The Beanie Bubble

 

This is the year of the ‘product’ film, with several films about the origins of a particular product being explored. The Beanie Bubble fits very nicely between Flamin’ Hot, BlackBerry and Air, moving from the 80s into the 90s and banking on nostalgia to make us want to find out exactly what happened to the Beanie Babies bubble. Back in the mid-90s, you were either a collector or you knew a collector, there was no escaping the beanies and that inviting TY logo. 

Behind every great man, there’s always at least three women that he’s standing in front of. There are always a trinity of women, each having propped the man up, in a relationship with him or created ideas that he had stolen, The Beanie Bubble tells the story of the three women in Ty Warner’s life and how they helped him become a billionaire.

The full review is over at Filmhounds HERE.

Holy Spider

 
Ali Abbasi’s Holy Spider caused a stir when it premiered at Cannes 2022, especially being nominated for the Palm d’Or and Zar Amir Ebrahimi winning Best Actress. But the story itself was the main reason the film caught the audiences’ attention. Based on real events surrounding the serial killer Saeed Hanaei who murdered 16 women from 2000 to 2001 in Mashhad, Iran.

Full review over at Filmhounds HERE.

Six Minutes to Midnight

 

There seems to be a standard British film set just before, during or just after the Second World War that is released each year without fail. Sometimes these films are sent straight to digital platforms, some enjoy a stint in cinemas and others are swiftly given a DVD only release. It’s difficult to tell the fate of Six Minutes to Midnight as it is slightly unusual central plot, has an impressive cast list, has some beautiful shot of the English coastline but there is something lacking from the entire film. 

 

Full review is over at Filmhounds HERE.

Jumbo

 

We’ve seen a thousand and one different love stories portrayed on screen from all over the world. The obstacles that make these tales of love overcome tragedy, adversity and prejudice, but there has yet to be a story played out like Jumbo. 

 

Full review is out in Issue 27 of Film Stories - or your copy HERE.

 

 

Watch List: May & June

Luca

Pixar and Disney's latest about two sea monster pals who dream of running away and exploring the world is adorable. The sea monsters themselves are intricate characters who feel more than just legends of the deep. When curious Luca meets confident Alberto, another sea monster living alone on an island, the two immediately bond over their desire to explore. Once the boys make their way to mainland, set in Italy, their story really begins. They meet Giulia, a little girl who's Dad is a fisherman with a cat that finds the boys very suspicious. The story it seems is about friendship and knowing when to let go and move on, but of course with Pixar there always has to be statements. The film morphs from one lesson to another, accepting others, trustung your friends and about family. One aspect which is neglected is the reason why Alberto is alone on an island when we first meet him. We get a slight insight but nothing more than one tear soaked scene and nothing more, which is shame. Overall, its an adorable story set by the idyllic Italian coast, a sweet getaway when you can't travel. 3/5

Shiva Baby

 

Full review HERE 4/5

The United States vs 

Billie Holiday

 

Full review HERE 

Summerland

 

Having missed this film, the first time round last year, I caught up with the sweet story about a reclusive writer of folklore and young boy separated from his family, far from home. Although there is heartfelt story of lost love in flashbacks and a revelation at the climax of the film, this is really all about two lost people needing comfort, one knowing and other not realising they missed it. Gemma Arterton is brilliant as the moody writer who has shut herself away from the world to the annoyance of the village, but this role suits Arterton perfectly. Adding the beautiful location, this sweet story by the coast during wartime is a delight. 3/5

Dinner in America

 

Full review HERE

When Marnie was there

 

Adapted from the book of the same name, the film brilliantly exports the story from its origianl location to a small country town in Japan. Anna is sent away to stay with relatives of her foster mother so that she can get well again. While in the town Anna becomes obsessed with a house that sits away from the town across a marsh. She has dreams about a girl named Marnie until she actually meets her in person. But its very clear the two girls are from different times but somehow can interact with each other at certain times. Over her stay, Anna tries to find out the mystery of their connection and who Marnie really is. The story is very on brand for Studio Ghibli, feeling grounded in the real world and the spirit world. The friendship between the girls is developed very quickly as if they already had a predetermined connection. Capturing pure joy and lonliness is the art that Ghibli has created so well over the years and this is no different. 4/5

