2024 / 105m - Ireland
Music, Crime
3.5*/5.0*
Kneecap poster

Plot: Naoise and Liam are two kids who struggle to find direction in life. That changes when they meet JJ, a music teacher stuck in a rut. He finds out that Naoise has been writing some lyrics in native Irish, so he invites the boys over to see if they could form a little hip-hop trio. It's the beginning of a success story.

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December 21, 2024

3.5*/5.0*

A film with strong Trainspotting vibes, only we're dealing with a rap trio in Northern Ireland, set within a stronger political environment. Despite its clear messaging, this film is about punk attitudes and kids carving out their own way in life. Bonus points for the fact that the Kneecap are playing themselves.

The score is cool but a tad weird. Apart from Kneecap's rap records, it's mostly 90s electronic music. The performances are good, the presentation is slick, and the direction is edgy and pointed. Again, this gave me strong Trainspotting vibes, but for a film made almost three decades later, I needed a tiny bit more to be truly blown away.