Interruption film review by UK film critic Chris Buick. Starring Zineb Oukach directed by Zineb Oukach. HOME | FILMS | REVIEWS Interruption Film Review average rating is 3 out of 5 Critic: Chris Buick | Posted on: Sep 28, 2023 Directed by: Zineb Oukach Written by: Zineb Oukach Starring: Zineb Oukach Sarah Taleb (played by Zineb Oukach, who also writes and directs) is a journalist advocating and reporting for women's rights in a country where cultural beliefs and laws systematically diminish those rights. Sarah’s personal situation within her culture is equally complicated and dangerous. Sarah is pregnant and was looking to travel to the United States for an abortion procedure just prior to Roe v. Wade being overturned by the US Supreme Court, a historical moment that’s impact short film Interruption looks to demonstrate was not just felt by women in the United States, but those all around the world. Now Sarah faces the decision whether or not to undergo the procedure in her home nation, a practice deemed both illegal and immoral by the state, who are waiting for any excuse to finally charge her with “immoral” crimes. But the lines between morality and necessity become blurred even further when the lead detective pursuing her finds out ends up in a situation of his own. Interruption provides a compelling look at the global imbalance women face everywhere for their rights, especially highlighting the reality for those women within certain cultures who still fight for any kind of equality or rights at all. It isn’t necessarily a film with a tremendous amount of depth or excitement narratively, the character explorations as well are really quite lean. And when all is said and done, the film will likely leave viewers with a number of questions, especially “what happened next” and at times seems a bit unclear as to what aspect of the discussion it's really trying to talk about. But one must applaud the films overall message and purpose that doesn’t shy away from its pertinent subject matter, a central theme that promotes a universally shared concern of equality. And it’s the point of that message being delivered, rather than how, that should be and rightly is the focal point of Oukach’s film, taking the time to centre its attention on a simple but well-told story. Oukach also manages to demonstrate a good deal of filmmaking prowess as well, interesting uses of perspectives in several shots really highlight the cat and mouse feel and that unnerving sense of constant surveillance, fear and trepidation that exists in such an environment. And both leads can take credit too for enhancing that feeling, managing to convey the gravity of this complex situation with nuanced expression amongst minimal dialogue. The basic narrative threads might not necessarily lead you anywhere exciting in terms of answers, but Interruption is a film that does well in making us think about the right questions. Buy UKFR Banner Space About the Film Critic Chris Buick Short Film, World Cinema < All Reviews Next Film Review >

Lakota Nation vs. United States film review by UK film critic Christie Robb. Starring Candi Brings Plenty, Krystal Two Bulls, Henry Red Cloud directed by Jesse Short Bull, Laura Tomaselli. HOME | FILMS | REVIEWS Lakota Nation vs. United States Film Review average rating is 5 out of 5 Critic: Christie Robb | Posted on: Aug 9, 2023 Directed by: Jesse Short Bull, Laura Tomaselli Written by: Layli Long Soldier Starring: Candi Brings Plenty, Krystal Two Bulls, Henry Red Cloud A compelling documentary providing context for the Očeti Šakówin’s[1] Land Back movement, Lakota Nation vs. the United States aims to help viewers understand the past so that remedies can be made to redress historical wrongs. If I can beg your indulgence for a moment, I’m going to break the fourth wall of movie reviewership a bit. I graduated high school in the late 1900s (as my kid would say). At that time, the school’s mascot was the Redskin. A six-foot-tall mannequin dressed in buckskins and feathers stood in the lobby opposite the administration offices to greet the almost entirely (at the time) White student body. There was a vocal minority of folks who viewed the mascot as pretty tasteless at the time, but it didn’t get retired and exchanged until 2021 . You’d think that would be a sign that the district was moving in the right direction. And things did seem hopeful. Until the school district passed a resolution banning so-called “critical race theory” in 2022. Teachers there are no longer allowed to give assignments that ask students to question (among other things) their race, ethnicity, or culture in a way that might be “derogatory.” They can’t ask kids to question possible privilege or reflect on oppression. And this kind of thing is happening in other districts around the country. How, then, can we talk about the history of the United States? How can we grow as individuals and as a nation without reflecting on our past? Identifying what worked and what didn’t and trying to make better choices as we make contemporary decisions? Directors Jesse Short Bull and Laura Tomaselli lay out why it’s important to look critically at the past as it relates specifically to the Očeti Šakówin’s ownership of the area around the Black Hills in Lakota Nation vs. the United States . See, in 1868 the US made a nation-to-nation treaty with the Očeti Šakówin to wrap up a war that the indigenous folks were doing really well at. In the treaty, the US specified a territory that was for the exclusive use of the indigenous folks and that US citizens had no right to step foot on. But, shortly thereafter gold was discovered in them thar’ hills and the US started breaking its word so folks could weasel their way back in there and start pocketing shiny rocks. Land was stolen. To mark their supremacy over the land, four white guy’s faces were carved into the Očeti Šakówin’s sacred Black Hills. The US still wants that land, but this time it’s more for fossil fuels. In Part 1, Extinction, the directors explain how initial contact with White settlers impacted native people and how the educational system and White-created pop culture helped reframe a story of invasion as a White self-defense narrative. In Part II, Assimilation, they describe how systematic economic destabilization, land allotment, and an abusive boarding school system tried to destroy Lakota culture so that it would be easier for Whites to take the land and resources. In Part III, Reparation, they describe the development of the modern Land Back movement and how the Očeti Šakówin’s refused a meager offer from the US to pay them for the stolen land. They want the land itself. Short Bull and Tomaselli weave together vintage educational film strips, old Hollywood movies, news clips, poetry, interviews with members of the Očeti Šakówin, and stunning views of the Black Hills landscape to create a beautiful visual essay about the value of reflecting on the mistakes of American history. Does it address uncomfortable truths? Yes. Does it require thinking about privilege and oppression? Yes. But it’s also an opportunity to look back, understand a different point of view, and try to do better moving forward. It’s an invitation to think about the land differently. It’s an opportunity to learn how to treat people better. It’s moving portrait of a resilient, hopeful, people. It’s a movie that should be shown in schools. It’s just too bad that the history teachers at my high school and schools in similar districts around the country are now banned from showing anything like it. Buy UKFR Banner Space About the Film Critic Christie Robb Theatrical Release, Documentary, World Cinema < All Reviews Next Film Review >

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Read the film podcast transcript from the episode titled UK Film Club - 004 - Fast X The Mother and Children Of Men on UK Film Club part of the UK Film Review Podcast. < Back UK Film Club - 004 - Fast X The Mother and Children Of Men Listen to This Episode UK Film Club 00:00.00 ukfilmreview Hey Brian I'm good. Thank you you? okay. 00:00.60 Brian Penn Like Chris say you doing yeah fine. Yeah yeah, all good, but it's it's still like Chris I mean the last time we did the podcast it was dark by Quas Fate wasn't it and now it's bright and sunny still or so anyway. 00:14.80 ukfilmreview I know it's throwing me off slightly because it's that time of the year where you can't really watch certain films because you need the atmos. You know you can't necessarily watch like I don't know trying to think of an example but I guess horror films like you can't watch a horror film in the daytime. 00:18.35 Brian Penn I. 00:30.23 Brian Penn No now that that is probably true because it adds to the atmosphere doesn't it really? Yeah so I think you're probably probably right there. There are some films that you can watch at any time during the day others that just needs to be viewed at a certain sign. Don't I suppose it fits the mood. 00:44.76 ukfilmreview I Say what they I did I remember watching um is it the strangers I think it's the strangers where it's like a home invasion film. And yeah, so that it's quite I think it's the strangers and I watched it. Um, oh was I I was on. 00:49.64 Brian Penn No, right? so. 01:01.15 ukfilmreview When I was working somewhere else and I had like a weekday off which was very unusual. So no one else was off and I was watching it must have been about like Eleven o'clock in the morning and because I wanted to create the atmosphere. So I shut the curtains and made it as dark as I could and I was watching it and I was still genuinely scared but it was quite weird that. 01:02.60 Brian Penn Okay, all right? okay. 01:19.54 Brian Penn You Yeah God you go to a lot of trouble. Don't you you love setting. The scene aren't yeah hey um I'm in prayer you see I I Just don't have the wherewithals to do that. But I know what you mean though, it's got it's got to create a move but that's not something you can do in the Cinema is it because it goes to the cinema. 01:19.55 ukfilmreview Kind of finishing and then me kind of carrying on with the rest of my day I definitely. 01:37.56 Brian Penn And it's in darkness anyway isn't it. You know? um so that kind of kills it a little bit but you can do that more when you're at home can't you I think that's ah, an interesting perspective Chris you again, you give me a lot to think about here you know, really only 5 bits in I mean you've already got me thinking honestly, really. 01:39.73 ukfilmreview Um. 01:48.46 ukfilmreview Here you go I'm getting you already set out. Yeah well there go. That's the best way to enjoy horror films you know shortcuts and if the Amazon man comes to the door. You just don't answer it. no no. no 01:55.32 Brian Penn Yeah. 02:01.25 Brian Penn Yeah I know and know yeah I's just back getting into the spirit things isn't there are literally Wow Yeah, scary. Yeah. 02:08.73 ukfilmreview Is? Well we are back with episode 4 of ukfilm club. How exciting? um, it's the show that. Reviews everything really we review right? from the top right down not to the bottom because that sounds bad but to the shortest to short films. You know to the indie films. Um, and if you haven't listened to the show is your first time. Welcome welcome to the show um me and Brian are cricks where you go from review and. 02:19.93 Brian Penn The yeah yeah course yeah. 02:30.39 Brian Penn And. 02:37.42 ukfilmreview In these episodes we like to cover the cinema releases largely by Brian um, and then we do a streaming pick so a film that's on streaming services then we do a couple of indie films and then we finish up with a nostalgia film which is something that basically is. 02:40.53 Brian Penn He. 02:50.10 Brian Penn That is like. 02:54.73 ukfilmreview A little bit older I guess there's not really much and funny enough the film that we've picked this ah for this month is another bleak film. We did fight club last month and I'm thinking we've got to stop picking these bleak films like I know you can imagine me myself. 03:02.95 Brian Penn And I we we've got to cheer ourselves up a bit next month and we a little bit on that school. Yeah. 03:11.21 ukfilmreview Sitting in the dark watching these films getting all depressed like now need's something happier for next month but we'll get to that. Um, and in this episode very specially I everyone round of applause please made it to the cinema and Brian was there to witness this. 03:14.42 Brian Penn Ah, yeah, you need a bit light and show don't you know? Yeah, yeah, yeah. 03:24.72 Brian Penn Yeah I was there I witnessed it I actually saw you go in. Yeah I sat next to you? Yeah, that's right? yeah. 03:31.42 ukfilmreview You're witness that. Yeah yeah, so we were um, very privileged to watch the ah Media premiere I Guess of um, the new fast and furious film fast X and which is really good I reviewed it for the site and I know that. 03:41.33 Brian Penn Yep. 03:49.51 ukfilmreview Mad Wolf They also reviewed it for the site. Um, so I think it's my one that you'll see up there so we'll get into that in a minute but I think I'll first off just got a quick promo I Love a bit of promo. Um, so picture house got in touch to say that. 03:52.55 Brian Penn Oh. 03:58.44 Brian Penn Well tell me? oh yeah. 04:06.45 ukfilmreview They are promoting the sundance film festival London for 2023 and that's taking place in July the sixth of the ninth. So yeah, we put a shout out on our stories. Um, although when you're listening to this. It's probably already gone. 04:07.25 Brian Penn Oh wow. 04:19.56 Brian Penn Oh ready I Wanna never do that. Yeah, someone's got down. Yeah. 04:21.80 ukfilmreview But yeah I was on there but you can go to picture houses with an s at the end. She's a bit strange picture houses. Yeah I wonder who's got picture house someone at someone's got picturehouses.com/sundance and you'll be able to see the lineup. Um, interestingly. There's a short film showcase which a lot of our festivals do and one of the films in there is my eyes are up here and that was recently reviewed on the web site by William Hemingway and he loved it and he's not an easy critic to please. So yeah, he does give his fair share of of. 04:53.46 Brian Penn Um, right? we like we like speaking strots if don't we at the same slim though. Yeah. 04:57.41 ukfilmreview The low scores shall we say so we do we do and don't we wrong? William's a really great writer. Um, so for him to sort of give this 4 stars I'm thinking wow that must be something. Yeah yeah, um, so that's um, part of the the lineup at the sundance film festival London. 05:08.24 Brian Penn It's square price indeed. Then? yeah. 05:15.99 ukfilmreview So yeah, just shout out to those guys for for getting in touch and yeah, that's in July so shall we shall we go with the theatrical releases and then do fast x last does that work because I know you had some other films that you were going to review first. Let's let's do those. 05:20.22 Brian Penn Um, it's stuff. 05:28.20 Brian Penn Yeah, why not? okay, all right? So we do the my 5 for this month what or did you want me to take them in this time Chris any any particular preference right? Yeah yeah, yeah, yeah, oh nice one? yeah. 05:38.57 ukfilmreview Okay, I'm gonna I'm gonna direct you this time I don't know why because Normallyman I let you go a free reign but I'm bit more organized this this time. So I'm gonna go well as long as you have seen them. Um, big George Foreman 05:48.13 Brian Penn Yeah, cool course laugh. Oh big George Forman right okay then so right big George Foreman I want to give you the full title here because I don't know how they managed to get it on the poster but the full title title is big George Foreman colon 06:02.66 ukfilmreview Um. 06:06.14 Brian Penn The miraculous story of the once and future heavyweight champion of the world 16 words I mean honestly did they need a subtitle quite that long. It's beyond me I mean surely big George Forman kind of does it don't you think you know. 06:18.40 ukfilmreview I I mean because I'm looking at now and that poster design I probably thought I'm not going to put anything else on. It is no point just put that and the guy and and that's it is to yeah. 06:24.55 Brian Penn Yeah I know know you it crowds it out doesn't it anyway. So this is directed by George Tillman Juniorr starring Chris Davis as foreman and Forst whitakeo is trainer dot brous now this is the story of 1 of the greatest heavyweight boxes of all time. Yeah I don't know how familiar listeners are with boxing if I just mentioned Muhammad Ali Joe Frazier Ken Norton Jimmy Ellis and George Forn himself you had fighters who were at rare quality and distinction and they were all in their prime during the 1970 S ah, formerman won the world title from Joe Frazier but lost it to Muhammad Ali in a fight famously known as the rombo in the jungle. But I guess the bigger part of Forman's story was coming out of retirement to win the world title again at the age of 45 overall it's a solid bypic with a steady pace. 6 auto right? boxes. There are no great revelations unsurprising as forman himself was executive producer so there'll be no skeletons rattling here. Chris Davis is very good in the title role but in many ways, the film belongs to forest whitaker as the battle hardened trainer. What I like about his performance is that he doesn't overplay the character. It's like Billy Wilder the director used to say less is more. He reins it in and makes a bigger impression as a result a thoroughly enjoyable film great soundtrack if you're a fan of 70 soul and funk. 07:56.21 Brian Penn This is the film for you. Ah, yeah. 07:58.79 ukfilmreview There we go I mean I love a boxing film. Um I think we've said this before on the pod. It's it's a genre upon itself isn't it specifically boxing I think um, it's got everything cinematic that you kind of want and I mean George Foreman is household name. 08:04.42 Brian Penn Yeah, yeah, it is yeah. Yeah, yeah. 08:16.66 ukfilmreview Ah, even even over here and and even kind of yeah now. 08:17.29 Brian Penn Well yeah, yeah I mean even even if you know him as the promoter of the lean mean grilling machine as well which he made an awful lot of money out out of back in the ases but like. 08:29.30 ukfilmreview I was doing my best not to bring it out but I'm glad you did because you know it's relevant there. We go. 08:34.16 Brian Penn Yeah I mean was Scott I mean they mentioned it in the film. So if they mention in the film we can mention it here. Yeah, it's relevant. It's current and it's relevant now a very good film I likes it I think it's been getting some slightly mixed reviews I don't know whether people expected to see a bit more dirt being dished. But I think it gave a fairly. 