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The Getgoes film review by UK film critic Alasdair MacRae. Starring Joel Wasson, John Critchley, Jared Wasson, Caden Wasson, Carmen Toth directed by Joel Wasson. HOME | FILMS | REVIEWS The Getgoes Film Review average rating is 3 out of 5 Critic: Alasdair MacRae | Posted on: May 21, 2022 Directed by: Joel Wasson Written by: Joel Wasson Starring: Joel Wasson, John Critchley, Jared Wasson, Caden Wasson, Carmen Toth An animated-film-cum-concept-album for the fictional band The Getgoes. Until now frontmen Jay Peters (Joel Wasson) and Johnny Rhythm’s (John Critchley) contrasting approaches to song writing have benefited the band greatly. Jay grapples with serious social and political issues, and Johnny leans more towards mainstream pop rock. But the introduction of a new manager, Dave Loveya (Joel Wasson) – “love your stuff”, causes a schism in the band luring Johnny away with promises of fame, fortune, and all the perks that go along with it. The Getgoes is the latest passion project from Joel Wasson, a name that peppers the credits. Along with his two sons, Jared and Caden, the trio make up the real-life band The Discarded, whose songs provide the soundtrack. And it quickly becomes apparent that the film has little ambition for being more than just a vehicle for the band’s songs. The plot is rather thin and loosely hangs together, mostly the film runs from song to song, with occasional exposition heavy interludes to fill in the narrative gaps. Nonetheless it is still a fun conceit for an album. As an album some songs stand out over others. The low point is an ironically generic song about generic songs, a topic that has been covered at length by musical comedians, see Bo Burnham’s ‘Repeat Stuff’ or The Axis of Awesome’s YouTube sensation ‘Four Chords’. But The Discarded quickly recover as it is followed by the album’s high point, a riotous diss track concerning Johnny’s over inflated ego. Peter Guindon’s animation has the aesthetics of stop motion, and it is charmingly reminiscent of the joint movement of paper dolls held together with push pins. The film’s groovy pop art design from artists Kristie Ryder, Rachael Muir and Isabella Zeidler is bursting with purples, greens and oranges. These block colours are segmented by clearly defined bold wavy lines, and the look fits somewhere between The Beatles’ Yellow Submarine and The Ricky Gervais Show. As a medium length film, running for approximately 50 minutes, a lot of visual invention is required. Disappointingly The Getgoes falls short in this department with a lot of repetitive animations and clearly reused shots, which it makes little to no attempt to disguise or manipulate. The Getgoes is more of a concept album than film but for fans it is still a pleasing visual treat to accompany The Discarded’s new music. About the Film Critic Alasdair MacRae Animation, Music Video < All Reviews Next Film Review >

Opportunity film review by UK film critic Chris Olson. Starring Jon Waters, Quinn Aikele, Gabby Atkinson directed by Rusty Rehl. HOME | FILMS | REVIEWS Opportunity Film Review average rating is 3 out of 5 Critic: Chris Olson | Posted on: Nov 27, 2024 Directed by: Rusty Rehl Written by: Rusty Rehl Starring: Jon Waters, Quinn Aikele, Gabby Atkinson Mormon gangsters, crypto wallets, and oodles of makeshift charm, filmmaker Rusty Rehl’s indie crime comedy Opportunity gives viewers plenty to take advantage of, including a central bromance that will appeal to fans of Seth Rogen films. Jon Waters stars as Patrick, a man living in his van trying to get back on his feet in life. Having been rejected by the banks for money, he turns to a dangerous loan shark to help him purchase a house but gets embroiled in a dangerous favour that will see Patrick and his hapless pal Donny (Quinn Aikele) running from guns, cops, an yes…Mormons (although they prefer to be called Latter-Day Saints). Opportunity as an indie film has a lot of punk spirit, nothing is off-limits here. From opening the film with a profound quote from Sun Tzu to characters calling each other “woke” and “snowflake”, Rusty Rehl wants his audience in a state of unpredictability throughout. Patrick and Donny’s banterific relationship is the core of the movie and if you get on board with their foul-mouthed hijinks there is plenty of enjoyment to be found here. Their similarity as characters arguably makes it difficult to fully understand them, for example, Patrick seems reluctant to work for the loan shark initially, whilst Donny is totally up for it, but this hesitancy from the former seems completely gone not long later when he is maniacally breaking into a safe. The filmmaking is ambitious, stringing together numerous scenes in different locations and action sequences with sporadic violence, all with a tongue-in-cheek vibe. It’s hokey for the most part and viewers are unlikely to be waxing lyrical about the technical proficiency here but strength is found in the more emotional moments between our two leads. Jon Waters gives a strong performance as Patrick, emanating passionate energy at his character’s onslaught of life’s cruelties. Quinn Aikele is less sturdy with the dialogue but has a likeable magnetism making him a captivating onscreen presence. The supporting cast is an eclectic bunch of misfits but it is Gabby Atkinson as Donny’s long-suffering girlfriend Abby who shines the most - her potent hatred of Patrick is simply sumptuous. A rough around the edges production leaves the film feeling more endearing than compelling and there are certainly improvements that could be made to the convoluted crime plot but this will likely find a strong audience in the indie comedy scene. The quick-fire editing means it doesn’t outstay its welcome and it has balls and attitude, which, after all, are all the Opportunity one needs. About the Film Critic Chris Olson Indie Feature Film < All Reviews Next Film Review >

The Smashing Machine film review by UK film critic Jack Salvadori. Starring Dwayne Johnson, Emily Blunt directed by Benny Safdie. HOME | FILMS | REVIEWS The Smashing Machine Film Review average rating is 4 out of 5 Critic: Jack Salvadori | Posted on: Sep 3, 2025 Directed by: Benny Safdie Written by: Benny Safdie Starring: Dwayne Johnson, Emily Blunt Benny Safdie flies solo in his first feature without his brother, Josh, and I’ll admit I braced myself for the post-Coen effect: the couple splits, the magic fizzles, and suddenly you’re watching Drive Away Dolls . But fear not: Safdie proves himself here, holding onto the raw, electric vision that made Good Time and Uncut Gems so propulsive, while giving it a new muscular tenderness. On paper, it’s a sports biopic about professional wrestler Mark Kerr. In practice, it’s something richer: an honest character study, always observational rather than exploitational, and mercifully free of the genre’s usual sentimental sludge. And that’s a deliberate choice since Kerr, still alive and relatively in shape, doesn’t even carry a particularly distinguished, nor dramatic story. Safdie resists the urge to chart the wrestler’s entire life or moralise about his demons. Instead, he just lets us watch: this muscle mountain making a perfectly calibrated milkshake, or stumbling under Tokyo’s neon glow, looking like a lost Godzilla. Kerr is a paradox, a gentle giant who likes to win, but fights with animal instinct in the ring. The mundane becomes cinematic, and the spectacle of violence is countered by the quiet grace of a man who treats fighting like a vocational art form, as disciplined as ballet. Yet the film never glamorises the sport itself, wisely treating Kerr’s love of the craft as just another bruise in his battered identity. And then there’s Dwayne Johnson. Safdie’s casting choice feels cosmically inevitable, as if fate had been crouched in the corner, waiting for the bell to ring on this matchup. Because Johnson was born to play Kerr, finally stepping into a film with a script that doesn’t just use his bulk, but his humanity. He moves through the part with an unforced vulnerability, as if he’s been waiting years to shed the superhero armour and just… feel things. Flashback to 2001: you’re watching The Mummy Returns and The Rock emerges as the glitchy Scorpion King, in full CGI galore. The idea that 25 years later he’d be chasing an Oscar would’ve sounded like fantasy, even for Hollywood. The writing is equally sharp, calibrating action and stillness with precision, knowing when to explode and when to let silences do the heavy lifting. There’s something almost thrilling in watching a character do something trivial and still feel the tension coil around the room. With The Smashing Machine , Benny Safdie shows he can step into the ring alone and come out with his hands raised. And Dwayne Johnson finally gets to prove that even (The) Rock can cry. About the Film Critic Jack Salvadori Theatrical Release < All Reviews Next Film Review >

The Sublime Hubris film review by UK film critic Jason Knight. Starring Harleigh McCullum, David Matthew Johnson, Ryan Anderson directed by David Matthew Johnson. HOME | FILMS | REVIEWS The Sublime Hubris Film Review average rating is 3 out of 5 Critic: Jason Knight | Posted on: Jun 4, 2024 Directed by: David Matthew Johnson Written by: David Matthew Johnson Starring: Harleigh McCullum, David Matthew Johnson, Ryan Anderson A young man expresses his negative perspective on humanity. This experimental feature-length drama utilises a variety of filmmaking techniques in order to tell a story. With the main character's voice-over, it starts off with a series of long takes, with the camera being static. Later on, there is brief camera movement and from then on the story is told via still images, before a black screen takes over for the last twenty minutes or so with narration being the only form of storytelling during that sequence. The seventy-minute-long film is in black-and-white, apart from a brief long-take scene. Why is that scene in colour? That is not explained. The protagonist is a young guy (McCullum) and judging by his voice-over, he does not like people. He sees them as no-good and believes that he is superior to them. He is an outsider, a loner and through his voice-over, he talks about how much he detests everyone. He also states that he enjoys watching people so that he can observe them and find out in what ways they are flawed. The first half hour or so is slow, with long takes showing the man engaging in a variety of activities that involve lying down on a pavement, leaning against a wall or sitting on a bench. During this, his narration provides an insight into his unjoyful point of view regarding humanity. Things start to pick up when he encounters an unfortunate guy (Johnson) who was beaten up outside a bar. The protagonist approaches the guy and he manipulates him into becoming his so-called 'Warrior' and convinces him to embark on a path of violence. Using still images in order to tell a story is unusual in the world of filmmaking and the images along with the editing and the voice-over create a narrative that is easy to follow. The black screen that occupies the final fifteen to twenty minutes of the film creates quite a different viewing experience in comparison to the rest of the feature, like listening to the radio. It should be mentioned that apart from the voice-over there is no speech. Some viewers might find the music to be a let-down. The score that is heard throughout is repetitive and it sounds more like a continuous noise. The intention was probably to create drama, however listening to it feels dull. This is a story about isolation and a misanthropy and it explores these two subjects through the eyes of a troubled and angry youth. What primarily stands out are the filmmaking techniques, how the feature moves from long takes, to stills, then to a black screen, in order to create a narrative. The creativity is to be recognised and so is the intriguing dark story. About the Film Critic Jason Knight Indie Feature Film < All Reviews Next Film Review >

Echoes of Violence film review by UK film critic Rachel Willis. Starring Heston Horwin, MichaellaRussell directed by Nicholas Woods. HOME | FILMS | REVIEWS Echoes of Violence Film Review average rating is 2 out of 5 Critic: Rachel Willis | Posted on: Aug 23, 2021 Directed by: Nicholas Woods Written by: Nicholas Woods Starring: Heston Horwin, MichaellaRussell Alex (Heston Horwin) is having a terrible day. While trying to sell a leasing office in the middle of the Sedona desert, he hears a gunshot. When he hears a second shot, rather than calling the police, he runs off to investigate. This is the first of several bad calls that Alex makes. However, we might be able to get on board with this terrible decision because the lead-up to this moment is intriguing. From a funny opening, we’re then placed in this jarringly violent moment. Alex, endearing in his suit, waiting for his clients, is the right kind of naïve to help the film get underway. It’s too bad this great opening is followed by such a weak story. But what writer/director Nicholas Woods delivers in Echoes of Violence is a juvenile take on the humanitarian crisis of human trafficking. Upon meeting Marakya (Michaella Russell), Alex makes one more dumb decision after another as he’s caught up in her violent existence. A sex slave on the run from her immigration lawyer/human trafficker (another good idea that fails in the execution), Marakya enlists Alex’s help on a mission of revenge. We never quite understand why Alex is so taken with Marakya, which is a problem. There’s no reason or explanation why he doesn’t call the police – or even just walk away – as it’s clear he’s in over his head. Another poor choice on the film’s part is an attempt to create a sympathetic character out of a man who is part of the sex trafficking ring. Though we’re given reasons why this guy is ‘okay,’ it feels like a gut punch to root for someone who previously ignored the horrors around him. That his redemption arc is given the same weight as Marakya’s story is as unsurprising as it is disappointing. But the film’s weakest element is the dialogue. Some of it is so bad it’s funny, but mostly it’s just bad. There’s too much needless exposition, too many lines that try to offer profound wisdom (when no one talks like that), and not enough time to let the characters come to life. The actors are good, particularly Russell, but even the best actors will stumble around clumsy dialogue. And Sten Olson’s cinematography is spectacular, but there isn’t much else holding up this movie. A weak script will nearly always tank a film, and this one is no exception. About the Film Critic Rachel Willis Digital / DVD Release < All Reviews Next Film Review >

The Seductress from Hell film review by UK film critic Jason Knight. Starring Rocio Scotto, Jason Faunt, Raj Jawa, Kylie Rohrer, James Hyde directed by Andrew de Burgh. HOME | FILMS | REVIEWS The Seductress from Hell Film Review average rating is 3 out of 5 Critic: Jason Knight | Posted on: Sep 21, 2024 Directed by: Andrew de Burgh Written by: Andrew de Burgh Starring: Rocio Scotto, Jason Faunt, Raj Jawa, Kylie Rohrer, James Hyde Following a lengthy period of torment, a young woman resorts to murder. Zara (Scotto) is an aspiring actress living in Los Angeles with her husband, Robert (Faunt). Unfortunately, things are not good as the couple is facing financial difficulties. To make matters worse, Robert is an abusive partner and Zara is the victim of his controlling and violent behaviour. Eventually, she reaches breaking point and decides that she is not going to take it anymore and kills him. However, her murderous actions will not stop there, as she proceeds to target other individuals, while her acquaintances Derek (Jawa) and Maya (Rohrer) become suspicious. A slow-paced psychological horror feature that centers on a woman being pushed over the edge by abuse and turning into a vengeful monster. Zara's character goes through significant development as she turns from a quiet, frightened youth who is (from various perspectives) being held prisoner by her domineering spouse, into a cold-blooded and methodical killer. Her transformation does not occur overnight, but has being building up over time, as suggested by a notebook with contents about satanism that she keeps hidden. What changes mostly inside her (apart from becoming a murderer) is confidence. Rebelling against her spouse and the world in general seems to have given her a great deal of self-esteem, which she uses in order to become independent. It could be argued that to some degree, this film contains elements of misandry. This might be indicated by the fact that some male characters are presented in a negative light. For instance, there is Robert, a double-faced, abusive husband. Then, there is Jeffrey (Hyde), the film producer Zara meets, who seems to view women primarily as sexual objects. And there is also a disrespectful police officer (Andy Lauer). By having these male characters containing such negative traits, it would be hard not to perceive that the film is exposing the dark side of men. Arguably, the highlights are the numerous times when Zara has one of her victims bound, completely at her mercy. The feeling of dread is heavy as she torments them ansd tells them the nasty things she intends to do to them, but so is the drama, as she explains herself, revealing the torment she went through and her rather dark perspectives regarding the world. She believes that she is punishing bad people and she takes pleasure in doing so. There is creative use of lighting and the director utilises unconventional camera angles and frequent long takes. The sinister score by Elezeid helps create a dark atmosphere throughout. On the surface, this is a psychological horror film that also dwells into the slasher genre. Looking further, it is a story about abuse, revenge and rebellion that also looks into domestic violence and dishonesty. Sometimes the acting is unconvincing and some viewers are likely to find the slow pace frustrating. Nevertheless, this is an intriguing feature that gains a lot of quality thanks to the sinister atmosphere and Scotto's dramatic performance. About the Film Critic Jason Knight Indie Feature Film < All Reviews Next Film Review >

Honk for Jesus. Save Your Soul. film review by UK film critic Hope Madden. Starring Regina Hall, Sterling K. Brown directed by Adamma Ebo. HOME | FILMS | REVIEWS Honk for Jesus. Save Your Soul. Film Review average rating is 3 out of 5 Critic: Hope Madden | Posted on: Sep 1, 2022 Directed by: Adamma Ebo Written by: Adamma Ebo Starring: Regina Hall, Sterling K. Brown Honk. It’s such an inelegant word. Not that beep or toot are much more graceful, but honk? That’s what makes it such a perfect choice for writer/director Adamma Ebo’s look at commercial spirituality, Honk for Jesus. Save Your Soul. First Lady Trinitie Childs (Regina Hall, amazing as always) is launching a comeback. Her husband, Pastor Lee-Curtis Childs (the incomparable Sterling K. Brown), had a little run in with morality and scandal five years ago. Since then, their mega-church, Wander to Greater Paths—which once boasted more than 10,000 congregants—has been shuttered. Well, no more! That scandal is almost behind them (there’s the issue of one holdout in the settlement…) and this dynamic duo is ready. And they want people to know, which is why Lee-Curtis agreed to let a documentary crew follow them as they prepare for their upcoming Easter Sunday resurrection. What follows is a mockumentary of sorts, although Ebo’s point of view is not exclusively that of the documentarian (that elusive Anita). And while the world seems most interested in the pastor and his past transgressions, that sly Anita seems more drawn to the first lady. To call this a satire, or really even a mockumentary, is to be a bit off the mark. Though it’s often funny, it’s not exactly a comedy, either. Brown’s damaged, shamed pastor is so pathologically single-minded as to be villainous outright. But Brown seems incapable of creating a character whose flaws don’t make him all the more human, and therefore tender, however irredeemable. Likewise, Hall, whose performance is more decidedly comedic, mines Trinitie for deep conflict between submission to spirituality or to patriarchal bullshit. Her profound unhappiness partnered with her pride make the character a preaching contradiction in a church hat. Solid support work bolsters the comedy (Nicole Beharie, in particular) and the tragedy (the late introduction of Austin Crute’s Khalil is powerful). What starts off as a bit of fun at commodified religion’s expense turns into a surprisingly layered and cynical investigation into the damage organized religion of any kind can have, especially on those who believe. About the Film Critic Hope Madden Theatrical Release < All Reviews Next Film Review >

