Sorry, Baby

 

Its difficult to get the balance of a portraying a serious issue and finding the absurd comedy within it. Sorry, Baby manages to capture this near impossible feat without diving deeper into complexities and yet the characters within the story feel natural, nothing is forced. There may be one or two encounters within the film that are definite staples of an indie drama but aside from these, the story plays out in a satisfying and above all, realistic way. Perhaps the reason why this film is so bitingly comical is because of its naturalistic characters and their behaviours. 

Three years after being sexually assaulted by her advisor during Grad school, newly appointed college professor Agnes reflects on the time its taken for her to try and heal. She welcomes back her best friend Lydie who helped her through the initial shock, recognising how far both have come in the last few years.

Full review over at Filmhounds

I Saw the TV Glow - Sundance London

 

Nostalgia is a powerful tool in film, a homage or mention to something you experienced or even just knew about when you were younger makes you feel as if you’re part of the story on screen. I Saw the TV Glow weaves together a nostalgia driven plot with a personal journey, showing us what it feels and looks like to both deny one’s true self and feel the pull for what we needed when we were younger. It’s a delicate mix of genres that director Jane Schoenbrun, calling upon the sci-fi fantasy dramas of the 90s, especially those aimed at teenagers. I Saw the TV Glow is rather let down at times but narrative choices and the constant bleak overtone. However, its unique style and fascinating TV show within a film makes it unlike anything made in recent years.

Full review over at Filmhounds.

Talk to Me - Sundance London

 

There are simple rules you need to follow to ensnare an audience into your horror film. Start with a shock to entice them in, introduce an item that invites the horror in and give as little information about it as possible and finally, forget the jump scares, you will win your audience with prolonged terrifying moments instead. Directors Danny and Michael Philippou have followed these rules and have created something truly spine chilling with some images that stick in your mind long after the end credits roll.

Full review over at Filmhounds HERE.

Zola

 

Adaptations can be hit and miss no matter the genre, even if they have a good story at the heart. True stories can be manipulated and changed to have a more cinematic edge. But Zola is a whole other hybrid. This is where adaptations and true stories collide in a brightly coloured neon mess and it’s a thrill ride that doesn’t include a mass load of action sequences. Just like Zola herself says, it is kind of long but full of suspense. 

 

Full review over at Filmhounds HERE.

Herself - BFI London Film Festival

 

Building one’s own house is an amazing accomplishment but when you have two young daughters to take care of and an abusive husband to stay away from, the house becomes more than a project, its becomes the means to escape and freedom. A home is more than the place to live in, it is a symbol for a safe haven to rest your head at the end of a long day where your struggles seem never ending.

 

After finally leaving her a violent husband, Sandra lives in a hotel near the airport with her two young girls. Placed there by social housing while she searches for a new place they can move into, Sandra also has to contend with driving back forth to town for work and so her daughters can get to school. Finding she has little to no options, Sandra decides to build her own house. With the help from an employer who lets her build on her land and the generosity of a few friends, she sets about building her home and the hope of a better life.

 

Hard hitting drama is not hard to come by at the cinema. There are always dramas that hammer home the difficulties that some of us have no idea about. The trials that Sandra has to go through throughout the story have been explored in other films but the heart and soul of the story is Sandra herself, played brilliantly by Clare Dunne. Practically in every scene and second of the film, she is struggles but she is not down trodden. She moves ahead with determination and does not falter. The story does move in a few unrealistic ways but this is a film after all, we need a story after all, the fact the doctor Sandra cleans for practically gifts her the land to build her house is a nice touch but mostly unbelievable. The rallying of work friends, acquaintances and builders who she met in a hardware shop is actually very uplifting. The moment the house is finished is very emotional and really where the film should have ended but as we all needed to be reminded that not everything can have a happy ending and Herself is no exception feels quite cruel and leaves you with an ache and rage in the bottom of your stomach.

 

Despite the constant downpour of struggles that this one woman faces, the film does have its uplifting moments of joy and inspiration which nearly makes up for the bleak point near the end.

 

 

Like Something From A Novel

Often films about or centred around teenagers, are described as ‘coming of age’ which is a broad genre in itself, but this term is actually accurate and encompasses more than one way of coming of age for the main characters who each have their ‘demons’ to overcome, fears to face and strength to find.

 

Set in the 1960s, in a small, closed minded, religious town in Oklahoma, quiet, shy, introverted Iris is bullied by her peers on a daily basis as well as facing ridicule from her bitter mother. But when the charismatic Maggie joins her school, newly arrived from the city, the two soon becomes friends, giving Iris the courage, she needs. But a dark cloud hangs over Maggie’s head making her home life as well as her personal one difficult to control.