08:51.87 ukfilmreview Um. 08:53.63 Brian Penn Balanced account of his life particularly his humble beginnings coming from a very poor family in a very poor part of Houston in Texas to winning the olympic gold medal at Mexico City 1968 cer professional the old story of. Making a fortune then losing it through bad investments bad deals. Bad management deals then having to make a comeback in his in his forces. It does really read a bit like a hollywood film script. But it's all true and I think I know George Forman's story relatively well enough to say that's a fair account. You know it. I mean no pundding intended it. It doesn't pull any punches get it. Ah, it had to be done dent. It really come on. Be honest, ah. 09:31.28 ukfilmreview We are if I'd have reviewed it. It would have just been full of it. That's all I do I'm just full of puns. That's all I do. 09:39.91 Brian Penn Ah, ah, but you see the thing is though boxing's got lots of great phrases that that have entered into alexcon aren't they really you know out for the count beaten sort the punch all that type of thing. Um, but no a very good film I really enjoyed it and it. 09:50.40 ukfilmreview E. 09:57.87 Brian Penn Such is it such is a cold with with people in in some way because pugilism is the ultimate warrior art isn't it and I I take it as art because when it's when it's done properly when you've got 2 great vices in the ring and George Foreman represents a great era for heavyweight boxing. In general. So yeah, good stuff really enjoyed that. 10:21.63 ukfilmreview There you go big George Foreman I'm not going to do the full title because I've already clicked away and I don't want to have to look it up again. Um, now this next one I've got this vague feeling that you said you didn't get to see it. Um, but let's just see if it's the film the unlikely pilgrimage of harold fry. 10:27.22 Brian Penn Ah. 10:30.85 Brian Penn Which was yeah I saw that? Yep yeah I saw that I Okay then so yeah, so what we got then is it's film directed by Hessy mcdonald. 10:37.89 ukfilmreview You did see it all right crack on. 10:47.48 Brian Penn Starring Jim Bent as harold and Penelope Wilson as his wife mooring when I sat down to write this review I had to resist the sensation to use phrases like heartwarming and lifeairming. It's that kind of film. It's based on a book by Rachel Joyce and tells a story of Harold and mooring. 10:59.27 ukfilmreview Um. 11:06.19 Brian Penn Who live in quiet retirement on the South Coast harold receives a letter from queenie who is in a hospice and writing to say goodbye was quite sad anyway, he struggles to write a response on the way to the post office. It has what would you call it an epiphany. Perhaps. And decides to walk all the way to barrackon sweed so he can say goodbye to queenie in person now to appreciate this film. You need to omit the logic because the first thing you think is why doesn't he just get on a train and go and see her but this is Harold's eccentricity at play. 11:37.51 ukfilmreview Um. 11:42.56 Brian Penn Sees the walkers in atonement for all the things he's got wrong in his life. It's a charming film the story gently unfolds and we learn exactly what the deal is between him and queenie and it's not necessarily what you'd expect. We also learn of a troubled relationship with his son David which fills in all the blanks. But I would say it's a very british film and a very likable film. Really really a nice watch. Yeah, it is great. Yeah, absolutely yeah, you've you've nailed it. There. 12:07.11 ukfilmreview This feels right up my street I love a this is my warm Sunday feeling film. Um I watched um the fisherman's friends to the weekend. Um, which is not as good as the first one. 12:18.44 Brian Penn Ah, right? Yeah, what you think of it. You never at the never are are they I spin Never all. 12:24.61 ukfilmreview Um, where they never are the first one was was good but the second one it was very pull in it. Yeah, put in it strings and trying to make something I think that wasn't really that or needed. Um, but it. 12:35.76 Brian Penn Yeah. 12:39.85 ukfilmreview You got to go into these sort of films very forgiving and very kind of like you know what? I just kind of want the sensation of a film washing over me. Um, and that's why I get with that. 12:42.19 Brian Penn You? Yeah yeah, you yeah exactly you want to like it and the thing is I think fisherman's friends not as good as the original courses. But it's so well written and the characters are so well drawn and they're very likeable. Ah, that human quality and you you can't it's the same thing with the harold fry movie. Um, they're just very likable and they do grow on you as people I like Jim Brall bent I like pen. Ah yeah, and I like pet Penelope Wilton so what I would say though is that after I write my review I don't want you to. But do you. 13:07.71 ukfilmreview Oh yeah, he's great isn't there. 13:19.27 Brian Penn Do you write your own view review then read other people. So do you? What do you do here? ah. 13:24.20 ukfilmreview It depends Sometimes if I'm really struggling I go and steal someone's review. No I don't um now I think sometimes I'll go and read reviews then when I've seen the film and I I've got maybe like my draft because sometimes. 13:33.82 Brian Penn Yeah, yeah, yeah. 13:39.63 ukfilmreview You think something but you can't quite put it into words. Yeah, not that you're trying to steal it more just trying to shape it in your mind as to what it is that you're trying to write about Um, ah so sometimes but rarely I normally like to just post my review and then I'll go read elsewhere. 13:41.70 Brian Penn Yeah, no you you? yeah. Yeah, yeah, I'm more or less the same as you I mean sometimes reading somebody else's review. Can you can articulate your own thoughts a bit more can't you I think that's what it boils down to. 14:02.10 ukfilmreview Yeah. 14:05.92 Brian Penn But usually I do exactly what you do, but I write my review first then I start looking at other reviews just to see how how close we are in opinions or how far apart we are now I read some of the reviews of the harold fry movie and I have to say I was a little bit disappointed with with the kind of the vibe I was getting. Because they were saying Well I the impression I got was that um, it's a film for older people because the characters are elderly or they're in the in their seventy s and I find that such a shame to think that because it's characterbased and it's good storytelling that. 14:39.20 ukfilmreview Um. 14:44.47 Brian Penn People think it won't be of any interest to people under the age of 30 You know what? I mean it I found that a bit a bit sad. Really. 14:49.72 ukfilmreview It's for it's I think they know Target Demographics but I do think that's very unfair to to put those sort of things out. Um as I say I'm an absolute sucker for a soft warm film and I'm in my thirty s and I've liked these films for you know, a long time. Um. 14:55.42 Brian Penn To. Yeah, yeah. 15:06.75 ukfilmreview I Think genre is applicable because people are often drawn to more some some drop genres more than others depending on their age but it's the same thing like with animation. It gets pigeonholed Oh animation is for kids but it's so not is it at all. 15:13.84 Brian Penn M yeah. Yeah, exactly no not at all. No yeah. 15:24.77 ukfilmreview And it's universal and I think these stories are universal. It's just sometimes they sort of get a bit tied up with their own marketing. But um I Also think sometimes they lose a bit of their audience because of. 15:29.76 Brian Penn Yeah. 15:40.98 ukfilmreview Maybe they're trying to do that you say they're doing things that wouldn't make sense to a younger audience like him not jumping on a train or calling an uber or you know it's like it doesn't make sense to ah to a younger generation. So maybe there's that but I still think they can understand that I think people can and like you know when I watch a period drama. It's like oh I can't understand this at all. 15:43.35 Brian Penn Yeah, exactly? Yeah yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, who. And I Yeah I know Yeah, yeah, exactly? Yeah yeah. 15:59.54 ukfilmreview Even though I yeah I because I wasn't there. It's like no I can understand how they lived like that and I can yeah people who grew up without phones can understand how people had to get by without a mobile phone and I'm saying that because I'm seeing him on the trailer inside like ah 1 of those classic post boxes. So I'm guessing that comes into it. Um, but I think it's. 16:12.78 Brian Penn Yeah, yeah, that's right? Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. 16:18.33 ukfilmreview It's so in fair are these studios and things that that way and these marketing departments that kind of make these decisions and say oh well, they won't get it. So don't market those people. It's like well that's not really fair. 16:21.71 Brian Penn It and I it's ah it's not fair. It's a missstop opportunity I think because they rob the film of a much wider rep Appealal because it's so narrow and I think that's such a shame because it's. 16:35.33 ukfilmreview And. 16:40.91 Brian Penn It's the type of film that that you know does make you feel it does make you feel.. It's a feel good film and what's wrong with that I think we need more films like that that that don't necessarily go for the jocular right? It's a gentle story that gradually builds and reaches. Ah, a. And interesting climax as a saider touched on it earlier on that it. It's not quite the the finale that you emerge in so it it surprises you as well. I think it does anyway. So yeah, but. 17:12.12 ukfilmreview Well moving from one film shall I say aimed at ah, an older audience to another with book club to the next chapter. 17:15.91 Brian Penn Yeah, right? Yeah book club two. Okay, then. So this is directed by Bill Holderman and stars take a deep breath here. Diane Keaton Jane Fonda Marysteinurgeon Caniceceberg and Andy Garcia Don Johnson and c crazyine nelson pew it it and I is is I've actually forgotten Hugh Quay as well isn't it. So that's an even bigger more quality cast than you could ever imagine. So um, it's a sequel to the first book club made in 20 a c. 17:39.65 ukfilmreview Gosh That's a cast isn't it. So since. 17:55.90 Brian Penn This time four friends go on a bachelorette party swicily as they mark the engagement of vivian played by Jane Fonda now it's a great cast and they they do carry the film up to a certain extent it does't. We've just touched on this actually. It does foul the the test of all sequels. It's just not as good as the original in the first film they read 50 shas a grey and went on to show how the book affected their lines. How their relationships were enhanced shall we say but this story runs more on fumes. It's just not really enough there to keep it going. Um, having said that it's a pleasant watch you get to see skill practitioners at work and it would be less of a film without them. 1 thing I did mention in the review that the written review that I have to mention here though is that italy looks absolutely spectacular. It might it could just as easily be an advert for the italian film board a tourist board like Peggy upon um, suscany rome Venice look they look spectacular now'd be difficult to film italy and make you look na I know that's true, but it does add to the appeal of the film. But. 18:49.31 ukfilmreview Fin. 19:07.58 Brian Penn But it is very lightweight. It's very lightweight but I think the cast do carry it through just about. 19:13.96 ukfilmreview Well we have got fast x coming up and yeah, they did also film in Rome so we'll get into that. But um. 19:16.48 Brian Penn I did yeah yeah that's right well yeah but but yeah I mean a very a very nice film but it's not going to be for everyone to everyone's taste and in some ways it's the I mean we just mentioned fast x we were location filming thisly as well. You couldn't get a. Um, more of a contrast really? but ah I just like the cast I think the cast lifted above mediocrity. It would be nothing without them really if you if you put 7 or 8 lesser actors in that in those roles. It wouldn't work I mean you've got some what used to be some very big players. There. You know you've got Jane Fonder and Diane Ke and Mary Steamberg um you know Candysburg and maybe not quite such a major player but these are all really topno charts. You had their time but are just jumping on on something that did well the first time around and. Yeah they're making the most of a sequel which doesn't really do it but I enjoyed it more for the cast and more for the way they interact together. Um, you can tell there's a natural chemistry. They all get on. They all seem like friends. You know if you ever watched a movie and you thought you think to yourself. They really get on. There's nothing. Act they're not in some ways on an accent because they do see seem to be like friends anyway, you know do you know the type of thing I mean yeah. 20:39.00 ukfilmreview I Do I think you in that chemistry is right? You feel it You do feel it as an audience and whether you believe it I think there? Um, yeah, especially if you're looking at like ah not so much this but like a romantic film like you know whether or not you believe it and funny enough again with fast x. 20:48.90 Brian Penn Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. 20:56.46 ukfilmreview I'm not sure I believe it I'm not sure I believe they are family but you know but were yeah but that doesn't matter. This is what all my review I I said with Farex It didn't really matter because it's just you're just there for something else. But anyway again, we'll get to that I keep jumping ahead I'm just so excited. You can tell I haven't been to the Cinema for a while. Can't you. 20:56.60 Brian Penn Well now add to see that. Yeah you know? yeah. 21:06.37 Brian Penn Yeah, that's right's right? Yeah, so slight I know I know your hyper right? Yeah I can sense it. Yeah I know. 21:15.93 ukfilmreview Yeah, so that was a book club the next chapter now I'm confused about this next one Ryan because it's called the notebook I thought that film would come out a long time ago. 21:23.15 Brian Penn No yeah, actually the I replaced it with another film I got I got my list Mita see list mixed up all right? So I replaced it with it with another one which is missing now missing. This is an interesting one. 21:31.89 ukfilmreview Um, okay, go on him. 21:38.50 ukfilmreview Yep. 21:43.99 Brian Penn Now this film I was actually going to review on the on the previous podcast but we just didn't I didn't have time to see it but it came out on the twenty first of April um, and it's still running now and it's directed by Nicholas D Johnson and will Merrick. Starring storm read as June and near long as mother grace her mother Grace and ah so yeah, it's an interesting one because it's a genre known as screen life movies which is visual storytelling where all the events are shown on a computer. 22:12.76 ukfilmreview A. 22:19.45 Brian Penn Ah, tablet or a smartphone now. The story is fairly simple Grace goes on the holiday to Columbia with her new partner Kevin she leaves June a list of dos and donmes but a teenage you parents away. Well you make the most of it don't you anyway. June goes to the airport to meet them on the day of their return. But they don't show up. She grows increasingly anxious and realizes they've gone missing back home June begins to track their movements online and you really don't realize how easy it is to find people now. None of us could flow into the rado anymore which is a blessing and a curse and equal measure. Film itself has real pace and sometimes feels like a blur if you're ic literate which I am not particularly um, you'll pick up a lot more from it because I was thinking wow how can you do that I didn't know you could do that I was thinking that all the way through the film but it very compact and very cleverly put together. And a film where well worth catching if you can before it goes goes onto stream. 23:20.67 ukfilmreview Funny enough you you said about this film and I thought oh I've already seen this um and it's because which I haven't by the way. The reason I thought I had is I saw a film um, twenty eighteen called searching have you seen that film with John cho. 23:24.40 Brian Penn Ah, but yeah. 23:32.32 Brian Penn Yeah, it's actually actually you yeah I have seen it and it's made by the same team The same team of directors and writers I Yeah no is it's the same directors Now you've mentioned that it's reminded me because when I was doing my research on this. 23:40.11 ukfilmreview I was going to say because if not, they are really trying to rip off this other film. 23:51.74 Brian Penn Ah, did it reminded me of the fact that I saw that film when it when it was first on but I didn't connect the 2 But yeah, you're right? it is. It's very similar and it's written, but it's written on directed by the same same people. Yeah. 24:02.62 ukfilmreview You sure she doesn't say that is on now Mt B but oh might I think they wrong? Oh no, you're all rightev serve Ohhanan um, big. Yeah because even the posters are like identical. They've got this blue kind of screens everywhere. Um. 24:05.88 Brian Penn Yeah I thought yeah I thought so yeah, yeah, yeah. 24:17.60 ukfilmreview But yeah, no, it sounds great I Love those sort of films when they're done Well they can be awful because you know no one wants any more time looking at screens. But when you when they're done and they're compelling I actually think it's a genre that could be very adaptable and very relevant to audiences at the moment. We all kind of are living a lot more in these. 