Read the film podcast transcript from the episode titled Indie Special - UK Film Club 18a on UK Film Club part of the UK Film Review Podcast. < Back Indie Special - UK Film Club 18a Listen to This Episode UK Film Club 00:00:00.81 Brian Penn It's getting colder and it's getting wetter and rainier, but you know, we've got to be positive, haven't we, really? You know? 00:00:09.42 ukfilmreview I actually think we had a pretty good summer this year. I think it wasn't too bad. um 00:00:15.11 Brian Penn Yeah, we we we have a fairly low bar, don't we, when it comes to a good summer? When you think about it, don't we? 00:00:21.44 ukfilmreview Yeah, I think so. But there were a couple of good weeks and the summer itself actually was was generally warm. 00:00:31.54 ukfilmreview I always think as well, if I haven't had to put the heating on, then hey, you know what? We must be doing something all right. 00:00:35.94 Brian Penn that's that's a victory is that hey we don't need we don't need the centurion on in June so we must be having a proper summer somewhere you know kind of makes sense isn't it yeah i know you know yeah we've got to be a glass is half full rolled and half empty haven't we kind of people yeah well no not yeah give it time though give it time i don't know 00:00:39.02 ukfilmreview yeah 00:00:43.30 ukfilmreview yeah There's no other way of looking at it. and 00:00:51.94 ukfilmreview Exactly, and it's it's not a half full of rainwater yet. um Yeah, it won't be long, it won't be long. It's weirdly now, you know we do we often talk about it on the pod, but and we are now inching towards Christmas. 00:01:08.07 ukfilmreview i hate It's kind of starting to become acceptable to talk about Christmas, I think. 00:01:09.50 Brian Penn I know. 00:01:12.34 Brian Penn Well, ah yeah I mean, you're already seeing the themed mince pies that appearing in the supermarkets. 00:01:18.30 ukfilmreview Yes. 00:01:18.55 Brian Penn You know, you think, God, it's only barely September, really. But I mean, it kind of makes makes you aware that they're they're gearing up. And so should we be gearing up, I guess. 00:01:28.22 ukfilmreview There was a phase of my life, probably my 20s, where I was very full on about Christmas, that I would start it very early. 00:01:34.66 Brian Penn Hmm. 00:01:36.16 ukfilmreview I think it was when... a lot of the coffee shops kind of took it on right they started doing like you know these seasonal drinks at like October and I started to now I mean like sort of late 30s I've got two kids and I know for a fact I have to preserve all my en energy for like the last section because it is so tiring that I do kind of um I am a bit more like do you know what we can wait we can wait a bit before we start talking about it all 00:01:40.49 Brian Penn Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Hmm. 00:01:52.61 Brian Penn Hmm. I know, I know. You, you delight, you delight for a bit longer. I think look you always know when Christmas is getting close is when you start to hear Christmas songs. aren't on the radio. 00:02:10.68 ukfilmreview Yeah, in the shop. So you go in the shop and you're like, why are they blasting wham? 00:02:13.55 Brian Penn Yeah. 00:02:15.85 Brian Penn I know, I know, you know, they talk about one again, which I think is almost impossible really to avoid listening to last Christmas, but we have to accept it's on its way, Chris. I love Christmas anyway, generally, but you know, you you do kind of, it does seem to creep up on you earlier than every year, you know, but there you go. 00:02:36.54 ukfilmreview Well, anyone listening is probably thinking, guys, it's September, what's going on? 00:02:36.65 Brian Penn It's all 00:02:39.98 Brian Penn I know it's September. yeah It's awesome though. It is awesome. So I think it's legitimate. 00:02:43.49 ukfilmreview Yeah. 00:02:44.86 Brian Penn You know, we'll be thinking about Christmas films soon. 00:02:47.44 ukfilmreview Exactly. I mean, it's we should really be talking more, you know, it's sort of like back to school month. It's that sort of, you know, but I don't think that's a genre. 00:02:53.17 Brian Penn Yeah, yeah. 00:02:56.31 ukfilmreview Is it? Can you think of any back to school? 00:02:57.37 Brian Penn Back to school month. Well, not really. 00:02:59.36 ukfilmreview Hmm. 00:03:00.09 Brian Penn You've got these high school comedies, haven't you? You know, they the um the kind of coming of age on the cusp of adulthood type movies. so kind of straddle schooling generally, but then they're always um almost always more American than they are British. aren't they 00:03:17.79 ukfilmreview There's quite a few films where yeah the protagonists are approaching that coming of age moment and it's like the it's the last summer before they go away and they like sort of yeah let loose and realise that all these friendships are now going to be put to the test and all that sort of stuff. 00:03:25.72 Brian Penn Hmm. 00:03:28.66 Brian Penn Yeah. 00:03:32.82 Brian Penn and Yeah. 00:03:37.63 ukfilmreview so this is good 00:03:38.62 Brian Penn Yeah. 00:03:38.87 ukfilmreview in that sort of category but you know the the back-to-school thing I think it's not something really anyone particularly wants to talk about because like parents don't really like well parents do like it I guess but it's stressful and the kids don't like it. 00:03:40.88 Brian Penn Yeah. No, no. ah 00:03:50.56 ukfilmreview so 00:03:51.27 Brian Penn but Maybe it's just not very fruitful. It's not a very fertile area when it comes to filmmaking generally. that you There's nothing to draw on there, I guess, really. So it might seem a slightly tame material for a film, perhaps. 00:04:06.92 ukfilmreview Well we have some very dedicated listeners, so yeah if any of you out there know of some good films that are back to school type of films, send them in. 00:04:12.04 Brian Penn Yeah, yeah, yeah, definitely. 00:04:14.13 ukfilmreview Let us know. If you've seen them, review them. i'm Always happy to read reviews. 00:04:17.68 Brian Penn Yeah, absolutely. 00:04:19.20 ukfilmreview and Getting a lovely little selection of reviews. we We're not going to read them on this show, we'll read them on the real, the big proper show which we'll do at the end of the month. 00:04:25.91 Brian Penn the but Yeah. 00:04:27.25 ukfilmreview um What this show is, this episode of UK Film Club, is going to be dedicated just to indie films that we've had, because in August we received an absolute ton of them. 00:04:37.58 Brian Penn Hmm. 00:04:38.86 ukfilmreview um There was a lot that came in, we did our best to cover some in the previous episode, so this is like ah an additional episode that we're doing to cover them. um So anyone who's new to UK Film Club, but this is your first episode, I mean you're very welcome to stay, you're very welcome to listen to the whole thing, 00:04:55.69 ukfilmreview But the format is slightly different. 00:04:55.84 Brian Penn Yeah. 00:04:57.45 ukfilmreview We're not going to be reviewing the cinema releases. We're not going to be doing the Netflix or streaming film. And we're not going to be doing nostalgia or listening reviews. This is just purely indie and short films in this episode. 00:05:11.71 ukfilmreview And we've got six. 00:05:12.05 Brian Penn Mm-hmm. 00:05:13.37 ukfilmreview So we've bumped it up. We've given you a nice bumper crop of indie films to review. 00:05:16.75 Brian Penn Yeah. 00:05:19.15 ukfilmreview So listen to me and Brian have sinned them all. 00:05:19.69 Brian Penn Mm-hmm. 00:05:21.95 ukfilmreview And I've actually reviewed a few of them on the website that was me who reviewed them so yeah I'm looking forward to discussing those as well as the new ones which I've been able to watch with Brian we have clips from some of the films not all of them sadly we have clips or promos or something from some of the films to give you a taste of what they're like and yeah we're gonna just kick things off because there's no there's no structure here we're in the Wild West we can do whatever we want we can talk about Christmas for 10 minutes and that's absolutely fine too 00:05:25.67 Brian Penn Yeah. Wow. 00:05:48.96 Brian Penn I know we can do what we want. Yeah. And we already have that. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. 00:05:55.59 ukfilmreview and So yeah, let's ah let's start off with a film I reviewed. um I absolutely loved this film when I reviewed it back in August. 00:06:06.61 ukfilmreview It's called Rock, Paper, Scissors. It's a short film um directed by Franz Baum who writes and within the credits 00:06:09.56 Brian Penn Oh, yes. 00:06:19.87 Brian Penn Hmm. 00:06:21.06 ukfilmreview Franz notes Ivan down as a co-writer, and that's because the film is actually based on a real-life person called Ivan. um I'm always a little bit worried about when we start talking about these sort of things. 00:06:35.65 ukfilmreview yeah and There's lots of situations where we talk about things based on real people and and what have you, and everyone kind of starts to get a little bit worried, like, can we say that? Is that okay? 00:06:43.98 Brian Penn Yeah, I know, yeah. 00:06:44.63 ukfilmreview um So, yeah, but um rock, paper, scissors, um and it stars Alexander Rudiniski, Sergei Kalante. 00:06:56.41 ukfilmreview um 00:06:56.77 Brian Penn One side, yeah. 00:06:57.91 ukfilmreview canlante and yeah it's It's a fairly new short film and it circles around this character Ivan, played by Rudiniski. 00:07:09.15 ukfilmreview who along with his father they've got this makeshift hospital set up and it's ah ongoing during the actual current situation with Russia and Ukraine. um The actual events I believe took place maybe a few years ago or a year ago at least so a little while back um but yeah Ivan is um helping at this hospital where they're taking care of people and and trying to sort of you get into safety but it looks as if yeah the the Russians, because they're on the Ukrainian side, the Russians are approaching and they're yeah obviously absolutely terrified um because the Russians have been spotted and Ivan goes ends up being out there hoping to hold them off but unfortunately faces sort of a much larger force than he thought he was going to come across 00:07:56.45 Brian Penn Hmm. Yeah. 00:08:04.86 Brian Penn yeah 00:08:07.16 ukfilmreview Now, I have reviewed this already, so I am very keen to hear what Brian thought of rock, paper, scissors. A lot of umming, which makes me think he's ready to go. 00:08:15.01 Brian Penn Yeah. Yeah. No, no, no, no. I think it's very powerful, but it conveys a simple message about war and the cost of war. And what it does to ordinary people, you know, what gives it an added edge is of course, it's dealing with the current conflicts between Ukraine and and Russia. Now, the fact that it's based on facts. Now you can, you can infer many things from that statement. Can't you based on facts based on a true story where it could be very loose or it could be sticking to the facts almost exactly. But what the central character did those, you know, you can't, 00:08:52.76 Brian Penn fails to be impressed by his bravery in doing what he did, is to take a firearm out into what appears to be no man's land for want of a better phrase, and attempts to take on a number of Russian soldiers. And it it does what it does in a very short space of time, but it just gets a very simple message across that ordinary people suffer in terms of war. Ivan and his father, who was running the hospital, 00:09:21.75 Brian Penn were simply trying to survive and trying to make sure their patients survived as well. So it it kind of traces that train of thought from how do we get out of the situation alive? And how do we take all these ill and sick people with us? And you buy into those currencies. And again, because it's a current and ongoing conflict, it feels even more real than it normally would be. But I found it very enjoyable quite stark, quite raw in the way it was shot but I think it achieves the desired effects that it hits home and that this is what is happening, this is what's happening to real people at the moment as we speak and I think that that's quite frightening but quite sobering as well at the same time but I thought it was very good, it was very well put together. 00:10:15.91 ukfilmreview Yeah, I agree with you, ill with with all your points. and I think that starkness was something that really stood out to me. and There was a scene where ivan Ivan's and his his gun is like against the rocks and the rocks are all kind of like a sort of dark grey but he's got this sort of like almost orangey gun I think or you know it sort of looks very it's very bright against the and rock facing roost stood out. 00:10:37.96 Brian Penn e 00:10:42.50 Brian Penn Yeah. 00:10:47.59 ukfilmreview Now, whether that was intentional or not, it just was a, just a small moment, kind of Schindler's List-esque, you know, with like the red coat and things like that. 00:10:47.99 Brian Penn yeah 00:10:56.42 Brian Penn Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. 00:10:57.80 ukfilmreview that And I think, like you're saying about this being a depiction of like how just one life can be so impacted by a conflict, which is like completely out of their control. 00:10:58.17 Brian Penn Yeah. 00:11:10.88 ukfilmreview It's nothing, you know, they wouldn't have been involved in starting this war, you know, the decisions wouldn't be made by these 00:11:14.04 Brian Penn no 00:11:16.39 ukfilmreview yeah these people on this hillside, yet all of a sudden, here they are facing off with guns and having to make life and death decisions, not just for themselves, but for other people. 00:11:22.47 Brian Penn Yeah. 00:11:25.14 Brian Penn yeah 00:11:27.51 Brian Penn Yeah. 00:11:27.56 ukfilmreview And it's absolutely insane that that's what has to go on. 00:11:28.43 Brian Penn Yeah. 00:11:31.83 ukfilmreview But um I'm always very in awe of filmmakers that take on ah war stories and in particular ones when they are when they are ongoing, because as we still we're still seeing 00:11:42.38 Brian Penn Yeah Yeah Yeah Yeah 00:11:45.54 ukfilmreview all these stories coming out from like World War One, World War Two, you know, you've reviewed a few on the podcast this year. There's been, you know, stories of of the amazing people from history that they get it's so easy for them to get lost. 00:11:58.49 ukfilmreview Someone like Ivan's story is so easy to get lost. And and actually, you know, tell it now if if if the information is there and if the events have happened, if everyone's kind of, you know, happy with the way that the story is going to be told obviously there is always a danger because sometimes with perspective things change and with more information things change but as it is you know this is it's not a long film it's just a short film I think it does a very good job of telling this unique story. 00:12:15.98 Brian Penn Yeah. Yeah. No. 00:12:25.35 Brian Penn Yeah. Yeah. I think it, I think it really does. The, the issue for me when you're, you're relaying historical events, but they're kind of, it's history that's happening right now is that you, you can never view it with any true perspective. So you do take a chance when you're portraying current events, um ongoing events, 00:12:45.62 Brian Penn But they've done it really well. They've done it really well because they've taken out the any reference to the politics of war, but it's just about people. 00:12:52.64 ukfilmreview Mmm, yeah. 00:12:55.68 Brian Penn And that's why it works. It's because they're just concentrating on the impacts. They're focusing on people and the effects it has on them. And then then youve you've got it. You don't have to worry about the the overall perspective because you can't possibly have one. 00:13:09.31 Brian Penn Now, they could sell this story and send you a sign when God got willing, um the situation in Ukraine is resolved. And you can tell it with a different perspective, but you choose to do it now. You've got to get it right. And I think they have got it right here. 00:13:25.17 ukfilmreview Absolutely, it's it's it's a very delicate situation to do this and I've seen quite a lot of films, we've reviewed many have and where they do turn the depiction. 00:13:28.40 Brian Penn yeah 00:13:36.36 ukfilmreview Obviously we're we're based in the UK and to use the phrase you heroes and villains, you the heroes are often going to be from our side normally, I mean it's not always but fair to say um 00:13:38.29 Brian Penn Hmm. 00:13:46.90 Brian Penn Well, yeah, that's fair to say. Yeah. Yeah. 00:13:51.14 ukfilmreview But you absolutely could just turn this around and it would be the same film. yeah I'm sure there's characters and on both sides that are heroes and they're just in a horrible situation, yeah just a horrible place that they just have to deal with it. 00:13:54.79 Brian Penn Yeah. 00:14:02.64 ukfilmreview And like you say, they're not getting into the politics of this. And it's up to you, I guess, if you want to put that on there as a viewer, if you're going to look at it from with a certain glint in your eyes and and how you're going to see it. 00:14:08.40 Brian Penn yeah 00:14:10.87 Brian Penn Hmm. 00:14:15.31 ukfilmreview but 00:14:15.48 Brian Penn Yeah. 00:14:16.25 ukfilmreview from a filmmaking point of view I think it's just talking about this sort of heroic character and what people can do when pushed to these kind of limits even if they are just sort of normal because one of the thing is really interesting obviously he talks about you we said that he goes out with this gun but he doesn't know how to use it he's asking this soldier that's in the hospital how to use it before he goes outside he's just like a normal guy that's just ended up in this horrible situation and I think that's that's what really caught me has been quite dramatic about it is that 00:14:23.59 Brian Penn Yeah. Yeah. 00:14:30.55 Brian Penn yeah and yeah and I Yeah. 00:14:38.22 Brian Penn know. Yeah. Yeah. 00:14:46.25 ukfilmreview what would happen you if you this was you or if this was someone you know that's suddenly in that horrible situation. 00:14:49.33 Brian Penn know. Yeah. and it And it makes him a ah complete civilian as well, doesn't it? 00:14:54.98 ukfilmreview Yeah. 00:14:55.11 Brian Penn But he's he's not a combatant, he can't be. But they the hospital is caring for those who have been wounded in combat, but he's not a combatant himself. 00:15:05.25 Brian Penn So that gives it even more edge. So what else I liked about it was the title of the film, Rock, Paper, Scissors. I thought that was a British thing. It obviously can't be, can it? 00:15:15.60 ukfilmreview Yeah, ah it's a universal thing, right? 00:15:16.37 Brian Penn Yeah. 00:15:17.94 ukfilmreview I think, and they're playing it, he's playing it with some of the kids at the hospital, right? 00:15:18.17 Brian Penn yeah 00:15:21.11 Brian Penn Yeah, I know. 00:15:22.13 ukfilmreview Yeah, yeah. 00:15:22.71 Brian Penn So I like that. It's nice to see that something I thought was exclusively British is obviously a ah universal thing, rock, paper, scissors. But it's a contrast to the subject matter of the film as well. 00:15:34.17 Brian Penn so um 00:15:35.68 ukfilmreview Yeah, I mean, you could read a lot into that, I think, you know in terms of the way that we solve global problems. Maybe it would be better if we just resort to a rock game of rock, paper, scissors, if everyone understands it. 00:15:41.73 Brian Penn Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. 00:15:46.29 ukfilmreview um 00:15:46.54 Brian Penn If only we could solve solve everything that way. Yeah. 00:15:49.96 ukfilmreview um One thing I wanted to sort of pick up, I we kind of mentioned it slightly, which is about the the setting like where you've got him outside on the hillside. 00:15:55.40 Brian Penn Yeah. 00:15:56.88 ukfilmreview It does look, like you said, like a no man's land. It just looks like barren. 00:15:59.17 Brian Penn Yeah. 00:16:00.85 ukfilmreview But then when he's inside, you know even though it's a hospital, it actually felt quite like warm and inviting. 00:16:00.96 Brian Penn Yeah. 00:16:06.54 Brian Penn Yeah. 00:16:06.89 ukfilmreview It was almost like the safety that they've created for these people. 