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Kneecap centres around the titular Irish rap group, but introduces us to Ireland with the era of the early ’80s – a time I lived through as a young boy, where the IRA ran rife through Northern Ireland, and hard drugs were on the rise.
We had some great music at the time, but that doesn’t necessarily transfer to the modern day ‘music’ being output by the three leads who all play themselves – or, at least, partly-fictional versions of themselves in order to further the plot.
The two young lads in the group, Móglaí Bap (as Naoise Ó Cairealláin) and Mo Chara (as Liam Óg Ó Hannaidh), are in trouble for drug use in a nightclub, and since the film uses a lot of the original Irish Gaelic language, English subtitles are frequently provided onscreen by default, but when the pair are arrested, one cop asks, “Do I look like I want to read subtitles?!”
Joining them in the group, on the decks and as their producer, is DJ Próvai (as JJ Ó Dochartaigh), who also used to be a teacher until his employers took a dim view of his sideline career.
Michael Fassbender (X-Men: Dark Phoenix) plays Naoise’s father, Arló, who ran off when he was young and was assumed dead – so is keeping a very low profile, the band have rap lyrics like “I spent my DLA on MDMA”, Naoise’s occasional girlfriend, Georgia (Jessica Reynolds), tells him between the sheets, “Don’t come. I want to blow you up like a Brighton hotel!”, and jokes include “What do you call a Provo* who’s become a yoga teacher? Bobby Sandals.” Hmm…
(*Provo meaning a member of the Provisional Irish Republican Army)
So, that gives you can idea of the content of what’s on offer, here, and why it’s an 18-certificate.
As a film, it the press are clearly making this out to be more of a big deal than it is by making this sound like the most amazing home-grown comedy, ever, but to me, it’s simply okay. I wasn’t exactly screaming for the film to come to an end sooner, but neither was I hoping for any sequels once it was over. You sit down, it just happens, and then you move on with your life, with nothing to really complain about.
Kneecap is in cinemas now, but isn’t yet available to pre-order on Blu-ray or DVD. However, once announced, it will appear on the New DVD Blu-ray 3D and 4K releases UK list.
Detailed specs:
Cert: 
Running time: 105 minutes
Release date: August 16th 2024
Studio: Sony Pictures
Aspect Ratio: 2.39:1
Cinema: Odeon Trafford Centre
Rating: 5/10
Director: Rich Peppiatt
Producers: Trevor Birney, Jack Tarling
Screenplay: Rich Peppiatt, Naoise Ó Cairealláin, Liam Óg Ó Hannaidh, Jj Ó Dochartaigh
Music: Michael ‘Mikey J’ Asante
Cast:
Móglaí Bap: Móglaí Bap Or Naoise (as Naoise Ó Cairealláin
Mo Chara: Mo Chara Or Liam Óg (as Liam Óg Ó Hannaidh)
DJ Próvai: Dj Próvai Or JJ (as JJ Ó Dochartaigh)
Detective Ellis: Josie Walker
Caitlin: Fionnuala Flaherty
Georgia: Jessica Reynolds
Doyle: Adam Best
Dolores: Simone Kirby
Arló Ó Cairealláin: Michael Fassbender
Sean: Matthew Sharpe
Fra: Cathal Mercer
Uncle Peadar: Donagh Deeney
Nesbitt: Marty Maguire
Lorna: Saorlaoith Brady
Wee Naoise: Aidan McCaughey
Wee Liam Óg: Cillian Kernan
Priest: Lalor Roddy
Himself: Gerry Adams
Reviewer of movies, videogames and music since 1994. Aortic valve operation survivor from the same year. Running DVDfever.co.uk since 2000. Nobel Peace Prize winner 2021.