24:22.31 Brian Penn Yeah, yeah. 24:31.80 Brian Penn Yeah, yeah I I have to say though the genre itself was news to me I'd never heard of it previously screen life. But I see what it's getting out though because they're containing all the action on a couple of screens. 24:37.10 ukfilmreview Screen So interesting. 24:49.85 Brian Penn But a lot of the time you don't notice it because when the film's playing and you're watching it. You'll see her working on screen but she'll bring up a news report or an Abc report or something and it doesn't feel like it's necessarily. You're watching a screen on a screen on a screen kind of thing. 25:05.73 ukfilmreview Fifty fifty there 25:08.75 Brian Penn If you see what I'm getting at but you don't necessarily. It doesn't necessarily come across that way but very good film very different, very unusual. But yeah, it's a genre that I think will will grow but it has to be properly done and as you say we spend so much of our lives staring at screens. All right when you go to the movies you're staring at 1 big screen but they're kind of this. You know the screen itself splits since 3 or 4 but it's it's scary again. It's that word that I've sometimes come back to with a filmline is is's scary. What? what? But you can learn about people online what you can do. But. Online. We are really living the shroomman show now aren't we um, Lord don't get me slighted about ai. Oh yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. 25:49.92 ukfilmreview Well, especially with the rise of ai I mean we're all doomed now anyway, so yeah, let's ah, let's enjoy it while we can um by Brian that was four films did you do another one or was it fast x goneip. 26:02.95 Brian Penn I did another one yet I did oh yeah, right? Okay, um, it is what's the fifth one yet. It's called. Are you there god it's me Margaret now. Yeah. 26:17.69 ukfilmreview You're right Brian you have and a little turn. Yeah. 26:19.52 Brian Penn Yeah, you think about in a moment. Yeah, no man. That's really what the film's called. It came out actually on Friday on the nineteenth of may so it's just come out now. Um this is directed by Kelly Freeman Craig and stars Aie Rder Forson Margaret Rachel Macadams plays on mother Barbara. And we also get the brilliant Kathy Batkees ' grandma sillvia now this is a family drama that gently tugs at the heartstrings but is never sentimental or predictable Margaret is twelve years old and about to enter Sixth grade. However, a world is turned upside down when her dad is promoted and they move to New Jersey this means a new school and new classmates Margaret is quickly welcomed into a private club headed by Nancy who to a horror is the owner of a 32 a bra. The girls set each other a series of challenges including who will be the first to get a period the pressure cranks up even more for Margaret whose family is divided by religion. Jewish father and a christian mother puts her in the middle of a domestic war. However, a teacher Mr Benedict makes a suggestion writes a projects about religion and what it means to her I absolutely love this film. It's the film and a month for me at the 5 that I've reviewed. 27:33.87 ukfilmreview Wow. 27:36.84 Brian Penn It's it's my favorite. It takes the girl reaching puberty storyline and adds a unique twist. What does religion mean to a twelve year old is god listening to our hopes fears and aspirations which is where the title comes from originality is such a rare thing in films these days. You know it naturally stands out from the rest. Because of that it does something different it like it takes a world warm storyline and think right? How can we? How can we present this to the audience in a different way. It's based on a book as well. But I think it was very clever I think the the girl that plays Margaret. She's the type of. Type of child out aby rid forson she's the type of actually think god if she can survive growing up. She's gonna be a massive star. She really is you know, but really enjoyed it very good. 28:27.20 ukfilmreview Fantastic, well those are your 5 that Brian has very kindly gone unseen and reviewed. Um, we're going to move to the premiere that we were both able to attend which was fast x um, and. 28:37.50 Brian Penn And yeah. 28:42.86 ukfilmreview I myself am a fast and furious fan would you classify yourself as 1 Brian. 28:47.74 Brian Penn Um, I'm probably um I'm probably on the on the way you know I'm on the way to being a fan I think this this is probably the best 1 for me so far. Ah, maybe because it's still fresh in my mind. 28:50.63 ukfilmreview On the way. 28:56.79 ukfilmreview Wow. 29:03.10 Brian Penn Maybe when the when the next one comes out which it inevitably will do. Ah maybe that'll be my favorite but but yeah, but I think it's difficult not to like a film like fast and furious because it's so visually arresting that you can't help but like it you know I mean they're in the entertainment business and it is about entertainment. So. 29:06.16 ukfilmreview Perfect. 29:21.43 ukfilmreview So. 29:22.39 Brian Penn Yeah, you know I'd class myself as a fan but probably not not in the advanced stage that you are shall we say. 29:29.33 ukfilmreview Yeah, and don't get me wrong I I know everything that's wrong with the films like I've had some people kind of have big chats with me about them saying you know you know this is rubbish and this is rubbish. Yeah I know it's rubbish. But that's not why I like them. Um, if I mean. 29:32.12 Brian Penn E. 29:39.91 Brian Penn Yeah, yeah, ah. 29:44.70 ukfilmreview My eyes roll nonstop when I'm watching these films because the dialogue is just atrocious. The dialogue is is it was like it was written by yeah, one in the 90 s who was just yeah on a sugar rush but it's got that kind of first off, it's pure cinema you you. 29:45.17 Brian Penn And I and I and I yeah I and I yeah. 29:59.64 Brian Penn Yeah, yeah. 30:02.58 ukfilmreview Get about 10 times more enjoyment out of this by watching it on a big screen than you would watching at home and with the screening that we were in at least 5 or 6 times the ah audience erupted into applause and yelling and yeah because of things that happening and that's the kind of experience I think that you only get. 30:05.89 Brian Penn Yeah, yeah. 30:12.11 Brian Penn Yeah, that is yeah yeah. 30:19.54 Brian Penn Yes, yeah, yeah. 30:20.60 ukfilmreview This sort of film at the cinema. So um, it's got all that going in terms of the actual plot I mean I I was a little bit sketchy in terms of the last couple of films because I think I've only seen them once and they did just they went in and went out like as they always do but essentially dom and in his family. They're all kind of settled. 30:28.44 Brian Penn Yeah, yeah, yeah. 30:39.57 ukfilmreview And they're working with the cia and all that lot like they're kind of now in on the same level. Um the character a car remember is named that one who tires Gibson Plays Roman is now kind of going to be leading operations. They're about to go and do one in Rome as we've mentioned. Um. 30:41.40 Brian Penn My own there. So. 30:53.39 Brian Penn And yep. 30:59.40 ukfilmreview But at the beginning of film. We essentially see clips from the previous series of films of fast and furious whereby a character. We didn't know was there was actually there the whole time and it's it's pleased by he was wasn't it and he's not a small guy either I'm surprised we didn't notice him at. 31:06.73 Brian Penn Yeah, hard in play select. Yeah yeah, yeah, yeah. 31:17.51 ukfilmreview Jason Momoa who plays Dante and did you think there's some kind of connection with like you know the volcano like Dante's inferno is that what they're doing I thought that's what they were doing but I didn't want to kind of put words in their mouth. Um, okay yes, ah. 31:24.00 Brian Penn Yeah, yeah I guess so that's the reference point isn't it really I think Yeah, yeah, yeah, no, no, it looks like that to me to be honest, yeah. 31:36.13 ukfilmreview So Dante was this son of the bank manager who got robbed in film 5 I think where they're put in the safe across the the city and the 2 cars so he is then has been plotting against Dominicque Toretto Vidy's character for many years and. 31:43.90 Brian Penn Yeah, yeah. 31:51.17 Brian Penn And. 31:54.96 ukfilmreview Has orchestrated his doom shall we say in a series of incredible as you might expect stunts and scenes and sequences that just kind of they don't stop. It's absolutely relentless this film. Um, it. 31:56.65 Brian Penn No. Are yeah. Yeah, yeah, it is it is It is definitely. 32:11.13 ukfilmreview Just keeps coming and yeah, essentially this is definitely part of at least two films I think it might be 3 films I think there's been some rumors about being three films. Um, whether or not that's then going to be the end I don't know I think it makes too much money for anyone to say just yet. But um, yeah, this is all now part of dominick's. 32:23.21 Brian Penn That. 32:30.38 ukfilmreview Potential biggest foe that he's faced who's always always seems to be at least 3 steps ahead in this film like he just seems to know exactly what's going to happen every single time. 32:31.68 Brian Penn Yeah, yeah. 32:37.76 Brian Penn And know and I yeah bit too clever freeze I'm good when you think how on Earth can you can he but be that that forward thinking you know and so think that quickly and when you when you're mucking about with cars and explosives and guns and what have you? yeah. 32:45.81 ukfilmreview And I. 32:54.23 Brian Penn Does leave much room for error is it really when you think about it. 32:56.27 ukfilmreview No I mean there was at least 3 or 4 times when the Dante character could easily have been killed in the film and he isn't but I'd thought yeah I'm not gonna tell how to do a job. Vindy's all, but you know, um, there's loads of subplots in this film as well. There's so many subplots because you've got. 33:01.34 Brian Penn Yeah, and we hang on I mean on. 33:14.14 ukfilmreview Char Theron Her character cypher is kind of involved. She used the first one who kind of warned dominic about Dante but then she gets kind of taken away to a um I Don know some kind of secure facility and Michelle Michelle Rodriguez is there I'll try not to give away too many spoilers but there will be spoilers in this review. 33:14.70 Brian Penn Oh yeah. 33:28.99 Brian Penn Yeah, yeah, yeah. 33:34.70 ukfilmreview Um, you've then got John Sina who is on a road trip with vindy's or Dominic Row's son and because he's trying to protect them then you got ah the 3 of them have ended up in London which is like the ludicrous tege character Ramsey played by Natalie Emmanuel and roman. 33:42.60 Brian Penn Yeah, yeah. 33:50.70 Brian Penn Um, no. 33:54.12 ukfilmreview They've ended up there. So everyone's kind of split up at this point. It's very much kind of globehotting again for the fast and furious and what did you think of that. 33:57.90 Brian Penn And yeah. Well, but I think that generally speaking the the film itself is jawroping the good entertainment. It's just no question. It's you're visually stunning the plot itself I think they leave a lot of strands running. Don't they which is obviously a sign that. There. There's gonna be another film maybe 2 or 3 but you know I think the plot though such as it is gets buried by the visuals that you all you it almost seems incidental. What the what the storyline is and where the plot might be going. You're completely distracted by the visuals now. Think it's all about the stunts and all about the visuals to be fair, it doesn't pretend to be anything else. It's very It's very honest about what it's saying out there but but it's it's ah you you we sat there watching it didn't we and you think god that's incredible and it was as you say relentless you think. How and after they do that. It's really challenging the laws of physics some of the things they were doing and I think with a film like this I think I'd even say the stmp men and Stump women are more the stars than than Venn dies always but you can't argue with the entertainment by you there can you really. 35:16.20 ukfilmreview No, and I think again, it's what people know they know about what they're going into by this point I was talking to a friend who he likes the the early films in the series. Whether it's more about the the cars and the racing and yeah and that could have been an interesting. 35:21.58 Brian Penn And yeah. 35:28.78 Brian Penn I. 35:33.58 ukfilmreview Franchise you know where if they did go down that route where it was a bit more gritty and more underground whereas this is more in line with like a James Bond kind of film and and all that sort of stuff. 35:35.73 Brian Penn Yeah, but it is yeah it is kind of guy that way I mean you look at I mean you look at something like mission impossible The franchise there. It's gone so far away from what it was meant to be that you've almost forgotten. 35:45.84 ukfilmreview Yeah. 35:54.39 Brian Penn What mission impossible was all about that mission impossible was based on it on a brilliant series show from the sixty s and seventy s but you would never know that where it is now where it started out and it's the same thing with fast and furious is that they've taken it off it. Off on a route that they know is going to work. They know it's going to please the punners but that I think in some ways when when you get the next one when the next one comes out. They've got to try and top what they've done in this one. You know it's got to get progressively more adventurous. Otherwise you're not. You know you're not going to get any joy if you just repeating what you've already done. You know I mean my overview of a film like fast and furious. Great. It's the same that I enjoyed it but I could use this said the same thing about the previous line films because it it's visually stimulating. You know, um. My reference point for action movies as I'm sure you know is diehard Lethal weapon bad boys that's type of film. You see what they do is that they give you they give you the visual stimulation but they give you strong characters and they give you a good script. 36:54.72 ukfilmreview Yeah. 37:05.14 Brian Penn That's funny and engaging. So it gives you a bit more than just the visuals and that's where I think fast the furorists could they could try a little bit hard. But then again, maybe it doesn't really matter Chris at the end of the day because you you go by how much you've been in sustained. So. 37:12.82 ukfilmreview 50 37:22.64 Brian Penn Might in our function as critics we say well this is where it might be falling down but the bottom line is our people weren't the same by it and you say hell yeah of course. Absolutely. 37:32.30 ukfilmreview Well I don't think I if they haven't put that on the poster I think they should you know? hell yeah there we go Hell yeah um so well fast and furious. It's all about family and what do you need in a family you need the mother and that's where we're going next. 37:36.40 Brian Penn Wow Hell yeah hell yeah. 37:49.81 Brian Penn Oh that is the Seamless link. Oh I am impressed Damn that is good that is so good. Oh God Ah not honestly I'm not worthy now. Oh no, really yeah, okay then. 37:53.24 ukfilmreview Boom and I made that up off the top of my head me know there we go. Ah so it's um, starring Jennifer you've seen this right? you you said it is yep. 38:05.30 Brian Penn Yeah, so yeah, yeah. 38:06.94 ukfilmreview So on Netflix this month I believe ah may if you're listening to it now and stars Jennifer Lopez you want to give the synopsis on this one Brian. 38:15.36 Brian Penn Ah, yeah, yep, ah, that's gettingdding. Let's getp my notes up? Yeah, okay so this is on Netflix then it's directed by nikki carra stars Jenifer Lopez as answer the mother I don't think she actually has a character named does she they just call her the mother I don't know. 38:31.41 ukfilmreview Yeah, which I think is is very telling isn't it. 38:33.78 Brian Penn And yeah, anyway, yeah so Lucy pay has plays her daughter Zoe and Joseph Finenes plays the arch villain Adrian Love well Adrian Lovell but they call him the val don't they see aspirates. We'd say lovell. 38:49.56 ukfilmreview You can imagine you can imagine him in the school yard in the U K or love a love what you're doing ma oh you lovell. 38:50.11 Brian Penn But they call him lavale course they would do? Yeah yeah, no and I so now the mother is an ex army that a trained assassin who has crossed 2 heavy, juicy villains. 1 of whom is Adrian Lavell she later gives birth to a baby girl who immediately becomes a target the Fbi arrange her adoption and give her a new identity. The mother is banished to deepest Alaska but the badies find her daughter called Zoe and this brings the mother out of hiding to face her demons now i. I really enjoyed this that this I think is top nor chance entertainment. It really is for 1 thing. How does Jennifer Lopez manage to look so young. You know I mean she's 50 3 or 54 or something I mean. She's either got a very good classic surgeon or she's got pi of hands's jeans honestly I mean again, visuals are great. The stunts are great. She she is kind of believable ah in the right world is that reason why she wouldn't be but what struck me about this film Chris though was that if it had been made. Thirty years ago or twenty years ago this film would be called the father and the title role would be played by a man. But now we've got the mother title or I played by a woman now the the bus phrase is all about a equality errors you know and there you got a great example of a quality. 40:07.73 ukfilmreview Yep. 40:22.20 Brian Penn Because the lead is female strong powerful determined a leading role that would have been played by a man. Do you know what? I'm getting at and you think isn't that good though to. 40:31.28 ukfilmreview Oh yeah, a hundred percent because when I was watching it I really enjoyed it I thought excellent that what I likes about it that it felt yeah, this feels like it's Liam Leesson's role right? It feels should me and Neland is going to play this role and. 40:35.84 Brian Penn Yeah. 40:41.77 Brian Penn Yeah I know yeah. 40:47.00 ukfilmreview If've not, you've got someone far more interesting. You know we've seen Liam do all those films already and and he's done so many of them now but this felt fresh. It felt a bit newer but also still believable. It didn't feel like they were shoehorning in. Oh it's a female garrot but you know it should be a man is it? No, it is should be ah, a woman because the whole. 