I always liked Ewan McGregor as actor from the moment I saw him in Trainspotting. He’s an actor who doesn’t always play the same type of roles. Because of that he has a varied list of movies to his name. He’s not only in funny comedies, but had a role in Star Wars and has a lot of convincing dramatic roles, for example in The Impossible. When I saw a picture of him with a large beard in this movie set in this Australia I was very curious to see it.
Son of a Gun is a movie which you could place in various genres. This is mainly a crime movie, but it also has elements from prison movies, heist films and mob pictures. The story is about 19-year-old JR (Brenton Thwaites) who has to go to prison for six months. He has to adjust to prison life, where he witnesses his cell mate being raped and has to make sure he survives. He meets Brendan Lynch (Ewan McGregor) there and the two regularly talk. When JR finally is released he has to get into contact with a former contact of Brendan, who has a daring plan which JR has to execute. Because of that he meets Tasha (Alicia Vikander) and develops feelings for her which could both land them in trouble. Despite his young age JR will have to make some decisions which will turn some people against him.
The film is a real rollercoaster in which you haven´t got a clue what will be happening next. Of course this movie has a couple of cliché moments, which you can´t really avoid within the genre, but I felt for what JR was experiencing, a guy who in many aspects still misses life experience and tries to make the right choices and outwit others. McGregor gives another solid performance and injects the right emotions and threat into his role to make you believe that he´s a criminal you have to watch out for. With its combination of drama, action and a romantic angle, Son of a Gun is an enjoyable Australian crime movie which managed to positively surprise me.