God's Waiting Room

 

Full review HERE 

Nomadland

 

There was such a lowkey hype about Nomadland at festivals that I didn'y may close attention. There is no clear storyline or plot, just a year in the life of Fern, a nomad who drives from site to site taking on seasonal work in different states. We get to see her with her fellow nomad friends, on own adventure, with her sister who doesn't understand her lifestyle and in her town that no longer exists. Not only a comment on how the recession affected certain people and age groups, its showing that there are other ways to live but there is an underlying comment on how town can be so reliant on a factory to keep everything turning but within a blink of an eye that town can just disappear. Beautifully shot, a sombre character piece that is full of sadness and joy at the same time. 4/5

The United States vs Billie Holiday

 

 

 

While the war on drugs seems to be used as a reason to pursue Billie Holiday for years is excessive yet is stems from the truth. Although the film does use fictional characters to pad out the actual events and real people, the truth behind the stories is mostly all true which is some biopics tend to twist. The film does indulge in trying to be several different kinds of film in one and therefore over stretches the run time which does feel too long, but the amazing central performances at least make up for it. 

 

Full review over at Filmhounds HERE.

Watch List: February & March

 

The New Mutants 

 

After all the hype around this film, I had hoped for something brilliant, the last FOX X-Men film before Disney got their greedy hands on the franchise and potentially ruined it. But seeing the bad press round Dark Phoenix, the mutants were probably in need of a reboot. New Mutants doesn't really end of the franchise on a high but rather just throws a spanner into the void. With a few new characters to get to know, the whole story unfortunately revolves around trying to find out what or who is causing the weird events, bring out everyone's fears, SPOILER ALERT, its obviously the latest recuit/patient admitted last. There are some great characters here but the story doesn't really focus on them. The film spends too much time on a romantic pairing and too much screen time to Magik who prances around too much, its frankly annoying. But her purple dragon is cool. The film doesn't even conclude properly, most likely with the hope of another film but we'll just have to wait and see what Disney does next. 3/5

The Dig

British films sometimes falling into two catagories; cheap and cheerful (rom-coms or gritty gangster stories) or historical and stuffy, which takes in what the Brits are known for in the film world I'm sure. The Dig is most definitely the second catagory. Based on a true story about some mounds of earth in Suffolk that had hidden Medieval treasures inside. Archaeologist-excavator Basil Brown, who had worked on many digs but barely credited on the finds, is center stage here. Carey Mulligan is on had to provide more gravitas to the film. A few other British actors pepper the screen with a weak love story and bickering museum curators, the story seems light. But it is difficult to get really into a story about digging up historical artifacts unless you're very interested in the subject. The film on the whole feels lackluster. 2/5

The Stylist  

Full review over at Filmhounds HERE. 4/5

 Mogul Mowgli  

Full review over at Filmhounds HERE. 4/5

Van Helsing 

I sometimes wondered how I managed to miss this film when it first came out. It was on the cover of Empire magazine at a time when I would have tried to see as many films as possible BUT things weren't as accessible as they are now. Thank you streaming services. This was literally a monster mash, a Hollywood botch job that doesn't really make sense, coupled with awful CGI (when it was made gives it no excuse). Van Helsing works for a secret organisation run by priests, monks and holy people basically, where he hunts down monsters. The story mixes several classic gothic novels hoping anyone who can read won't notice. The story is confusing and at the same time predictable BUT I was entertained despite the many many flaws. 2/5

Barb & Star Go to Vista Del Mar 

This is one of the most biazrre films to have been released in recent years. Its rather reminiscent of the wacky comedies from the 90s that no one will talk about but its also thoroughly enjoyable. Half friendship film, half self discovery and half obsurd revenge action film, plus a few random musical numbers, it entertaining as hell. The film never goes where you think it will, some twists and turns throughout and double character bill for Kristen Wiig for some reason. As brilliant as she is, someone else could have stepped in for this part as there is no real reason for the dual role. Written and starring both Wiig and Annie Mumolo, who also co wrote Bridesmaids, make a great team. 3/5