00:16:08.64 Brian Penn Yeah. Yeah. 00:16:10.14 ukfilmreview albeit there is a bit of a panic in the air. 00:16:12.13 Brian Penn yeah 00:16:12.30 ukfilmreview I just thought that was such a great ah juxtaposition to have for the audience because otherwise yeah you could have just had this film with him just kind of on the hillside, right? And it would have been, but you needed that heart. 00:16:21.54 Brian Penn yeah 00:16:23.34 ukfilmreview You needed that sense of peril that you really wanted him to succeed and get fast and yeah. 00:16:27.27 Brian Penn Yeah. Well, well, you, you can see what he's protecting. You can see why, what he's risking really that, you know, he and his father are treating these people and they know they, ultimately they have to move, but they have to be safe before they move. 00:16:35.18 ukfilmreview Hmm. 00:16:44.75 Brian Penn And this past, you know, there there's a lot in, it's surprising how much there is in there in a fairly short film, but there's a lot to take in there really surprisingly. 00:16:53.10 ukfilmreview I think the title is suggesting it's that idea of making a decision. He has to make a decision. 00:16:57.83 Brian Penn Yeah. 00:16:58.82 ukfilmreview What am I going to punt for in the hope to survive? 00:17:00.00 Brian Penn yeah yeah 00:17:03.12 ukfilmreview And literally, he's just going to come down to luck at the end of the day. He goes out, hopes that he can overcome this threat that's oncoming. But unfortunately, they might play a better hand. 00:17:14.92 Brian Penn yeah 00:17:14.94 ukfilmreview And I think it's really powerful. 00:17:15.46 Brian Penn and know 00:17:17.40 ukfilmreview There's so much there to pick up. I thoroughly enjoyed it. 00:17:18.77 Brian Penn yeah It's very good. Very good. No question. It's good. I think the, uh, the six films that we've got here. for this show, I think it shows the variety and diversity of independent filmmaking. And so much the better really, because I think we're ultimately looking at tomorrow's stars, potentially. This is where directors, writers and actors, the stars of tomorrow could be cutting their teeth on a short film that we're reviewing here. So you realize how important it is to to filmmaking in general. 00:17:55.34 ukfilmreview So Rock Paper Scissors is not available currently as far as I'm aware. We were given a private screener um and it was um as part of the national film and television school so their films I might be wrong but do tend to end up on things like YouTube and and places where you can see them but as far as I'm aware right now that isn't the case but I do want a thousand percent hope that people do seek this out and do go see it or get to see it because 00:18:23.65 Brian Penn Definitely 00:18:26.12 ukfilmreview it for such a short film. It's so powerful. And I've seen a lot of very good short war films. And this is right up there with being one of the best that I've seen. 00:18:36.08 Brian Penn Yeah. not Yeah. 00:18:37.92 ukfilmreview um Yeah, Rock, Paper, Scissors, directed by Franz Baum. 00:18:38.09 Brian Penn That's like, so definitely. 00:18:43.57 ukfilmreview Yeah, you might want to just remember that director name because there are I think other films called Rock, Paper, Scissors. So yeah, 00:18:49.77 Brian Penn Yeah. 00:18:50.60 ukfilmreview and or head to our website look up my review for the 9th of August and that will give you all the details and yeah just spend an hour or two on the website it just helps you know just be there for an hour look through all of the reviews read all the reviews there's about 8 000 of them so if you just read all of yeah not not many ryan's ryan's wrote many of them um but yeah rock paper scissors check it out when you can we are moving now 00:19:01.29 Brian Penn Join us. Join us. Yes. That's that all? Yeah. Well, a few, yeah. 00:19:17.64 ukfilmreview to another short film. This one, Jason Knight reviewed it on the website, also back in August. It's written and directed by Michael Cook, who is also in the film, but I think he's only briefly in the film. 00:19:30.36 ukfilmreview um It's called Curiosity, and it stars Hunter Bishop and John Cook, who may or may not be related to Michael. 00:19:33.31 Brian Penn oh 00:19:39.62 ukfilmreview I'm guessing that he is. 00:19:40.85 Brian Penn Hmm. 00:19:41.32 ukfilmreview Very often the case, especially short films, I think yeah you pull your family in, or 00:19:41.88 Brian Penn Yeah. 00:19:44.49 Brian Penn Yeah. Yes, you do. We're suddenly right. I mean, it'd be rude not to, wouldn't it really? 00:19:48.72 ukfilmreview yeah um But curiosity, Brian, do you want to take the lead on this one? 00:19:52.67 Brian Penn Yes, of course. So we have a guy called Kevin who gets curious. When he enters the dark web, he encounters a frightening live game show where viewers bid for unusual items. When he realizes what's happening, he contacts the masked game master via text. 00:20:10.25 Brian Penn which leads to a terrifying series of events. Now I find this an incredibly effective horror film. It really works and it is genuinely scary and it's got an original storyline. 00:20:21.08 ukfilmreview Mm. 00:20:22.79 Brian Penn I can never remember a storyline like this where you've got a game show wrapped within a mysterious website on the dark web that this guy sitting in his bedroom just gets curious, he's doodling online and then he he reaches something that he wish he hadn't and he starts spooling through various websites and he comes to this particular website and it's like when you're watching something and you don't want to watch it but you do and this is what happens here and it leads it leads to fairly major consequences for him I won't say any more than that but I found it really gripping and quite scary actually very very effective 00:21:07.79 ukfilmreview I did too and I often talk to people about horror films because I think horror is one of them genres that few people feel really passionate about and we've said on the podcast that whilst we are fans of the genre we wouldn't be call ourselves sort of die hard horror fans and a lot of that a lot of the time it comes down to 00:21:13.50 Brian Penn Yeah. 00:21:17.37 Brian Penn Yeah. 00:21:22.36 Brian Penn No, no, not so. No. 00:21:26.68 ukfilmreview the story being told and I find sometimes a lot of filmmakers get hung up on the gimmicks they get hung up on the blood and the special effects and things whereas actually I still want a good story and with curiosity it's telling something that's modern that makes sense that it's so terrifying because when you watch some other modern horror films the stories can often be like unraveled quite quickly because of 00:21:28.79 Brian Penn Yeah. 00:21:32.39 Brian Penn Yeah. Yeah. 00:21:39.84 Brian Penn Hmm. 00:21:44.02 Brian Penn Hmm. 00:21:47.50 Brian Penn Hmm. 00:21:51.03 Brian Penn Yeah. 00:21:52.00 ukfilmreview technology or something or social media or the internet but with curiosity they're using it to its benefit they're saying actually because of technology because of this dark web because of the way that we live our lives now in our rooms and feeling that we're you know we have the safety of our house but actually we don't because if you if you're connected to an internet line if you've got a webcam if you've got something they can still probably find you through an IP address that was like the real terrifying part of this film 00:21:53.49 Brian Penn Yeah. 00:21:57.28 Brian Penn Hmm. 00:22:09.50 Brian Penn Yeah, exactly. Yeah. Hmm. Yeah. 00:22:20.00 ukfilmreview um And it made sense. And also there's that it's tapping into that part of the human condition. I think they sort of mentioned it. And that's what the title is playing on, which is that yeah curiosity killed the cat. 00:22:32.01 ukfilmreview That is something that does terrify us on a very deep level, which is like, yes, whilst we are often wanting to know more, it can lead to our downfall. And I think that was a great, i that great theme to play on. 00:22:43.55 ukfilmreview They did it really well, I thought. 00:22:43.91 Brian Penn yeah Yeah, absolutely. I think, look, too much knowledge can be a dangerous thing, can't it, sometimes? I mean, we would say that generally knowledge is power, and that's what social media, that's what online resources allow us to do, is to become um more knowledgeable. But then it gives us a view into something deeply unsavory and very unpleasant. And I think it highlights what the downside of social media can be, is that it shows us too much of life, or it can show us too much of the dark side of life. 00:23:14.89 Brian Penn This is going through an extreme. But then again, you make a point by going through an extreme. youan You exaggerate, but you make a point and in the same way. And that's what this film does very well, is that be careful what you might find. you know but This is what could be out there. And in some ways, it it shows you how vulnerable can people people can be if they live too much of their lives through through the through social media, through the internet, through the web. 00:23:43.64 Brian Penn and Again, it's as you say, it's very convincing. It works well. And something that its it's it's building on something that's part of our lives now. Social media is part of our lives. We do live our lives through laptops and mobiles and computers. And as I say, very effective. It works so well. you know And I think they deserve a lot of credit for that. And I think horror fans will be genuinely impressed with it as well. 00:24:13.43 ukfilmreview Yeah, its for me it felt like something that could have, first off, be expanded to a feature length. 00:24:19.40 Brian Penn Yeah, of course. 00:24:19.85 ukfilmreview Definitely. would i' I wanted to watch War actually. 00:24:20.35 Brian Penn Yeah. 00:24:22.26 ukfilmreview I felt a bit kind of upset the way it finished. I was like, oh, okay. I feel like they could carry on. 00:24:26.56 Brian Penn Yeah. 00:24:27.05 ukfilmreview um So definitely with a feature, if not you know a series or actually a franchise, you yeah these things do often happen. 00:24:31.77 Brian Penn Yeah. 00:24:34.10 ukfilmreview There probably are 00:24:34.19 Brian Penn yeah Yeah. 00:24:35.86 ukfilmreview films out there because horror is a massive genre there that are played on very similar themes. 00:24:37.65 Brian Penn Yeah. 00:24:39.42 ukfilmreview I think in his review Jason talked about untraceable and hostile and things like that. 00:24:43.18 Brian Penn yeah 00:24:43.53 ukfilmreview um And this whole, I think on Rachel's podcast, i she's reviewed a lot of films where they call it torture porn or whatever they call it. 00:24:49.00 Brian Penn Yeah. 00:24:51.46 Brian Penn Well, yeah. 00:24:51.56 ukfilmreview um And I don't think this is necessarily that it's not trying to be gratuitous. There's not bits in there where you're going to go, oh, it's like blood curling that sort of moments. 00:25:00.19 Brian Penn No, I don't think so. none No, that's all. 00:25:01.63 ukfilmreview I think it's more cerebral than that. It's more kind of catching you on that sense of you feeling safe in your home, but actually, you if you stumbled on the wrong website, you could find yourself in a very sticky situation. 00:25:07.84 Brian Penn Yeah. 00:25:13.46 Brian Penn Good, good horror, in my opinion. I mean, obviously, ah Rachel on the screen says she's She's the real aficionado of horror. She knows the stuff a lot better than I do. I mean, like yourself, I'm a mainstream film fan, but um I think the key to good horror really is to leave some of it in your head and not necessarily to put it on screen. And that's something, that's the key to good horror is not to be too explicit and too obvious, right? Leave it in someone's head, then it then it works even better. 00:25:47.46 Brian Penn because you're playing on someone's imagination and that's what horror is always a sense to do is to play on your imagination and to let your imagination go to that place but not necessarily show it to you, just give you that suggestion and then yeah your own imagination will take you there and that to me is a key element of any any good horror story. 00:26:08.92 ukfilmreview I really wanted to do a shout out as well to the to the actors. I think Hunter Bishop is great as the yeah Kevin character. 00:26:16.58 Brian Penn yeah 00:26:16.89 ukfilmreview yeah I did wonder, is that like a play on the sort of Home Alone Kevin character at home? 00:26:21.33 Brian Penn It could be, yeah, it could be, I mean, yeah. 00:26:21.97 ukfilmreview you know um ah Maybe I'm reading a bit much into that. 00:26:25.38 Brian Penn Well, yeah. 00:26:26.61 ukfilmreview But I thought he was great. I thought he he really handled that because at first you see him kind of easily it's like bored, but almost sort of like entitled character and he starts to become like a bit of a keyboard warrior thinking oh i can just say what i want then all of a sudden it twists and you realize hold on there's going to be consequences from this and he deals with that shift really well um but i think it's john cook that did for me i was like when he was he's the uh the masked uh presenter of this show it was like oh my god he just can't 00:26:35.96 Brian Penn Yeah. 00:26:40.41 Brian Penn Yeah. 00:26:43.99 Brian Penn Yeah. and Yeah. 00:26:47.51 Brian Penn yeah 00:26:53.22 Brian Penn Yeah. yeah 00:26:57.32 ukfilmreview he's terrifying he's like a boogeyman i felt like i felt absolutely and i felt unnerved and disturbed by his his performance so good 00:27:03.51 Brian Penn And I know it's it's the mask and the voice, isn't it? You know, that's what it what it disted out distills down to that character. so It's the mask and the voice and they work perfectly together. And it does give you give you the shivers. And that's always the test, you know, for any good horror, horror flick. 00:27:23.01 Brian Penn So yeah, you know, for Marx, they they've done the job well. And you know, when you so when you mentioned home alone, I won't be surprised if they had certain reference points in the back of their minds, which is often the case because you watch any film, you can see influences dipping in and out of any film. And I don't think short features are any different there. So if you if you see if you look closely enough, you can see that is that they they take their influences from many sources. 00:27:53.00 Brian Penn and It's like just a question of something sticking in their minds, isn't it? 00:27:57.23 ukfilmreview Absolutely. 00:28:00.19 ukfilmreview It's not available live, curiosity, but we do have a clip. um It's quite a short clip. It's from the trailer, I believe. So I'm gonna play it just so you can get a little bit of taste and you do get to hear that fabulous ah voice that we're talking about. 00:28:08.08 Brian Penn Oh. 00:28:12.11 Brian Penn Oh, yeah. 00:28:12.52 ukfilmreview So I'm gonna go play that now. 00:28:37.49 ukfilmreview I appreciate it was a very short clip, but it was worth it to get a very small bit right at the end where you hear his voice. 00:28:41.60 Brian Penn Yeah, I know. 00:28:43.41 ukfilmreview So if you're listening on the podcast, you can always just rewind and hear it again, because it's it's really good. 00:28:47.56 Brian Penn Yeah, I know. yeah 00:28:49.92 ukfilmreview And then we'll just check as well. Yeah, no, I didn't see one on it. But yeah, the film isn't isn't out yet. um Again, I really want people to see it. So ah keeping an eye out for it, Curiosity, written and directed by Michael Cook. 00:29:02.66 ukfilmreview and So yeah, fabulous job, guys. Brilliant. 00:29:05.73 Brian Penn Mm. Very good. 00:29:07.22 ukfilmreview It's just so strong. The show is going so strong. There's so many good films. 00:29:10.07 Brian Penn Yeah. 00:29:10.78 ukfilmreview and We're just moving on to another really amazing film. 00:29:11.29 Brian Penn Well, no. 00:29:16.03 ukfilmreview Again, one I reviewed on the site back in August, again, A Good Day Will Come. This is written and directed by Aamir Zarkara. 00:29:21.72 Brian Penn Oh, 00:29:24.82 ukfilmreview And yes, this actually, again, ah it's a lot similar to the films, based on a real life wrestler, this one, Nabil Afkari. 00:29:36.84 ukfilmreview It's a short film um where the world of wrestling and the political unrest in Iran ah in 2018 collide um because we have a character called Arash, played by Sia Alipour, based on the Navid Afkari wrestler. 00:29:58.77 ukfilmreview But we're kind of putting it into a, not unlike with Ivan, I think Ivan was yeah more kind of direct, this is about him. 00:30:02.45 Brian Penn Yeah. 00:30:05.07 ukfilmreview This where they are actually changed the character's name, but it's very much based on that narrative wrestler. 00:30:08.02 Brian Penn yeah Yeah. 00:30:11.88 ukfilmreview But yeah, he's promising Iranian wrestler, but he starts to struggle in his career because he is getting very disturbed by the protests and the unrest going on around them. 00:30:24.44 ukfilmreview He's been told by his coaches, you know, don't worry about what's going on outside, just focus on your wrestling. but it comes to a head when I think it's his sister dies during one of the protest marches against the government and he can no longer stay silent he wears a t-shirt 00:30:34.25 Brian Penn and 00:30:41.75 Brian Penn Hmm. Hmm. 00:30:44.97 ukfilmreview you know, the sisters, her life years on at the end end of his ah match. And yeah, from there, he gets pulled into the the story of the the politics going on. 00:30:57.59 ukfilmreview He's seen as a very high profile voice against the government. 00:30:58.37 Brian Penn Hmm. 00:31:02.13 ukfilmreview um 00:31:02.43 Brian Penn Yeah. 00:31:03.39 ukfilmreview The film then moves into an area where he starts to be part of the protests. And from there, things get very tricky for him as he tries to sort of balance the idea of a peaceful protest, but also standing up for his people. 00:31:17.52 ukfilmreview But he yeah tries to do that as best he can. And the film itself is incredibly gripping and dramatic. 00:31:23.94 Brian Penn aye Yeah, it was excellent. 00:31:24.71 ukfilmreview Brian, what did you think of a good date will come? 00:31:28.75 Brian Penn and Really gripping is the word that this springs to mind. And I think it asks a lot of important questions about the almost strictly linked between sport and politics, you know, that once an athlete receives international recognition, when they stand under the flag of their country and wear their country's colors, who are they really representing? Are they representing the people or are they representing the state and the government? And I say it raises all kinds of important questions that fire off that really. And it sums it up so well in this film, you know, that here he is, 00:32:05.89 Brian Penn you know, wrestling is, is, is the number one sport in Iran. So obviously anyone who who becomes a champion wrestler in Iran, it's going to be a bit like a rock star, aren't they? And their opinions will always carry weight because of who they are and what they've achieved. But for me, it's about the idea that we should be able to separate the two. But he, he was put in a position where he felt he had to make a stand over some, he had to say something, particularly when his sister was involved. And I think it portrays that conflicts between just wanting to be a sportsman or sports person, shall we say, but also be a social compensator, being in a position where he has a profile and people want him to support them. They want him to to pick, for want of a better phrase, pick a side, but he wants, he's struggling to keep out of it. So there's a conflict there as well. I think it was so well portrayed here. 00:33:04.68 Brian Penn And it's an age old argument. This is nothing new. This is, this has always been, um, uh, an upfront and current dilemma for anyone who, who makes their way in sport, right. But they can't ever compete for the country and let it be. There's got to be something more to it than that. You know, and so I think it brings the whole issue into, into sharp focus. And I really, really enjoyed it. I think it was really powerful and really gripping. 00:33:33.73 Brian Penn And as I say, sheds the light on this, this idea that sport and politics are never going to coexist that they're always going to overlap. So very, very impressed with it. 00:33:45.75 ukfilmreview Yeah, it's interesting, isn't it? Because we we, in the UK, we see a lot, especially with footballers. If there's a global event, World Cup, or anything like that, then something happens. 