Sweet Sixteen **** (2002, Martin Compston, Michelle Coulter, Annmarie Fulton, William Ruane) – Classic Movie Review 949

Martin Compston is superb in his debut as Liam, a Scottish teenager from a tough background who sets out to raise the money for a home once his mother Jean (Michelle Coulter) gets out of prison.

She is just completing a jail term for a crime that her obnoxious drug pusher boyfriend Stan actually committed. Liam is determined to rescue his mother from both Stan and Liam’s equally foul-mouthed, mean-spirited grandfather.

Liam and his buddies’ crazy cash-raising schemes lead them into all sorts of troubles in Paul Laverty’s cleverly written, sympathetic, real-seeming screenplay. Laverty was properly honoured by winning the Best Screenplay award at the Cannes Film Festival in 2002.

Director Ken Loach’s 2002 film is one of this fine director’s finest. William Ruane is also noteworthy as Pinball.

There’s pervasive strong language, drug content and some violence.

Compston won the BAFTA Scotland Award for Best Actor in a Feature Film and the London Critics Circle Film Award for the British Newcomer of the Year, tied with Keira Knightley for Bend It Like Beckham (2002).

(C) Derek Winnert 2014 Classic Film Review 949 derekwinnert.com