They Came From Beyond Space 

Full review over at Filmhounds HERE. 1/5

Dreams on Fire  

Full review over at Filmhounds HERE. 3/5

Lucky  

Full review over at Filmhounds HERE. 3/5

The Kid Detective 

Full review over at Filmhounds HERE. 4/5

The Craft Legacy

 Full review over at Filmhounds HERE. 2/5

Watch List: January

 

Femme Fatale

Femme Fatale, released in 2002 was not received well, despite a few high-profile critics giving it a great review. Starting out with a exciting heist and double cross, the story takes a weird turn towards doppelgangers and stolen identities. Our femme fatale and self-proclaimed 'bad girl' of the title was full of intrigue. If the film had continued towards an actual conclusion and not the cliche dream switch at the end, this could have been a hit. 2/5

 

The Broken Hearts Gallery

As Rom-Coms go, this wasn't too bad. It was something different in the sense it was about a woman who wanted to open her own gallery and the main guy was trying to open a boutique hotel (whatever that is), both creative, both entrepreneurs. Also the love interest angle could be seen a mile off but wasn't fully addressed until their relationship had reached the 'greats friends' milestone. The main reason to watch this is for Geraldine Viswanathan who is a delight, despite her character being very annoying and pathetic to begin with. 3/5

 

Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile

After watching a few documentaries on Netflix about serial killers I naturally gravitated towards this film. Thankfully this wasn't a gruesome play by play of Ted Bundy's crimes. Being based on
Elizabeth Kloepfer's memories this was a very different look at the lead up to Bundy's arrest and trial. Zac Efron is superb as the killer, he got the charismatic unsettling psycho just right. Its insane to think how long the trial took and that he was allowed to represent himself, but there it is, in the real footage at the end. 3/5

 

Promising Young Woman

 Full throughts on the film HERE. Zine to follow soon. 4/5

 

Anything for Jackson

 Full review HERE. 3/5

 

Rams

 Full review is over at Filmhounds and can be read HERE. 3/5

 

The Capote Tapes

Full review is over at Filmhounds and can be read HERE. 4/5

 

Not Just About Strippers Robbing Rich Guys...

 I’ve been quite preoccupied lately but I did manage to see a film that was talked about, praised and of course then over looked by most. I now completely understand the hype and delight surrounding ‘Hustlers’.

Looking back, I think I just over looked the film as all I saw was a poster of strippers. No context, just well-known faces playing strippers and the colours were all neon pink and purple. The buzz started on Twitter, as most things do, then it elevated to high praise quite quickly. This wasn’t just ‘some run of the mill stripper film’. This was based on a true story about how a group of strippers had fleeced quite a few wealthy disgusting men after the financial meltdown of 2008. But the film was even more than that, it was about friendship and close bonds forged and shattered. It was about finding your tribe and surviving through the worst times together as well as celebrating the best of times. It was NOT just any film.

Based on an article that was published in 2015 written by Jessica Pressler about a group of strippers who had drugged men and stolen their money. Of course, any true story that begins this way is going to grab people’s attention. It’s a fantastic story but the film has been given another edge, it’s about friendship. I avoided saying ‘female’ friendship as gender doesn’t need to be stated. Given the Robin Hood angle as these women were stealing from wealthy men, mostly disgusting men, drugging them so they wouldn’t remember and taking what they believed they were owed or rather earned. The women are given space in the story to talk and aren’t just pretty objects to be admired. They talk about the job, making a living, surviving. They have dreams, modest even, but the best part of the story isn’t the crimes their committed, is the central characters relationship between Destiny and Ramona. Key players in the article that caught the attention of many.

Without going in to great detail as this film should be watched with fresh eyes if you haven’t seen it, the film is a mix of black comedy, crime drama and female empowerment. This, much like the drug the women cook up, is a dangerous concoction that could easily be written off as weak crime thriller fodder but in the right hands, director/writer Lorene Scafaria to be exact, the film is effortless, brilliantly acted and doesn’t turn down a dark hole of hate. The love and respect between Ramon and Destiny, even til the end, is genuine. Why aren’t there more films like this?