 

For a film that wasn’t adapted from a novel, the story really does play out and feel as if it were structured from a book first. Maybe it’s the setting, the period, the characters or the truth about why Maggie and her family had to move to a small town in the middle of nowhere. For a story that appears to be about people finding their voice or trying to accept who they are, there really is far more to unpack within the story. Even with the smallest of snippets from the ‘mean girls’ at the high school or from Iris’ mother getting drunk again and commenting spitefully on how her daughter looks, or when the town’s hairdresser, Hazel, reveals to have an equally mysterious past, they all piece together how the town perceives outsiders, as well as capturing the mindset of the time.

 

Although the town is filled with possible stereotypes, they are never over dramatized and equally give the main characters room to breathe. Both Kara Haywood and Liana Liberato as Iris and Maggie have great chemistry and each with their own individual character struggles bring a sense of innocence and wonder to the film. Lucas Jade Zumann as lone wolf and object of Iris’ desire, Jeff, deserves a special mention. He’s been racking up credits as the soulful genuine ‘good guy’ but isn’t getting the recognition you’d expect from his great performances.

 

Although this is director Martha Stephens’ fourth feature, it feels absurd that we haven’t heard more about her previous films. Premiering at Sundance last year, the film was set to be released this year but due to a world pandemic, that was changed, like so many other films. You can watch the trailer HERE and rent/buy the film on various different platforms, well worth the time and effort.

 

Unlike other stories in the coming of age drama, there is no solid conclusion, in fact there is further destruction and an open-ended mystery. Iris is given hope and we left feeling hopefully for hers and Maggie’s futures. If this was a novel, a possible sequel would be welcome.

To The Stars will be available on Digital Download from 1st June on iTunes, Amazon, Google Play, Sky, Virgin, Chili

 

 

Watch List 2019

This year, I keep saying it, has been an odd one for films, especially at the festivals. There has been notable ends to massive franchises, Avengers and now Star Wars, as well as some fantastic stories with women front and centre as well as films by women getting the praise they deserve. These are my films of the year, usually picked from what I've written about each month, but we all know I lapsed towards the end. I have included films from festivals as they were brilliant and I think count as a release in the UK. If you're wondering where Jojo Rabbit and Portrait of a Woman on Fire is, they come out next year so I'm afraid won't be included in this year.

This one crept up and made a huge impact on all comic book fans. Its the best comic book film I've seen, maybe even better than my beloved Guardians of the Galaxy. This Spider-Man film not only manages to side step some of the terrible films that came out, it even pokes fun at them. The fact that there are multiple universes and each one there is a Spider-Person must mean that there are multiple versions of all the Marvel characters. In this film, this is Miles' time to shine. The film introduces a new Spider-Man, passes the baton, gives him a worthy story to work with, gives him THE best mentor a would be hero could ask (Peter B. Parker perfectly cast/voiced by Jake Johnson) for AND even has time to introduce 4 other great Spider characters from multiple universes AND bring villain King Pin back to his original place, fighting Spidey as well make Dr Oct a woman voiced by the amazing Kathryn Hahn, literally all my dreams came true with this film. Story and characters aside, the film is brilliantly animated, making it look like a comic literally came to life, with the voiceover, speech bubbles, the black lines of the panels. This film is so brilliantly constructed, it shows up all the previous efforts, this film is pure comic book heart.
 
I first saw the trailer late at night while clicking through various posts and immediately regretted and was excited by it. Using a classic hip hop song to lure you in to the hellscape that await you - genius. A simple story at the core of the film, a family goes on vacation to the beach and are then terrorised by their distorted doubles, leaves so much room for the bigger issues being explored. Appreciating every aspect of the film and how much actual detail in the film is actually enjoyable, inbetween stuffing my mouth with my jacket to stop me yelling out in fear of course. The fact that Jordan Peele's horror film(s) are grounded in the horrific nature of human beings mkaes the horror feel much closer to home, even if a little bit of sci-fi is used to enhance the premise. With creepy twists and turns throughout as well as forehsadowing galore, its much more than I expected.

