Have you ever thought that you might drink too much? Do you ever get the feeling that you might be a massive wanker when you've had a few? Do you like a punch-up with your piss-up? Then let me direct you to the cinemas so that you might see What Richard Did, a gritty Irish film about how young, promising and devilishly good-looking men can unravel into sniveling shells of their previous selves once they go a little bit bonkers on the booze.



What Richard Did is helmed by Lenny Abrahamson, a man who is getting quite a reputation for his raw and unapologetic films about the modern Irish man. But in this film, he goes to new extremes. It's a love story and drama centered on Richard (shocking, I know) and what he did (even more shocking). Richard is a lovely Irish lad and probably one of the sexiest things even to grace the end of a lens. He's bashful and one of lads who falls head over heels for Lara whose best mate Connor hangs around her like a bad smell crying about something that is never really brought to light. As they get it on in his back garden (discussing how Richard drowned his hamster in a shot glass, don't ask!) and lie in each other's arms on a patio, Lara and Richard become besotted with one another and as we all know, love and jealously live together like students as in they hate one another but have to stick together because they can't afford their own places.

Cut to a house party a la Skins where everyone is getting pissed and having a good time. But not Richard who sits in the corner looking moody and jealous at the sight Lara and Connor who are spending all their night together. As the booze continues the flow, tempers start to rise and soon a fight between Connor, Richard and a shit load of his friends breaks out that results in the death of poor old Connor. Now, Richard was nursing a bloody nose throughout most of the fight but does manage to get one kick in. Sadly for him, it's the blow that seals the deal with the Grim Reaper and thus Richard spirals down a dark hole, thrashing and spitting in his living room as he wrestles with his decision to come forward to the police or not...



The film is marvellous all be it a little slow. Jack Reynor, a rising star set to take on some big ass robots in the new Transformers film, gives a brilliant performance as the moody but lovable bad boy title role. Roisin Murphy (who is sadly not the same woman who sang "You Know Me Better") is a little treasure as well however she is slightly underused. Her face is electric and she really can pull off the snotty-nose look! Don't underestimate that talent, it's a lot more difficult than it looks.



The film is very atmospheric, the wailing winds and the crashing waves make you feel as if you're standing on the beach with Richard as he dives into the waves and contemplates killing himself. The ending of the film makes you want to punch several characters in the face, then again I wanted to do that about halfway through when they inappropriately toast the death of poor Connor with a couple of glasses of champagne. Dicks!



It's a relentless film that is both graceful and raw at the same time. You may be horrified by the scenes but you can't help thinking how lovely the sky looks in the background and I think it's the contrasts between the beautiful and the horrific, the love and the death and the realistic sex scenes that make you think "Christ! I hope I don't look like that when I'm... you know..." that make What Richard Did a fantastic and thrilling film. Plus, you'll never want a drink again so that's a bonus!