Young Adam (2003)
AKA: –
Directed by: David Mackenzie
Starring: Ewan McGregor (Joe), Tilda Swinton (Ella), Peter Mullan (Les), Emily Mortimer (Cathie), Therese Bradley (Gwen)
Country: Scotland; Effed Up British-Irish Films
Language: English
Runtime: 01:37:40
Genres: Mystery, Infidelity, Sexual-Violence against Women
Plot – Spoilers:
In 1950s Scotland, Joe works with Les on a barge owned by Les’ wife, Ella. Joe was once a budding writer determined to break the mould, but those dreams seem to have faded as he now ends the days covered in grime and watching Ella and Les squabble. Ella often snaps at Les for reasons that mostly lie in their bed, but also because she sees herself as the boss of the barge. Les is mostly oblivious, preferring to look forward to a game of darts and a drink at the local pub. Meanwhile Joe, who isn’t above spying on the couple’s problems in bed, uses the opportunity to begin an affair with Ella.
One morning, while working the river, Joe and Les notice a dead girl and pull her onboard. The case becomes a local event in the small town, but Joe remains detached from it, despite it slowly being revealed that the dead girl might be no stranger to him.
Young Adam is what some might describe as a slow burner. A mesmerizing slow-burner at that. This isn’t your typical effed-up movie, but is effed up in the way it unravels Joe’s personality and reveals the desolation and darkness that lie in everyone, in every average Joe.
Bonus:
Scored by David Byrne.
Favorite Scenes (Massive Spoilers):
The couple-in-bed’s response to Les finding them.
Who the hell does he think he is anyhow, clomping about like the day of judgement. :))
When Joe first meets Cathie at the beach.
Overhead shot of the barge as Joe walks down it.
I had forgotten to mention that when I was younger, this film aired on daytime television. I recall being ironically bemused by the sex scene between Ewan and Tilda, initially pondering if it was simulated or not… 🤭
I’ve not been particularly partial to Ewan nor his films, but I’m glad he finally had that basal cell carcinoma growth on his forehead removed. Additionally, in reference to this piece, I find Tilda rather assiduous in the majority of roles she portrays as palpably fluid and collusive. This screenplay adapted by the notable Scottish film director David Mackenzie, is monopolizing and provocative. You should check out his other work, like ‘Starred Up’ (2013), featuring the ruggedly handsome Australian actor Ben Mendelsohn.
You need to have the option for subtitles in ALL movies, including English speaking ones. I speak English but can not understand a thick Irish accent very well, especially when they are whispering. Option 2 never works so thats out.
The subtitles available for this were terrible. Almost every line needed to be fixed which wasn’t worth the time unlike with a non-English language film.
I am sorry, but I cannot figure out where this reaction will end up. It is meant as a reaction to the last thing Old Mother Hubbard wrote to me, and I hope, of course that the Admin(s) read(s) it too: I really do NOT want to go into politics here, but if you pose the question of what is ‘effedup’ or not, the answer will depend on the country and culture you grew up in and live in. I am an old man from Northern Europe, where few people have a problem with public nudity, with homosexuality (why would you, if at least 15 percent of humanity is born that way?) , and many feel sorry for people born in the wrong body. So, if you think that nudity of a transgender, would make me support a man who is a friend of (or is being blackmailed by) a Russian mafia boss, a crook responsible for the death of over 200,000 young Russians since February 2022, well, sorry this is too much to ask. But let us talk us about ‘effedup’ movies, and for me this does not include movies with Julia Roberts and the like, which have nothing ‘effedup’ about them. Now, if you want to see some fantastic actresses, who make you ‘shiver’, get to see some Eastern-European movies: See the incredible Grażyna Szapołowska in the Krzysztof Kieślowski-movies ‘No End’ and ‘A Short Film About Love’, the second would be very suitable for this site. A recent… Read more »
The problem with people like you is that you can be gaslighted by the media to believe anything, no matter how ridiculous it is. I’m not sure where you have been but that Russian Collusion story has been proven beyond a shadow of a doubt to be a lie. Forcing children to see transgender men nude at the White House is ok with you? Letting children as young as 5 years old be responsible to decide if they should have a sex change operation is ok with you? Like I said, Trump is the good guy. The media is gaslighting you to think otherwise because Trump wants to “drain the swamp” (that means he wants to get rid of the bloodsucking career politicians that have become millionaires and billionaires by swindling the American tax payers). Biden is best friends with Putin. They have been for over 50 years.
