‘Kneecap’ review: Giving Oscar-bait biopics the finger

Don’t let the truth get in the way of a good story. Kneecap, the music-fueled biopic named after the Irish hip-hop trio it’s centered on, spins a tale that’s so outrageous at times, you might think poetic liberties were taken. But the film fully embraces the blurring of fact and feeling to deliver a propulsive and political romp that breaks away from the serious approach of many Oscar-chasing biopics. Thank God and all the saints for that!

Too often, larger-than-life rock stars, pop divas, or legendary musicians are reduced to a generic formula that fails to capture what made them captivating in the first place. (Check out recent examples like Elvis, Back to Black, and One Love — or don’t.) However, Kneecap embraces the raw and reckless energy of Naoise Ó Cairealláin, Liam Óg Ó Hannaidh, and JJ Ó Dochartaigh, who go by Móglaí Bap, Mo Chara, and DJ Próvaí. Right from the start, a wild club scene with flashing lights and drug use spills into a dark forest, showing that this film won’t play by the rules.

Director/writer Richard Peppiatt quickly establishes that Kneecap is different with hand-drawn graphics, claymation, and the band members playing themselves on screen. Alongside them, Michael Fassbender adds a touch of surreal grit. Coupled with a high-energy hip-hop soundtrack, the film is a head rush that’s hard to shake. But who would want to?

Kneecap flips the bird to boring biopics and vanity projects.

The premise of Kneecap might sound dry if you’re unfamiliar with the group’s music. A few years back, as the Irish Language Act was debated, an unlikely resurgence of interest in the Irish language came through a Belfast band rapping about drugs, sex, and rebellion. The film weaves this political backdrop into the personal stories of its three members, adding depth to their characters.

From Liam Óg’s romance with a British party girl to Naoise’s struggle under the shadow of his father’s radical politics, Kneecap paints a vivid picture. JJ’s introduction as a bored music teacher turned band member adds another layer of complexity. Their journey to stardom is filled with missteps, drug-fueled antics, and plenty of excitement.

Mo Chara, Móglaí Bap, and DJ Próvaí shine as themselves…as fools.

Kneecap boldly challenges another Northern Ireland biopic, Kenneth Branagh’s Belfast. While Branagh polished his childhood story for the screen, Mo Chara, Móglaí Bap, and DJ Próvaí embrace their flaws and mistakes, offering a genuine and unfiltered look at their lives.

They invite us to laugh at their mishaps, connect with their cultural pride, and enjoy the wild ride that led them to where they are today. These three didn’t set out to change the world, they set out to be themselves and found a connection to something greater along the way.

Irish rap group brings new life to their language

Irish rap group Kneecap is taking the music scene by storm, revitalizing their mother tongue with their unique style. In their latest trailer, they showcase their raw talent and infectious energy, proving that language is no barrier when it comes to making great music.

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But what first unites us to them is their rough-hewn charisma. Playing themselves on-screen could have spelled disaster, as plenty of musicians have fumbled at acting. But they excel, managing to play scenes of clownish absurdity and more tender moments with stirring screen presence. DJ Próvaí proves the strongest — to the point where I wondered if his signature onstage attire of an Irish flag balaclava allowed them to cast an established actor for the role. But the whole crew thrives on-screen as they do onstage, exploding in a frenzy of humor, music, and attitude that is wicked fun.

In the end, Peppiatt has done a superb job of not only shaking off the oh-so-serious shackles that are musician biopic conventions, but also enthusiastically embracing the hip-hop energy of his subjects, allowing them to be both the stars and fuel of their story, propelling them to a climax that deserves its rowdy encore across the credits.

Simply put, Kneecap is sensational, silly, sharp, and ultimately sublime.

Kneecap opened in theaters Aug. 2. It is returning to select theaters Sept. 13, and was just announced as Ireland’s Oscar submission.