
Broken Law
By Alistair Lawrence,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Generic Irish crime drama has swearing, violence, drugs.

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Broken Law
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What's the Story?
BROKEN LAW is the story of two Irish brothers on either side of the law who must deal with the aftermath of a robbery.
Is It Any Good?
This crowd-funded effort by writer-director Paddy Slattery packs a literal and figurative punch. Broken Law's story of two brothers, one wayward and one strait-laced, is nothing new. But strong performances from Tristan Heanue as compromised cop Dave and Graham Earley as his self-destructive outlaw sibling Joe are two of several watchable turns in this modest, Dublin-set crime thriller.
Where the movie falters is its rushed story, which is packed with convenient coincidences. Psychotic, drug-addled gangster Wallace (John Connors) is a compelling presence. But both he and Dave's love interest, Amia (Gemma-Leah Devereux), have relatively little to do as the plot pounds past any real character development on its way toward a neat but hurried ending. Given their constraints, everyone involved deserves credit for creating some tense, unnerving scenes, and the sense that with a more carefully crafted script and a bigger budget, this cast and crew could've created something truly memorable.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the strong language in Broken Law. Did it seem necessary or excessive? What did it contribute to the movie?
How were drinking, smoking, and drug use depicted? Were they glamorized? Were there realistic consequences? Why is that important?
Discuss the violence in the movie. How did it make you feel? What did the movie have to say about violence? Did it glorify it?
Talk about the relationship between the two brothers, Dave and Joe. Did their differences remind you of any other famous stories about siblings?
Movie Details
- On DVD or streaming: November 16, 2021
- Cast: Tristan Heanue , Graham Earley , Gemma-Leah Devereux
- Director: Paddy Slattery
- Inclusion Information: Female actors
- Studio: Reel 2 Reel Films
- Genre: Drama
- Topics: Brothers and Sisters
- Run time: 85 minutes
- MPAA rating: NR
- Last updated: June 20, 2023
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