40:50.46 Brian Penn Yeah, yeah, yeah. 40:59.12 Brian Penn Yeah, you buy into it. Yeah. 41:06.42 ukfilmreview Point of it is that you know, especially in the earlier scenes where there's a very disturbing situation which um, she gets attacked whilst pregnant that it's actually and her maternal instincts are coming out through the film. Um, they're playing on that like with the. 41:11.58 Brian Penn Yeah, yeah, yeah. 41:21.97 Brian Penn Yeah, yeah, yeah, it is yeah. 41:22.58 ukfilmreview When she's in Alaska and there's these wolves that are around and they're very protective and it's it's it's playing on a lot of themes that actually haven't seen a lot, especially not within the action thriller kind of um genre that I found it. 41:32.91 Brian Penn Yeah, yeah. 41:37.44 ukfilmreview Very engaging very compelling I was so surprised to see a lot of negative reviews around the mother I thought really I thought it was much better than that and than what I'd seen. 41:45.54 Brian Penn Oh I mean yeah, it does surprise me but I mean it, everyone's got got got a view haven't I you know everyone's got an opinion. But ah, you know I think to to criticize that type of film the way they've approached it the way it's been made. You know you buy into the currency you believe you believe the character you believe it's happened. You know, um, anything's possible. You know, beneath that set you know the surface that we live in our lives of convention routine respectability. There's an undercurrent right? There are things going on that we don't know about. So. It's perfectly possible that a character like the mother could exist somewhere right and could be this skilled be a skilled Mark Marksman be skilled with with in martial arts. You can take care of us so and can come out of hiding. To protect a daughter that she's never met. You know it's it's keeping a sufficient grip on reality but it's it's it's kind of outrageous enough to say well, that's that's a bit of a jump but it's possible. It's feasible and I like storytelling where it's kind of out there a little bit but you can believe it. It's kind of feasible. You know it's possible. It's slightly you know I like that. So yeah, I'm surprised by the negative reviews because I don't know what what else you would really want in a in a film. They're good at action movie you know and it's also got got great Kate Bush on the soundtrack. This woman's work which is a great track as well. 43:17.48 ukfilmreview Yeah, that works really well in that scene when it comes on new. Yeah, yeah, because I always watch with subtarts on and when you see the lyrics over the top of what's playing actually as ah, that's very very telling very potent. Um. 43:18.67 Brian Penn Yeah, ah you know at the end when it's just sort of when the clothes and starts are coming up is Kate Bush this one's work which is a great song. So. 43:28.78 Brian Penn Yeah, yeah, very apps. Yeah, definitely. 43:34.34 ukfilmreview I reallyd as well was the fact that they didn't drag out the fact that Zoe was her daughter in terms of because it could have easily been that film where you know ah Jennifer Lopez is being very protective but the the girl doesn't really know why but they she the girl is really they. 43:42.17 Brian Penn Ah. 43:48.90 Brian Penn Yeah, yeah. 43:53.65 ukfilmreview Cluew her in quite early on and she guesses she's like are you my mother like she kind of works it out and I liked that they they didn't make her like this like fool of a child. It was like no no, she actually is quite formidable herself. So. 43:57.27 Brian Penn Yeah, and ah, yeah, no yeah, she yeah, that's right, she's um, mature enough and intelligent enough to know that yeah I know what's going on here but you see the thing is again. That's where where the. Kind of the notion of common sense kicks in a little bit and you can say to the audience yet. We thought that bit there you know so we've made her a bit wiser that she's not going to be quite that naive I mean she's 12 or first scene isn't she so she's old not to sort of work out. What's going on right? I ah I don't think it's possible that. Someone in that situation would know absolutely nothing about their background at school something will get out. You know I don't think anything can stay secret for very long and that's partly what he trains on but you know great visuals I think Alaska looks amazing. You know of all the locations they could have gone to I mean. Alaska is spectacular that kind of purity and that simplicity and that scene that you mentioned with the wolves looking after the cubs when she's confronted by the wolf and the wolf sees sees her. She sees her cubs. You know it's almost that that trade-off between you know she appreciate. Appreciates what being a mother is you know and I think there's nothing that's said or it's written, but it's just visuals and that's beautiful to look at I think yeah, yeah, yeah. 45:19.74 ukfilmreview Pretty good. That's the mother. Um, and yeah, definitely want to watch I I actually do hope more people seek out because I think it's well worth your time. Um, and that's just streaming pick for this month we're gonna move on now to a couple of. 45:29.77 Brian Penn Yeah. 45:35.82 ukfilmreview Short indie films because what we love doing it and also the filmmakers reached out to me on my Twitter feed which is pinned to my profile if you want to go to that and have a look at some of the other films that people have asked us to review and we've already done a few of them on the podcast. So listen to those episodes to do everything. 45:38.40 Brian Penn Um, yeah. 45:51.84 Brian Penn M. 45:55.93 ukfilmreview Everything listen to everything share everything like everything. That's all you got to do that's all we want isn't it Brian we just want everyone to pay us all their attention. That's all we want exactly? um you seen. Ah, you've seen both of these Brian so it doesn't matter where I start. Ah, let's go with iba. 45:56.84 Brian Penn Yeah, yeah I Saw win. Yeah I I need some life a simple one like really you know? Yeah yeah I see both these No. No, not so But. My home. 46:15.62 ukfilmreview Um, directed by Zan Gilmore and this was an interesting short. This was the first one that I watched that's what I'm doing in this order and it's about this um writer. He's a wouldbe writer and he's on a road trip with his. Um. Think it's his friend I'm not sure if it's friend or partner. But um, they're on their on the way somewhere he is very obsessed with um so scottish mythology I guess in terms of what's going on. Um, and then he ends up speaking to this mystic character and she. 46:33.43 Brian Penn Yeah. 46:42.11 Brian Penn Yeah, yeah I think. 46:51.90 ukfilmreview Tells him of a gateway to another world which is through water. Um, and he's completely obsessed with this meanwhile his friend is getting kind of increasingly worried about him. Um and decides to follow him I'm gonna leave it there with the synopsis because I don't want to give any more away than that. Um. 46:51.62 Brian Penn O m. 46:59.36 Brian Penn The. Yeah I know I know yeah I liked it I think it's very good. It's it's very dark. It's visually very arresting I I think Rachel the friend. 47:11.40 ukfilmreview But what do you think of this one part. 47:18.30 ukfilmreview Um. 47:23.56 Brian Penn We think might be the partner but possibly the friend. Yeah yeah, okay, we'll stick with friend you see I think the way way Rachel was reacting is she kind of represents us the audience because it kind of instills a sense of foreboding the whole the whole sort of setup I mean. 47:23.93 ukfilmreview It says friend on the synoptras on Imdb so I'm going with that. 47:35.28 ukfilmreview Yeah. 47:43.67 Brian Penn It's beautifully put together and you know she is sort of she sort of saying what are you nut so you raving nuts you mad doing doing this because it kind of sit scares her it scares her but he he feels the need to immerse himself in. Celstic Mythology. That's this thing and it as it progresses you you feel that sense of forbodium and that fear for him and it it does feel quite quite claustrophobic the more you you kind of get into the story but it's very well done and it leaves a market. It leaves a kind of a. Marking you afterwards because of the imagery and I find that quite quite arresting and it does leave as I say it leaves a mark on you but it's very good. It's very good, but it's very dark as well though not just in the terms of the light in being quite dark but a very dark story. And lots of sort of celtic crossing sort of emerging as we go Along. So But yeah, um, it's It's very good. It's very good I'm very impressed. 48:44.52 ukfilmreview Shooting. 48:49.37 ukfilmreview Yeah I picked out a few things that I really enjoyed about the film. Um, which first of us the chemistry between the the couple or the friends I Thought that was really good I enjoyed you talking earlier about this about whether or not you believed it and I believed I believed them? Um I thought they their performance is really good. 48:57.20 Brian Penn Yeah, yeah. 49:06.57 ukfilmreview Love the locations I Always love these sort of locations. Um, when you've got the the landscape forming part of the story. You know it's like this isolation I So a men reminding me of you know during but during the festival We we watched I think it was called Brother Troll or something like that. Yeah. 49:08.35 Brian Penn Yeah, yeah. Yeah, yeah, yeah. 49:20.72 Brian Penn Yeah, the one that was based in the feroh islands. Yeah, yeah, it is a bit like that. Yeah yeah, yeah, yeah. 49:26.28 ukfilmreview Yeah, a bit a bit like that just in terms of them being cut off from everyone else because you don't get that really a lot in society anymore in terms of like that in the in the mainstream. So when we see these films set in these places I think it really adds a good depth to the story. It really helps it? Um, love that and then. 49:34.26 Brian Penn Yeah, yeah. Yeah, yeah, Definitely yeah. 49:45.70 ukfilmreview The the last thing was the music I liked the music where it was a bit more fantasy and ethere or like it kind of had a weird vibe I wasn't so sure about when this like electronic dance track comes in. There's a bit where the the music pumps him with the when he's in the waters up and I was like I'm not sure if that worked for me but I like the. 49:56.65 Brian Penn Yeah, yeah, yeah. 50:03.72 ukfilmreview The other music that was being used I dont know is interesting shift. 50:06.87 Brian Penn Yeah, yeah, ah and you do wonder whether that was meant to signpost something significant in the story where whether the incident incidental music changes but I'm not entirely sure. But yeah, it did seem seem to stick out more than it should or maybe it was meant so you see I often take that as a kind of a. 50:10.26 ukfilmreview M. 50:23.96 Brian Penn Something significant but it might not be Maybe it's a kind of a double Glos Perhaps see I overthink things all the time unit know. Yeah, that's what we do. That's what you over talk it? Yeah, it's got be done doesn't it really. 50:30.43 ukfilmreview Buss what we're here for bro. We're here to overthink all this aren't we and over talk it. We over talk everything? Um, but yeah, thank you to Elizabeth Mcnally for um, sending that to me. She's in the film as she plays. The space viona who is the sort mystic that he meets. Yeah so she was the only got in touch with us to review the film and um, yeah, I'm very glad she did because enjoyed it a lot so that's iba I'm not sure if you can see it anywhere um trying to look at our link was it public or not. 50:47.25 Brian Penn Ah, ah she done right? Okay, yeah. 51:00.71 Brian Penn But. 51:04.60 ukfilmreview I don't know it's on vim vimeo but I don't know if his's password but took dude. It's not. It's up a year ago now so you should out. Yeah vimeo.com search for iass which is IMB a s I'm probably saying that wrong. But um, that's online for you to watch and enjoy so that's that one. 51:07.67 Brian Penn I Don't think it is no yeah. 51:23.28 ukfilmreview The second short film that we watched and are now reviewing was called allow tier which is that how you'd pronounce that or or tear now to l a UTIR um this was um also very good different. Um, and. 51:26.47 Brian Penn La Lord said laer boser. Yeah yeah. 51:43.13 ukfilmreview In the opening credit. So this isn't really like a spoiler but you realize that Laoutie is an anagram of ritual and did you miss that? did you visit? Yeah yeah, so the letters all kind of come across and I was like oh um, so yeah, and it's um. 51:50.55 Brian Penn You know what? I never I never spoiled that. Ah I neverpied that Well yeah, why I can. 52:01.46 ukfilmreview There is this. It's kind of set I Guess again in a fantasy slash fairy tale kind of world and where you've got this community who are playedgu by a terror. Um, that comes and takes them people that are sinful comes and. 52:05.71 Brian Penn Okay, yeah, yeah. 52:20.26 ukfilmreview Very violently rips them out of society I guess um because no one in this society in this community has proven themselves to be innocent enough for this demon to go away but there could be these 2 girls who may be the answer who are going to journey I think to the. 52:20.80 Brian Penn There. 52:28.86 Brian Penn Oh. 52:39.63 ukfilmreview Um, to a place where they can stop this demon and they go through the landscape. It's very sort of tranquil and Serene at times it feels a bit like fairtel. But then it gets increasingly um worrying I guess and troubling. 52:41.52 Brian Penn A yeah yeah. 52:54.75 Brian Penn Yeah I know it is like that isn't it. Yeah I liked it off. It was very good again a bit like in bass it creates a great atmosphere but very kind of claustrophobic very foreboding to me. Um. 52:57.35 ukfilmreview What do you think of this one Brian. 53:10.27 Brian Penn Anything set in a Forest or a wood ah is quite intimidating anyway is that sense of desert. But yeah, but is that but you look at it through the prisma of film and cv bad things always seem to happen in a Forest or in a wood because there's that sense of isolation. 53:14.47 ukfilmreview This terrified is the. 53:30.11 Brian Penn Of being alone or they're not alone. There's a 2 of them there but because it's it's it's outdoors. It's in ah in ah, a Forest or a wood. However, you want want to look at it. But that is scary in itself that is intimidating by itself is that sense of being alone and when you. Look at the way the ah the intro sets the story up that the demon has to feed off cut. You know the the demon feeds off something something or someone that's pure and that's what gets rid of the demon and you know something's going to happen and you you get increasingly concerned when you think oh some. 54:05.72 ukfilmreview Persists. 54:08.52 Brian Penn Bad's gonna happen in a minute it is is and they kind of keep on walking and 1 of them says now it's time and then you tense up because you kind you know and you kind of get ready for it. You know? um, but it's very good. You know it is very well done and it is. 54:18.13 ukfilmreview Yeah. 54:26.22 Brian Penn Ah, would you call it horror Would you call it does it fit in a horror genre. Do you think give? yeah. 54:27.55 ukfilmreview I think it does. It's not labeled as such but I I would because that's the first thing that comes to my mind when I think about the film and you I think think about the themes and the way in which they're presenting this story I mean it's got a very big fantasy element to it as well. 54:43.45 Brian Penn Yeah. 54:46.10 ukfilmreview But I would say it's got horror elements and a horror vibe to it. Yeah I think but not in a way that's going to be very offputting. It's not trying to upset you in any way It's more just important for the for the story to unfold in I think. 54:51.34 Brian Penn No, no it. No it. Yeah it Gri is gripping it. It say it takes you long. It's very similar to Iba in a way I think Iba has elements of horror about it as Well. There's nothing wrong with that. But but it makes. It makes the um, the narrative even more gripping in a way the story they're trying to tell is taking you along on a it's not fear, but it's anticipation isn't it I think that's the essence of Horror is anticipating what's coming next and they both do that. They both do that in their own way. But it. It's a slightly different approach to to storytelling but you very good. You know, very impressed that they've managed to tell a coherent story in a very short space at time which is always the test that we we give it does it does it sell ah a story that's relatively end to end and it makes sense and it's complete enough. To be to be a story by itself and it is so yeah, impressive. Yeah. 55:51.72 ukfilmreview And so different as ah I thought it was quite a different story to have told I liked it. Um a lot I'm Martin Hardwick who's the co-director with Georgia Conon who conon wrote the film he got in touch and Martin Hary got in touch with me about reviewing it. 56:02.20 Brian Penn E. 56:06.96 ukfilmreview Um, the film itself is actually available I believe on Amazon prime so quite easy for people to watch if it's still there sometimes I say these things and then it's gone. Um, but it yeah much like our our ah nostalgia pick this month. Um, but yet. But yeah lauti should still be on Amazon prime if you were. 56:13.41 Brian Penn Ah, um, it's always a way isn't it. Yeah. 56:26.40 ukfilmreview Want to watch it is again, not long. It's any seven twenty minutes I think so it's you got plenty of time to watch it. Um, so yeah, that's that we are now going to move on to our nostalwager pick now I picked this film for 2 reasons 1 56:28.82 Brian Penn And I doesn't take up you saw too much use i' all. Yeah. 56:45.89 ukfilmreview A good friend of mine. Always recommended it to me kept saying it was really good and I watched it years ago and I just didn't like it me and my wife both watched it I thought I didn't like it didn't get it did not get all the buzz. A lot of people had said they loved it. The second reason I picked it was because it was emphasis on the was. 56:46.48 Brian Penn A. 56:55.19 Brian Penn Yeah. 57:01.95 ukfilmreview On um Bbc I player which was part of the reason of this podcast was to give you films that you guys could listen watch. Um, it has now disappeared from I play unfortunately, but luckily I had a Dvd copy of it in my garage because that's where I keep my Dvds now. 57:04.66 Brian Penn Ah, yeah, yeah. 57:15.17 Brian Penn Fair enough? Yeah I did yeah because I mean when we spoke about it on the previous podcast I'd never seen it I didn't see it when it came out and I thought well I really want to see this now and when I realized it wasn't on a eyeplayer anymore and I saw it was on Amazon prime. So I thought. 