The Angels' Share (2012)

Are all criminals bad? If given a second chance can they do something good? In The Angels' Share, a group a ne'er do wells are looked down on by society and few would give them a second chance. Least likely to lend them a hand is the group's community service leader, whose love of whiskey gives them the inspiration they need.

The Premise

Robbie is sentenced to community service just before he becomes a father for the first time. Community service leader, Harry, takes Robbie under his wing and together, with a few new friends, they learn what makes a good whiskey. When a too good to be true opportunity presents itself, Robbie and his friends act on it, hoping to make better lives for themselves.

My Take

Set in Scotland, The Angels' Share is about Robbie, a young man with a checkered past who now wants to try to do right by his girlfriend and newborn son. While sentenced to community service, Harry, who is in charge, acts as a much needed father figure to him and a few other youths. He takes them on their first tour of a whiskey distillery. After that, Robbie, Rhino, Mo and Albert begin teaching themselves more about whiskey.

Paul Brannigan was brilliant as the down on his luck Robbie. He and girlfriend Leonie, the talented and beautiful Siobhan Reilly, want to get Robbie out of his old violent lifestyle and into a good job so he can support his new family. John Henshaw plays the wise and fatherly Harry. Harry sees something in Robbie and accidentally helps him find his talent in whiskey tasting.

When Robbie and his friends Rhino (William Ruane), Mo (Jasmin Riggins) and Albert (Gary Maitland) learn of a cask of whiskey going up for auction that could be worth a fortune, they hatch a plan to steal the contents before anyone has a chance to taste it. Of course, even the best of plans have a hitch.

Director Ken Loach and writer Paul Laverty bring The Angels' Share to life with this cast. It was humorous and touching and moving. It's not always easy to make an audience root for a bunch thieves. But in the end you find yourself hoping they get away with it.

My Verdict

As soon as we saw a preview for The Angels' Share we knew it would be a movie we would enjoy and, gratefully, we were not disappointed. There was some mild violence and language, but the language was disguised with a thick Scottish brogue which somehow makes it charming to this American's ears. I give The Angels' Share a sturdy 3/3 bottles. "One to keep, one to give away and one to share with friends." Cheers.