 So much has been said about Claire Denis' science fiction slightly horror toned drama where Robert Pattinson looks after a baby, at least that's putting it lightly. Death row inmates are given the chance to serve science by journeying into space to extract energy from a black hole. Aboard this particular ship is Dr Dibs, who is obsessed with making babies. She collectes sperm from the willing male inmates and tries to impregnate the female inmates. There is also the terrifyingly shot 'fuck box' which the crew uses to masturbate, all except Monte, nicknamed, the monk. Existence on the ship shifts from sedative induced nights to bleak days, some of the crew finds solace in the ship's garden, others stare into the vast space around them. The mystery unfolds of how Monte comes to be the only crew member left, plus a baby to care for but the true myteries are left unanswered. Such as why were they sent there, what crimes brought them to the ship (only two inmates' backgrounds are revealed) and are there more ships apart from the one with stray dogs? It's a science fiction peice of art that you can dwell on for days. Horror, is other people and the feeling that you're not in control seeps into the cracks of the ship and story and never really leaves you, as well as that damn 'fuck box'.

 An ode to being in the 8th Grade or in the UK, I think this is first year of secondary school. Captures exactly how it feels to be this age. I wrote all about how much I loved this film and everything its about HERE. 

Is it an origin story or is a slow burn thriller into the dark and dirty depressing side of comedy? Well maybe both. Its the film that caused the biggest discourse of the year. I wrote a long post on this one, so brace yourself, especially if you didn't like the film. Read it HERE. 

A brilliantly scripted story about two best friends and one night where they want to prove they are fun as well as smart. My post about the film is HERE.

This was my favourite film from EIFF and its about a woman who really can't be bothered to 'grow up', its superb. Really hoping this still gets a release in the UK. My review is over at VultureHound HERE.

Pedro Almodovar is back and he's back not with a vengence or comedy or thriller but a story very close to his heart, or at least it feels that way. Full review is over at Vulturehound HERE.

Jean Dujardin is Georges. He is obessesed with his deerskin jacket. What if his jacket was the only one in the world? Armed with a video camera, a plastic poncho and a ceiling fan blade, he can make that dream come true. The full review is over at Vulturehound and can be read HERE.

Two best friends, one writer, one party connoisseur, live in Dublin drinking their way through life, until one starts to look at their live without the ‘fun’ filter. I wrote more about the film HERE.

Based the novel 'The Sopranos' taking us back to the 90s, a group of friends are let loose on the streets of Edinburgh before a school choir competition, all with similar things in mind, booze, boys and having fun. My full review can be read HERE on Zavvi.

Dangerous Young Woman?

I just wanted to take a short moment to show some appreciate for an upcoming film that is exactly what I want to see at the cinema.

When the trailer dropped for ‘Promising Young Woman’ my first thought was; the book ‘Promising Young Women’ had been adapted already? But the slight difference of one letter made all the difference. This was not what I thought it was, it was something far more delicious.

A woman (Carey Mulligan) goes out every week, pretends to be drunk, completely out of it, waits for a ‘nice guy’ to come to her rescue and call him out on his s**t, basically. There is obviously a bit more to the story with how she was meant to become a doctor and past trauma hinted at which will all be revealed when the film is released in April but I for one, cannot wait for this film. Penned and directed by British filmmaker Emerald Fennell (you may know that name from ‘Killing Eve’ credits). She isn’t exactly an up and coming creative, as she has a fair few credits to her name but this is her feature film debut and I think I’m going to love her very much.

The story and film have been described as simple as ‘a ‘dangerous woman’ revenge thriller’ and this stuck with me. The subject is a woman ‘calling out’ men for their wrongful actions which apparently makes her dangerous? The rest of the story could legitimately be a revenge story but to call a woman dangerous because she catches so called nice guys who would assault drunken or vulnerable women is irritating. This might just be me who is annoyed by this irksome description but I wouldn’t say she was dangerous. We don’t see in the trailer after she reveals she’s not drunk what actually happens, just that she tallies them up in a notebook with either red or blue ink. The revenge thriller is usually saved for a woman who wronged and she seeks, well, revenge but this might have a different origin or slightly skewed one at least.

It premieres at Sundance Film Festival in January and released in April so who the hell knows if that means in the UK as well or if we have to wait a billion months to see it, we’ll just have to wait and see. 

