THE LIABILITY
UK, 2012, 82 minutes, Colour.
Jack O' Connell, Tim Roth, Talulah Riley, Peter Mullan, Kierston Wareing.
Directed by Craig.Viveiros.
The Liability is an unusual title for a film. This is one of those gritty British dramas set in the north, portrait of a Northumberland town, homes, the countryside.
The focus of the film is a young man, Adam, played by Jack O’ Connell (‘ 71, Unbroken) who crashes a car and incurs the displeasure of the man who is now living with Adam’s mother (Peter Mullan). Adam discovers secrets, sexual exploitation and violence on his computer.
The main part of the film concerns a commission to a hitman, played rather quietly by Tim Roth, with Adam to accompany him. They go to find a man in the countryside who, it emerges, is also involved in the sex trade. While they kill him, a young woman sees it and they pursue her, she taking their car with the documents. They do a deal with her for an exchange. And things get complicated when the hitman knocks Adam unconscious and ties him up in a warehouse. Adam is naive and does not realise until Roy tells him that he is the real target. While he has been a liability, some kind bond develops between the hitman and Adam.
There is a violent confrontation at the end, not quite as expected, and leaving a future open for Adam as the young woman beckons him to the car.
1. A gritty British film? Themes in characters?
2. Northumberland settings, the towns, homes, the roads, the countryside? The musical score?
3. The title, with reference to Adam? To Peter? To Roy?
4. The grim world, the focus on Adam, his age, lack of education, his personality, rather slow mentally, his appearance and the tattoos? Speeding, crashing the car, sense of irresponsibility? Relationship to his mother? The clashes with Peter, the arguments, his looking at the computer, discovering Peter’s sexual brutality, the shock? Going on the job with Rory?
5. Peter, with Adam’s mother, sexual object? His despising of Adam? his pride in his home, wealth? His anger, brutality on the computer, sexual encounter? His trading in sexual partners? Killing the girl?
6. Roy, his age and experience, his history, not having killed a woman since 1983? The commission, the hitman, being hired? Taking Adam, his response to Adam, the job, finding the man, confronting him, his death, tied to the tree, the plans to dispose of him? Things going wrong, the witness of the girl?
7. The man, seeming victim, his fears, his death? From Latvia? Information about his involvement with sex trading?
8. The girl, her sudden presence, a gun, running, Adam not able to kill her, chase, the attraction? Roy and his handling of the situation? Phoning the girl? The nature of the deal, getting back his case? The build-up for the exchange, tentative, tensions, achievement?
9. Adam, accompanying Roy, the adventure, his talking, his messing up, his being the liability? Driving, the taking of the van, the ousting of the couple? The encounter with the girl?
10. Roy attacking him, tying him up in the building-plant, Adam naive, the girl confronting with the gun, the shootings, her explanation of Roy’s behaviour? Roy admitting it? Roy being shot?
11. Driving, Roy explaining that Adam was the target? His sitting on the seat outside the church, quiet death?
12. Adam going home, Peter and his mother, the sexual encounter, the attack, Peter getting the gun, spurning Adam, going outside, the girl and her shooting Peter? His death? Adam’s bewilderment?
13. The girl, in the car, opening the door, Adam going – to what future?