00:33:57.20 Brian Penn Yeah. 00:33:57.58 ukfilmreview If the footballers are often, they're being asked, yeah they're asked their opinion, they're asked what's going on, and then 00:34:02.74 Brian Penn Yeah. 00:34:03.10 ukfilmreview they inevitably give their opinion whether they were asked or not and then there's this backlash you know you hear all these people kind of go you know stick to football and it's like well no you know these people are they represent the country just as much as you know politicians represent the country all right yeah they're not making decisions but they still have a voice and they also they have influence you know and what i'm very proud of often is that our sports people tend to be very good people they tend to be very conscientious warm people because 00:34:06.18 Brian Penn Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. and i Yeah. 00:34:17.11 Brian Penn yeah 00:34:20.17 Brian Penn and 00:34:26.13 Brian Penn Yeah. Yeah. 00:34:30.83 ukfilmreview you know they're passionate they're dedicated but they're also they're professionals and and they are and they yeah they they are entitled to that opinion to say and what and like um with uh the other character in this in this film 00:34:34.27 Brian Penn Yeah. 00:34:38.73 Brian Penn Yeah. 00:34:44.44 ukfilmreview it becomes the point where he sort of is being warned off by everyone saying that you need to not get involved because of who because of who you are where it's actually it's exactly that is why he feels he should get involved because he feels that if if if he doesn't then when will a good day come you know when will that happen because it's if they don't do anything that that's the problem 00:34:54.03 Brian Penn Yeah, I know. 00:35:05.00 ukfilmreview So I love that it's dealing with some really, really big heavy themes with this. 00:35:05.05 Brian Penn Yeah. 00:35:09.29 Brian Penn Yeah, it is. 00:35:09.92 ukfilmreview What I also thought, it's a 25 minute film, but my God, the spectacle in this film, the amount of locations, the amount of scenes they use, the amount of effort that's gone into so much of this movie, it felt like a thriller. 00:35:14.85 Brian Penn I know. 00:35:23.43 ukfilmreview It felt like a ah a political thriller that I 00:35:24.19 Brian Penn Yeah. 00:35:27.67 ukfilmreview I mean, yes, I'd absolutely watch a feature length, but it felt like it was already one. I felt like I would have gone on such a journey. It didn't, because, you know, with say like curiosity, which we just reviewed, it's a film that is actually a few simple ingredients when you actually look at it. 00:35:33.27 Brian Penn Yeah. 00:35:42.56 ukfilmreview It's like, oh, and they've done really well. I love filmmakers that do that. I think that's brilliant because don't, don't stretch yourself with this. 00:35:46.56 Brian Penn Yeah. 00:35:49.31 ukfilmreview there was a danger that they could have absolutely stretched themselves way too much. 00:35:49.90 Brian Penn Yeah. 00:35:53.31 ukfilmreview yeah You've got wrestling scenes, you've got protest scenes, you've got motorbikes, you've got things lots of things going on and it all actually felt very well done, brilliantly put together. 00:36:02.92 Brian Penn Yeah. 00:36:04.11 ukfilmreview they They're so excellently executed. 00:36:07.22 Brian Penn Yeah. 00:36:08.44 ukfilmreview Loved it. 00:36:08.89 Brian Penn sure very high production values really for what is it be a small production because the independent filmmaking is about working with a small budget but it seems to me that they've made whatever budget they've got go significantly further you know they've given it not gloss gloss isn't the right word but they've given it a kind of a sheen like a it you know it stands in they make make it stand out because of the the variety of 00:36:35.86 ukfilmreview Hmm. 00:36:39.03 Brian Penn scenes they portray because usually they are hemmed in by budget limitations. It's what we always come back to. But you don't you tend not to notice it quite as much here because of the variety you've got. 00:36:51.83 ukfilmreview Yeah, I didn't feel that they they had any budget like it issues. it wasn't Because sometimes you are watching a film going, oh, they could have easily done something more there if they just had more money. 00:37:00.62 Brian Penn Yeah. 00:37:02.30 ukfilmreview But I don't really let that affect my opinion of the film. 00:37:02.35 Brian Penn Yeah. 00:37:05.27 ukfilmreview It's more just as a thought, just say, OK, yeah, but with a bigger budget, you may have done, I don't know, just simple things like having extras in the scene or yeah ah more camera shots, more yeah things like that, things which aren't necessarily that essential. 00:37:07.34 Brian Penn Hmm. 00:37:13.83 Brian Penn well yeah yeah but they had a fair number of extras though didn't they they must have got yeah a fair yeah yeah this this is what i was getting at so it makes i suppose they're making it look like it had more of a budget and that's quite clever in itself isn't it you know because realistically you know you know they've got 00:37:18.72 ukfilmreview It's just you can allow the story to have a bit more to it. 00:37:25.58 ukfilmreview In this they did. Yeah, in this I thought it wasn't even a problem. I thought it was just a massive budget. 00:37:41.62 Brian Penn very strict parameters to work within. That's what independent filmmaking is about. But they made it look more more expensive than it really was. you know And that doesn't mean to say that films that have a tiny budget and work on a shoestring aren't as effective. 00:37:55.66 Brian Penn They are. But it's just that what you see in something become stands out more. And I guess that's what you're always trying to do, is to make it stand out. 00:38:06.77 ukfilmreview Absolutely. 00:38:07.59 Brian Penn Hmm. 00:38:09.59 ukfilmreview Would you have a little clip from the film? 00:38:11.24 Brian Penn Oh, lovely. 00:38:11.89 ukfilmreview It's not in the English language, so it's to give you a good idea of the tone, I think, of this film. 00:38:11.97 Brian Penn like 00:38:16.40 Brian Penn Yeah. 00:38:17.83 ukfilmreview But I'm going to play this. I know it's just a clip from A Good Day Will Come. 00:38:52.70 ukfilmreview It's always good to get a taste of a film. And just listening to that brought me right back into the film. It was like I was watching it again. 00:38:58.72 Brian Penn yeah Yeah, definitely. 00:39:00.11 ukfilmreview I was like, wow. And yeah, I really loved it. 00:39:03.85 Brian Penn you Yeah, even though that that clip wasn't in it in English, obviously, it's not a sort of subtitle, but you get a certain amount of the atmosphere that's being portrayed. So you don't, you don't necessarily need needs to be listening to English dialogue. 00:39:18.05 Brian Penn Do you really feel that you feel the tension coming through there? I reckon. 00:39:23.44 ukfilmreview Absolutely. um The film had actually provided me the actual clip. they I think they provided me the clip with the video and I said obviously we're going to use the audio. I'm just checking to see if it's online because I have a feeling. So you can watch the trailer. 00:39:42.82 ukfilmreview on, so that the director has a website, so Ms. Zagara has a website, so it's zagara.com, that's Z-A-R-G-A-R-A dot com, and on the You Better to Find a page dedicated to a good day will come. 00:39:57.24 ukfilmreview and on there is the trailer but not the film so I don't think it's out currently even though yeah we had a link but I don't think it's publicly accessible so I'm not going to definitely not going to share that link because I'm getting a lot 00:40:06.96 Brian Penn Hmm. 00:40:12.97 Brian Penn no yeah Yeah, that's not. 00:40:14.67 ukfilmreview um Yeah, but if you can find it, if you can see it, you should be lining all these up, listeners. 00:40:19.15 Brian Penn Hmm. 00:40:22.59 ukfilmreview yeah If you've got yeah pen and paper, which is what we which is what we used in the old days, if you're wondering what that is, it was a pen and paper, pen and paper. 00:40:23.56 Brian Penn Yeah. Make a list. 00:40:28.92 Brian Penn ay Yeah, pen and paper. I remember it well. 00:40:32.64 ukfilmreview I mean, in fairness, we are doing a podcast, so we're not exactly against the system here. 00:40:36.74 Brian Penn No, not at all. 00:40:37.19 ukfilmreview um But yeah, a good day will come. 00:40:37.70 Brian Penn ah 00:40:40.37 ukfilmreview amir's sagara it's absolutely brilliant i put it in the bottommer review I think I said, yeah, one of the best short films of the year. 00:40:47.51 Brian Penn Hmm. 00:40:48.02 ukfilmreview ah Hands down, I often do my own little lists of the best shorts that I've seen of of the year. 00:40:53.30 Brian Penn Yeah, absolutely. 00:40:53.80 ukfilmreview This will make it into it, um definitely. 00:40:56.36 Brian Penn Yeah, definitely. I agree with that. 00:40:58.98 ukfilmreview So, moving on now to a short film that I didn't review for the website, but James Leroy did, and he gave it five stars on the website. 00:41:09.36 Brian Penn Wow. 00:41:10.25 ukfilmreview ah Sorry, it's not a short film. This is a feature length, this is called perennial light and it's really directed by Colin Hickey. 00:41:15.92 Brian Penn Hmm. 00:41:19.56 ukfilmreview and It stars Jack O'Mahoney. I think Colin Hickey's in the film yet and Clara Rose Hickey is also in there. 00:41:24.32 Brian Penn Hmm. 00:41:28.23 ukfilmreview Do you want to take this one Brian? 00:41:29.97 Brian Penn Yeah, cool. So we have an Irish film without dialogue or conventional narrative shot in black and white. It tells the story of the man's life. from his upbringing in the countryside to his troubled adolescence and adulthood. 00:41:44.46 Brian Penn It's all interspersed with some great illustrations. I love the roughness of them. It feels like they've been done with pen and paper. It just gives it an incredible edge. Another independent Irish film, they've done it again. 00:41:55.25 Brian Penn The Irish are so consistent with their independent filmmaking. The number of films, Chris, that we've reviewed from Ireland, haven't we? Short films, but they're outstanding. 00:42:04.49 ukfilmreview Oh, yeah 00:42:07.08 Brian Penn They're absolutely brilliant. What I love about this film is the confidence that Colin Hickey shows that he's brave enough to shoot a feature film with no dialogue. You know, the sound effects, you can hear birds singing, but there's no spoken dialogue. There's no conventional narratives to so latch on to. Now a film like this would usually make you work very hard to follow what's going on, but you don't have to do that. You can actually sit back and just drinking the visuals. And there's a lot of symbolism there as well, you know, as if every single image is one stage in this man's life. And we have great images of particularly of the ship listing its sea and it's beginning to kind of topple over on one side. To me, that's very symptomatic ah of his feelings. And that's what this film does. Every single frame is so beautifully captured. 00:43:06.17 Brian Penn the amount of thought that's gone into it. I mean, it's really a work of art. I think it's beautifully done. And I'm very, very impressed with it. It's it's so difficult to pull off into a chief because we we tend to assume that dialogue is going to do the hard work for us. 00:43:24.39 Brian Penn Dialogue tells us what's going on, doesn't it? 00:43:26.11 ukfilmreview Hmm. Hmm. 00:43:27.40 Brian Penn But we don't have that with this film. But there's enough going on there for you to follow it. It's a lovely film. It's a lovely, lovely film. 00:43:36.41 ukfilmreview I always come across films like this every so often through UK Film Review. And it's kind of like when you go to a film festival that there's just something you would not have, if I'm honest, it's not a film you would necessarily have chosen to go see. 00:43:43.97 Brian Penn Hmm Yeah Yeah Hmm Yeah Yeah 00:43:50.11 ukfilmreview If someone says, you know, it's like an artistic piece, you know, it's a feature length and there's no dialogue, there's not really ah a full narrative, there's a ah suggestion, a narrative of the guy's kind of life, you know, it's almost like looking back on the life and like memories and things but it's bit's more it's more of a contemplative piece it's more something for you to sort of immerse yourself in and almost have an experience in a cinematic way but when you watch something like this and you really do get a lot out of it it's so fulfilling it's like wow i feel really honored to have seen that film um i think 00:44:15.47 Brian Penn Yeah. Yeah. 00:44:27.28 ukfilmreview Just yeah, just to sort of go over a couple of bits that you sort of mentioned Yeah, the the mixture of the live action with the animation I thought that was brilliantly done some of the parts of that is absolutely beautiful and what I loved about it was it almost provided like emotional context for what was going on that it was like like when you look back on something in your life or you look at a certain chapter even if it's going on right now you have the actual sort of 00:44:27.82 Brian Penn Yeah. 00:44:39.88 Brian Penn yeah 00:44:45.19 Brian Penn Yeah. Yeah. 00:44:53.08 ukfilmreview the visual, how you would see that memory, but then you have your own emotional attachment to that memory, whether that's that you loved it, hated it, you know, whatever. I thought that the two coexisting within this one film was really beautiful. 00:45:06.67 Brian Penn Yeah. 00:45:07.71 ukfilmreview I loved that. um I think there's a lot of ways you could read this film, but that's just how I kind of read it. 00:45:12.97 Brian Penn Yeah. 00:45:14.31 ukfilmreview I think the music changes enough as well to keep it from being too stagnant and like you said there the bird song I think it was a bit where it sort of said boom and the classical or like there's a guitar that kicks in and it really like lifted it up and ah yeah I think 00:45:20.04 Brian Penn Yeah. Yeah. yeah 00:45:31.39 ukfilmreview Those aspects to it, that you're using that the language of cinema, but without the the need for words to sort of connect with people, I think it's great. 00:45:37.49 Brian Penn yeah Hmm. 00:45:42.54 ukfilmreview It's kind of, it's a bit like classical music, right? It's like kind of going, do you know what, actually, this is just really, really good. If you can appreciate if you can appreciate it, don't get me wrong, there are all going to be people that aren't going to enjoy this film. 00:45:48.40 Brian Penn Yeah. Yeah. 00:45:53.85 ukfilmreview Perennial Light is not a mainstream film by any means. 00:45:54.04 Brian Penn Yeah. 00:45:56.60 Brian Penn No, I mean, yeah. 00:45:56.92 ukfilmreview um But for fans of art, film, yeah cinema, I think it's great. 00:46:02.16 Brian Penn Yeah, I agree. I think it is going to attract a certain type of film fan. You know, that I'd be very interested to see how the market for like this if it went on the actual release, because it is basically a silent film. And it's difficult for not to think of it as a novelty and it's not a novelty it's just another way of portraying a life a life that's been lived and seems from a life but but it's not it does away with with but words but the compensating factors are there but that makes it more of a it makes it more special more of a specialist film one for people that appreciate that kind of film it' ah it's it's more of an art film but it works better 00:46:46.94 Brian Penn when you see it online, when you see it on a small screen than it was on a big screen. You know, as you say, it's not gonna work for everyone, but I was i was very, you know, it's a word I keep on using about what the films are reviewing tonight. Very impressed, really was. 00:47:03.51 ukfilmreview It's also, it's ah ambitious to do what we're doing, but there's also some really cool bits that which are just genuinely impressive. 00:47:07.42 Brian Penn Yeah. 00:47:11.22 ukfilmreview like There was a bit where a drone follows this guy like skateboarding through the town. 00:47:11.70 Brian Penn Mm. 00:47:16.74 Brian Penn Yeah. 00:47:16.85 ukfilmreview I was like um was just a brilliantly shot piece of cinema. 00:47:19.11 Brian Penn and I know. 00:47:20.37 ukfilmreview It really stood out to me. 00:47:20.40 Brian Penn Yeah. 00:47:21.50 ukfilmreview I remember thinking, that was really good. 00:47:23.07 Brian Penn and I know. 00:47:23.12 ukfilmreview And and what I also really liked was a person an older person, it's someone maybe a little bit more and who's lived life, shall we say, that you do have these these times where you start thinking back on your life, thinking back on your memories. 00:47:32.57 Brian Penn Hmm. 00:47:41.02 Brian Penn Yeah. 00:47:41.09 ukfilmreview And what I thought was great was there was these snapshots of locations, so like the train station or the harbor, or like just like an innocuous pair of but bad some set of steps. 00:47:41.70 Brian Penn Yeah. Hmm. 00:47:48.40 Brian Penn Yeah. 00:47:53.52 ukfilmreview And I think that 00:47:53.57 Brian Penn Yeah. 00:47:55.27 ukfilmreview is really powerful because often we are sort of intrinsically linked to ourselves in those times that we would think back to them and go oh yes and that's what comes into our brain and immediately a ton of memories sort of can flood in if you've been to that location a lot of times and if you can kind of submit yourself to that power that a film like this can reach you in in a lot of ways and it can transport you and that I think is 00:48:00.35 Brian Penn Yeah. 00:48:04.40 Brian Penn Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. 00:48:18.48 Brian Penn Yeah. 00:48:19.16 ukfilmreview it's it's a very powerful phrase to use but that I would use it with a film like perennial light because it's so artfully done and also it doesn't try and give in to the need to push itself and go oh actually do you know what people are going to get bored so let's do you know let's throw something in it's like no no actually 00:48:23.91 Brian Penn Yeah. 00:48:27.33 Brian Penn Hmm. 00:48:33.83 Brian Penn Hmm. 00:48:41.42 ukfilmreview We set our stall out. 00:48:42.97 Brian Penn Yeah. 00:48:43.65 ukfilmreview This is our movie. And I love the way they tell that with such confidence. I think it was brilliantly done. 00:48:48.13 Brian Penn Yeah. I think, yeah, I think you're right. is' It is, they are snapshots. There are memories, images that we can all draw on if we think back to our earlier life. And again, they've used Ireland, the countryside, scenery natural scenery they have around them. They've used it so well, but it's a focus on everyday objects as well. You know, if you think back to when you're very young, you know, certain objects are certain, like like a staircase, 00:49:17.34 Brian Penn can take on more significance when you think about it more and it's very well observed and yeah I think you have to be tuned into it you have to be in a certain frame of mind to watch it and appreciate it but damn it's good it's it's clever it it's confident it's bold to sort of say right we're not going to bother with with any sort of scripts so you know all credit to him you know that it's a hell of a job 00:49:47.06 ukfilmreview When we say him, we mean Colin Hickey. but yeah Colin Hickey, yeah. 00:49:49.38 Brian Penn I mean, yeah, we've been calling hecky. Yeah, absolutely. Yeah. Yeah. 00:49:51.96 ukfilmreview um Not available as far as I'm aware. um I say that because I'm often not aware of a lot of things, listeners. 00:50:00.83 Brian Penn No, really. I thought you knew everything for us. 00:50:02.82 ukfilmreview My ignorance stretches really wide, so it may well be a lot available online. It does have a trailer, so if you head to our website and look up the Review of Perennial Light, you'll be able to see the trailer. 00:50:15.58 ukfilmreview um And that's worth with doing. And you can read James's review as well. He absolutely loved it. So yeah, echoing um what he said in our review on this podcast. 00:50:25.77 Brian Penn Yeah, definitely. 00:50:27.08 ukfilmreview But yeah, check it out if you can. We are going to a, this is a short film. It's a short film. It's very short. It's four minutes long as well. 00:50:34.86 Brian Penn Oh, it's that one. Yeah. It's that one. 00:50:37.20 ukfilmreview um ah called Embrace Disruption, um directed by Johan Shannon, Canadian film. And this was submitted to us via FilmFreeway. 00:50:49.00 ukfilmreview So if you're a filmmaker that uses FilmFreeway, you can submit your films to us via there. 