June Watch List

Thunder Road

 Jim Cummings is a force to be reckoned with, having written, directed and acting in the lead of this story about grief, pain and fatherhood. Jim, a dedicated police officer is struggling with the death of his mother and trying to connect with his daughter after a separation from his ex. He’s a good person or at least he tries to be but misfortune just seems to follow him round. The film has one of the best eulogies in cinema that opens the film and goes through all the emotions you can think of. Grief take many forms and one of those is trying to show tribute to your dance teacher mother by performing a dance to no music. 3/5

Booksmart

One of the best film I’ve seen this year so far. A brilliantly scripted story about two best friends and one night where they want to prove they are fun as well as smart. I wrote a bit more about the film HERE. 5/5

Teen Spirit

Max Minghella’s directorial debut about a quiet teenager on the Isle of Wight who loves to sing and decides to enter a reality talent show. I wrote more about the film HERE. 3/5

John Wick 2

I wish I had seen this thrill ride a long time ago, I can exactly why everyone loves John Wick. Keanu Reeves is just perfect as the ultimate hitman, continuing on from the events of the last film and feeding straight into the third chapter of the Wick story. This time round he settles with the Russians, annoys the Italian mob and has his house destroyed but he still has his adorable dog. Then he takes a job to kill off the head of the Italian crime family but instead of him be able to return to his quiet life, he’s drawn into a massive manhunt by ALL the assassins who seem to be everywhere! Can’t wait for the next part.  4/5

Animals

Two best friends, one writer, one party connoisseur, live in Dublin drinking their way through life, until one starts to look at their live without the ‘fun’ filter. I wrote more about the film HERE. 4/5

Always Be My Maybe

Netflix films seem to be hit and miss but this rom-com about best friends who drift apart after a one-night stand and grief then reunite after 16 years is actually not too bad. Ali Wong and Randall Park have great chemistry and are actually funny. I love it when a funny couple get together. But the best scenes are obviously with Keanu Reeves who is the best thing in the film. He’s superb.3/5

Murder Mystery

Murder mysteries and hitman stories are usually my kryptonite and even Adam Sandler couldn’t ruin this film. While all his other films have been….. well, terrible, this is one with Jennifer Aniston was great fun. I actually wrote a whole post about the film HERE. 4/5

Sundance London: Animals

Few films have defined a moment, a period in one's life that appear on a wider scale. It is the 'smaller' films, the indies, that really capture how something is felt or is feeling and on a personal level, Sophie Hyde's adaptation of Emma Jane Unsworth’s 'Animals' was that film for me.

Films about friends usually follow a pattern, whether it is to destruction or joy or even enlightenment, the stories usually go the same way. A group or duo are close knit, they mean the world to one another, but this can't go on forever, when someone wants to grow up or move one but are prevented because of their need or love for the friend(s). Sooner or later an outburst or argument cements a parting of the ways. The friends either never see each other again or they do, but only in passing. Such close friends who bring so much joy and happiness are usually the ones who lead you to your own undoing. For Laura and Tyler, it’s a familiar pattern but with so much more emotion, drink, drugs and blocked creativity.

Laura and Tyler are best friends living in Dublin, enjoying nights fuelled by alcohol, drugs and casual sex. Laura calls herself a writer but she's been saying she's writing a novel, for the last 10 years. Tyler is a barista by day and the instigator of all the women's wild nights out. But when Laura meets the soulful pianist Jim, everything seems to change in Tyler's eyes, especially when the couple announce they're getting married. Laura still thinks she can find a balance between her new life with Jim and her hedonistic ways with Tyler. Life changes no matter how big or small seem to be put this friendship to the test. 

The perfect pairing of Holliday Grainger’s Laura and the ever-brilliant Alia Shawkat’s Tyler was made in casting heaven. Each actress embodies their character and delves deep into their psyche that you feel even more immersed in their lives that just watching them on a screen. Every bit of grime and grit is explored, there are no beautification filters on the friendship between Laura and Tyler which makes it not only believable but, in some ways, hope that more films will show real friendships between characters like ‘Animals’ does. The pain and suffering of each character whether its with past/present trauma or with the struggle of everyday creativity, these issues are treated with care and not as side notes on a character’s background. 

Piecing together Laura and Tyler’s world is fascinating to watch. The design and decadence of the old fashioned looking flat looks like an ex- English lit student’s dream, full of book shelves, vintage-eques furniture and smaller touches like a drinks tray laden with martinis. The personality of the of the two friends are reflected in their home, the old Hollywood style for Tyler and the creativity blocked Laura.

Maybe it’s the age of the characters that it feels so relevant to myself or that it’s just about the acceptance that the party does have to end, but Hyde’s film really immerses you into the world of Laura and Tyler but not as an audience, but as a participant. 

