome Devil.
Handsome Devil is the latest film from Irish writer/director John Butler (The Stag). Set in a rugby-mad boys’ boarding school, this is a well-crafted tale of teenage angst – think Pretty in Pink or even Empire Records.
New boys Ned Roche (Fionn O’Shea) and Conor Masters (Nicholas Galitzine) are thrown together as reluctant room-mates. Ned is quiet and introspective with orange dyed hair and a penchant for New Romantic music. Conor was expelled from his last school for brawling and is everything Ned is not – sporty, loud, and conventionally good-looking. In many ways Conor is the brawns to Ned’s brains.
Their struggles are mirrored by the internal battles of the two key staff, an inspirational English teacher (yes, I’m thinking Dead Poets’ Society) and a loud-mouthed bullying rugby coach.
The four main characters may be a little predictable but they are so well-played as to be fresh and engaging. Fionn O’Shea and Nicholas Galitzine are exceptionally strong as Ned and Conor. Andrew Scott (so wonderful as Moriarty in Sherlock) plays English teacher Dan Sherry with equal measures of panache and pathos. Moe Dunford ensures rugby coach Pascal O’Keefe is eminently dislikeable, although the part does feel just a little over-done at times.
If writer/director Butler has a key message it’s this: “life gets better”. That’s something that will resonate with most of us, but especially a teenage audience dealing with social, sexual, and family pressures. There are a few excruciating moments of embarrassment and discomfort that everyone will be able to identify with. We feel your pain! And there are a few laugh aloud moments too.
This is a classic fish-out-of-water meets coming-of-age trope about identity, conformity, and sexuality that has something to say about finding your place in the world. Butler tells his story gently, thankfully avoiding the temptation to berate his audience. It is a tale well-told, beautifully shot, and brilliantly acted. Highly recommended.
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
Handsome Devil
Director: John Butler
Writer: John Butler
Cast:
Fionn O’Shea
Nicholas Galitzine
Andrew Scott
Moe Dunford
Music by John McPhillips
Cinematography by Cathal Watters
Film Editing by John O’Connor
Casting By Louise Kiely
Production Design by Ferdia Murphy
Costume Design by Kathy Strachan
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