57:17.58 ukfilmreview And um I think Brian you went to the trouble of renting it. 57:35.13 Brian Penn Why not what the hell let's let's have a look at it. Let's let's let's test this metal. Let's see how good it is or not you know? yeah. 57:39.21 ukfilmreview There we go and I am willing to throw my hands up and say I was wrong. This is a good film I very much enjoyed it on a second watch I don't know what happened the first time I think maybe I wasn't expecting something quite as bleak as it is. 57:48.11 Brian Penn Ah, yeah, yeah. 57:56.10 ukfilmreview Um, but actually this now doesn't look so bleak in the world that we live in now this feels very much like I could look out my window and see this now. Um. 58:00.30 Brian Penn Well yeah, know Yeah, but basically it isn't it strange as society moves on and in the light of experience it. It doesn't seem quite as frightening as it once was but we're learning to live with various challenges that confronts us. 58:18.73 ukfilmreview It's weird as well seeing films that you know this was released in 2006 and they are showing a version of the Uk in 2027 so almost yeah or over 20 years in the future but us now being 2023 58:21.69 Brian Penn E. 58:33.42 Brian Penn I. 58:35.92 ukfilmreview It's strange seeing these visions of dystopia that are yeah so close to where we are now in our lives that you know how much that I don't know whether they do affect you. Um, because. 58:51.39 ukfilmreview All right? Yeah, maybe this isn't what the U K looks like but there are places in the world that still are going through incredible incredibly tough times and what what's being a showcase because the idea of the film is um that the the whole world has somehow become infertile and babies just aren't happening. They just suddenly stop happening and yeah. 58:53.88 Brian Penn And yeah. 59:04.59 Brian Penn M. 59:11.00 ukfilmreview Like the the film starts with the world's youngest person kind of being killed in a mob and he's not yeah, he's not that old. He's 18 Um, but there's no 1 younger than him and yeah, so then you've got Clive Owen who's 59:13.93 Brian Penn Yeah, yeah, that's right, the racing now now. 59:28.18 ukfilmreview Kind of just trying to get by in life. But we realize that he's linked to an activist played by Julianne Moore who needs his help because someone that they've because she's part of this activist group they have found someone who has become pregnant and is quite late in the term. So. 59:31.89 Brian Penn M. 59:45.10 Brian Penn Yeah, yeah. 59:47.22 ukfilmreview Is imminently going to give birth so they want to try and get her to safety away from the government who seems to be very corrupt and evil but can we trust this group because why is juliamo gay and Clive Owen involved and essentially that film is him um, getting involved I think that's. Ah, terrible synopsis. But as the best I can do without giving away too much of the plot. 01:00:05.43 Brian Penn Nice. It's good at yeah, no, it's good and that's that's pretty a pretty good sum solution as well as far as I can see I like you I really enjoyed it I mean I this is the first time I've actually seen the film and I yeah I was very impressed by it. It's. In a way it plugs into our very deep spheres because if we think of a cataclysmic event. It might be a pandemic or a virus something that scientistss can deal with but in children and men women are becoming firstile. The human race is no longer able to reproduce and is slowly dying out and that is that is scary. Um, but as you say I think in light of what's happened since then um, where we've had this pandemic. We've we've had covid 19 seen in some ways it takes the urger feet a bit but it's stills still powerful. It's still very ah affecting I think. It might have affected me a lot more if I seen it when it first came out ah but what I did think was very clever about the film though was that they would take landmarks in London like fleet street where the bomb went off that was in fluet street and they also feature region street but it. You can see it's it's for street or it's reach street but they've kind of toned it down to an extent where there is a sense of anarchy here because you know the human race is slowly dying out and they have this issue with with immigration and there's. 01:01:39.50 Brian Penn It's throwing all kinds of ideas that you all kinds of sub notions and concepts. Yeah, the only thing I find I found slightly irritating and it's nothing to do with the film as such, but the story doesn't really explain in any sort of detail. Why it happened in the first place because. You know they they're trying that there is the human projects and they're they're researching into the cause of infitivity. But it doesn't seem to elaborate any further. Yeah. 01:02:08.43 ukfilmreview See I Quite like that when I saw the bit. Um they were talking about some kind of panel that someone had been on and they started saying Oh yeah, they're trying to explain what happened and there was all the usual theories which was. 01:02:13.85 Brian Penn Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. 01:02:22.62 ukfilmreview All different things like gamma rays and I don't know Cama else they listed but it was like about 5 or 6 different things that it that could have caused it and what I liked about that was having' just gone through obviously covered in the pandemic was you had all these people trying to spout theories as to what was really going on. 01:02:39.13 Brian Penn Ah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. 01:02:40.85 ukfilmreview And how all of that confusion and all of that mistrust with what people are saying and what scientists might say I think that works. Yeah, and yeah, this predating that by so much was was really powerful. Um I think a film like this as well is easier to watch. 01:02:50.59 Brian Penn Yeah, yeah, yeah. 01:03:00.22 ukfilmreview Then something that's going to deal with say like a virus or something because it's just maybe a little bit too close to home. But because so many of the themes are so recurring and and what we've we've gone through that. Yeah I don't know maybe I just found it more powerful this time I Love the well there's there's a few bits I Really love. But. 01:03:05.50 Brian Penn Yeah, yeah. 01:03:14.42 Brian Penn Yeah, yeah. 01:03:19.82 ukfilmreview First off, there was a bit of graffiti on one of the walls which said last one left remember to turn off the light or something like that I thought oh that is genius um, and then there's another scene where they're in the car and they get roadblocked by the by this group and then the car then has to reverse and this the groups are attacking them. 01:03:23.28 Brian Penn Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah that I. 01:03:36.95 Brian Penn Um. 01:03:38.54 ukfilmreview And the whole scene just doesn't quit the camera carries and go and so many things happen in that scene I won't say kind of what happens. But oh it was just magnificent. Ah amazing bit of filmmaking. 01:03:39.88 Brian Penn Yeah, and know that yeah that yeah it was. It was very good. It was very well well sort of well planned Well Full. So and very brilliantly constructs with you know and it. Kind of enters at a point in the film where where it kind of they kind of think right? We need to pick up the place a little bit here now we need to put something and that's going to give the viewer a bit of a Jolt and I think that's what that particular scene does. But yeah I was very impressed with it and as I say um. It's a Pd James novel as well isn't It Peterie James used to write all the mystery thrillers. You know she? yeah. 01:04:24.50 ukfilmreview I didn't even know that as well until I saw it this time and because my mom reads a lot of Pd James and I was so oh I did I didn't know that at all and um, but I'd I'd be interested to see what the book is like to be honest. 01:04:29.31 Brian Penn Like but yeah, well that was got to be my next point really because now I really want to read the book. You know I mean almost always always you've got to be disappointed if if you I always think that. 01:04:38.96 ukfilmreview E. 01:04:48.62 Brian Penn You should either read the book or see the film never never see both because you'll probably be disappointed. But umm, really ah, really want to read the book. Um on which this film was based I mean for pie James it was really left the center for it. She's done something completely different to what she normally did and this is from the writer who created Adam Dlelesh and you. Couldn't get more different really could it. but yeah I but I was impressed with it and a nice cameo by Michael Caine as well. So boop? Yeah Jasper I'm still trying to get used to Michael Kaine with really long hair past his shoulders. But you know. 01:05:16.73 ukfilmreview Yeah, he plays a really cool character. Actually there. Um I know I don't think it worked for him If for Mon is it was a bit distracting for me. 01:05:28.97 Brian Penn Wasn't yeah it wasn't a good look for him was it really? But yeah I mean I'd recommend it. Definitely recommend it. It's I think you you said it alongside the pandemic. You see you keep on think the template you have in the mind your own mind is a pandemic but to me. So watch a film like this is a more of a nightmare scenario than the pandemic because there is a way of fighting the pandemic you know and that's why I kind of when I was watching it I had that kind of Russia concern think why they're not offering me any explanation as to why this has happened you know and. Um, but as you say though it could well be that kind of gives it more of an edge because there are no easy answers there that it does give rise to conspiracy theories which maybe is probably what makes that society to descend in some more chaos because nobody knows why you know. People know what what? the what the yeah, the outcome. What the fallout is and what the effects are but not what the cause is so maybe that's what does give it a edge but you know, um I'm into knowing all about this sort of stuff Chris you know wow what did happen you know, but lose you once and more I guess. That's what a good film should do. 01:06:42.26 ukfilmreview Absolutely and a good film. It is I will hand up hold my hands up I will admit defeat I was wrong and that's what's great about this section of the podcast because it's given me a chance to revisit some films have a reason to revisit some of these films and. 01:06:52.97 Brian Penn M. Yeah, yeah, the friendly. Yeah. 01:07:01.80 ukfilmreview Yeah, children are men albeit very very bleak but also very very good and that was excellent. So I'm going to pick our nostaltropic for next month now because I think we need something funnier lighter ah because we've we've been through a lot. 01:07:04.55 Brian Penn Yes, absolutely. Oh drum roll. Hey yeah. 01:07:21.26 ukfilmreview Um, I'm going to go with 1988 Tom Hanks film see if you can guess what it is not yeah yet 9 96 yep um 01:07:30.80 Brian Penn Oh I see Ah um, oh plan here? Yeah um, I'm not I'm not gonna look it up like could I could Google Glip I'm not going to. Um. 01:07:35.75 ukfilmreview And see if I I mean so I'm giving you so far just the year. Um, yeah, direct directed by Penny Marshall not sure if that helps. 01:07:45.26 Brian Penn Ah, Darris but is he been in a film by Dar by punny marshwell obviously he has um oh no i'm. 01:07:51.86 ukfilmreview Obviously yeah, let's yeah and it's ah also stars Elizabeth Perkins 01:07:59.34 Brian Penn Is it big. Ah big. Yeah yeah. 01:08:00.13 ukfilmreview It is big. Oh you got that pretty quick I thought I was going to have to give you loads all. Um, it's currently on Disney plus so guys and girls and everyone else anyone listening this is currently on Disney plus it may not be by the time we get there. And I don't think I have a Dvd copy of big. So I'll have to rent it if it falls off. Um, but I'm hoping that they'll keep it on because I haven't seen this probably since I was a kid I don't think so um, my brother used to love watching this film and I wasn't. 01:08:18.41 Brian Penn Ah. 01:08:31.20 Brian Penn Yeah. 01:08:35.16 ukfilmreview Always into it so I'll be interested to see how I feel about it now as a 35 year old so I will I will let you know in the next episode. 01:08:40.37 Brian Penn Yeah I yeah I mean I I haven't seen the film since it came out so it will it will be like seeing the film for the first time for me I mean um, you know when when you look you and I were film buffs aren't we we see literally. Hundreds of films and you kind of you hear a film site and you think oh yeah, I've seen that but you know if it's that long ago she's seen it for me. It'll be like seeing it seeing it first time you know. 01:09:09.23 ukfilmreview Oh yeah, hundred percent to be honest now I have this so films I've seen ages ago I can't remember films I've seen very recently I forget very quickly. It's the films in the middle that are kind of stuck with me the films that I maybe watched in my sort of late. 01:09:17.74 Brian Penn Um. 01:09:24.91 Brian Penn My. 01:09:25.69 ukfilmreview Teens 20 s where I'm like I can remember those all right? But yeah, and like yeah, what do we review today. The mother, what's that about guy remember you know that's not true I could still remember the world but it's but it is true like I find that your your brain is like this kind of bucket that can hold that stuff but new stuff just drops out. 01:09:33.12 Brian Penn Yeah, ah yeah, no know you mean? yeah. 01:09:41.31 Brian Penn That Yeah yeah, oh yeah, have you Dreamt So have you drum some but about him lately. 01:09:44.59 ukfilmreview And old stuff seems to be leaking from the bottom I don't know that's the best metaphor I can come up with but um, we're going to review big because we love a bit Tom Hanks anyway he's an absolute um legend but also haven't I want to? no um. 01:10:00.61 Brian Penn No, no then more dreams. Ah. 01:10:04.32 ukfilmreview He does he does pop up sometimes but he's always quite Ah, he's quite nice but then in that one dream where he was trying to um, get me involved in some kind of scheme I've lost a bit of trust. Maybe that's why I've picked this subliminally I've picked this? Yeah, what's what's the. 01:10:17.59 Brian Penn As it. Yeah, he's ruined it for you as know he's just ruined it now. Yeah, ah yeah now I look forward to saying that as I say I've not seen it since it came out So um. 01:10:22.52 ukfilmreview Big idea. Hanks hey come on. That's the best I could do with that. 01:10:30.70 ukfilmreview Yep, and you've got you got Disney plus have you just let you know listeners. We don't have any kind of affiliations with any of these platforms. That's why I kind of jump around quite a lot I have a bit of a distrust now of I player. So I'm not going to ah be recommending them for a while. 01:10:33.13 Brian Penn I have yes no. 01:10:44.47 Brian Penn Ah, and know it's sneaky that though isn't it I you know taking it off like that you know best lay plans Chris these things are sent to trius. Yeah. 01:10:47.71 ukfilmreview How could they do that to me best they plans So that's your lot for this episode and it's what an episode Wow It's been huge. It's been bigger than Fast X To be honest, we've put more in here more stunts. 01:11:04.64 Brian Penn Yeah, and I and I. 01:11:06.88 ukfilmreview More special effects Brian's completely green screened. That's why you can't see him and we've been in your ears for over an hour and hour. So I think it's best that we that you all carry on with your days but thank you very much for listening. Um, it's been u k film club loved having you here hope to. 01:11:26.20 Brian Penn That. 01:11:26.10 ukfilmreview Yeah, well have you here next month um and stay stay good. Stay big is that nothing stay big. Stay big. It could have some connotations I don't want to hear about so ah yeah, um. 01:11:32.63 Brian Penn Stay stay big. Yeah like that yeah that could be a new a new one? Yeah, like that us say you've said it now haven't you really? ah bye for now. 01:11:43.33 ukfilmreview But yeah, until next time. Previous Next

