Sweet Sixteen worth it for acting alone

SWEET SIXTEEN: With his mother in jail, his step-father selling drugs and a grandfather who has given up on him, life isn’t all that rosy for young Liam (Martin Compston).

He passes his days on the rough streets of Greenock, near Glasgow, hanging around with his friends and selling contraband cigarettes. But, unlike his unambitious comrades, Liam has got plans, big plans.

His mother, Jean (Michelle Coulter), is due to be released, and he wants to give her a fresh start, free from the heroin that’s spoilt her life so far.

Jean’s drug-dealing boyfriend Stan (Gary McCormack) has got other ideas. He wants to keep Jean on drugs and therefore under his thumb. He even tries to smuggle drugs to her prison so that she’s kept under his influence.

Liam has to resort to some extreme measures — including stealing Stan’s stash to go into business for himself — to try and provide his mother with a viable alternative to Stan’s hospitality.

Martin Compston’s performance as the jack-the-lad Liam is amazing considering he had never done any acting before being plucked from the crowd by director Ken Loach. His ability to convey the darker side of the teenage tearaway would be the envy of many a seasoned pro.

Sweet Sixteen is worth renting for his performance alone.

Drama, 18. ****