Joe is your average male. A worthless piece of shit coward and rapist.
Fuck off feminist retard did your daddy fucked you that much huh??, So you believe that every man needs to be blamed just because your daddy loved pushing his dick inside you. You’re a fucking loser and the real coward.
Resulting to emotional insulting and sperging when faced with facts is typical male behavior. Your retard chimp gender makes up 90% of pedos, murderers and rapists despite of being less than 50% of the population that is a flat out fact. Go contribute to the high male suicide rate cause you’re nothing but a worthless expendable meat log and a potential threat to society not even your mother would miss you.Failson.
Pretty much all important achievements were made by men, a lil bit of rape and murder is a fair exchange for cars, computers, televisions, etc.
i remember when adam was a lad
I do too.
It’s called “Young Adam” but it could have been called “The Love Barge.” Effed Up Movies needs to add the “Romance” category or maybe even the “Lovey Dovey” category. Maybe you could put some reruns of “The Love Boat” on here too. Look, the cast is great. Ewan McGregor (Joe), Tilda Swinton (Ella), and Peter Mullan (Les) are all incredible actors and I think they are fantastic. The cinematography. musical score, lighting, landscapes, etc. are all top notch. It is a really well made, well acted and well executed film. This story is something that a housewife would want to read in a Harlequin romance novel. I’m not sure people who come to this site to see an Effed Up Movie would understand why this is on here. I don’t.
Did pause and think for a while about adding it here. Also expected some backlash. But went ahead because I do believe there will be a decent number of people here who might appreciate it.
I really like Tilda Swinton and Peter Mullan. It’s a good movie. “The Love Boat” was probably a well made show too. I’m not in to it. IMHO this is not a effed up movie. Julia Roberts is probably a really good actress but I haven’t seen any of her movies. There was someone on here a while back always talking about Goldie Hawn. I’ve never seen any of her movies either.
I really like this website and I have found tons of movies on here that are fantastic that I would never have known about. I like maybe 60% of the stuff on here. I’m glad that you put up a wide range of films and I’m sure many people would like this film. Is “Young Adam” effed up? No.
One more thing then I’ll be quiet. Have any of you seen “An Officer and a Gentlemen” (1982)? It is a great film and it made $190 million at the box office. It is a love story but it is outstanding from a film making, acting and writing standpoint. I suppose you could say it’s effed up because of what happens to Sid (the Okie). Do I think “An Officer and a Gentlemen” is an effed up movie? No. Would I be happy if it was put up on the Effed Up Movie website? Yes.
Dear Old Mother Hubbard,
You bring up an interesting issue: What is effedup? To a certain extent a lot of human behavior can be viewed as effedup, but is apparently accepted. For me a anything that Elon Musk does is effedup, but others think differently. The ultimate example of an effedup person, of course, is Donald Trump, but I’d better not go there…!
Like you sort of said, there are actresses who make any movie which they are in interesting, the extraordinary Tilda Swinton is one of them, and as far as I am any of her films can be put up here, I will think of an effedup excuse! I also have similar feelings about Barbara Crampton, Isabelle Huppert, Julianne Moore and Laure Calamy, but I agree that with the last three it may be more difficult to always find something effedup.
Anyway, Admin thanks for posting this movie; Last week I saw ‘Hell or High Water’ by the same director. Excellent!
This place needs more Isabelle Huppert. Been forgetting for a while to add the Piano Teacher. Also please check your mail in a couple days time.
admin u have restored my faith – isabelle huppert
Hey bies, I just want to set the record straight. Trump is the good guy. Biden and Obama are the bad guys. The thieves in the White House stealing tax payer money use the media to brainwash you in to thinking otherwise. If the democrats win (cheat again) in 2024 you will be looking at $10 a gallon gas and a complete collapse of the middle class. In your mind Trump is effed up and “Young Adam” is effed up. I see things in a more realistic way. If you live in the USA all you have to do is look at your bank account since Joe “I’m going to bring decency back to the White House” Biden took office. Nude transgender men at gatherings on the White House lawn in front of young children, Navy Joan Roberts, “no comment” about over 120 people killed by wildfires in Hawaii, etc. You brought it up.