Please Come Home film review by UK film critic William Hemingway. Starring Mark Benton, Charlotte Fenton, Arabella Arnott directed by Daymon Britton. HOME | FILMS | REVIEWS Please Come Home Film Review average rating is 3 out of 5 Critic: William Hemingway | Posted on: May 6, 2025 Directed by: Daymon Britton Written by: Charlotte Fenton Starring: Mark Benton, Charlotte Fenton, Arabella Arnott A grieving father and daughter try to come to terms with their loss in their own ways, very far apart from each other. Early on in Please Come Home , there’s a lot of positivity in the air. Ann (Fenton) has just got word that she’s been accepted into university and both Mum (Arnott) and Dad (Benton) are over the moon about the good news. Very soon though, the reality hits Dad that this means his little girl will no longer be living at home. Bright positivity then gives way to bleak grey monochrome as we find Dad, Harry, home alone talking to himself. He’s actually talking to an urn on the dining table which he picks up and takes with him everywhere, well, from the kitchen to the sofa anyway. Life is very different for Harry now, and after scaring himself one night during a bout of nostalgia, he calls his little girl to try and reach out. Ann, unfortunately, is not doing very well with the loss of her mother, either. She has been avoiding talking to her father, and any kind of affection he does offer is rejected outright or deftly avoided. For Ann it’s as though she has lost both of her parents because she no longer knows how to identify or relate to the one that is still there. In her time of need, she picks up the phone and calls a Bereavement Support helpline. Writer, producer and star of Please Come Home , Charlotte Fenton, says that she drew a lot of inspiration from a difficult period in her life where she, too, was dealing with profound loss. During this time, Charlotte sought the support of Cruse Bereavement, who helped her to find healing and hope, and Please Come Home is a tribute to them as well as the work they do. From the start, it’s easy to see that Please Come Home has been well produced. Director, Daymon Britton, and DoP, Ali Hutchinson, move the camera around fluidly and get the most out of their scenes and one-room locations. The pared back score from Jordan Pace hints at a deeper tragedy than we’re seeing and lends an extra gravity to the visuals, while the sound design of the background noise, which adds so much texture to each scene, is also flawless. Then there is, of course, the consummate professionalism of Mark Benton (Waterloo Road, Shakespeare and Hathaway, Cyrano, Chicken Run etc.), who easily imbues Harry with a sense of humanity and realism, and encourages those around him to work at his level. There’s a lot to take from the twelve-minutes of Please Come Home while it’s on screen, and perhaps a whole lot more that stays with you once it’s not. Charlotte and Ann’s experience is one which will be identifiable to many up and down the country, and Please Come Home does a lot to raise awareness of the fact that help is out there for those who are suffering, as well as telling a genuine, heartfelt story along the way. Buy UKFR Banner Space About the Film Critic William Hemingway Digital / DVD Release, Short Film < All Reviews Next Film Review >

Pricks film review by UK film critic Joe Beck. Starring Jade Byrne, Charlotte Melia, Philip Hill-Pearson, directed by Toby Kearton. HOME | FILMS | REVIEWS Pricks Film Review average rating is 2 out of 5 Critic: Joe Beck | Posted on: Mar 26, 2023 Directed by: Toby Kearton Written by: Toby Kearton, Jade Byrne Starring: Jade Byrne, Charlotte Melia, Philip Hill-Pearson, The issue with making a short film about a medical condition is that it is extremely difficult to make it seem as though it isn’t a public health broadcast or the kind of thing you’d see on Comic Relief or Children in Need. ‘Pricks’, though it is well-directed and stylistically shot, epitomises this issue, with it’s emphasis on spreading awareness and a message rather than story, which should be at the forefront of any film. The medical condition ‘Pricks’ aims to raise awareness of is Type 1 Diabetes - a chronic condition whereby by the pancreas doesn’t make insulin, causing a raised blood sugar level. The protagonist, though she’s really more a figure to embody all those who suffer from the condition, is Jade (Jade Byrne). As a chronic condition, Jade is diagnosed as a child, and the film opens with this diagnosis, with a worried Jade asking her mum (Charlotte Melia) if she’s going to die - understandable, and wryly comic, when you realise how the word diabetes sounds. This is the film’s most intelligent line, combining humour with drama to subtly make you realise how heartbreaking it is that innocent young children are diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes everyday. Unfortunately, the script doesn’t maintain the same level of intelligence, instead becoming full of stock phrases about how Jade is a fighter and about how the whole world is against her - both, in some ways, true, yet we don’t need to be given such an on-the-nose reminder of this. We repeatedly see similar shots of Jade in a boxing ring, throwing the odd punch, echoing the message of the insipid voiceover. We understand that life is a continual fight for Jade, the perennial fighter, but we really don’t need to be reminded with a right hook every thirty seconds. These ‘scenes’, though I am loathe to call them that given that they don’t progress the story in any way, are, however, well-directed. Toby Kearton, who also wrote the screenplay alongside Jade Byrne, gives the film a flare through his directing, which is about the only thing separating ‘Pricks’ from a Comic Relief short film to raise awareness. Kearton gives the film a stylistic edge, making the most of fluorescent lights and sharp editing in order to create a film which is, at times, visually beautiful. Though Jade Byrne’s performance as the eponymous Jade is competent, and Kearton lens magnifies it, capturing both the fragility and fighting spirit etched onto every facial expression, this is undermined by the decision to have child Jade, voiceover the entire film. As she explains the metaphor of the airplane which the doctor used to try and explain her diagnosis, we see her knocked down by bullies at school, left out of PE classes, and struggling on dates. It adds to the sense that ‘Pricks’ is some appeal to raise awareness of the condition, even as Jade’s former bully, who as an adult is played by Philip Hill-Pearson, returns to her life, any sense of drama or story is undermined by a child’s voice speaking fighting talk in a plainly un-childish manner. ‘Pricks’ is hindered by its very nature from the outset, though its uninspired screenplay doesn’t help its case. That’s in spite of Toby Kearton’s impressive directing, which at least elevates it from being written off completely. Nevertheless, ‘Pricks’ underwhelms, not because its message isn’t a good one or because its heart isn’t it the right place, but because it fails to pursue a narrative that enhances its own good nature. Buy UKFR Banner Space About the Film Critic Joe Beck Short Film < All Reviews Next Film Review >

Black Eyes film review by UK film critic Isaac Parkinson. Starring Nicole Epper, Jasmeet Baduwalia, Christopher Blumen directed by Andrew Arguello, MJ Palo. HOME | FILMS | REVIEWS Black Eyes Film Review average rating is 1 out of 5 Critic: Isaac Parkinson | Posted on: Apr 4, 2022 Directed by: Andrew Arguello, MJ Palo Written by: Allan Scott Tamshen Starring: Nicole Epper, Jasmeet Baduwalia, Christopher Blumen A horror-turned-detective-comedy, Black Eyes dabbles in ideas of rape revenge and blood-smeared lines of morality. Beginning as a moody Halloween piece, lights flicker and tension hangs over the end of a date between a sinister man and a seemingly helpless woman. The man seems to openly admit to murdering his wife before quickly moving on in what is the first in a series of moments of awkward exposition. The room is overlit, with blues and reds saturating the frame beyond presenting any tension. The man’s attempt to drug her is quickly rendered useless, as she has already turned the tables with a syringe, injecting him with a paralytic in a way that reverses the penetrative violation associated with violence against women. The message here seems clear; the film joining many others from recent years in a long-overdue reckoning with sexual assault which uses horror and violence to effectively enforce a rape revenge fantasy as catharsis. The manifestation of this is gruesome, although the aggressive lighting puts the special effects on full naked display, again sucking out any real fear from what is otherwise a very shocking way to murder someone. You would expect at this point the film would pursue the thread of twisted killings to give brutal masculinity a taste of its own Rohypnol. Any promise of this coming to fruition, however, is unfortunately snuffed out. The aggressive militant revenge vigilantism is replaced by a sudden shift into an awkward buddy cop dynamic between our now-sanitised femme fatale and her elder police partner. As they examine the scene of the crime, the two engage in stunted, awkward dialogue. The banter between them is intended to be playful, yet leans into flirtatious taunting at times, and comes across as creepy especially given the nature of their relationship. Oddly he is her step-father, which feels like a strangely specific and unnecessary wrinkle to add to their dynamic. I like the idea of the young cop having a moral crusade to wage, yet being too inexperienced to escape out from under the thumb of condescending superiors. This however implies the possibility of nepotism, undermining her position on the force, and generally leaves a bad taste in the mouth. Their interactions are filled with awkward pauses, and odd conversational detours to tell dad jokes while stood in front of a mutilated dead body. The tonal inconsistency from this undermines any intent of horror from the beginning and dispels any idea that the film could be taking its original conceit of rape revenge seriously. When their conversation isn’t painful humour, it’s overplayed detective cliches such as the following exchange: “He’s saying you can’t catch me. Well yes I can.” “No. We can.” The tone changes again to dip back into horror, utilising the black eye effect which was the most effective element of the opening scene. The aggressive contrast between her vengeful self and clinical self is then actualised with a dialogue through a mirror. Her darker mirror self acts as a splinter personality to allow her to act out the more disturbing acts of justice. An idea often employed by horror and sci-fi, the visual conceit of a distinct appearance allows her split consciousness to stand out. Her mirror self also functions to exposit a further, and largely counterintuitive, motivation. On top of the vengeful gendered violence, her sinister half reminds her she has to embrace the darkness in order to catch her father’s killer. This contradicts its own premise, now introducing a second reason for killing, and a much less interesting one at that. By undermining its intent, the film left me confused, trying to reconcile too many colliding ideas and tones which could only be resolved in a much longer film, or even TV series. Buy UKFR Banner Space About the Film Critic Isaac Parkinson Short Film < All Reviews Next Film Review >

Wavelength film review by UK film critic James Learoyd. Starring Lily Manning directed by Holly Warburton. HOME | FILMS | REVIEWS Wavelength Film Review average rating is 5 out of 5 Critic: James Learoyd | Posted on: Sep 15, 2025 Directed by: Holly Warburton Written by: Benjamin Verrall Starring: Lily Manning Wavelength stands tall as being one of the more beautiful animated short films this critic has ever seen. It’s quite the transcendent fusion of poetry and design; combining evocative words with moving, textural visuals. This masterpiece is only a little over three minutes in runtime, and yet in that short span, the filmmakers craft such an emotional and complete expression. We begin our illusory story in a train station. The virtual camera flows through layer upon layer of silhouetted personages. Meanwhile, we hear layered, fragmented sounds of each different individual living out their story. There’s a powerful loneliness to these dark figures, and yet – rather incredibly – a genuine beauty to this cacophony of activity within the mellow, abstract station space. As if we’re viewing the world in its unfiltered, all-encompassing state. Immediately, the piece sets up its themes through the hypnotic voiceover: experiencing the world through a ‘Wavelength’ -- specifically linking with the sensory experience of another person and drowning out the rest of the noise with a singular focus. In the short’s latter part, the narrative shifts to subjective descriptions of what happens when such a wavelength is absent from one’s life – like following a breakup, for instance. The animation throughout is astonishing. There’s a soft, hand-drawn, painterly evocation about it, despite some of its digital construction – and this is emblematic of the attention to detail present in Wavelength. There’s a great amount of depth in every frame; and, as someone who has become slightly desensitised to the ossified state of desaturated dramatic short films, the colours here felt cinematically rejuvenating. Whilst the graphic style does not, on its surface at least, appear to take after anime – there is most certainly something of the work of Miyazaki to be found within these tranquil, mediative compositions. Some of the themes touched upon here are ambitiously complex, especially considering the animation’s short runtime. But that’s exactly why a poem is a poem and not a novel; there’s an elegance here in the rhythms of speech combined with the film form which any audience member can find light, appealing, but also psychologically engaging. The film – in addition to evoking feelings and textures through audio-visual means – is encouraging you, the viewer, to consider your own environment and your own surroundings; its unique patterns and ways of being. This all feels like such a collaborative, egoless effort, since no one element of its construction holds priority over another. Sure, it’s a stunning work of animation; and yet, were I to close my eyes while watching, I would find an equally fascinating experience in isolating the words and soundscapes carefully crafted by the writer and audio department. What’s then masterful is the fact that the animation team has created something that can also stand apart as a successful piece of art – even without said audio. What a moving effort from animator and art director Holly Warburton, creative lead Kate Auster, writer Benjamin Verrall, voiceover artist Lily Manning, composer Jack Ledger-Dowse, sound designer Thomas Dalton, and the rest of the team. Very rarely have I witnessed such a short work wherein each element combined creates such harmony. Buy UKFR Banner Space About the Film Critic James Learoyd Short Film, Animation < All Reviews Next Film Review >

Film news - UNIVERSAL PICTURES UK 2021 SLATE. Find out more at UK Film Review. UNIVERSAL PICTURES UK 2021 SLATE Chris Olson Wednesday, April 7, 2021 at 4:04:43 PM GMT+1 LAND – 4th June 2021 From acclaimed actress Robin Wright comes her directorial debut LAND, the poignant story of one woman’s search for meaning in the vast and harsh American wilderness. Edee (Wright), in the aftermath of an unfathomable event, finds herself unable to stay connected to the world she once knew and in the face of that uncertainty, retreats to the magnificent, but unforgiving, wilds of the Rockies. After a local hunter (Demián Bichir) brings her back from the brink of death, she must find a way to live again. Wright directs and stars in the film written by Jesse Chatham and Erin Digman. Co-starring with Wright is Oscar and ALMA nominee Demián Bichir. Joining them in the cast is Kim Dickens. Land is produced by Allyn Stewart, Lora Kennedy, Leah Holzer, and Peter Saraf. Wright is an executive produce alongside Big Beach’s Marc Turletaub, John Sloss & Steve Farneth of Cinetic Media with Nomadic Pictures’ Chad Oakes & Mike Frislev and Eddie Rubin. NOBODY – 9th June 2021 Sometimes the man you don’t notice is the most dangerous of all. Emmy winner Bob Odenkirk (Better Call Saul, The Post, Nebraska) stars as Hutch Mansell, an underestimated and overlooked dad and husband, taking life’s indignities on the chin and never pushing back. A nobody. When two thieves break into his suburban home one night, Hutch declines to defend himself or his family, hoping to prevent serious violence. His teenage son, Blake (Gage Munroe, The Shack), is disappointed in him and his wife, Becca (Connie Nielsen, Wonder Woman), seems to pull only further away. The aftermath of the incident strikes a match to Hutch’s long-simmering rage, triggering dormant instincts and propelling him on a brutal path that will surface dark secrets and lethal skills. In a barrage of fists, gunfire and squealing tires, Hutch must save his family from a dangerous adversary (famed Russian actor Aleksey Serebryakov, Amazon’s McMafia)—and ensure that he will never be underestimated as a nobody again. Nobody is directed by acclaimed filmmaker Ilya Naishuller (Hardcore Henry), from a script by Derek Kolstad, the narrative architect of the John Wick franchise, and co-stars legendary Emmy winner Christopher Lloyd as Hutch’s father and multi-hyphenate musician-actor RZA as Hutch’s brother, whose own hidden talents aid Hutch in his quest for vengeance. The film is produced by Kelly McCormick and David Leitch, the filmmakers of Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw, Deadpool 2 and Atomic Blonde, for their company 87North, by Braden Aftergood (Hell or High Water, Wind River) for his Eighty Two Films, and by Bob Odenkirk and Marc Provissiero (Hulu’s PEN15) for Odenkirk Provissiero Entertainment. The film is executive produced by Derek Kolstad, Marc S. Fischer and Tobey Maguire. IN THE EARTH – 18th June 2021 As the world searches for a cure to a disastrous virus, a scientist and park scout venture deep in the forest for a routine equipment run. Through the night, their journey becomes a terrifying voyage through the heart of darkness, the forest coming to life around them. FREAKY – 25th June 2021 This Summer prepare to get Freaky with a twisted take on the body-swap movie when a teenage girl switches bodies with a relentless serial killer. Seventeen-year-old Millie Kessler (Kathryn Newton, Blockers, HBO’s Big Little Lies) is just trying to survive the bloodthirsty halls of Blissfield High and the cruelty of the popular crowd. But when she becomes the newest target of The Butcher (Vince Vaughn), her town’s infamous serial killer, her senior year becomes the least of her worries. When The Butcher’s mystical ancient dagger causes him and Millie to wake up in each other’s bodies, Millie learns that she has just 24 hours to get her body back before the switch becomes permanent and she’s trapped in the form of a middle-aged maniac forever. The only problem is she now looks like a towering psychopath who’s the target of a city-wide manhunt