Watch List: April/May

The Missing Link

I love Laika Studios because their films are not just beautifully made, they are intricate and the details are amazing, but they're stories are heart warming as well breaking. They are afraid to end on a sad tone or realisation, they make realistic stories that children can enjoy and pick up on their messages, for everyone else, they get to enjoy the wonder. When explorer Sir Lionel Frost recieves a mysterious letter about a Sasquatch he comes face to face with the real deal who is actually a big fan of his work. The two go on a journey to the other side of the world so that Susan (that's the Sasquatch's name he gave himself) to meet his cousins, the yeti. But things don't always turn out how you imagine. 4/5

Eighth Grade

I think this is looking like my favourite film of the year (not seen Booksmart yet though). I wrote all about how much I loved this film and everything its about HERE.  5/5

Hellboy

My best mate made me watch this. Or rather, I was enjoying cocktails while we laughed/felt sick throughout the film. So much gore, so much pointless gore. When Merlin showed up in a cave, that's when I mentally checked out of the film. 1/5

Guardians

Superheroes, the Russian way. More info soon.

Avengers: Endgame

In all honesty, not quite the 'end of an era' film I thought it would be. I had no idea they were going to use time travel, or a rather a time heist to 'fix' everything. But they ended two character's stories well, Black Widow deserved much better, Thor is not done yet and how the hell are they are going to solve the time travel **** ups with Guardians of the Galaxy because their time line is all over the place?! More on this HERE 3/5

High Life

So much has been said about Claire Denis' science fiction slightly horror toned drama where Robert Pattinson looks after a baby, at least that's putting it lightly. Death row inmates are given the chance to serve science by journeying into space to extract energy from a black hole. Aboard this particular ship is Dr Dibs, who is obsessed with making babies. She collectes sperm from the willing male inmates and tries to impregnate the female inmates. There is also the terrifyingly shot 'fuck box' which the crew uses to masturbate, all except Monte, nicknamed, the monk. Existence on the ship shifts from sedative induced nights to bleak days, some of the crew finds solace in the ship's garden, others stare into the vast space around them. The mystery unfolds of how Monte comes to be the only crew member left, plus a baby to care for but the true myteries are left unanswered. Such as why were they sent there, what crimes brought them to the ship (only two inmates' backgrounds are revealed) and are there more ships apart from the one with stray dogs? It's a science fiction peice of art that you can dwell on for days. Horror, is other people and the feeling that you're not in control seeps into the cracks of the ship and story and never really leaves you, as well as that damn 'fuck box'. 4/5

Detective Pikachu

I was never really into Pokemon, I had a couple of the cards (which I found in the school car park) and the show never really caught my attention long enough for me to feel invested BUT the fact that Ryan Reynolds voice was coming out of an adorable Pikachu and actually was very funny, the trailer had me at 'that's very twisty'. As someone who knows nothing about the Pokemon world I felt invested in the characters, mostly because the pokemon are either cute or ridiculous (the duck who's head explodes - loved him) and the story of a missing father and conspiracy, even though it was predictable, I still enjoyed it. 3/5

Rocketman

Its about how Reg Dwight became Elton John, with music and musical numbers thrown in. My review is over on Vulturehound HERE. 4/5

Someone Great

Film about friends and growing up are usually a safe space where you can sit back and relate to the characters, enjoy the hijinx and think about your own life, at least thats some of the thoughts going through my head with this type of film. I love the main cast, they all have their issues going on, they have great chemistry and there are geniune funny moments BUT the fact they are all meant to be 'almost 30' was something that bothered me. Maybe because I'm almost 30 and do not have everything together. My own insecurites coming out here. I was saving this film for another day and maybe I watched it in the wrong head space, after I had recieved terrible and sad news or that something had ended the day before and I was just accepting it but, all these things aside, the film was ok but it was more about the end of a nine year relationship than about friends. 3/5

The Tribe

When a horrible corporate HR director fires 300 people, THEN gets caught cheating when he gets stuck inside a woman, only to be dragged out in front of the whole office and phone cameras, he loses his job, his wife and when he goes to meet with his biological mother, his memory too when he gets hit by a bus, Fidel is not having a great time. His mother takes him in, taking care of him even after she finds out who he is. She intriduces him to her dance class and as they say, that's that. Turns out he's a great dancer and makes an impression on the class as well as the teacher. Very funny at time, at others truely bizarre but the dancing is fun. 3/5

Sorry to Bother You - London Film Festival

Satirical comedic gem about the oppressed lives of those living in the USA. Trust me on this one, its funny as well as through provoking and disturbing, well at least the last bit is.

 The full review can be read over at Vulturehound HERE.