00:50:50.51 Brian Penn Hmm. 00:50:53.24 ukfilmreview we This is how we get them onto some of them onto the podcast. i'm But yeah, this film Embrace Disruption, again, artistic piece, much like the the previous film, um but definitely being a lot more subversive, I think, with the form and being more like a almost more like an art installation, you more something that you might go and see in an actual, ah what would you call it, an art studio, something like that um installation. 00:51:16.30 Brian Penn Yeah. 00:51:20.85 Brian Penn When installation kind of thing. 00:51:23.50 ukfilmreview Yeah. 00:51:23.64 Brian Penn Yeah. 00:51:24.72 ukfilmreview um It the The setup of the film has three screens within a screen. and there's ah There's an image at the top left, and then there's two others that are actually sort changing, but they're all kind of connected. There's some lightening that connects them. 00:51:40.37 ukfilmreview and it's This one, I feel, is massively open to interpretation in this film. um my My take on it, which having read the the director's statement and and the actual yeah the overview and things like that from the filmmaker, is that it's a piece about nature and about o yeah yeah our relationship with nature. 00:51:46.55 Brian Penn yeah oh yes um off the off the cuff right okay off the cuff um i mean i was look it's a very engaging piece you know it 00:52:02.78 ukfilmreview What did you take from it, Brian? Just off the cuff. 00:52:16.80 Brian Penn It's modern art. I mean, as we just said, you you would almost expect to see it in an art gallery or an installation of some kind. But those three images are constantly sort of competing and conflicting with each other, because you've got a heart-shaped figure in one box with limbs, and you've got what appears to be a star-shaped figure with limbs in the other box. And they're both very active. And there's things going on in the background. But in the box, 00:52:46.41 Brian Penn above the two of them. They're both together, but nothing much is happening. Now, to me, it's a bit like saying that um these two entities are more effective, separate than they are together. That's what I was getting from it. Now, I could be absolutely and utterly wrong about that. um But I'm not entirely certain oh what it actually means. that That's what I was getting from it. that There's all that activity when they're when they're separated, when they're alone. But there's less happening when they're together. But I'm not sure why that would be the case. 00:53:25.35 ukfilmreview Yeah, I was quite lucky because the director actually sent me an email to say because I think they'd read the review, which which I didn't change because I think you that's their interpretation of what they saw at the time with the knowledge that they had. 00:53:31.20 Brian Penn ah 00:53:33.89 Brian Penn Yeah. 00:53:41.34 ukfilmreview And I think that's their review. 00:53:41.54 Brian Penn Yeah. 00:53:42.93 ukfilmreview That's fine because as audience members, 00:53:43.85 Brian Penn Yeah. 00:53:46.80 ukfilmreview It's not always our job to go and research everything about a film before we watch it. And I think your opinion of a film, based on what you took with you when you went to see it, it is the review. 00:53:55.99 Brian Penn Hmm. 00:53:57.72 ukfilmreview But if it if it gets shaped later on, that's absolutely fine. 00:53:57.89 Brian Penn Yeah. 00:54:00.87 ukfilmreview and But the yeah the star shape that you refer to is actually a vulva. 00:54:01.29 Brian Penn Hmm. 00:54:05.39 Brian Penn Oh, I did. 00:54:05.46 ukfilmreview um 00:54:06.34 Brian Penn I did wonder. 00:54:07.55 ukfilmreview Yeah, it looked a little bit, didn't it? 00:54:08.18 Brian Penn I didn't. Yeah. 00:54:09.67 ukfilmreview A little bit i thought like an organ. 00:54:10.50 Brian Penn Yeah. Right. 00:54:12.27 ukfilmreview And and that as I knew that going into the film, I was obviously a bit more yeah yeah shaped by that. 00:54:12.72 Brian Penn Okay. Yeah. 00:54:19.68 ukfilmreview And I was kind of like, okay, so it's like a soft heart and it's a vulva. 00:54:22.61 Brian Penn Uh, right. 00:54:23.77 ukfilmreview And that, for me, 00:54:24.05 Brian Penn Okay. 00:54:27.06 ukfilmreview made me kind of then I think it's worth actually before we go just read out the and overview just from the the director which says so this is the on film for you and they have an overview which is like this is like the synopsis of the film. 00:54:28.55 Brian Penn Yeah. yeah Yeah. 00:54:41.23 ukfilmreview um facing an uncontrollable disorder two postures clash and challenge each other feeling uncomfortable showing indifference collapsing feeling mockery gnawing internally disintegrating experiencing invigorating sensuality question mark so 00:54:58.18 Brian Penn Right. Okay. 00:54:59.31 ukfilmreview Right now as we've said this is like an art piece this is saying it's challenging you it's not saying that here's your narrative here's what's happened beginning middle of the land and we all know who the hero was it's saying you know you're gonna watch this and you're gonna feel different things much the way that Brian you know had his that's your version of the film that you saw and what you thought was there and I think when you watch or take part and see art 00:55:02.69 Brian Penn Yeah. 00:55:07.61 Brian Penn Yeah. 00:55:18.05 Brian Penn Yeah. 00:55:25.72 ukfilmreview it is as much about you as it is about the piece that you're seeing often. 00:55:28.83 Brian Penn Yeah. 00:55:30.08 ukfilmreview um That being said, with a film like this, I watched it, I think I watched it three times because I still feel like yeah the director is is challenging me, is pushing me and saying, look, do you know what, actually there's other things here. 00:55:34.00 Brian Penn Yeah. 00:55:45.92 ukfilmreview um it's It's got a lot of interesting themes. I like the idea that there's a few bits where the nature kind of comes in, like there's water that's falling, there's some ashes that sort of come across, there's some trees that are kind of like in ah like red and white, and it is giving that feeling of like something disturbing going on, it doesn't feel quite natural, and yet we're seeing natural elements being given to us. 00:55:52.08 Brian Penn yeah 00:56:02.68 Brian Penn e 00:56:11.02 Brian Penn Yeah. 00:56:11.51 ukfilmreview And these two characters almost competing, um but in a kind of, ballet sort of way or sort of ballet. 00:56:18.42 Brian Penn Yeah, yeah, yeah, I can say that. 00:56:19.09 ukfilmreview It kind of felt that they, yeah, there was like a it was like a movement piece, right? 00:56:20.97 Brian Penn Yeah. 00:56:23.30 Brian Penn Yeah. 00:56:23.38 ukfilmreview And I think, you know, the filmmaker in her statement, she talks about using lots of different forms of art during their career. And I think it's absolutely fine to see that within this piece that it's is's using visual elements, but also physical movement with the characters or with these actors that they're is a a way of set of saying, well, what is it you're going to take from this? 00:56:48.63 Brian Penn Hmm. 00:56:48.75 ukfilmreview um And that's what I kind of took from it was that it was about the plight of the world and that it was almost like the heart and the mother nature, I guess, or something like that don't necessarily always get on. 00:57:01.61 Brian Penn Yeah. 00:57:05.01 ukfilmreview um 00:57:05.02 Brian Penn Right. Yeah. 00:57:07.10 ukfilmreview the It was, yeah. 00:57:07.43 Brian Penn yeah Okay. Yeah, that that makes sense. No, no, what what I know now. yeah um But 00:57:14.45 ukfilmreview Yeah. 00:57:16.04 Brian Penn that is not always the way with a piece like this, is that it is heavily interpretational. 00:57:19.88 ukfilmreview yeah 00:57:22.62 Brian Penn And I do wonder how much we should know about what's behind a film like this before we watch it. You know, that you may get an inkling, but it doesn't feel admittedly obvious. 00:57:35.96 Brian Penn It's the type of thing that takes you away from the obvious and you think something different. And I always feel that this type of film is trying to do that. He's trying to keep you guessing. He's challenging you. That's absolutely fine. I've often said that, you know, I don't mind a film making me work harder for my entertainment. That is absolutely fine. But I suppose the downside with a piece like this is that a hundred people could watch it and a hundred people could come up with a hundred different explanations of what they think is happening here. Right. So, you know, they may not necessarily be on the same wavelength as a director. I mean, what they've done is very clever. 00:58:15.72 Brian Penn And very intelligent, but it could fly over people's heads. And I don't think it's always that obvious, but. 00:58:22.11 ukfilmreview I know a lot of filmmakers as artists, they do want that discussion. 00:58:22.79 Brian Penn but 00:58:26.86 ukfilmreview They do want to create, you know, ah and they don't want to just give you a but yeah ah story. So this is the story and I say it, they will do want you to kind of come at it with your own sort of element. 00:58:34.43 Brian Penn Hmm. 00:58:37.65 ukfilmreview um 00:58:37.96 Brian Penn Yeah. 00:58:38.89 ukfilmreview But with this, like I said, it's so out there that it really is, it was kind of psychological watching it almost like kind of all good. It just feels like I'm going through maybe some therapy right now. 00:58:50.54 ukfilmreview I mean, what is it that it's trying to do to me? 00:58:52.26 Brian Penn Yeah. 00:58:52.47 ukfilmreview um We do have a clip. 00:58:55.69 Brian Penn You're right. 00:58:57.94 ukfilmreview Well, I'll play the clip and and we'll talk about it in a second. 00:59:00.90 Brian Penn Okay. 00:59:56.63 ukfilmreview So I think it's crucial that that got played because it does give you that sense of it's a challenging watch and a challenging listen. 01:00:00.11 Brian Penn Yeah. Yeah. 01:00:05.15 ukfilmreview um Also for me one of the aspects that I i didn't like as much was the way that the sound was so disjointed that it did feel like it was lots and lots of little mini series of things going on and within that chaos, I felt, I think the feeling is like you're feeling lost. 01:00:16.33 Brian Penn Yeah. 01:00:21.27 ukfilmreview You feel like you don't get it and you're watching it going, why don't I get it? 01:00:22.91 Brian Penn Yeah. 01:00:25.23 ukfilmreview what What is it about this? 01:00:25.77 Brian Penn Yeah. 01:00:26.39 ukfilmreview I feel like I should get it. um And I think that's okay. 01:00:28.06 Brian Penn Yeah. 01:00:30.48 ukfilmreview It's almost like maybe maybe you don't need to get it. Maybe it's more about actually just experience it, see how you feel about it and what does it kind of bring up in you. 01:00:32.90 Brian Penn Yeah. 01:00:38.12 Brian Penn Yeah. 01:00:38.15 ukfilmreview um But having said that, the filmmaker did reach out and said, look, just let you know it's evolving. 01:00:45.34 Brian Penn yeah but Yeah. 01:00:46.11 ukfilmreview that little piece of information actually is quite helpful. 01:00:48.48 Brian Penn That that does that's make a lot more sense now. and But again, that that doesn't mean to say that it's not valid, that it that it's good. What they've done is good. 01:01:00.42 Brian Penn But it for a lot of people, I think for a lot of viewers, they will need something a bit more obvious and know a bit more, um a bit easier to follow. 01:01:13.83 Brian Penn think Because you you do you do think to yourself, you do get halfway through, you do get kind of frustrated with it because you think, I should be getting this, but I'm not, and i' no, I'm not getting it. 01:01:14.04 ukfilmreview yeah 01:01:25.14 Brian Penn And I should be and why aren't I getting it? What am I missing? And you feel like you're missing the subtleties of the piece, but you know, that it that is probably one of its functions though, is to film anything in this way, is is to make you ponder and make you think more. 01:01:44.00 ukfilmreview Absolutely. 01:01:44.85 Brian Penn Yeah. 01:01:45.59 ukfilmreview Embrace Disruption was submitted on Film Free, which normally means it's not out ah to watch. 01:01:54.49 ukfilmreview There is a website, well, the filmmaker has a website, yohanchanon.kabek. 01:02:01.66 ukfilmreview If you search Embrace Disruption, you'll likely find it if you can't. If not, drop us a line and we'll direct you as best we can. um because we know there's lots of fans of art films out there and and art videos things like that yeah it's definitely falls in that category much like and perennial light and perennial light has more i think of a um a wider appeal but with this i think people may feel strongly about it yeah than that and that's okay that's a good thing so um and at four minutes i mean you can watch it a few times yeah there's no harm in that 01:02:15.56 Brian Penn Yeah. 01:02:20.85 Brian Penn Yeah. Yeah. I know. ah But the important thing though, Chris, it provokes a reaction. You know, that's what what it aims to do is to make people think, you know, and That's a good thing. That's what film is all about, is to provoke a ah reactionist, is to make me make us think, challenge us, make us wonder. So it's done its job in that way. 01:02:54.23 ukfilmreview Fantastic. Moving to our final film of this episode, this special episode of UK Film Club, um another film free rate submission to us. 01:03:04.32 ukfilmreview This was sent to us by Ed Hartman, and it's a film called The Scalpel, and it has a very unusual history. 01:03:14.49 ukfilmreview Did you know the history of this film, Brian? 01:03:16.16 Brian Penn No, I can honestly say that I didn't. No, no, it's that was it was new to me. 01:03:18.53 ukfilmreview No. um Yeah, I didn't know until yeah I went into all the details on the the review and within Film Freeway. So yeah, it's ah it's a film from 1936. 01:03:32.35 Brian Penn Hmm. 01:03:32.77 ukfilmreview And that by surprise some listeners. Don't worry, we haven't traveled in time. It's still 2024. 01:03:37.20 Brian Penn Yeah, no, we're not going back in the time machine. 01:03:39.48 ukfilmreview and But it was a film that was, yeah so it was directed by Richard H. Lieford, who's a celebrated filmmaker, and was essentially lost, and but it was restored by Ed Hartman um and so some others, I believe, who and and Ed Hartman does the score for it. 01:04:00.73 Brian Penn um 01:04:01.58 ukfilmreview So yeah, do you want to describe the film, Brian? 01:04:05.53 Brian Penn Yes, yeah, with pleasure. um So the scalpel is really a play on Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. Dr. Howard Van Cleef is into dangerous experiments. 01:04:18.36 Brian Penn and he has perfected a compound to cure cretinism um and begins injecting his thyroid with inevitable results. And I think it's an absolute gem. 01:04:31.03 Brian Penn I really enjoyed it. 01:04:31.24 ukfilmreview Mmm. 01:04:32.44 Brian Penn You know, I was familiar with Richard H. Lieford's work because he was a special effects pioneer on Walt Disney films. So I knew him from his later career, but this is at the very beginning of his career ah when he was in his late teens. 01:04:48.30 Brian Penn I think it's excellent. It's, you know, Ed Hartman ah he deserves huge credit for bringing a film like this up to standard and to giving giving it that extra bit of polish and it looks very fresh and very new and is effectively a silent movie, which I think is interesting in itself because 1936, you know, they'd gone over to the talkies almost exclusively by then. So it was unusual back then to have a film that was silent. 01:05:17.52 Brian Penn but I really liked it. It invokes a lot of memories for me of a Saturday morning TV at Christmas when they would often play a lot of silent movies like this, just to fill in the schedules. 01:05:28.46 Brian Penn And I think they're they're great fun. They're very inventive. And it also, it's very important that we feature Richard H. Leiford in a feature on independent films because from what I can understand, he he was one of the daddies of independent filmmaking. 01:05:43.04 ukfilmreview ah yeah Yeah, it felt very accessible and for a film that is 01:05:44.53 Brian Penn So I think it's very important that he's featured here and that He's getting credit for the films that he made that predated the career that most people know him for. I think it's great fun. I think it's got lots of style and lots of energy. Very, very good. I liked it a lot. 01:06:06.39 ukfilmreview like i say not even for the 30s it does feel like it was even from before that by the style of it and but it has that classic kind of monster movie feel to it i think that's what i really liked about it was that it was like being transported back to those old horror movies that they you know they used to put out and it has the aesthetic of that but it also 01:06:10.50 Brian Penn Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. 01:06:22.11 Brian Penn Yeah. Yeah. 01:06:28.81 Brian Penn yeah 01:06:30.39 ukfilmreview does feel like they've rejuvenated in some way and you can imagine you obviously we get remakes of films but they don't necessarily keep that original tone and and original methodology i think with the scalpel what they've done here it it feels it feels at one point it feels like it is a historic artifact but on the other ah hand it feels like actually this is something we should be watching now this is great um 01:06:35.45 Brian Penn Yeah. Yeah. 01:06:50.50 Brian Penn um 01:06:54.23 Brian Penn Well, yeah. 01:06:55.65 ukfilmreview really, like I say, it is a Jekyll and Hyde story. 01:06:59.68 Brian Penn Yeah. 01:07:00.24 ukfilmreview The plot is fairly ah so straightforward to keep up with, but but well done. 01:07:03.83 Brian Penn Hmm. 01:07:05.41 ukfilmreview Some great performances in there. um It's always interesting seeing actors performing, obviously, the cards come up and things like that. 01:07:07.38 Brian Penn Yeah. 01:07:14.05 Brian Penn No, I think it's great. 01:07:14.79 ukfilmreview um Yeah, Barbara Berger plays the sort of nurse and she's really good. 01:07:16.08 Brian Penn I love that sort of thing. Yeah. Yeah. 01:07:20.26 ukfilmreview um Yes, the makeup effects was going to say as well, the special effect, sort of the makeup was really good. um Some scenes with the characters using that I felt that really stood out as being particularly powerful. 01:07:26.58 Brian Penn Yeah. 01:07:33.27 ukfilmreview And let me say, this is an indie filmmaker. This isn't like a studio film. this isn't some yeah He was experimenting a lot. 01:07:36.37 Brian Penn oh 01:07:39.91 Brian Penn Yeah. 01:07:40.83 ukfilmreview And at such a young age, I mean, I hate to think about what the film I would have made at 19. 01:07:41.07 Brian Penn Yeah. I know. 01:07:46.40 ukfilmreview Jeez. 01:07:47.13 Brian Penn Exactly. I think it's got a hell of a lot going for it. But bear in mind that these films were just uncovered, weren't they in a in an attic or a loft somewhere in any time. And to be able to take something like that, that's, you know, almost 90 years old and restore it sufficiently for it to look, come across so sharp and clear, you know, the, the rest of the, the standard of restoration is brilliant. Right. I reckon, you know, it's, it almost feels like something made today. That's a parody, a send up of, um, silent movies back then. 01:08:25.35 Brian Penn if you see what I'm getting at, you know, it has that freshness of being on set, but that shows how ah ahead of his time he was bringing what he was doing. And as far as I know, I don't think there was anyone else doing anything similar like that at the same, that was doing it outside the studio system as well, which he was. So that's lots of brownie points there for him. And i hopefully it introduces the the audience to to his work and not just what he was doing with Walt Disney, but what he did before that, which is great. And it's all about uncovering gems like this. And it's always good when this is discovered and it comes to light and we're able to to watch it and review it and enjoy it for the first time. 01:09:12.04 ukfilmreview I'm very honored to say that Ed Hartman actually provided us with a little narrative intro for the film. 01:09:18.27 Brian Penn um okay yeah 01:09:19.57 ukfilmreview So I'm going to play that now because he gives lots of really useful information. So this is from Ed Hartman. 01:09:23.01 Brian Penn yeah 01:10:44.43 ukfilmreview I love it when filmmakers do my job for me. 01:10:45.39 Brian Penn Yeah. 01:10:47.97 ukfilmreview It makes it so much easier. 