while The Butcher looks like her and has brought his appetite for carnage to Homecoming. With some help from her friends—ultra-woke Nyla (Celeste O’Connor, Ghostbusters: Afterlife), ultra-fabulous Joshua (Misha Osherovich, The Goldfinch) and her crush Booker (Uriah Shelton, Enter the Warriors Gate)—Millie races against the clock to reverse the curse while The Butcher discovers that having a female teen body is the perfect cover for a little Homecoming killing spree. The film also stars Alan Ruck (HBO’s Succession), Katie Finneran (TV’s Why Women Kill) and Dana Drori (Hulu’s High Fidelity). From the deliciously debased mind of writer-director Christopher Landon (Happy Death Day, the Paranormal Activity franchise) comes a pitch-black horror-comedy about a slasher, a senior, and the brutal truth about high school. Freaky is written by Christopher Landon and Michael Kennedy (Fox’s Bordertown) and is produced by Jason Blum (Halloween, The Invisible Man). The film is produced by Blumhouse Productions in association with Divide/Conquer. The executive producers are Couper Samuelson and Jeanette Volturno. Read our Freaky Film Review . VOYAGERS – 2nd July 2021 With the future of the human race at stake, a group of young men and women, bred for intelligence and obedience, embark on an expedition to colonize a distant planet. But when they uncover disturbing secrets about the mission, they defy their training and begin to explore their most primitive natures. As life on the ship descends into chaos, they’re consumed by fear, lust, and the unsatiable hunger for power. Written and directed by Neil Burger (Limitless, The Illusionist), the film stars Tye Sheridan (The X-Men franchise), Lily-Rose Depp (Savage), Fionn Whitehead (Dunkirk), Chanté Adams (Roxanne, Roxanne), Isaac Hempstead Wright (“Game of Thrones”), Viveik Kalra (Blinded by the Light), Archie Madekwe (Midsommar), Quintessa Swindell (Trinkets), Madison Hu (“Bizaardvark”), and Colin Farrell (The Gentlemen). AGC Studios present, in association with Fibonacci Films, Freecss Films Unlimited and Ingenious Media, a Thunder Road Films and Nota Bene Films production. Watch the Voyagers Trailer . FAST & FURIOUS 9 – 8th July 2021 No matter how fast you are, no one outruns their past. Summer 2021 is the time for F9, the ninth chapter in the saga that has endured for almost two decades and has earned more than $5 billion around the world. Vin Diesel’s Dom Toretto is leading a quiet life off the grid with Letty and his son, little Brian, but they know that danger always lurks just over their peaceful horizon. This time, that threat will force Dom to confront the sins of his past if he’s going to save those he loves most. His crew joins together to stop a world-shattering plot led by the most skilled assassin and high-performance driver they’ve ever encountered: a man who also happens to be Dom’s forsaken brother, Jakob (John Cena, next year’s The Suicide Squad). F9 sees the return of Justin Lin as director, who helmed the third, fourth, fifth and sixth chapters of the series when it transformed into a global blockbuster. The action hurtles around the globe—from London to Tokyo, from Central America to Edinburgh, and from a secret bunker in Azerbaijan to the teeming streets of Tblisi. Along the way, old friends will be resurrected, old foes will return, history will be rewritten, and the true meaning of family will be tested like never before. The film stars returning cast members Michelle Rodriguez, Tyrese Gibson, Chris “Ludacris” Bridges, Jordana Brewster, Nathalie Emmanuel and Sung Kang, with Oscar® winner Helen Mirren and Oscar® winner Charlize Theron. F9 also features Grammy-winning superstar Cardi B as new franchise character Leysa, a woman with a connection to Dom’s past, and a cameo by Reggaeton sensation Ozuna. F9 is produced by Neal H. Moritz, Vin Diesel, Jeff Kirschenbaum, Joe Roth, Justin Lin, Clayton Townsend and Samantha Vincent. THE FOREVER PURGE – 16th July 2021 This summer, there are no more rules as a sect of lawless marauders decides that the annual Purge does not end at daybreak and instead should go on and on in The Forever Purge. Vaulting from the record-shattering success of 2018’s The First Purge, Blumhouse’s infamous terror franchise hurtles into innovative new territory as an underground movement, no longer satisfied with one annual night of anarchy and murder, decide to “purify” the country once and for all and launch a class and race massacre along America’s southern border. Mexican refugees Adela (Ana de la Reguera, Cowboys & Aliens) and her husband Juan (Tenoch Huerta, Days of Grace) have fled the drug cartels in their country and now live in Texas. Working as a ranch hand for the wealthy Tucker family, Juan impresses the Tucker patriarch, Caleb (Will Patton, Halloween). Unfortunately, that only fuels the jealous anger of Caleb’s son, Dylan (Josh Lucas, Ford v Ferrari). On the morning after The Purge, a masked gang of killers attacks the Tucker family—including Dylan’s pregnant wife, Cassie (Cassidy Freeman, HBO’s The Righteous Gemstones), and his sister, Harper (Leven Rambin, The Hunger Games), forcing both families to band together and fight back as the country spirals into chaos and the United States begins to disintegrate around them. From a screenplay by franchise creator and narrative mastermind James DeMonaco, The Forever Purge is directed by Everardo Gout, writer-director of the award-winning thriller Days of Grace. The film is produced by the series’ founding producers: Jason Blum for his Blumhouse Productions; Platinum Dunes partners Michael Bay, Andrew Form and Brad Fuller; and Man in a Tree duo James DeMonaco and his longtime producing partner Sébastien K. Lemercier. The film’s executive producers are Marcei A. Brown, Couper Samuelson and Jeanette Volturno. THE CROODS 2: A NEW AGE – 16th July 2021 The Croods have survived their fair share of dangers and disasters, from fanged prehistoric beasts to surviving the end of the world, but now they will face their biggest challenge of all: another family. The Croods need a new place to live. So, the first prehistoric family sets off into the world in search of a safer place to call home. When they discover an idyllic walled-in paradise that meets all their needs, they think their problems are solved … except for one thing. Another family already lives there: the Bettermans. The Bettermans (emphasis on the “better”)—with their elaborate tree house, amazing inventions and irrigated acres of fresh produce—are a couple of steps above the Croods on the evolutionary ladder. When they take the Croods in as the world’s first houseguests, it isn’t long before tensions escalate between the cave family and the modern family. Just when all seems lost, a new threat will propel both families on an epic adventure outside the safety of the wall, one that will force them to embrace their differences, draw strength from each other and forge a future together. The Croods 2: A New Age features the voice talent of returning stars Nicolas Cage as Grug Crood, Catherine Keener as Ugga Crood, Emma Stone as their daughter, Eep; Ryan Reynolds as Eep’s boyfriend, Guy; Clark Duke (Hot Tub Time Machine) as Thunk and Cloris Leachman as Gran. They’re joined by new stars Peter Dinklage (HBO’s Game of Thrones) as Phil Betterman, Leslie Mann (Blockers) as Hope Betterman, and Kelly Marie Tran (Star Wars: Episode VIII-The Last Jedi) as their daughter, Dawn. The film is directed by Joel Crawford, who has worked on multiple DreamWorks Animation films, including Trolls and the Kung Fu Panda franchise, and is produced by Mark Swift (Captain Underpants: The First Epic Movie, Madagascar 3: Europe’s Most Wanted). SPARKS BROTHERS – 29th July 2021 How can one rock band be successful, underrated, hugely influential, and criminally overlooked all at the same time? Take a musical odyssey through five weird and wonderful decades with brothers Ron and Russell Mael, celebrating the inspiring legacy of Sparks: your favorite band’s favorite band. OLD – 30th July 2021 This summer, visionary filmmaker M. Night Shyamalan unveils a chilling, mysterious new thriller about a family on a tropical holiday who discover that the secluded beach where they are relaxing for a few hours is somehow causing them to age rapidly … reducing their entire lives into a single day. The film stars an impressive international cast including Golden Globe winner Gael García Bernal (Amazon’s Mozart in the Jungle), Vicky Krieps (Phantom Thread), Rufus Sewell (Amazon’s The Man in the High Castle), Ken Leung (Star Wars: Episode VII—The Force Awakens), Nikki Amuka-Bird (Jupiter Ascending), Abbey Lee (HBO’s Lovecraft Country), Aaron Pierre (Syfy’s Krypton), Alex Wolff (Hereditary), Embeth Davidtz (The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo), Eliza Scanlen (Little Women), Emun Elliott (Star Wars: Episode VII—The Force Awakens), Kathleen Chalfant (Showtime’s The Affair) and Thomasin McKenzie (Jojo Rabbit). Old is a Blinding Edge Pictures production, directed and produced by M. Night Shyamalan, from his screenplay based on the graphic novel Sandcastle by Pierre Oscar Lévy and Frederik Peeters. The film is also produced by Ashwin Rajan (Glass, AppleTV+’s Servant) and Marc Bienstock (Glass, Split). The film’s executive producer is Steven Schneider. SPIRIT UNTAMED – 30th July 2021 An epic adventure about a headstrong girl longing for a place to belong who discovers a kindred spirit when her life intersects with a wild horse, Spirit Untamed is the next chapter in the beloved story from DreamWorks Animation. Lucky Prescott (Isabela Merced, Dora and the Lost City of Gold) never really knew her late mother, Milagro Navarro (Eiza González, Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw), a fearless horse-riding stunt performer from Miradero, a small town on the edge of the wide-open frontier. Like her mother, Lucky isn’t exactly a fan of rules and restrictions, which has caused her Aunt Cora (Academy Award® winner Julianne Moore) no small amount of worry. Lucky has grown up in an East Coast city under Cora’s watchful eye, but when Lucky presses her own luck with one too many risky escapades, Cora picks up stakes and moves them both back with Lucky’s father, Jim (Oscar® nominee Jake Gyllenhaal), in Miradero. Lucky is decidedly unimpressed with the sleepy little town. She has a change of heart when she meets Spirit, a wild Mustang who shares her independent streak, and befriends two local horseback riders, Abigail Stone (Mckenna Grace, Captain Marvel) and Pru Granger (Marsai Martin, Little). Pru’s father, stable owner Al Granger (Emmy winner Andre Braugher, Fox’s Brooklyn Nine-Nine), is the best friend of Lucky’s father. When a heartless horse wrangler (Emmy nominee Walton Goggins, FX’s Justified) and his team plan to capture Spirit and his herd and auction them off to a life of captivity and hard labor, Lucky enlists her new friends and bravely embarks on the adventure of a lifetime to rescue the horse who has given her freedom and a sense of purpose, and has helped Lucky discover a connection to her mother’s legacy and to her Mexican heritage that she never expected. Spirit Untamed is the next chapter in DreamWorks Animation’s beloved franchise that began with the 2002 Oscar-nominated film Spirit: Stallion of Cimarron and includes an Emmy-winning TV series. The film is directed by Elaine Bogan (Netflix and DreamWorks Animation Television’s Trollhunters: Tales of Arcadia) and is produced by Karen Foster (co-producer, How to Train Your Dragon). The film’s co-director is Ennio Torresan (head of story, The Boss Baby), and the film’s score is by composer Amie Doherty (Amazon’s Undone, DreamWorks Animation’s Marooned). Watch the Spirit Untamed Trailer . PEOPLE JUST DO NOTHING: BIG IN JAPAN – 18th August 2021 PEOPLE JUST DO NOTHING: BIG IN JAPAN stars Allan Mustafa (MC Grindah), Hugo Chegwin (DJ Beats), Asim Chaudhry (Chabuddy G), Steve Stamp (Steves), Dan Sylvester (Decoy), Lily Brazier (Miche), Hitomi Souno (Miki) and Ken Yamamura (Taka). Since the end of their pirate radio station, life has been quiet for the Kurupt FM boys, but everything is about to change. News reaches them that one of their songs has been used on a popular game show in Japan. They've made it! Their music is reaching hundreds of thousands of people! It's finally time for them to enjoy the fame and fortune that they've always known they deserved. Chabuddy G steps excitedly back into his management role as Grindah, Beats, Steves and Decoy begin their journey to international stardom... But is Japan really ready for Kurupt FM? PEOPLE JUST DO NOTHING: BIG IN JAPAN is written by Steve Stamp and Allan Mustafa, with additional material by Asim Chaudhry, Hugo Chegwin and Lily Brazier. The film is directed by Jack Clough (PEOPLE JUST DO NOTHING, SKINS) and produced by Claire Jones (GHOST STORIES, THE FESTIVAL) and Tim Sealey for Roughcut. The film is a Roughcut production and was developed by BBC Films and BBC Comedy. It is the first ever BBC Three series to be developed into a feature film. Focus Features and BBC Films financed the project and Universal Pictures International will distribute the film in the UK and Ireland. Executive producers are Ash Atalla (THE OFFICE, PEOPLE JUST DO NOTHING), Jon Petrie (PEOPLE JUST DO NOTHING) and Christos Michaels for Roughcut, Rose Garnett for BBC Films and Shane Allen, Controller of BBC Comedy. CANDYMAN – 27th August 2021 Oscar® winner Jordan Peele unleashes a fresh take on the blood-chilling urban legend that your friend’s older sibling probably told you about at a sleepover: Candyman. Rising filmmaker Nia DaCosta (Little Woods) directs this contemporary incarnation of the cult classic. For as long as residents can remember, the housing projects of Chicago’s Cabrini-Green neighborhood were terrorized by a word-of-mouth ghost story about a supernatural killer with a hook for a hand, easily summoned by those daring to repeat his name five times into a mirror. In present day, a decade after the last of the Cabrini towers were torn down, visual artist Anthony McCoy (Yahya Abdul-Mateen II; HBO’s Watchmen, Us) and his partner, gallery director Brianna Cartwright (Teyonah Parris; If Beale Street Could Talk, The Photograph), move into a luxury loft condo in Cabrini, now gentrified beyond recognition and inhabited by upwardly mobile millennials. With Anthony’s painting career on the brink of stalling, a chance encounter with a Cabrini-Green old-timer (Colman Domingo; HBO’s Euphoria, Assassination Nation) exposes Anthony to the tragically horrific nature of the true story behind Candyman. Anxious to maintain his status in the Chicago art world, Anthony begins to explore these macabre details in his studio as fresh grist for paintings, unknowingly opening a door to a complex past that unravels his own sanity and unleashes a terrifying wave of violence that puts him on a collision course with destiny. Universal Pictures presents, from Metro Goldwyn Mayer Pictures and Jordan Peele and Win Rosenfeld’s Monkeypaw Productions, in association with BRON Creative, Candyman. Candyman is directed by DaCosta, and is produced by Ian Cooper (Us), Rosenfeld and Peele. The screenplay is by Peele & Rosenfeld and DaCosta. The film is based on the 1992 film Candyman, written by Bernard Rose, and the short story “The Forbidden” by Clive Barker. The film’s executive producers are David Kern, Aaron L. Gilbert and Jason Cloth. BLUE BAYOU – September 2021 From award-winning writer/director Justin Chon, Blue Bayou is the moving and timely story of a uniquely American family fighting for their future. Antonio LeBlanc (Chon), a Korean adoptee raised in a small town in the Louisiana bayou, is married to the love of his life Kathy (Alicia Vikander) and step-dad to their beloved daughter Jessie. Struggling to make a better life for his family, he must confront the ghosts of his past when he discovers that he could be deported from the only country he has ever called home. RESPECT – 10th September 2021 Following the rise of Aretha Franklin’s career from a child singing in her father’s church’s choir to her international superstardom, RESPECT is the remarkable true story of the music icon’s journey to find her voice. NO TIME TO DIE – 1st October 2021 (Prevs. 