Brittany Runs a Marathon

I’m sure I’m not the first person to look at themselves in the mirror then at the exercise bike in the corner. You know the one with dust on it as its been some time since you’ve taken that out for a spin. Then vow to themselves that they will make a change. But 10 minutes later they’re back at the computer or watching a film eating off brand Oeros. Writer and director Paul Downs Colaizzo was inspired by his roommate Brittany who did in fact turn her life around and run a marathon to write a story, not entirely about her but inspired by her. This morphed into ‘Brittany Runs a Marathon’ and it is by far more about than a story about a woman who goes running.  

Brittany is 28 years old; she leads a very unhealthy lifestyle. All her friends and people she knows seems to be getting their life together except her. She works at a theatre in the evenings, parties until the very early hours then slumps home and sleeps most of the day away. She’s broke, in debt, drinks, takes pills, gives blow jobs to guys in bathrooms at clubs and eats junk food. But after going to the doctor who tells her she needs to lose weight, she is spurred on to start running. But this pathway was never just about the weight, she wants to improve her life and feel good about herself.

For a film title that is very literal, the film itself is about much more. Brittany doesn’t just run an actual marathon; she runs a life marathon and goes through so many stages. The repetition of her standing ready to go running for the first time is used whenever she feels like she’s going to relapse or when she is about to take the plunge. Its showing that we will always have a fear in the back of our mind that we end up revisiting time and again but it is possible to overcome it. Brittany goes through changes, not just the satisfaction of losing weight and feeling like a lady again. Being happy that ‘people hold doors’ for her is a small but great feeling, which I understand. She also changes her attitude to how she takes care of herself, including her own relationships, particularly with Jern, who hasn’t got it together yet by the time she has. They like each other but she knows she can’t look after him and herself and they’re grown up enough the know this.

Another aspect of the film that I admired were the friendships. Brittany and her ‘best friend’ Gretchen live together, party together but the latter doesn’t support the former. It can be appreciated they each have different goals in life and their own form of happiness, but this toxic friendship, rarely explored on screen beyond superficial arguments, is something Brittany decides to leave. Better for her and probably better for Gretchen too as she can realise what kind of friend she was. Leaving this toxic environment behind, Brittany is then free to cultivate her new and supportive friends who want nothing more than to help and be her friend, through all the ups and downs she goes through. It’s true that at your toughest times, you know who your real friends are.

I would say, aside from a few characters in TV shows where I felt represented on screen, this is the first time I’ve seen a character that feels like me. Some of the things that Brittany even says about being the ‘fat funny sidekick’ or how guys say things to her that they wouldn’t to other girls, I had a lot of that during college, Uni, work places where this happened, I was treated like one of the guys and not in a good way. I also had the same struggles she has with not being able to focus and just feeling less than. On personal level I can connect. I’ve also tried to turn my unhealthy life around a few times. I was on track about 5 years back where I even lost weight but I had a trampoline accident where I injured my back. I was misdiagnosed by a few doctors which meant my recovery was longer. I ended up in physio which helped but I will forever suffer with back problems. This really set me back, I put on weight again, I was stuck at the same old job, but very slowly I moved on. I swam every week and gradually stopped regular heavy drinking then I busted my knees, back to square one. I ended up in a hell cycle again last year when my contract ended with a job I really loved and to be honest have been having a terrible time all round, health, money, career wise BUT seeing this film, with a character I can really relate to was inspiring on more than ‘what a great film’ level.

The film was a hit at Sundance and was picked up by Amazon BUT the film will be in cinemas for a limited time (I heard) so please go see this, if not for the story then for the amazing Jillian Bell who plays Brittany, a real person and a real inspiration. 

 #BrittanyRunsAMarathon

  @pdcnyc

@jillianbell

@BirdsEyeViewFF

  #reclaimtheframe

Bad Education - BFI London Film Festival

 Based on the true story about a superintendent and his vice who stoles millions of dollars from the school district as well as hiding other things about himself. Its brilliantly played out and easy to get sucked into the story. 

My full review is available over at Vulturehound HERE.


 #LFF

@BFI