Film Spotlight: The Scapegoat (2012)
Director: Charles Sturridge
Cast: Matthew Rhys, Eileen Atkins, Alice Orr-Ewing, Andrew Scott
Drama
100 minutes
Rated PG: Contains mild language, violence and suicide references.
Note: Usually, the content rating for a film featured in a Filmlandia article is the one given by the American MPAA ratings board. However, since The Scapegoat was never released theatrically in the United States, the British BBFC rating has been used instead.
           It’s pretty safe to say that most people enjoy watching movies, right? Still, no matter how big of a film buff you are, there might still be a film here or there that kind of slips through the cracks. This new bi-weekly column will help some of you discover films that you may have missed. Don’t get me wrong, this isn’t one of those pretentious “FILMS THAT YOU’VE NEVER HEARD OF” things that just assumes that nobody but the author knows about certain films. Instead, this is a “if you missed this, you might want to look into it” kind of thing. From one film fan to another.
After shining the spotlight on two horror films in a row, I promised that I would soon have a film for people looking for something a little different. This one is for you.
The Scapegoat is an interesting film in terms of how under-the-radar it appears to be. I first heard about it when I saw it pop up on Netflix, even though it featured actors that I was familiar with. It was not until I had already watched it twice did I find out that The Scapegoat isn’t even a film in the traditional sense. Instead, it’s a made-for-TV film that was broadcast in Britain. Despite television becoming an increasingly promising medium, the term ‘made-for-TV’ still carries something of a stigma when it comes to films. They are supposed to be these extravagant spectacles designed for the largest screens possible… Or so some might say. But if we go with this school of thought, The Scapegoat is pretty much perfect for television. It’s small, unassuming, and actually kind of lovely. Oh and definitely thoroughly British! I’ve only recently started watching Downton Abbey, but already I feel that there are definitely some similarities in tone between that and The Scapegoat.
The film, set in 1952, begins with the recently laid-off teacher John Standing (Matthew Rhys) accidentally running into his doppelganger, Johnny Spence (also Matthew Rhys). Spence comes from an incredibly wealthy family, and is in town to sort out a contract to save his family’s ailing business. Instead, however, Spence jumps at the opportunity to lead a new life away from his troublesome family, and so steals Standing’s identity while he sleeps. The next day, the poor teacher wakes up to a new life as a wealthy entrepreneur.
The beginning of the film probably doesn’t sound terribly original, especially if you’ve ever heard the tale of the Prince and the Pauper (or the book that The Scapegoat is based on). However, initial impressions can be deceiving, as the film still manages to include some surprising twists and turns throughout. For one thing, to call the Spence family troubled is something of an understatement. This is a family riddled with drug abuse, suicide, and marital affairs. Despite that, they manage to be a charming bunch, and I found myself becoming increasingly more fond of them as the film progressed.
Speaking of the family, the film feels perfectly cast. I’ve lately become a huge fan of Matthew Rhys, having been introduced to him through the terribly underseen TV show, The Americans. (Side note: if you have Netflix, I’d recommend checking that show out. Set in the 1980s, it’s about an ordinary nuclear American family where the parents happen to also be Soviet sleeper agents. It’s incredibly dark, but really well made!)
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Anyway, back to The Scapegoat. As I said, I’ve become a fan of Matthew Rhys, and his inclusion in the film was one of the main reasons I decided to check it out. Thankfully, he doesn’t disappoint, and he was clearly able to portray two different characters that look almost exactly the same. There are nuances to his performance that help you distinguish between the two, making them both feel absolutely real; he completely makes you forget that you’re watching one actor play two different characters. Furthermore, there’s something incredibly humorous about watching the rather naïve John Standing become more and more aware of just how torrid of a life Johnny Spence has been living.
The rest of the cast also delivers in spades. I have to give a special shout-out to Andrew Scott who plays Paul, Johnny Spence’s brother. Fans of Sherlock will recognize him as the great detective’s nemesis, Moriarty. His role in The Scapegoat, however, is quite different, echoing Fredo from The Godfather more than the evil genius, Moriarty. He is a man who has always lived in the shadow of his brother, Johnny, and even his own mother mocks him behind his back.
If I’ve thus far given the impression that this is a dark movie, that’s only half-true. Certainly, there is drama and intrigue, with at least one shocking moment that will leave you on the edge of your seat. However, at the same time, it’s a something of a heart-warming movie. It’s a well-told story, that somehow manages to be avoid feeling contrived or overly sentimental, while still being touching and all-together quite lovely.  In a way, it’s so thoroughly British, that ‘lovely’ is the most fitting word to describe it, with the added caveat that the film has a rather dark underbelly. Still, it’s film that manages to feel incredibly comforting somehow, serving as the kind of movie to put on as you light some candles and hide underneath a cozy blanket.