Winter is a hectic time of year for all of us, including Netflix, whose recent additions include its annual Lindsay Lohan-led Christmas rom-com and a new conspiracy thriller fans can’t get enough of.
With so much new content to binge, subscribers might have missed out on this’real gem’ based on a true story.
The movie, released back in January, has gone on to earn critical acclaim, particularly from Rotten Tomatoes critics, who scored it an almost-perfect 96 percent.
One reviewer likened it to Eminem’s 8 Mile and Danny Boyle’s Trainspotting —so if either of those are your vibe, you’re bound to love this one.
Fans have hailed the movie a ‘hidden gem’ (Curzon Film)
The music biopic centers on a controversial Northern Irish hip-hop trio who become the unlikely figureheads of a Civil Rights movement as they desperately attempt to save their native language.
The movie is named after—and stars – the real-life trio Kneecap.
Liam Óg Ó Hannaidh, Naoise Ó Caireallain, and J.J. Ó Dochartaigh – perhaps better known by their stage names Mo Chara, Móglaí Bap and DJ Próvaí – formed Kneecap in 2017.
The trio openly court controversy with their provocative lyrics and merchandise.
The movie chronicles their rise to fame and the chaos that followed, as the film’s synopsis explains: “When fate brings Belfast schoolteacher JJ into the orbit of self-confessed ‘low life scum’ Naoise and Liam Og, the needle drops on a hip-hop act like no other.
“But the trio must first overcome police, paramilitaries, and politicians trying to silence their defiant sound, while their anarchic approach to life often makes them their own worst enemies.”
Directed by Rich Peppiatt, Kneecap earned multiple award nominations and joined Netflix on December 2.
Mo Chara (left) and Móglaí Bap (right) of Kneecap (Luke Brennan/Getty Images)
Over on Rotten Tomatoes, Filipe Freitas from Always Good Movies described the film’s ‘sensationalist execution’ as ‘a pastiche of Trainspotting (1996) and 8 Mile (2002), with a dash of Guy Ritchie’s gangster flair.’
The Times’ Kevin Maher agreed, writing: “The mood and tone are hugely indebted to Trainspotting. The director Rich Peppiatt matches Danny Boyle’s busy structural template as our apprentice rappers become accidental outlaws.”
Wenlei Ma of The Nightly said Kneecap ‘crackles with energy, attitude and youth and takes you along for a riotous and persuasive ride.’
Meanwhile, Mark Kermode of Kermode and Mayo’s Take reckoned: “In the great pantheon of pop biopics, I think this is one of the most distinctive offerings.”
And the movie’s audience agreed, almost matching the critics’ score with 95 percent.
One fan said the movie was a ‘hidden gem,’ describing it as ‘a wild ride the whole way through.’
“I think despite being profane and raunchy, where this movie snuck up on me, it really has a lot to say about a variety of social topics and creative expression,” they added.
Another summed it up quite simply: “Rebellious meets funny with great music.”