01:10:48.29 Brian Penn I know. ah Yeah. 01:10:50.00 ukfilmreview And they're so much cleaner about it, aren't they? They don't fumble with all the details like I do. 01:10:52.02 Brian Penn Yeah. Yeah. 01:10:54.12 ukfilmreview They just know what to say. And I just stick, I sit here and ruin it. 01:10:55.91 Brian Penn But ah chris Chris, they've rehearsed it, haven't they? 01:10:57.78 ukfilmreview So, yeah, 01:10:59.85 Brian Penn How many times have they taken that? You know you never know, do you? 01:11:03.87 ukfilmreview ah yeah that's what I'll tell myself that. I'll say that, yeah, I did that like 50 times. 01:11:05.91 Brian Penn I can vouch for you for the fact you are doing it live. 01:11:10.58 ukfilmreview yeah 01:11:14.81 Brian Penn No worries. I tell what's in yeah no reader ah see you what's interesting about that clip though is that you really see what what a great technician Richard H. 01:11:15.67 ukfilmreview No redos. 01:11:24.60 Brian Penn Leifert was and that he is a pioneer in every sense of the word. I mean, to to do what he did and what he went on to do. Anyone who wins an Oscar obviously knows their stuff. 01:11:37.56 Brian Penn they knows what they They know what they're doing and they've mastered their craft. So I think it's great that um it's coming to light, it's being brought to light. And I think it's important to do that. You know, there are lots of great stories out there, lots of great characters, people that have worked in the movies who we don't know about, you know, but nevertheless, it contributes to something fantastic to to filmmaking. And that's what Richard H. Loeffler has done. So I think it's only right, we should be but view reviewing this type of but this type of film. It's great. 01:12:09.63 ukfilmreview It's really an amazing position that we're in, that only we showcase in modern indie filmmakers. I'm hoping to shine a light on them because we do get to see some amazing ah indie movies. 01:12:16.89 Brian Penn Yeah. 01:12:20.84 Brian Penn Yeah, we do. Yeah. 01:12:22.50 ukfilmreview But now it's like, yeah this is one for sort of the film history buffs. 01:12:23.80 Brian Penn Yeah. 01:12:26.28 ukfilmreview you know They may not have known that. 01:12:26.38 Brian Penn Hmm. 01:12:27.60 ukfilmreview you know we We're pretty unfamiliar with it. and 01:12:31.06 Brian Penn Yeah. 01:12:31.20 ukfilmreview to have that uncovered by a modern indie filmmaker and shown yeah to us is amazing. 01:12:34.83 Brian Penn yeah 01:12:37.05 ukfilmreview And I think the lineage of that is something that a lot of people respect, a lot of people enjoy. 01:12:37.28 Brian Penn Hmm. 01:12:43.26 ukfilmreview And it's also a film that the scalpel with with Ed Hartman's score that is worthy of a modern audience. It's something that I could easily see that yeah they playing that on on a platform or on ah on a streaming service and people enjoying it. 01:12:57.60 ukfilmreview especially those who do enjoy silent movies that are a fan of that era because it's a very very good one and much like something like Embrace Disruption it's like the more you know about that I think the more you're going to get out of it the more you know the story of who this is and why you're watching it and yeah that' that's really great so 01:13:05.55 Brian Penn Yeah. 01:13:13.80 Brian Penn Yeah. Hmm. Hmm. 01:13:19.39 Brian Penn Yeah. 01:13:20.27 ukfilmreview Thank you very much to Ed for sending that and also to all our filmmakers for sending us your movies. 01:13:22.63 Brian Penn Hmm. 01:13:26.63 ukfilmreview We are we are very honoured and we hope we view some justice to just talk about your films and give our versions of what we thought of them. 01:13:26.92 Brian Penn and 01:13:36.38 Brian Penn Yeah. 01:13:36.64 ukfilmreview And yeah, that's it for this special episode because we've done six indie films, which is just brilliant. It's a monster episode, really. 01:13:46.46 Brian Penn I mean, yeah, Chris, I think we we have to highlight the quality of independent films we see. 01:13:52.45 ukfilmreview Hmm. 01:13:53.77 Brian Penn They are really very, very good. And so I started reviewing with you. I wasn't aware of what was out there and it shows that it can pass you by and you do need to look out for it because you do see a lot of quality films that you might miss but it's just that they can pass you by because I think we do tend to turn our eyes towards big theatrical releases and it's easy to do but you miss out on an awful lot 01:14:04.62 ukfilmreview Oh, yeah. 01:14:27.66 Brian Penn if you don't look elsewhere this yes it's official 01:14:30.42 ukfilmreview you go you've been warned all right brian has warned you you're gonna miss out um so stay tuned to our podcast um because we will be reviewing more indie films we may not be on the next episode it depends if we'll come in because we've actually caught up now managed to uh bring them all into the forefront but we'll see we might get a few before we do our next episode but if not the next episode will be where we do um 01:14:44.48 Brian Penn know 01:14:53.90 ukfilmreview some theatrical films, streaming films, nostalgia pick as normal. um But to everyone who's listened, thank you. To everyone who sent films in, thank you. And to Brian, a big thank you. 01:15:05.81 Brian Penn A pleasure as always. 01:15:07.64 ukfilmreview It's been a pleasure. um So yeah, thank you everyone and we'll see you again next time. 01:15:13.18 Brian Penn Bye for now. Previous Next

Read the film podcast transcript from the episode titled UK Film Club: 001 on UK Film Club part of the UK Film Review Podcast. < Back UK Film Club: 001 Listen to This Episode UK Film Club 00:00.00 ukfilmreview But but. 00:00.00 Brian Penn Something weird happened in there because it said your file was is now uploading or it's now finishing or whatever it says when the recording finishes then what? what? what happened there. 00:06.46 ukfilmreview Yeah, it was weird it just it came on and you just immediately kind of fell off and I was like oh okay, as worth. 00:17.52 Brian Penn And I would it's typical if anyone would do that I'd be me wouldn't it. Let's be honest, Yeah, how how are you do this. 00:20.75 ukfilmreview That's why I thought yeah I thought yeah is is is that enough already gosh Ah much better. Thank you? Yeah, um, it's been. It's been weird because they've had illnesses and illnesses and illnesses and then we had this little brief window where they were okay and thought oh this is going Well this is good and then out of nowhere. 00:35.48 Brian Penn There. 00:40.00 ukfilmreview I thought guys I feel sick come ah come on so 5 and one. So yeah, that age where they lick everything. 00:40.68 Brian Penn How old are they? Yeah well yeah, that's right, they that was going to say they're exploring aren't they and discovering like I Well yeah, let's not go there shall we yeah. 00:51.81 ukfilmreview The although I know some adults that still lick everything. So yeah. 01:00.41 Brian Penn Um I had a terrible cold early on in the week you know if we had to try to have done this on Tuesday or Wednesday I probably couldn't have done it I had a really bad cold but it's it's probably my first buy cold in about a year, but it's thank god it's cleared up fairly quickly. But yeah. 01:14.22 ukfilmreview You do sound a little bit bunged up. Actually your voice has got that quite yeah quite and like a nice ah country in Blues kind of feel to it. Yeah, yeah, yeah. 01:19.66 Brian Penn Oh really, oh want a cool I want to so I now add an an interesting dimension to it wont that that how not please this could open up a whole new career for me couldn't you never know hey. 01:26.75 ukfilmreview Bash out the karaoke later on Mate because it does sound it sounds good. It sounds good. Absolutely absolutely well have you been there haven't been haven't spoke to you since last year and I think. 01:39.50 Brian Penn Yeah, no, not all good. All good, busy and work My my department's been dismembered. It's been broken into three but we're all still all right now. Um I I used to work in what was called Bays business ah business energy. 01:46.88 ukfilmreview Gosh gosh. 01:56.38 Brian Penn And industrial strategy. We're now just called db well we're called 3 different departments now you know, no no, one's lost in it and no jobs have been lost. It's just that we're we're in 3 different pieces now. So everyone's running around trying to work out how how we operate now because we've merged with another department called the department for international trade. So. 02:04.91 ukfilmreview I. 02:15.49 Brian Penn Um, don't don't ask me tweeten to go into detail because like I don't explain it Well it depends what you mean buy a property on doesn't it really? I'm what I work in policy which covers the multitude of sins and in the civil service Really we develop. 02:15.76 ukfilmreview Sounds very serious Brian it sounds very serious and you know like a proper job if you got proper job is on your 10 be and. 02:33.30 Brian Penn We Develop policy What it means is that we we make laws. Ultimately, that's what we do, you know in government central government you either work on the on the policy side formulating policy developing laws or you work on the operational side service Delivery. So I'm on the policy side at the moment and I don't Know. Um, how aware you are of these things but there's an economic crime bill going through parliament at the moment which is designed to make ah companies more transparent in the way they trade and do business and that it's less. We're trying to make it less easy for criminals to to use. 03:11.70 Brian Penn Limsey Company structure as as ah as a cover So we we introduced legislation last year to force not just Russian Oligarchs but anyone who's been investing it in foreign regimes that that are. 03:14.71 ukfilmreview Oh wow. 03:30.52 Brian Penn Dangerous shall we say so um, have to declare property they own over here. So when Russia invitedd the Ukraine people were jumping up and down and saying you know the lights of Roman of Ramovvich and others could own prop over and we know nothing about it because it's all through a trust. So it's about transparency and making people more accountable, but that's the area that I'm work in. Are you still a white I usedton. 03:53.20 ukfilmreview I feel I hope I hope you already have the rights to that story right? because you're gonna be yeah I can already see this as a film right? This works you know you're you're going after the russians money they're gonna come after Brian you know they're gonna be chasing you in the street. Ma. 04:00.99 Brian Penn Oh Wow. Well yeah I Guess so but you know it's It's a very interesting area to work in and I wouldn't overplay my role in it really to be honest because I I sort of work On. Ah, special projects you might say um it but you know it's um, it's It's like a kind of roving brief. So Whatever they put in front of market on with it but a lot of it is to is paperwork really or virtual paperwork. So. 04:20.66 ukfilmreview Of course you do. Of course you do. 04:38.41 ukfilmreview So well, hey go. 04:40.12 Brian Penn Yeah, so quite busying work. But yeah, um, I'm all good apart from that apart from the cold and yeah, all good. 04:47.60 ukfilmreview Fantastic. Well thank you for joining me on what is a brand new chapter in the Uk Film review Story which I know you've been a big character already so far. Um, and for those who are listening This is episode. 04:55.63 Brian Penn Well hope. So. 05:04.63 ukfilmreview 1 of a brand new show part of the Uk film review podcast we're calling for now Uk Film Club and we've been kind of toying with this idea for a while I spoke to Brian Ratz last year and the idea was to have a podcast that was kind of like a book club. 05:18.37 Brian Penn Um. 05:23.32 ukfilmreview Where you had maybe like set reading whereas we've got set viewing that we would have like films that we want to watch or that we're going to watch but what we want is actually for our listeners to pitch in you know, send in your voice notes and reviews of the films that we're covering and the films that we're going to cover. 05:26.39 Brian Penn Over with. 05:42.81 ukfilmreview Because everything's better when we share. We know this and it's better connected that someone's slogan I'm going to get in trouble for using that. But um, yeah, and also it gives us a chance to do what you came from review does at its very best which is cover everything like what we want to do is cover. 05:46.28 Brian Penn Um, yeah, yeah. 06:01.85 ukfilmreview Cinema releases which Brian is going to be very much the the lead on that and some streaming and also some indian short films which we are always championing always on the lookout for it for good ones. So in this episode. Um, we've got. And absolute schmorgas board if I'm honest, there is ah I is right? Um, schmorgasord I said it's slower than um, this is great because Brian has seen a whole bunch of theatrical releases and we're going to tap into those first. 06:20.15 Brian Penn Well, that's a good word So there again say again. Yeah. 06:39.22 ukfilmreview Um, but coming up later on as well. We're also going to be looking at the big streaming release everything everywhere all at once which is very timely because the oscars at time of recording this are just around the corner and I know it's been doing very well in a lot of the award shows. We're also going to be doing a couple of. Ah, in the films one is called pavvo nocturnus and the other one is called love and we're going to be finishing up with what I'm currently holding the nostalgia hit or this nowja pick. Um, won't tell out any people what it is because I think you should listen in to get to the end to see which classic film me and Brian are going to review. Um, as long as I haven't put in the description of this episode and you're seeing it. Um, but before yeah I must make a note of that don't make a note with that. Um, but before we get. 07:15.72 Brian Penn Oh yeah, yeah. 07:25.58 Brian Penn Yeah, message to self. Yeah. 07:34.47 ukfilmreview All of that we're gonna head to the big silver screen Brian where ah well I have the Whitney Houston film first. Are you happy to start there all right? So I want to dance with somebody go for it. 07:38.78 Brian Penn Um, yes. 07:42.46 Brian Penn Yeah, we can start there. Yeah, it's a film that's still running. It came out on boxing dy but it's still going strong and for a buyeric I think it's pretty much doned the jaw. There are no great revelations. There. It tells us things that we already know about Whitney but what it does do is showcase a unique talent and also brings to the for a very good accent noma right? Yeah naomi aey who was a wartime slow girl. She's a London girl doing a great. Whitney Houston now she she does sing occasionally but with the hits it's no miakki singing. But I think it's a really good entertaining. Fun movie to go out and watch now I suppose if you are a fan of Whitney that does help a lot. But even if you're not a fan. Um, it's it's worth watching. It's worth seeing just to get some depth of the talent that she had the person she was and the demons that she was always fighting which which are ah ah focused which I focus in on in in this film particularly this. Ah, constant fight that she had to be accepted as a black recording artist when she was always been accused of making pop records or making music for white people when it that wasn't the case at all because r and b is r and b is so and um. 09:17.35 Brian Penn It's a very good movie Stanley Sushi's in it. He plays Clive Davis the um the record company boss who who signs Whitney um, so very good film. Some really good performances. There. We got Clark Peters playing John Houston who that's the the father of of Whitney and a very good film. Great hits to look back on if you grew up in the 80 s it will bring back some great memories for you but also tells a fairly balanced story of a fragile and damaged character who left this far too soon. Think that's the great sadness there is that you know they say the worst thing in life is wasted talent and it was and she was 48 when she died but here's an opportunity to be entertained by a great talent. Very good film. Very watchable. 10:07.64 ukfilmreview Wow! Well I must say I'm a sucker for a musical biopic because big fan music. Yeah a musician song and I I find that there are always good stories because you're dealing with a character that is artistic and creative. So there always trouble. 10:22.70 Brian Penn Course cell. Yeah. 10:26.88 ukfilmreview And you've got. But yeah, obviously when you've got someone with complete household name and funnily enough on the poster for this. It says about it's from the writer of behemi rhapsody that these. 10:32.71 Brian Penn Yeah, yeah, yeah. 10:40.59 ukfilmreview Household names people that I'd grow up. We are listen my parents help mentioned this person mentioned that person and suddenly we're getting these films about yeah the fictionalized films about these people or or an attempt to tell a story about this person that it's interesting and I think they obviously from a. 10:43.90 Brian Penn E. 10:58.74 ukfilmreview Um, production point of view. The film companies can kind of count on the fact that they're already tapping into a big base. Yeah know they know that people they're going to get bums on seats people are going to turn up. No one's going to sort of avoid this if they're already a fan of Houston's music so there is that side of it. But. 11:05.23 Brian Penn Oh yeah. 11:12.26 Brian Penn There there. 11:17.12 ukfilmreview I do like about this year I've gone through um the Carson I've seen I also have've watched a trader and I've read your review and things and it's one of those films I know once it comes on like I will watch it. Um, just for the listeners. You might be wondering why Brian sees the the cinema films and I don't I've got two young kids and I find it very difficult to get out. 11:22.32 Brian Penn Yeah, yeah. 11:36.57 ukfilmreview So um, that might change over the years who knows. But right now we me and Brian already have to reschedule our podcast because my kids are always sick. So um. 11:36.67 Brian Penn Yeah, yeah, you know? Yeah yeah, ah. 11:47.98 ukfilmreview Yeah Brian bless him gets to go out and go to the cinema and watch all these great films. But then I get to live vicariously through him. Yeah, he tells me what they're like and now that he's telling you as well. Um, but what would be great if anyone has seen or want to dance with somebody please do. 11:54.91 Brian Penn Um, oh yeah, yeah. 12:03.77 ukfilmreview Send us your um, your voice notes and things. Um, we'll put some instructions on our website on as to how to do that because we would like to add them into our actual show next time. Um, okay, good good. So that's I want to dance with somebody now. 12:21.49 Brian Penn Um. 12:22.50 ukfilmreview Next film I had on your list that you've seen. Um, till is that right. 12:26.36 Brian Penn Ah, till yeah, ah one of my favorite films actually that's still our general release at the moment. This is a true story of Emmet till 14 year old boy who who was. 12:29.25 ukfilmreview Wow. 12:40.78 Brian Penn Lynched murdered in Mississippi in one fifty five because he winked at a white girl. It's an amazing story a terrifying indictment of the way human beings can treat each other just because the color of a person's skin is different. And what's frightening about this and impressive at the same time is that it actually happened you think this couldn't be possible surely but of all the the horrors that happened in the deep south ah of America this has got to be 1 of the most. Troubling episodes you are ever likely to see because you keep on checking yourself when you when you watch your filmist you think god this is true. This actually happened and the star movie is basically the the mother mamie played by Danielle Deweiler ah who was excellent. And the part and she is the star in the film essentially Jaling Hall's very good as Emmett's hill but it's it's Daniel Deadweer who steals the film from everyone because of the way mamie in real life reacted to the the murder of a son she insisted that. His body be viewed in an open coffin just so people could see what they'd done to us son and it led it led to ah a change of attitude really because um, they um, how can we put it. The. 14:13.34 Brian Penn Mood at the time when there's laws in in in America were at a stage where they how can we put it? Um, ah sorry. 14:29.50 ukfilmreview Pardons. Ah, we'll get Ill Now you've been around my kids too much know you right? you? Okay there. 