Son of a Gun

Son of a Gun is currently streaming in the US on Netflix, and in the UK on Amazon Prime Video, and its case-by-case structure never gets in the way of the bigger story. It says what it needs to say in one sitting, no filler. 864 people have weighed in on TMDB, and the verdict leans heavily positive. Ewan McGregor anchors it, but the writing does the real work. There is no real reason to keep putting it off — it is right there on Netflix.

There is a reason Son of a Gun keeps coming up in conversation. The plotting in Son of a Gun is tight enough that the twists feel earned rather than assembled. Locked up for a minor crime, 19 year old JR quickly learns the harsh realities of prison life. Protection, if you can get it, is paramount. JR soon finds himself under the watchful eye of Australia's most notorious criminal, Brendan Lynch, but protection comes at a price. Ewan McGregor and Brenton Thwaites lead a cast that brings real weight to the material. It was released in 2014. What makes Son of a Gun hold up is that the resolution matters less than how the characters get there. There is real craft here, even in the moments that do not fully land.

Crime and mystery fans will find exactly what they are after in Son of a Gun. It does not lean on comparisons to make its case. A contained runtime means every scene is doing real work. Watch Ewan McGregor work — it is a masterclass in the genre. Few crime dramas earn their twists this consistently.