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Two years after director Stephen Frears made a splash with My Beautiful Launderette (1985) he turned his focus on ill-fated British playwright Joe Orton. More specifically, Prick Up Your Ears studies the toxic relationship between Orton (Gary Oldman) and troubled partner Kenneth Halliwell (Alfred Molina) that ended in bitter bloodshed. It is repetitive at times, occasionally lagging, but the performances by Oldman and especially Molina simply demand your attention.

He's given to loud speechifying and general flouncing about, but there's also something endearing about Halliwell as played by Molina. Shut away in the poky little room he shares with Orton, he sweats over endless manuscripts believing that his tragic childhood will one day pay off with international literary fame. Cut to ten years later and he spends most afternoons washing Orton's pants. That would be hard enough to take, but Orton has just written a hit play...

Even as Orton rubs salt in the wounds, Oldman balances that cruel, reckless streak with puppy dog loyalty. Both actors benefit from Alan Bennett's insightful script, also liberally sprinkled with his own wicked brand of kitchen sink comedy. Molina even outdoes Victor Meldrew for righteous indignation, seething over his lot beneath a slightly off-kilter toupee.

"EPIC EMOTIONS FEEL TRIFLING"

Meanwhile Frears makes much of Orton's sexual promiscuity, perhaps overstating the point. Halliwell's suspicions about Orton's misplaced affections are always more powerful than the numerable public loo scenes, but this isn't fully exploited. Jealousy and obsession are epic emotions (see Notes On A Scandal), but can feel trifling here. Nonetheless, this double act is never less than intriguing.

Prick Up Your Ears is released in UK cinemas on Friday 6th April 2007.