14:29.71 Brian Penn I. 14:41.49 Brian Penn You can you edit that bit. 14:42.63 ukfilmreview Oh yeah, yeah, no worries. Good great take time they worries me. 14:46.44 Brian Penn Yeah, oh I'm gonna make scare drink. 14:53.89 Brian Penn Or I could do I could feel it You know when you get a sick when you throw and it spreads it gets worse right? where and where'd you want to start from. 14:59.81 ukfilmreview Um, once it goes you can't do anything about it. Yeah, you have to just cut it out right? They worry um just talk about the the laws you you were nearly there. So just the the American Um, yes. 15:14.22 Brian Penn Yeah, so so yeah the the beauty of till is that it tells a harrowing story of ah laws that in in America that precipitated the civil rights movement. And it just tells a wonderfully real story of what can happen to people just because their skin is a different color. It's a film that's been sadly overlooked I think ah it has won summer awardves and most films do win a awards in 1 description or another but it hasn't it's been bypass in the Oscars which I find surprising but it's it's an amazing film and this is great storyteing. So it's as to say it's one of the the best films that I've seen on release at the moment. 16:04.43 ukfilmreview I mean I remember the the story of Emmett till when I was studying at Uni and it was um, shocking and obviously ah that period of american history is absolutely fraught with these horrific stories and times of. Discontent and um, we've seen quite a few films come from that period because obviously a lot of the popular figures around that time Martin Luther King who thought that you're going to have those films have all kind of emerged and with something like this. Yeah, you've got. 16:26.57 Brian Penn In. 16:32.60 Brian Penn That. 16:40.79 ukfilmreview Ah, character that would have been unknown is not. You know, not like ah a celebrity character as such., You've got someone that is um and unknown I'm wondering if that's where it's kind of being missed Maybe because like I said yeah yeah I agree I've not really heard a massive amount of about this. Whereas you know some of the other films we're going to look At. There's been a lot of coverage about them. Um, yeah, and it's obviously tackling um or looking at racism that there does seem to be a lot to for people to maybe have to engage with here that maybe it's sort of. 17:01.59 Brian Penn Yeah, so. 17:18.25 ukfilmreview After the tumultuous few years that we're all having that It's what maybe it's been unfortunately timed you know with all that. 17:22.84 Brian Penn Yeah, yeah, maybe that's it maybe there is a reluctance to confront the issues that they present in this film because I mean you look at George Floyd for example and and what followed followed that maybe it is uncomfortable to it's not an easy watch. 17:36.75 ukfilmreview And. 17:42.19 Brian Penn To say the least, but it's just it's it's scary, but it's it's riveting you just can't take your eyes off it and as I say Daniel Debweilo is amazing in the role incredible film. It really is but ah, we're quite right too. Um, it's nice to see that out. O. 17:53.19 ukfilmreview Well, it's got a nominated for a bafta so you know we're trying. 18:01.48 Brian Penn Our Academy ah as recognized. It's it's for you but a very good filmer. 18:04.46 ukfilmreview Well, that's tilll so I do hope people seek out again. Yeah with anything Brian recommends goes on my automatic list of must watchtes. So I this sounds right on my street. It's exactly kind I fill my lu watching so I will be looking out for that one. Um, next up is an interest in one because it's been quite a bit about this so I'm intrigued to see what you think about babylon. 18:31.26 Brian Penn Babylon right? Okay so Babylon is the story of the Hollywood Golden Era just as it's transitioning from silent movies into the tool keys. So it's ah it says it's ah, an area that's been raided. Frequently in the past by filmmakers this version stars brad pit as Jack Conrad an actor who fears that his career might be over because the tool keys are now with us and it also stars Margot Robbie as Nellie Leroy who's ah, a very. Smart fast talking kid that's trying to ah wheedle her way into into the filming industry and in many ways it's it's a handsome looking film. It's brilliant to watch but the length would put a lot of people off I'm sure it's 3 hours 9 minutes long and that. That is ah a hell of an ask really to to invest that amount of time to sit in 1 position to watch a film as to say it's a great looking film. You know it's very reminiscent of the classic hollywood era and so far that the the visuals are set pieces. You could say it's cecil b deille it's it's got that kind of. Appreciation is scale. So the visuals are fantastic, but it's very funny in places. It's hilarious. You know they're true within the film they're trying to shoot a scene in a film that um, they're trying to get. They're still getting used to the idea of. 20:04.14 Brian Penn Sound as well as visuals and they keep on trying to take the same scene and they keep on getting it wrong and it is brilliant. It is so funny the way they're all reacting and Margot Robbie does anger frustration so well and it is brilliant but it's buried. 20:10.74 ukfilmreview For fifth. 20:22.88 Brian Penn You know at different points in the script. You think oh that's great I really enjoyed that bit but then it kind of seeps into self-indulgence slightly I think because of the the length of the film I mean they say that all films are 20 minutes too long I would say this film is an hour too long. You could quite easily chop an air off this and it would be a much better film for it. Having said that life. It is good because of the production values the way it looks because you've got margo Robbie you got Brad Pitt and it it does tell that story of rank debauchery in hollywood. That wasn't seen by the masses you know at the top you know the the the visible side of hollywood at the time was very wholesome and very clean cart but underneath it all that it was chaos. You know it was complete the ballry and that's what it. But that's what it it depicts very well. But. You know some places are very dark film as well. But very entertain if you can cope with the length of the film. 21:28.93 ukfilmreview Yeah I always think you know any film that's pushing past or any like two and a half hours to be honest, be pushing past two. It's ah yeah, you got to have a reason this looks like the kind of film that has that cinematic feel to it like it needs to be seen in the cinematic it has that big screen appeal. 21:42.94 Brian Penn Oh yeah, you've got to sit on a big screen. Definitely. 21:46.69 ukfilmreview Yeah, that that feels like that's there obviously'll see um daen Chazelle known for his big epic blockbusters like Lala land and stuff that I think this feels very much in the same ballpark that you you kind of like go see at cinema it's a celebration of cinema and. You've got to I think invest in it I guess but with that kind of cast and the spectacle at least you get your money's worth from a cinema ticket. You know I think that that's worthwhile. Um, but yeah babylon I I will probably watch it. 22:13.85 Brian Penn Oh yeah, no question. 22:21.20 Brian Penn I don't. 22:22.76 ukfilmreview But in my in my typical routine of a 3 hour film I will watch it in about 8 parts say. 22:26.76 Brian Penn Yeah, probably yeah, kind of makes sense. Also if you're a jazz fan. There's a great soundtrack on the film as well. Which is really sort of jazz based. But it's brilliant brilliant soundtrack. So yeah, but I think what will probably happen is that people will wait for it to go online and they'll see it then and as you say. 22:35.26 ukfilmreview Um, ah. 22:45.31 Brian Penn Break it into parts. You know deerro said recently when he was being in when Robert de niro was being interviewed about the irishman which was 3 hours 27 minutes so he was asked. You know are you happy for people to see it in separate parts because it it aired on Netflix he said yeah, it's okay. 23:00.77 ukfilmreview Please. 23:02.49 Brian Penn And people were shot that even deerro said it's okay if you want to watch it in bits. So if deerro says it's okay Chris it's okay. 23:08.41 ukfilmreview Well, we've been doing it since we have Vhs I don't know why people think that we didn't do it before and like it's not Netflix that invented the pause button and I think also there's there is a yeah, a good thing about watching a film or all in 1 go because you'd never. 23:15.68 Brian Penn Oh not cook song Nine nine 23:28.24 ukfilmreview Break your yeah momentum with it. But there are other films that often benefit from that little break, you know sometimes it's like okay, right? yeah and then you can come back in especially if you're looking at these kind of like um, three four hour films I when I watch the extended lord of the rings. We used to have them on Dvd. 23:34.35 Brian Penn Yeah. 23:42.54 Brian Penn O. 23:47.49 ukfilmreview Or a blue rate and they were on separate discs. Anyway, you had to they couldn't fit it all on 1 disc so you had to like get up and change it over and it's just just was what it was it't um, some cinemas they still have intervals and they they still have like breakkes in the middle. So it's not I not unheard of I think people just get all. 23:48.92 Brian Penn Yeah, yeah, yeah. 24:00.23 Brian Penn Yeah, that's right? yeah. 24:07.50 ukfilmreview Ah, bit funny about it as if there's some kind of magic that happens if you endure 3 hours without somehow needing the toilet. It's like what. 24:13.46 Brian Penn Yeah, but yeah, but I think also also though that you can make a film 3 hours long if you decide to sit down and watch it all the way through it make it 3 hours long by all means provided that you're doing something this is from the filmmaker's point of view. Do something meaningful with the extra time. 24:30.38 ukfilmreview Um. 24:32.63 Brian Penn Screen time and don't just let it slide into something. It's really self-indulgent thing. Oh this this is good I'll put this in because really, if an editor had sat down with the director they could have taken an hour off they could have kept the the full uncut version for late release. But I think that might have helped it stay on general release for longer. 24:49.87 ukfilmreview Well going back to like the Whitney Houston 1 is it sometimes I feel sorry for historical biopics and with till as well because there probably is so much history and story that it want to put in because it gives context and it gives yeah. 24:52.18 Brian Penn Um. 25:05.20 Brian Penn O. 25:08.27 ukfilmreview Information but as a piece of art you have to be able to tell that story in a way that's going to you because if you go back to the oldest form of storytelling which is just telling people. Yeah, then you're not Goingnna keep them around you. They're gonna wander off, they're going to walk off if you give it's too long if you don't keep it on point and I think that's. 25:16.20 Brian Penn Um. 25:19.23 Brian Penn Who Yeah coax. Yeah. 25:28.24 ukfilmreview Yeah, like say the job of the editor. It needs to be done if you're saying that you could see they're cutting an hour from that film. Then yeah I think that's that's fair enough and like say it seems to be showing as as to the reaction to the film. So well. Well. 25:33.98 Brian Penn There. 25:42.75 Brian Penn Yeah, yeah. 25:47.54 ukfilmreview Ah, that's that's ah, that's babylon. So um, we're gonna head to 1 of the greatest directors of all time next Steven Spielberg who's latest film. The. 25:56.87 Brian Penn Here. 26:01.52 ukfilmreview Ah, you Pullmans is that I think that's still out that's still in in Cinema's moment. 26:04.48 Brian Penn That yeah that that's still running the fiveos really should should be called the spillelbergs I mean it's the it's the story of Steven Spelberg's family when he was growing up. This is the ah typical family living in America in the Midwest. Ah, the father is a high-f flying technical whiz kid electrical executive who's dragging his family all over the country ah to further his own career and the the mother is a talented pianist but is. Is trapped in domesticity. She's there to keep the home raise the family and they have 3 daughters and a son who's obsessed with film by filmmaking I wonder whether who that is um, but it but it resonates it will resonate for a lot of people where. 26:50.30 ukfilmreview This is. 26:57.92 Brian Penn Where you have this dynamic between 2 very talented parents one has a career the other one doesn't because she's expected to be the mother to be the nurr and I think people obviously are going to relate to that and that was really the story of the spillbergs and it it kind of unlocks a secret. Ah, through his love of filmmaker. So it is pretty close to stevenpielberg's family and the way he grew up and the way his parents works as a unit if you like Michelle Williams plays Mitsy the mother she's been nominated for an Oscar and she's very good in it. Poor Dan I plays the father ah Judd Hirsch ah does a very brief term a 5 minute turn as uncle Boris and he's got an Oscar nomination for it. I still can't work quite work out. Harry's got that. But you know it's all about opinions isn't it. But um, not a typical spelberg film insofar that it's not. A popcorll movie. It's not like Jurassic Park or Indiana Jones it's not like that. So. It's a film that makes you that challenges you more and and a more in virtual level on a more emotional level. It becomes a different kind of Spielberg film but it is Spielberg and it works and it holds your attention so it does all the things. That you expect the spielberg films to do so very good film very watchable and at a more reasonable running length as well. I think this is 2 hours twenty I think on two thirty one I beg your pardon no two thirty one but 28:26.19 ukfilmreview Two thirty on the I give you but but yeah, close enough I mean 10 minutes for for credits right? a. 28:34.53 Brian Penn Ah I was guys got to say take off the credits. It probably is about two twenty but ah, a very good film. You know one thing you can say about stevenpielberg is that he tries something different with every film he makes and there are he's not afraid of experiment I mean this this is a semi-autobiographical sound. But. There are very few directors that are bold enough to try things that are different so you won't stay in his comfort zone and he is. He's confronting his own family story and there are some other uncomfortable home truths. There. Ah that come out as well. So he's brave on on his part to do that. But. Very very good film very watchable and a nice film to go out much. 29:16.45 ukfilmreview Fantastic sounds great. Always gonna watch a spillberg you got to watch all the spill bugs. There's no way around it. 29:20.58 Brian Penn Well, it's it's yeah, it's almost like a kind of an obligation when you become a film fan. You've got to watch the latest Spillbo movie. However, you however, it turns out whether you like it or not yeah Spillbo is that kind of director. You've got you've got a watch where he does. 29:26.19 ukfilmreview The. 29:38.78 Brian Penn You know? yeah he plays the daddy plays. But yeah, he's very good Seth Rogen's in it as well. Who plays the best friend Benny so again, very strong cast all work really wellke. 29:39.39 ukfilmreview I'm also a big fan of Paul Dano and he plays a character in the film. So I'm very happy to watch him if. 29:56.80 Brian Penn It's a nice fill. Very nice fill. 29:58.39 ukfilmreview Here we go. Um, now if you haven't heard of this next film then I'm guessing you don't have the internet because it is everywhere and I'm glad it is because it stars 1 of my favorite actors of all time Brenda Fraser it is of course the whale. 30:12.21 Brian Penn No yeah. 30:16.60 ukfilmreview And I'm gutted I haven't seen this yet because it's been around for a while. It's also Darren Aronovsky who I love so tell me Brian tell me. 30:19.55 Brian Penn Yeah, yes, it's I think you're in for a tree and everyone listening is in for a treat if they haven't seen this film yet stars Brendan Fraser in what you would call a career defining role is absolutely amazing. In this film. He's got the Oscar nomination for best actor and I I think he will win it I think the only other nominee that could challenge him really is bill naye for living. But I think he's he's nailed on to win the Oscar for best actor he plays Charlie who's an english chooseer who's morbidly obese. Ah, trapped in his apartment. He's carer Liz played by Honiao who's also been nominat night for an Oscar plays his carer who's fighting to keep him alive and as his health worses. He tries to repair his his relationship with East Daughter Eie who's played by Sadie think I think it's an amazing film. But it's amazing more for the performances than the film itself. What I think is surprising whilst the the performance of the actors as 1 universal a claim the film's got mixed reviews oddly enough I think if you look on rotten somemaos. 31:33.64 ukfilmreview Um. 31:36.83 Brian Penn It's got like 66% which is kind of like a middling sort of score which doesn't really match up with you know the acts in performances. You think how can that be and I think probably part of the problem here if there is a problem at all. Um, but being critics. We do take these things apart. Don't we um. It's based on a stage play and I think it really shows because the film itself barely ventures outside the room that e more or less inhabits and you think well that's what the character is because he's morbly obese. But I think it's not using all the options that film gives you because there are no. Flashbacks. There is a really interesting backstory there that it develops but they don't use that that option that they can use on film. So. It's obviously a stage plate but you know if you were being hypercritical. You could say that it it's simply filming the story on stage and pointing a camera at it. But that would be a minor quibble to most because it's it's a riveting film. You cannot take your eyes off it. The prosthetics are incredible really because obviously Brendan fraer Fraser hasn't put on. God forbid hasn't put on weight to play this role but the prosthetics are really convincing and it's ah there are the performances are stronger than the film itself I think because it is a stage plan. It kind of feels a bit rigid but I mean again, it's a minor point. It's a wonderful film to watch and by the way the well. 33:12.70 Brian Penn Isn't a reference to him as a carrot so it's a reference to the well in Moby Dick which is integraed to the story. That's being sold here. But it's it's a brilliant film. The acting's amazing. I mean you you just that Characterrot's type of carro see it doesn't make you feel pissy for the character but you're rooting for it. And that's the secret of acting is to make you care and make you want a happy ending for him. It's lovely. It's beautiful. Film. 33:29.91 ukfilmreview Um. 33:36.67 ukfilmreview So well Brian thank you so much for rounding up those cinematic releases. Um, and I think yeah, what an amazing selection this time the year does tend to have some good releases because they're all in the run up to the to the oscars. So. 33:51.25 Brian Penn Yeah, yeah. 33:53.52 ukfilmreview I'm not surprised that we've got some great films there. But yeah, very impressed by what I'm hearing and yeah, if you're listening and you want to share your thoughts on any of the films that Brian went through please do a heads our website you get from you credit k and there'll be a button somewhere I'll put a button somewhere. 34:10.37 Brian Penn Pull upon it pull up on it. 34:13.30 ukfilmreview Ah, but button. Um, and now we move to the streaming I might put in a funky little guitar there or something but you're not going to know that I would yeah I'm a a double little like in Wayne's world or something you know like that. Yeah. 34:19.19 Brian Penn Right? do and I need something doesn't it. Yeah yeah, something know when it's coming in so people know when they listen when it's coming in. Yeah. 34:32.41 ukfilmreview I'll put it in in posts. Don't worry. Um, but this film much like the whale has been everywhere and everywhere is even in the title. It's just I mean come on come on. Um I should write some of this down really but I don't um, everything everywhere all at once. 34:38.56 Brian Penn No, that's a good link that is a good link. Really. 