Hey Admin, I’m making a heavy metal music radio station. I’m going to play James Taylor and The Carpenters on it all day. It makes perfect sense.
trump is the greatest president in American history and will be back in the whitehouse 2024. YOU FUCKING LEFT WING WANKER.
dementia is a sad condition but there are treatments out there for you
Dementia may not be the best word to use when trying to defend the democrats. Pelosi, Waters, Feinstein, Fetterman, RINO/commie McConnell and, of course, the “big guy.”
Old Mother Hubbard, an addition to my comment below or above. To think about the question you raised: I recently saw ‘Attenberg’ of the Greek director Athina Rachel Tsangari. I was ‘pleasantly surprised’, that director really is strange! She plays with female sexuality and lesbianism, but is it effed up? The highlights of the movie for me are the frequent interruptions in which you see the two main actresses perform dances! At first I thought these interruptions were ridiculous (effedup?), but in fact these are examples of the Greek chorus commonly found in ancient Greek tragedies and comedies! So, apparently what is effedup depends on your historical perspective. Try to see this movie!!
I’ll look for that one. A movie I thought was effed up was another Richard Gere movie called “Unfaithful” with Diane Lane. Critics complained that Gere gave a wooden performance but I thought he was terrific in it. A Richard Gere movie that is definitely effed up is “Looking For Mr. Goodbar” (1977) with super woke Diane Keaton. As always, effed up is in the eye of the beholder. “Young Adam” is a good movie. It just seems (to me) to be out of place here.
Oooooh shit, Thanks for the reminder, “Looking for Mr. Goodbar” Damn it must be 25 years since i saw that movie, I completely forgot it altogether, A great performance from a young Tom Berenger too, Diane Keaton is always gold, I’m very grateful you bought it up, I definitely need to revisit that movie, Top shelf, i wish i wasn’t so technologically retated, I’d set up some “Letterbox” type deal so i could put things down, Especially things i pick up or get reminded of……can anybody tell me how you set those lists up? Is it a chore or something simple a dummy like me can accomplish? Thanks in advance for any hints.
You can watch the full uncut version of “Looking For Mr. Goodbar” at https://archive.org/details/looking-for-mr-goodbar
@Admin, Awesome, Thankyou, Very much appreciated, Ive wanted to revisit that movie for nearly 20 years.
Adoration was supposed to come up today with these two, but the rip turned out to have an audio issue. Will put it up in a day.
It is on tubi app however thanks for all you do Herr
Screw that. Put up some Julia Roberts romance movies. My heavy metal music radio station plays James Taylor and The Carpenters all day. It makes perfect sense. Disregard my original review.
You don’t think Young Adam is effed up and that it shouldn’t be here. I got that. From your first comment. Also the fact that I brought up Adoration wasn’t some kind of apologetic make-things-right thing lmaooo. It was something I’d promised to do last week.
Disregard my review.
If you want to make things right with me, put up some romantic Julia Roberts movies. I’ve never seen any. They might be good.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y6JoYsDhx10
🙂
Suddenly I have a hankering for some “genius” Denzel Washington films too. Thanks for that Admin. I got teary-eyed watching Denzel get teary-eyed.
Better still, just 86 my review and start over again from scratch. By the way, the edit button doesn’t work anymore. When you try to edit it says “Slow down, you’re posting too fast.”
The Edit functionality is supposed to be active for 15 mins. Sometimes due to caching, it gets messed up.
One more thing: the runtime is missing on “Captifs” (2010). Sorry Zed.
Damn, I missed that one. I am shattered. Glad you picked that up. Z.
Always best to up the film anyway. I come to this site to see films I have never seen or heard of before. Being fucked up is just a bonus.
If we are to have any Goldie Hawn films then I would suggest
Butterflies Are Free, 1971 as probably the most fucked up of her poor career. She spends much of the film in her bra and panties.