30th September 2021) In No Time To Die, Bond has left active service and is enjoying a tranquil life in Jamaica. His peace is short-lived when his old friend Felix Leiter from the CIA turns up asking for help. The mission to rescue a kidnapped scientist turns out to be far more treacherous than expected, leading Bond onto the trail of a mysterious villain armed with dangerous new technology. Watch the No Time to Die Trailer . THE ADDAMS FAMILY 2 – 8th October 2021 Everyone’s favorite spooky family is back in the new animated comedy sequel The Addams Family 2. In this all new movie, The Addams get tangled up in wacky adventures and find themselves involved in hilarious run-ins with all sorts of unsuspecting characters. Always staying true to themselves, the Addams Family brings their iconic spookiness and kookiness wherever they go. HALLOWEEN KILLS - 15th October 2021 In 2018, David Gordon Green’s Halloween, starring icon Jamie Lee Curtis, killed at the box office, earning more than $250 million worldwide, becoming the highest-grossing chapter in the four-decade franchise and setting a new record for the biggest opening weekend in history for a horror film starring a woman. And the Halloween night when Michael Meyers returned isn’t over yet. Minutes after Laurie Strode (Curtis), her daughter Karen (Judy Greer) and granddaughter Allyson (Andi Matichak) left masked monster Michael Myers caged and burning in Laurie’s basement, Laurie is rushed to the hospital with life-threatening injuries, believing she finally killed her lifelong tormentor. But when Michael manages to free himself from Laurie’s trap, his ritual bloodbath resumes. As Laurie fights her pain and prepares to defend herself against him, she inspires all of Haddonfield to rise up against their unstoppable monster. The Strode women join a group of other survivors of Michael’s first rampage who decide to take matters into their own hands, forming a vigilante mob that sets out to hunt Michael down, once and for all. Evil dies tonight. Universal Pictures, Miramax, Blumhouse Productions and Trancas International Films present Halloween Kills, co-starring Will Patton as Officer Frank Hawkins, Thomas Mann (Kong: Skull Island) and Anthony Michael Hall (The Dark Knight). From the returning filmmaking team responsible for the 2018 global phenomenon, Halloween Kills is written by Scott Teems (SundanceTV’s Rectify) and Danny McBride and David Gordon Green based on characters created by John Carpenter and Debra Hill. The film is directed by David Gordon Green and produced by Malek Akkad, Jason Blum and Bill Block. The executive producers are John Carpenter, Jamie Lee Curtis, Danny McBride, David Gordon Green and Ryan Freimann. DEAR EVAN HANSEN – 22nd October 2021 The breathtaking, generation-defining Broadway phenomenon becomes a soaring cinematic event as Tony, Grammy and Emmy Award winner Ben Platt reprises his role as an anxious, isolated high schooler aching for understanding and belonging amid the chaos and cruelty of the social-media age. Directed by acclaimed filmmaker Stephen Chbosky (The Perks of Being A Wallflower, Wonder), the film is written for the screen by the show’s Tony winner Steven Levenson with music and lyrics by the show’s Oscar®, Grammy and Tony-winning songwriting team of Benj Pasek & Justin Paul (La La Land, The Greatest Showman). Featuring Grammy winning songs, including the iconic anthem “You Will Be Found,” “Waving Through a Window,” “For Forever” and “Words Fail,” Dear Evan Hansen stars six-time Oscar® nominee Amy Adams, Oscar® winner Julianne Moore, Kaitlyn Dever (Booksmart), Amandla Stenberg (The Hate U Give), Colton Ryan (Apple TV+’s Little Voice), Nik Dodani (Netflix’s Atypical), DeMarius Copes (Broadway’s Mean Girls) and Danny Pino (NBC’s Law & Order: Special Victims Unit). Dear Evan Hansen is produced by Marc Platt (La La Land, Into the Woods, Mary Poppins Returns) and Adam Siegel (2 Guns, Drive), and is executive produced by Michael Bederman, Steven Levenson, Benj Pasek and Justin Paul. Universal Pictures will distribute the film in all territories. BOSS BABY 2: FAMILY BUSINESS – 22nd October 2021 In the sequel to DreamWorks Animation’s Oscar®-nominated blockbuster comedy, the Templeton brothers—Tim (James Marsden, X-Men franchise) and his Boss Baby little bro Ted (Alec Baldwin)—have become adults and drifted away from each other. Tim is now a married stay-at-home dad. Ted is a hedge fund CEO. But a new boss baby with a cutting-edge approach and a can-do attitude is about to bring them together again … and inspire a new family business. Tim and his wife, Carol (Eva Longoria), the breadwinner of the family, live in the suburbs with their super-smart 7-year-old daughter Tabitha (Ariana Greenblatt, Avengers: Infinity War), and adorable new infant Tina (Amy Sedaris, Netflix’s BoJack Horseman). Tabitha, who’s at the top her class at the prestigious Acorn Center for Advanced Childhood, idolizes her Uncle Ted and wants to become like him, but Tim, still in touch with his overactive youthful imagination, worries that she’s working too hard and is missing out on a normal childhood. When baby Tina reveals that she’s—ta-da!—a top secret agent for BabyCorp on a mission to uncover the dark secrets behind Tabitha’s school and its mysterious founder, Dr. Erwin Armstrong (Jeff Goldblum), it will reunite the Templeton brothers in unexpected ways, lead them to re-evaluate the meaning of family and discover what truly matters. Lisa Kudrow and Jimmy Kimmel also reprise their roles as Ted and Tim’s parents. Building on the success of the first film, which earned more than $500 million worldwide, The Boss Baby: Family Business is directed by returning filmmaker Tom McGrath and is produced by Jeff Hermann (Kung Fu Panda 3). LAST NIGHT IN SOHO – 29th October 2021 Edgar Wright’s psychological thriller about a young girl, passionate in fashion design, who is mysteriously able to enter the 1960s where she encounters her idol, a dazzling wannabe singer. But 1960s London is not what it appears, and time seems to fall apart with shady consequences… BELFAST – 12th November 2021 Written and directed by Academy Award® nominee Kenneth Branagh, BELFAST is a poignant story of love, laughter and loss in one boy’s childhood, amid the music and social tumult of the late 1960s. The cast stars Golden Globe nominee Caitriona Balfe, Academy Award® winner Judi Dench, Jamie Dornan, Ciaran Hinds, and introduces 10 year old Jude Hill. Dornan and Balfe play a passionate working-class couple caught up in the mayhem, with Dench and Hinds as sharp-witted grandparents. The film is produced by Branagh, Laura Berwick, Becca Kovacik and Tamar Thomas. HOUSE OF GUCCI – 26th November 2021 A film about the tumultuous Gucci family fashion dynasty and the murder of founder Guccio Gucci’s grandson Maurizio Gucci. Film Releases 2022 THE 355 – 14th January 2022 SING 2 – 28th January 2022 MARRY ME – 11th February 2022 AMBULANCE – 18th February 2022 BAD GUYS – 1st April 2022 JURASSIC WORLD: DOMINION – 10th June 2022 MINIONS 2: THE RISE OF GRU – 1st July 2022 DARK HARVEST – 23rd September 2022 HALLOWEEN ENDS - 14th October 2022 PUSS IN BOOTS: THE LAST WISH – 21st October 2022 The King's Man UK Home Release Date Announced The Latest King’s Man Film Will be Available on Digital February 9 and 4K Ultra HD™, Blu-ray™ and DVD on February 21. Read Now BFI Future Film Festival announces 2022 Awards Jury and full programme Find out who the jury is for the 2022 BFI Future Film Festival. Read Now The Wonderful: Stories From The Space Station UK Release Date The Wonderful: Stories from the Space Station is a Dog Star Films production in association with Fisheye Films. Directed by Clare Lewins (I Am Ali, Kareem: Minority of One, The Lost Tapes of Memphis.). Read Now Redemption of a Rogue UK Cinema Release Date Read Now Cryptozoo Coming to Mubi This October Having made a splash at the 2021 Sundance Film Festival, filmmaker Dash Shaw's upcoming fantasy animation Cryptozoo is a highly anticipated film coming to Mubi later this year. Read Now Another Round UK DVD And Blu-Ray Release Date Announced Following its acclaimed cinema release, STUDIOCANAL are excited to announce the release of Thomas Vinterberg’s intoxicating Oscar winner, ANOTHER ROUND, starring Mads Mikkelsen, on early EST 24th September 2021 and DVD, Blu-ray and Digital on 27th September 2021. Read Now Marvel Studios Announces Black Widow DVD and Blu-Ray UK Release Date Marvel Studios Announces Black Widow To Land Early On Digital (August 10th) and 4K, Blu-Ray and DVD September 13th. Read Now My Little Sister Gets October UK Release Date My Little Sister is due for a cinema release in the UK, on Friday 8th October 2021. Read Now Grimmfest Reveals Line-Up for 2021 Film Festival After a year of “home invasions” in the form of virtual screenings and online events, this October sees Grimmfest returning to the cinema at last. Read Now Helen Mirren Narrates Powerful Documentary Escape From Extinction Kaleidoscope Entertainment presents Escape From Extinction, a powerful feature documentary narrated by Academy Award winner Dame Helen Mirren, coming to selected cinemas from 17th September celebrating ‘Great Big Green Week’ (18-26 September). Read Now Supernova UK DVD and Blu-Ray Release Date Following critical acclaim and standout performances, STUDIOCANAL are excited to announce the release of the heartbreaking British love story SUPERNOVA, arriving on EST 24th September 2021 and DVD and Blu-ray on 27th September 2021. Read Now The Djinn UK Release Date The story follows a mute twelve-year-old, Dylan Jacobs, as he discovers a mysterious book of spells inside his new apartment. Read Now Come Play UK Digital Release Date Jacob Chase’s directorial debut feature COME PLAY tells the story of Oliver, a solitary autistic boy who comes across a creepy children’s story on his new tablet. Read Now 15m Giant Starfish in Leicester Square Ahead of UK Release of The Suicide Squad British actor Peter Capaldi (BBC’s Doctor Who, World War Z) ‒ who stars in THE SUICIDE SQUAD alongside Margot Robbie, Idris Elba and John Cena as genius scientist ‘Thinker’, was bravely photographed with the imposing creature Starro in London’s Leicester Square earlier today in celebration of the film’s UK release this coming Friday. Read Now West Side Story In Cinemas December 2021 From acclaimed director Steven Spielberg, the 2021 remake of West Side Story will be coming to cinemas in December 2021. Read Now The Last Job UK Digital and DVD Release Date Screen icon Richard Dreyfuss takes on The Last Job in a brand new, all-action thriller, that stars Modern Family’s Mira Sorvino as his daughter. This rip-roaring gangster movie hits the UK on DVD and digital this August from 101 Films. Read Now Rise of the Footsoldier Origins UK Cinema Release The eagerly-awaited RISE OF THE FOOTSOLDIER: ORIGINS, starring legendary leading man Vinnie Jones, is showing exclusively in cinemas from September 3, courtesy of Signature Entertainment. Read Now Random Acts of Violence UK DVD and Blu-ray Release Date Jay Baruchel writes, directs and stars in his horror debut Random Acts of Violence, which makes its UK Blu-ray debut from Acorn Media International in conjunction with Shudder, following its success on the streaming service. Read Now Spirited Away 20th Anniversary Special Edition SPIRITED AWAY COLLECTOR’S BOXSET WITH DVD & BLU-RAY DOUBLEPLAY AVAILABLE 27 SEPTEMBER 2021 Read Now A New World Order Premieres in UK 23 August Black Mirror meets A Quiet Place in gripping sci-fi thriller A New World Order from director Daniel Raboldt in his feature debut, which gets its UK premiere on DVD and digital 23 August 2021 from Reel 2 Reel Films. Read Now

Primal Fear film review by UK film critic William Hemingway. Starring Leilah Star, Daniel Mart directed by Elizabeth Jean Nicholls. HOME | FILMS | REVIEWS Primal Fear Film Review average rating is 2 out of 5 Critic: William Hemingway | Posted on: Oct 14, 2024 Directed by: Elizabeth Jean Nicholls Written by: Elizabeth Jean Nicholls Starring: Leilah Star, Daniel Mart Shot for a Horror short film contest in 2023, Primal Fear is a five-minute short film about a girl who’s just trying to get home. Liv (Star) is getting back to her apartment late from work one evening after having been to the store to stock up on groceries. As she parks the car and gets all of her bags out of the boot she is surprised by a stranger, who rather creepily hangs in the background, and materialises as she shuts the door of the boot down. The stranger (Mart), who looks to be around Liv’s age, is wearing a facemask and apologises for startling her. It seems he just wants to help, and in seeing that she is struggling with her bags, offers to take some of the load off by carrying a few things to her door for her. Liv, obviously, brushes him off and declines the help but after a few small insistences and a spoken guarantee that he ‘is not a serial killer’, the two get talking. The stranger then shows himself to be the most ADHD creep out there as he talks about his allergies and the fact that it’s flu season and whatever else he can think of to explain away his facemask. He is nerdy and anxious and speaks at a hundred miles an hour, while also pointing vaguely into the distance to supposedly identify the building that he lives in just across the road. Eventually, Liv acquiesces and allows the stranger to help her, even though it’s against her better judgement, with those damned social cues and societal expectations again working in the favour of the pushy male predator. With bags in hand the two of them head across the car park and up the stairs towards Liv’s apartment, where she hopes she can get away without him inviting himself inside. At this point, Primal Fear takes a rather stupid turn and the real horror kicks in, it’s just that it’s so far removed from reality and what we’ve been shown up ‘til now that it really jars with the rest of the film. Liv’s apartment then becomes some sort of lockbox from which she can’t escape and the stranger, well, that’s best left unsaid. In the end, the rug is pulled out from under us again and we find that the previous scenario probably never happened, leaving Liv to deal with the stranger in a better way, but which leaves the audience wondering what on Earth it was all for in the first place. For a film that’s only five minutes long there’s an awful lot that’s unclear about the narrative of Primal Fear . The oddness of the ‘scary’ scene is one thing, but when matched with the ending and the way the film is wrapped up, suddenly everything becomes muddied. It seems that Liv was just imagining a worst-case scenario, as most women have to do on a near daily basis to keep themselves safe when dealing with pushy, insistent men, but when she gets another chance to relive the situation and stand up for herself, the stranger doesn’t react very well and we’re left to wonder if she has, in fact, made an enemy and made things worse for herself. Unfortunately, that’s where the film leaves us and so the message of whatever writer/director Elizabeth Jean Nicholls was trying to say is lost and any goodwill built up in the mind of the viewer in the first half of the narrative also falls by the wayside. In saying that, the switcheroos at the end at least add something to the story of Primal Fear and stop it from becoming just another sad, bad horror short. The photography throughout is well handled by James Saint-Surin and everything looks good even though we know it’s just a couple of people in a car park on a dark night. There’s not much to talk about in terms of music and incidentals, but what is there is good and matches with the feel of the film well. Sadly, there’s nothing to gain from watching Primal Fear as the stupid turn is just laughable and the message is lost in the end. Even at only five minutes long you’d be better leaving this alone and watching something which actually makes sense. Buy UKFR Banner Space About the Film Critic William Hemingway Digital / DVD Release, Short Film < All Reviews Next Film Review >

Coral Clear film review by UK film critic Patrick Foley. Starring Evon Adjei directed by Harvey Marcus. HOME | FILMS | REVIEWS Coral Clear Film Review average rating is 3 out of 5 Critic: Patrick Foley | Posted on: Feb 3, 2022 Directed by: Harvey Marcus Written by: Badra Cherfi Starring: Evon Adjei High-fashion and traditional North African designs transform into couture evening wear in the debut collection from designed Bophonysse. In Coral Clear, this collection is celebrated and demonstrated artistically and in a way that demonstrates the deeper story behind the garments. The film is a short piece which highlights Bophonysse’s 2021 couture collection in intricate detail – featuring models donning the extravagant evening dresses in both neutral and energetic poses. The film shows the items in profile as well as up close, giving viewers an opportunity to see the complete work, as well as the fine, minute details included by the designer. Over the piece is a spoken word poem from poet Evon Adjei, whose words characterise the aims of the designer. Coral Clear is beautifully shot – both as a demonstration of the products that it is designed to advertise, and as a film in its own right. There is a story in the very design of the dresses themselves which the film highlights, and the poem from Evon Adjei is meaningful and soulful – easily dismissing fears that the film exists purely for commercial purposes. There is a clear and welcome consideration from the director to bring the story behind the clothes to the screen. There is a building momentum throughout the film – with the models initially moving in minimal and gentle ways which allows for more focused shooting, but appears to lack a confidence in the clothing’s ability to sustain motion. This develops as the film does, with the pace of the movements becoming faster in conjunction with the increasing speed and content of the poem, which gains a confidence in its own story. The collection is shown then in full, fluid motion to show that the dresses can be functional as well as fashionable, and can be worn as confidently and completely as the designer intends. There is a striking lighting spectrum to the film that firmly places the clothes on the centre stage. The vibrant colours of the outfits stand out against the bleached background, and the white lighting seems to flow over the textures as the camera pulls in close to examine them intimately. The soundtrack is also an interesting addition. The combo synthwave/piano soundscape does not immediately appear to mix with the designs we see. However, as the pace picks up, it contributes to a progressive and forward-thinking theme for the collection. There are inherent limits to a film so short that deny a fuller story or deeper themes being explored, and of course the primary purpose is to demonstrate a collection that ultimately will always be more impressive in person. But as an artistic endeavour, there is merit in Coral Clear – and that is clear to see. Buy UKFR Banner Space About the Film Critic Patrick Foley Digital / DVD Release, Short Film, World Cinema < All Reviews Next Film Review >

Jack Bottomley writes movie reviews for UK Film Critic. As one of the talented UK film critics, find out more here. Jack Bottomley My interest in film started at an early age, though in fairness everybody at some point in life is interested in a medium- film, music, books, and radio. My interest in film began in youth being captivated by the films showing at my local cinema (Space Jam at one point!) and has grown progressively since then. Star Wars is undoubtedly my biggest love but I have developed a taste for many genres particularly Sci-Fi and Horror. Like many people in education, I was uncertain where I wanted to go and really found a firm direction in A-Level Media Studies. Since that point, my filmic interest has become central from graduating from the University of Central Lancashire (UCLan) in 2012 to writing for all my various contacts and visiting some wonderful places on work experience. Read Latest Film Reviews