Headrush (2003)

Headrush is a 2003 Irish crime comedy, written and directed by Shimmy Marcus about two young guys, Charlie and T-Bag, who hope to solve all their problems by working for a notorious underworld criminal, The Uncle.

Plot

Down on his luck Charlie has been kicked off the dole, had his electricity cut off, and been dumped by his girlfriend Vicky. Despite claiming to be an expert on women, his best friend T-Bag has never had a girlfriend and the boys are convinced only money will change their depressing situation. The boys hear through their dealer Blowback that The Uncle is looking for new drug mules, so Charlie conceives an elaborate scam to smuggle a consignment of Cocaine back from Amsterdam. They meet The Uncle's nephew Razor Rupert and convince him that they're up for the job. As they lay their plans, each one egging the other on, each one refusing to admit to any fear, a series of comic coincidences begin to unravel their carefully laid plans.

Headrush is a story about frustration, fear, and friendship. Charlie is a lost soul in a society riddled with corruption, political distrust and a preoccupation with making money. Trying to cope with problems he brings on himself, he seems on an inevitable slide that takes him deeper and deeper into a world with fatal consequences.

Cast

Wuzza Conlon as Charlie

Gavin Kelty as T-Bag

BP Fallon as Blowback

Huey Morgan as The Yank

Karl Argue as Flem

Steven Berkoff as The Uncle

Amanda Brunker

Donncha Crowley as Detective Insp. Dunne

Moira Deady as Mrs. Macroom

Mark Doherty as Detective Walsh

Dermot Doran as Bambi

Tom Hickey as Malcom Nobel

Pat Kinevane as Razor Rupert

Winston Nairne as Milk

Mick Nolan as Detective O'Donoghue

Gerry O'Brien as Mr. Doublehorn

Gavin O'Connor as Neville

Jer O'Leary as Tramp Snitch

Sarah Pilkington as Jacinta

Laura Pyper as Vicky

Rachel Rath as Junkie

Viviana Verveen as Biker

Aonghus Weber as Knob

Reception

Critical response

The movie has been criticised for its unoriginality and similarities to other movies.

Awards

Winner - Best Feature - Braunschweig Film Festival (2005)

Winner - Best Unreleased Feature - East Lansing Film Festival (2005)

Nominated - Best Feature Film - IFTA (2005)

Winner - Best Feature - NY Film Fleadh (2004)

Winner - Best Soundtrack - Foyle Film Festival (2003)

2nd Place - Best Feature - Galway Film Fleadh (2003)

Winner - Miramx Scriptwriting Award (1999)

References

External links

Zanzibar Films

"Headrush" at IMDb

Headrush at Rotten Tomatoes

Variety review