Time: 105 Minutes
Age Rating: R16 – Violence, offensive language, drug use & sex scenes
Cast:
Liam Óg “Mo Chara” Ó Hannaidh as Móglaí Bap Or Naoise
Naoise “Móglaí Bap” Ó Cairealláin as Mo Chara Or Liam Óg
JJ “DJ Próvaí” Ó Dochartaigh as Dj Próvai Or JJ
Josie Walker as Detective Ellis
Fionnuala Flaherty as Caitlin
Jessica Reynolds as Georgia
Adam Best as Doyle
Simone Kirby as Dolores Uí Cairealláin
Michael Fassbender as Arlo Ó Cairealláin
Director: Rich Peppiatt

I remember first hearing about Kneecap when I saw a trailer for it at the cinema. From what I could gather, it was about a music group and had Michael Fassbender in the cast. Later on, I ended up checking it out after hearing that it was actually quite good, and it really surprised me.

During the first act of Kneecap, I looked up information about the movie and it was only then that I realised that it was based on a real life Northern Irish hip-hop group called Kneecap, and that its three members portrayed themselves here. I have a feeling that if I hadn’t looked it up, I wouldn’t have realised that it was based on real life people until it reached the credits, which is one of the biggest praises I can give to Kneecap. It doesn’t play out like a typical music biopic, it feels real and authentic, and captures its lead characters really well. Part of what makes this biopic particularly interesting is that it makes its stakes far more than just the popularity and success of the central trio. Instead, it’s about them trying to go about saving and preserving Irish language and culture. The movie has something to say about the power of language and music to express selves, but also how language can be used as a defiant form of expression against systemic oppression. It’s also entertaining to watch and funny throughout.

The acting from everyone is great. Kneecap members Mo Chara, Móglaí Bap and DJ Próvaí play themselves in the movie and are amazing, feeling quite authentic in their parts. The supporting cast including Michael Fassbender are also solid.

The movie also benefits from Rich Peppiatt’s snappy directing, creative, stylish and constantly energetic. The camerawork is fresh and dynamic, the editing is top notch, and the music numbers are entertaining.

Kneecap is a fresh, energetic and highly entertaining music biopic, stylistically directed, and with great performances.