Kneecap (2024)

The critic calls the film a cheeky pseudo-bio that bottles the band's lightning energy as a clarion call to anti-colonial movements while remaining fun. It singles out the righteous vitality of the leads playing themselves and the wry political coherence for praise.

The critic praises the film's energetic, irreverent take on the origin story of the Irish-language rap trio, highlighting its authentic music, inventive style influenced by Trainspotting, and meaningful exploration of language and identity without preachiness. The verdict celebrates its laughs, smarts, and verve as a joyful celebration of cultural defiance.

The critic calls the film the funniest thing to come out of Belfast in years, a riot that strains band-formation tropes while staking a claim to raw haphazardness. It singles out the three leads' strong performances playing themselves and the editing's channeling of rebel energy for praise.

The critic celebrates the film's kinetic style, brash humor, and rebellious spirit, noting how it thumbs its nose at music biopic conventions while capturing the trio's vitality and cultural defiance.

The critic calls it a boisterous, politically minded comedy and wonderfully offbeat docudrama that serves as a cinematic protest in defense of the Irish language. She singles out the charged performances of the rappers and the vivaciously shapeshifting cinematography.

The critic finds the film an outlandish yet exhilarating origin story that deftly balances its anarchic elements with grounded reality. It singles out the band's raw, non-professional performances and the music's consistent catchiness for praise.

The critic finds the film a gleefully irreverent and cheeky origin story for the real-life rap trio, blending fact and fiction in an exuberant rags-to-riches tale with infectious energy and black comedy.

The critic describes the film as a raucous, unruly Gaelic rap origin story that leaves viewers with a comedown from its nonstop energy. It singles out the real-life band members' brilliant performances playing themselves and the script's focus on key relationships for praise.

The film succeeds as a showcase for the three rappers playing heightened versions of themselves but is undercut by a misplaced Michael Fassbender performance and some IRA drama elements.

The critic praises the clever parallels between Irish republican oppression and hip-hop rebellion but faults the film for meandering drama, repetitive messaging, and losing steam after a strong start.

The critic finds the film enjoyable and rousing, praising its box-bursting energy and comedic verve in telling the origin story. She singles out director Peppiatt's savvy handling of tones, styles, and the joyful treatment of drug humor and Irish patriotism.

The critic calls the film funny and exhilarating, praising its frenetic style, profane voiceover, and the bold decision to have the real band members play themselves. She singles out how it effectively captures the cultural and political fight to keep the Irish language alive through hip-hop.

The fictionalised origin story of the Irish-language rap group is one of the funniest and most energising films of the year. The profane, political mix and the band's charismatic performances stand out.

The critic describes the film as a gleefully chaotic quasi-biopic that casts the band members as tall-tale heroes. She singles out its solid case for connecting the struggles of Irish speakers to broader resistance movements.

The film is a riotous, anarchically fun comedy that mixes the Troubles with Trainspotting energy. It succeeds as a love letter to the Irish language and a portrait of post-ceasefire youth, elevated by the band's performances.

The critic calls it one of the best music biopics ever made and unapologetically ballsy and brave. They single out the band's own performances and the film's blend of humor, heart, and political edge for particular praise.

The critic calls it the best music biopic of the year, praising the hilarious dialogue, excellent performances by the real band members, and the electric concert sequences that give the film the energy of a concert film. It highlights the film's points about Irish-language culture and revitalization.

An inventively crafted, frantically paced and adrenaline-pumping ride that is one of the biggest surprises at Sundance. The performances from the actual band members are mind-blowing and the film is accessible and entertaining while touching on serious issues.

The film audaciously upends the musical biopic genre with its high-energy mix of humor, drugs, and Irish-language rap performed by the real band members. It singles out the creative visuals and defiant tone for turning clichés into something fresh and inspiring.

The film delights with its raucous energy as the real-life band members play heightened versions of themselves in a docudrama that celebrates their defiant hip-hop and Irish-language activism. It singles out the band's bold, irreverent style and drug-fueled antics for making the story an entertaining cultural statement.

Peppiatt energetically captures a nation still disagreeing with itself and focuses on nationalism's unifying potential to save an endangered heritage. The direction matches the rappers' restless energy with an eclectic and energetic toolkit of cinematic techniques.

The critic finds it a solid but conventional musical biopic that captures the authentic energy of the trio but is hampered by the stiff inclusion of Michael Fassbender and rote plotting. It praises the film's heightened sense of the past and the main trio's performances.

The film is briskly paced and flies by with authentic language, musicality and politics; the trio acquit themselves tremendously well. It doesn't matter how much is true as long as it's a good story, and Kneecap has more than a leg to stand on.

Peppiatt's unconventional music biopic is a riotous middle finger to misconceptions about Northern Ireland and an unusual, intoxicatingly funny film. The central trio's performances are fearless and the film mixes action, musical and comedy elements in a bold, energetic way.