Film
What's on at the cinema plus reviews of the latest movie and DVD releases
Bookmark this pageThe Rage in Placid Lake (2003)
Director: Tony McNamara
Movie review
From Time Out London
This overly self-conscious, merely occasionally funny, satirical comedy from debut writer-director Tony McNamara sees ‘Brewster McCloud’ figure Placid (Ben Lee) experiment with flying to escape the torment of middle-class school conformists. Undergoing possible identity change as he breaks every bone in his body, he finally embraces their code by joining the hi-tech, soul-demanding company, Icarus Insurance. The director encourages Miranda Richardson and Garry McDonald, as Placid’s ineffectual, self-absorbed, ’60s generation ‘failing parents’, and Rose Byrne as his ‘virgin’ scientist girlfriend, to camp up their characters almost to the point of caricature, placing too much stress on his own inconsistently original script. Despite some engaging set pieces and seductively madcap antics, it’s a disappointment.Author: WH
Time Out London Issue 1806: March 30-April 6 2005
Cast & crew
Director: Tony McNamara
Producer: Marian Macgowan
Cast: Ben Lee, Rose Byrne, Miranda Richardson, Garry McDonald, Christopher Stollery, Nicholas Hammond, Francis McMahon, Saskia Smit, Toby Schmitz, Nathaniel Dean full cast
Rated: 15
Duration: 89 mins
UK Release: Apr 1 2005
Most popular on this site
Top Stories
Our verdict on Peter Jackson's The Lovely Bones
Peter Jackson ends a triumphant decade with a sentimental misfire with this lush Alice Sebold adaptation
On the set of Ken Loach's 'Route Irish'
Dave Calhoun meets Ken Loach on the set of his forthcoming Iraq war movie
Stephen Poliakoff discusses 'Glorious 39'
Stephen Poliakoff’s ‘Glorious 39’ is his first film for cinema since ‘Food of Love’ in 1997. Dave Calhoun met him
Is 'Paranormal Activity' the new 'Blair Witch'?
How does a film go from DIY experiment to box-office smash? 'Paranormal Activity' director Oren Peli explains
Steven Soderbergh on 'The Informant!' and 'The Girlfriend Experience'
We talk to Steven Soderbergh about his two forthcoming films: one featuring a porn star, the other a chubby Matt Damon
A gateway to all things 'New Moon'
In anticipation of 'The Twilight Saga: New Moon', Time Out is offering the chance to pick up a limited edition pack with three exclusive magazines and a free poster.
London Children's Film Festival
Read our exclusive reviews of films playing at the 2009 London Children’s Film Festival
The films that deserve a TV spin-off
With Roland Emmerich suggesting he'd like to make a '2012' TV spin-off, we propose some more movie-to-TV serialisations
The Coen brothers discuss 'A Serious Man'
Masters of contrary comedy, Joel and Ethan Coen have struck gold again with their latest, ‘A Serious Man’
Time Out's 50 greatest animated films with commentary by Terry Gilliam
In celebration of the release of Pixar's 'Up' and Wes Anderson's 'Fantastic Mr Fox', read our rundown of fifty classic feature length animations
What do you think?
Post your review now