34:49.90 ukfilmreview I Watch this based on a guy I work with it's like he said it's his favorite film and I'm always very much like if someone says it's their favorite film and it's a new release I'm like okay well it must be pretty good for you to have done that but um for me. Ah. 34:55.81 Brian Penn You. 35:06.73 ukfilmreview It was something I definitely wanted to watch because I'd heard great things I'd also heard it is a multiverse film which we've had a few of those in the last few years and it was apparently the the one to beat them all. We was this is the the multiverse film that's actually done it very very well so I was very intrigued to watch this and luckily it was on. 35:13.34 Brian Penn There. 35:26.60 ukfilmreview Amazon prime as I able to catch it. You see that too right bro. 35:30.40 Brian Penn I've seen it? Yeah but I did what you did Chris I saw it in maybe 4 sections I I felt really on it can't be can I be frank can I be candid with you and I wasn't overly impressed with it. You know. 35:37.59 ukfilmreview Go for it. Oh My goodness. 35:44.89 Brian Penn I fire I find the story like I not I'm baffled I'm baffled by the storyline and I'm baffled that it's got an Oscar nomination that doesn't mean to say it doesn't have its points that it's not a well-made film if I was writing a review of it I'd give it 3 stars because it's very well made. The cinemaography is excellent. The visuals are great. Set pieces the the stunts you know all of that is all good. Say it be a 3 star film in that way but is it an Oscar winning film which is really for me the bottom line because it's got an Oscar nomination I I just I think I struggle with this type of storyline. You know you know the the idea that they're You've got this chinese family who run a laundette and suddenly Michelle Yoh's currents is being confronted by different versions of herself in a parallel universe and you're fighting an enemy of the multiverse and I think right? Okay, but you know it's like 1 minute they're arguing with Jamie Lee Curtis about their tax returns and the next minute they've all got fingers that look like hot dogs and ah I kind of just struggle. Um, and you know, ah, maybe it's me maybe it's me maybe it's the fact that I saw it in sections I don't know but it to me it was like a patchwork because it. 36:47.90 ukfilmreview So. 37:00.95 Brian Penn It felt a bit like a Jackie Chan film a bit like the matrix a bit like enter the dragon now filmmakers that's fine filmmakers borrow ideas from other films. That's so all well and good. But I I didn't see sense a coherent storyline and I get frustrated with films like that because. I like to see a clear story now. Maybe it's me maybe I'm not switched on enough to it. But in spite of all of that you have to accept I have to accept that it's highly rated. It's perform well at the box office people like it and your friend who said it's his favorite ever. Phil. Okay, fair enough, you know the people were spoken people like it. It's got that rating fair enough but I don't find it particularly accessible as entertainment. It feels more like a computer game to me but I accept I accept its its merits and then but people will like it. 37:55.11 ukfilmreview I think 1 thing I would say and you've you've kind of mentioned it already that they're borrowing things from films like the matrix. The matrix actually is probably the best reference because first off, the main character is kind of like Neo in that she's like the only one that can save them and. 37:56.94 Brian Penn You know, but but. 38:02.72 Brian Penn Who. 38:12.16 Brian Penn Um. 38:14.92 ukfilmreview Also when I watched the matrix the very first time I really liked the matrix but it's one of those. It's one of those. It's one of those films that oh my god it it improves every time I watch it I find something else from that film and I think with this I've only seen this once but I think it. 38:17.31 Brian Penn Oh yeah I did as well. Yeah I enjoyed it. 38:32.62 ukfilmreview It's one of those films that needs to be watched multiple times I actually think yeah I don't want to assign you homework Brian but if I'm gonna have to do this. It says I think it's that it's the kind of film. Not I'm not saying because I'm I'm somewhere in between I I think I liked it more than you but I don't get. 38:33.73 Brian Penn It could be Yeah, it could well be no, no noon you. 38:50.95 ukfilmreview Quite why it's got 11 Oscar norms. Yeah I think it's really like wow. 38:53.26 Brian Penn Yeah that's what um that yeah, that's what I don't understand because the ultimate benchmark for film excellence is the Oscars doesn't it. You know it's the baftoss and the golden globes and the critics choice awards. It's all of those but the 1 gold standard for filmmaking is the oscars you were an Oscar. You've got a license to work in America you've got a license to work in hollywood that's the ultimate benchmark for any filmmaker any a and you think really as this film got that number of Oscar nominations. Um I'm not sure I follow the logic and I do worry what as the same whilst this film has its merits. Um, I wonder whether the oscars are being dumbed down slightly you know, um, people listening can can feel free to disagree with me feel free to some conversation with me about it and maybe I do need to see it a second time. Maybe it is a slow burner but I don't see how it. It kind of fits into that bracket. It is just a good film. That's all it is you know. 39:55.50 ukfilmreview There you go you heard it here first. Um I think yeah I I can see some strengths to it but I can also see yeah that there is an element of um averageness to certain bits I was I was dissimilar especially the first I'd say the first third of the film I was kind of like. 40:09.84 Brian Penn Yeah, yeah. 40:12.71 ukfilmreview This is taking its time like this is really like it doesn't need to go through so much this because then what happens when it goes balmy and it all starts to go all over the place you are left in this kind of like what is going on that I think it needed to slow that bit down and speed the first bit up. Um, yeah. 40:21.63 Brian Penn Um, well it. Yeah, it's it's a great title for the film. Everything everywhere all at once. Maybe they should add on to the end of that all over the place. It's it's kind of like that you know again look I'm the end of a day Chris it's all about opinions isn't it. You know, but. 40:36.27 ukfilmreview A highhood. 40:46.25 Brian Penn Do wonder when when a film gets this degree of a claim even if it doesn't win in at any oscars. It's got 11 nominations and that's that's quite an achievement for any film. Um I do sometimes think to myself. What do other people see that I can't see you know? um, but hey look. All credits them. You know total respects they they've they've created a film that people like and really, they're in the business to make films people want and that's exactly what they've done here. 41:16.80 ukfilmreview There we go well be interesting to see when this comes out and in terms of how many oscars it picks up because sometimes they don't like because this I think this did really work the grammys or another showcase recently and sometimes it does. Not go their way like you have films that have got loads of noms and they come away with 1 or no oscars so be interesting, but um, yeah, that's our streaming film for this episode. We're gonna go now to our indie collection. 41:35.70 Brian Penn Um, yeah. 41:47.96 Brian Penn Oh. 41:50.84 ukfilmreview So we'll start with short film called pavo nocturnus directed and written by Brad case. Um I'm trying to bring up my notes for this film because I watched it a couple of weeks ago I don't want to make sure. Um you go first Brian on this one. 42:01.81 Brian Penn Um, yeah, yeah, again, a very a very short short film. Really, it's 10 minutes the thing. Ah but um. 42:15.65 Brian Penn I mean it's big. It's it's very interesting. You know it's very good very well put together. Well-w writtentten. The the narration is performed by somebody with a fantastic voice. You know you're drawn to the you know acting a lot of actings is about using your voice properly and the as are ah voicing this part. s brilliant is excellent and he's relating ah a series of dreams that he keeps having about a woman and in some ways it feels a bit like an enhanced talking ah audio book. Um, but um, when it reaches the end it. I was surprised by the ending in this film. Actually it wasn't what I was expecting and so I don't know what I was expecting but it gently builds a story you know over that what is just a few minutes and kind of well I was I was surprised by the ending and and I think. If you can get ah an ending that surprises the viewer then it becomes all the more powerful but it's very haunting. It's gripping and it's it's very um, almost hypnotic in some ways. It's the voice again but I was very impressed with it. And but you you get you sense that there should be you want more and I think that's probably a good sign for a short film is that you want to hear more. But. 43:39.57 ukfilmreview Yeah I think it's based on ah like a it's from a book that the actual filmmaker had written and yeah and what got because I sort of was troubled slightly by the film in the sense that some of the. 43:45.42 Brian Penn Elucidation I think the series of short stories called elucidation. Yeah. 43:56.48 ukfilmreview Um, Visuals were quite kind of banal. It was like him making coffee or whatever they kind of went on with a long time and I was like Okay, yeah, so you really are just being told to focus on the narration here like that's what you're you're meant to be doing and I was like would this be better as an audio book. Yeah, would that. 43:58.49 Brian Penn Yeah, yeah. 44:06.70 Brian Penn Yeah, yeah, well I yeah. 44:14.28 ukfilmreview Be more what this would have been suited towards and it wasn't until the actual reveal Once you start to realize what's going on here that you're like oh okay, yeah I should have been paying more attention I guess to to how to why this is important but it still I liked it and I thought that. 44:30.22 Brian Penn Yeah. 44:32.81 ukfilmreview There were bits that were were very good I like the way that the colors had kind of this weird mix of like being dreary but then like the reds would like pop and it would have like ah yeah, quite ah, an angry look to the to some of it. Um. Yeah, and there's a bit where he's like in the mirror and his face goes a weird like he kind of like goes crazy. Um, so there were some good visuals but I thought largely there wasn't a lot of that even in a 10 minute film as like there's not much remarkable from the visual side of things but the the story and the narration is great. So yeah, I'm just wondering whether it would have been better as a. 44:51.83 Brian Penn Yeah. 45:01.24 Brian Penn Yeah. Yeah I I think really I suppose what it boils down to it is that the visuals don't add much to the story. Do They really honestly apart from the final scenes and you think it's really got something here. You know the the actual story itself. The way it's being sold. You think. 45:08.40 ukfilmreview And audio. But but. 45:24.91 Brian Penn Yeah, be great if you could hear more of those short stories that this one is taken from but it doesn't necessarily need the visuals. Not really, but but it's very good. It's Interesting. It's different. But I think the visuals didn't really help the story as much as it should have done. Really. 45:42.89 ukfilmreview There you go? Um, so that's pavil nocturnus I hope I'm saying that right? Um, if possible we will drop a link as to where you can watch the film. Um, but I think for both of these we were given private links so it could be that they're not actually out anywhere. 45:59.11 Brian Penn M. 46:02.44 ukfilmreview For some of our subsequent episodes. We're hoping to get more short and indie films that are actually available say like on Amazon prime or something because it'd be great for everyone to be able to watch them and then send us their thoughts. But for this first one this was just a couple of filmmakers that were already found at the website and they they got in touch saying that they were happy for their. 46:11.39 Brian Penn Oh. 46:22.41 ukfilmreview Films to be reviewed um because we do also understand as well sometimes indie filmmakers don't want us to review their films because you know we're gonna be honest and we're gonna put it out there to people and it might put people off watching I Guess um and I I don't like that opinion because I feel that actually yeah, what we do is to. 46:33.14 Brian Penn M. 46:40.56 ukfilmreview Shine The light on things even films that we don't like we're still going to explore them I think you make up your own mind really ah but it's um, we we don't want to hurt. People's feelings if we don't need to. 46:48.93 Brian Penn But I think the thing is though Chris what what we're aiming to do is to to arouse enough curiosity for listeners to say right? Oh that sounds interesting I'll check it out I'll have look at it and that's that's really to me in essence is what reviewing is all about is to give people an idea. What? what? it's like and whether they want to investigate it further at the end of the day. It's an opinion you and I have opinions. It's as simple as that but this is just raising the profile of the films that we happen to review and whatever criticism we make ah of the films. It's always constructive and it's honest. And nothing is perfect. You know? Um, yeah. 47:31.22 ukfilmreview Nothing is Perfect. You heard it here first. Um, we're gonna go do another short film. Um this one written and directed by saab dope and it's called Love. Um, and this one was an interesting one because it did have more of the feel of it. So. Short film that I would normally review for the site. Yeah, it had the I say like a limited budget. Um is not.. It's not a big production here. Neither was pavon octurnus which stands for night terrors by the way. Um, but with love yeah, it very much felt like okay yeah here we go This is like right in our wheelhouse. So We know these types of films. But I did. 47:50.83 Brian Penn Um, yeah. 48:04.81 Brian Penn Yeah, okay. 48:08.75 ukfilmreview Like the story so you've got these two friends they're catching up after a long time and they're having some drinks but it's quite clear that one of the other friends. 1 of the friends is so angry with the other one. Um, there's a tension there even if the first guy can't really see it. Um and it turns out that. 48:28.80 ukfilmreview 1 of the guys is married and that is the cause of this tension I'm not going to go into much more about why because I think yeah if anyone does manage to see the film. It's nice. Good to not have that bit spoiled for you as to why? what's going on there. Um. 48:32.77 Brian Penn The. 48:41.21 Brian Penn Yeah, yeah. 48:45.51 ukfilmreview But it was an interesting film. It had that sort of classic storytelling know we've got 2 friends catching up simple location. They're not trying to do too much with the limited resources that they had um and then yeah yeah, what did you think about this one by. 48:53.93 Brian Penn Yeah I actually quite enjoyed it I think it it was quite neat and self-contained. It's obvious I had a limited budget but I mean you can still tell a story with just 2 characters and it's. 49:11.27 ukfilmreview Nip. 49:12.66 Brian Penn Ah, course there is the third character that's so always offs screen and that's the the wife of the cool and that's how the 2 of them come together. That's what they begin to talk about I think that the story initially takes time to unfold a little bit I think it could have the first half of the story could have been a bit snappier but. Think it is good storyteing. Ah and it was quite enjoyable. All I would say about it is that um the um, the dialogue was partly in hindi I do apologizeise I forgot the language wrong I think it's Hindi isn' that is that it was spoken partly in hindi. Then they'd go into english and back in su hindi again. Um I found that difficult to keep up with because you're seeing a subty was coming up and then they're speaking in english then there speak you know that side of it I think it should have been one or the other they should have just been speaking in one language or the other I think that's. 49:59.57 ukfilmreview Oh. 50:07.99 Brian Penn Kind of stirred the pace of the story to me just a little bit but. 50:09.69 ukfilmreview Yeah, well ah because sometimes you'll have it like because funny enough I was watching Shang Chi last night. My wife hasn't seen it yet so we were catching up on shang qi and um, they do that a lot like the film's going along and it'll be that they're talking in english and then maninal or chinese or whatever. 50:17.93 Brian Penn Alright. 50:29.60 ukfilmreview And it's like okay way that there' flitting between the two and I don't know if it's because maybe the characters find that what they're saying is better expressed in that language if you know I mean like maybe it's that because. 50:37.53 Brian Penn Yeah, could be. 50:41.17 ukfilmreview Also sometimes it happens when there's obviously different characters around but when there's just 2 characters. You'd you'd assume like ah so that we're talking right now in one language that that would be what they would do. But um yeah I hold my hands up I only know very very little german and french I can't really say what I would do if I knew a whole other language that um. 50:42.57 Brian Penn Yeah, yeah. Yeah, yeah. 50:55.73 Brian Penn Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, it could well it could well be ah so that that was the that's the only kind of real downside for me. Otherwise it was a very good story very intricate. 50:59.30 ukfilmreview Yeah, maybe that is just what very talented multilinguists. Do you know? um. 51:11.78 Brian Penn Very well put together. That's a say the first half of that film could have been a little bit quicker but aside from that it was very good. It was well put together and um raises some some real issues in the way relationships develop and the dynamics between people that are very close to each other. So. 51:16.32 ukfilmreview Ah. 51:29.58 Brian Penn I enjoyed that I enjoyed the way it was put together name. It was yeah it was very good. 51:32.20 ukfilmreview Excellent. So that's love um Sara Doke I say unlikely, you're gonna be able to find it on a streaming platform right now. We've not been told that it's ah it's anywhere. So um, to yeah, check it out if you can like do a Google and just see if if it's something that you want to watch. Um, so moving on to our final film of the episode. What of what has been a fantastic episode so far Brian well done. You've you've really brought your a game this time haven't you um, nothing you sir. Um. 51:58.14 Brian Penn Ah, um, oh thank you? Oh thank you? Well done you as well. Yeah. 52:07.10 ukfilmreview We are going to review the nostalgia pick which I chose for this episode. Um as it's one of my favorite films Goodwill hunting um, any reason to watch this film I just thought i' go of yeah, let's make this the first one because. 52:09.19 Brian Penn There. 52:16.16 Brian Penn Oh I love this film I love this film? Um, um, yeah going Karen off you. 52:25.20 ukfilmreview Beautiful film I Just think it's a beautiful film and I think it stands up to the test of time. Yeah, you can still watch this now some of the characters because they're so flawed it's still is okay, the things that they say things that they do it sort of like like you're not meant to really agree with them and I think you know. 52:41.59 Brian Penn There. 52:44.77 ukfilmreview This is yeah me getting very dangerous territory. But I think it's potentially Robin Williams ' best performance. So I just think it's an incredible performance. You cannot take your eyes off him when he's when he's on screen. 52:49.66 Brian Penn Well, he did get an Oscar for it. Didn't he he no and I know I think what What's really interesting about Robin Williams performance in this film is that he really reined it in you know? Yeah he said. Trade is a stand-up comic and the the tendency is is to exaggerate a persona but he really pulled this one in and it was very low-ke in some ways but it works even better in some ways I think it is his's film more than Matt Damon's film or that affle's film. It's he's film. He's as you say whenever he's on screen you're you're transfixed and that this just you just realize what a very good answer. He was and how tragic it is that hes his life ended in the way it did I think the film itself. Ah you chose such a good film here Chris you really did. It's It's a wonderful film. It doesn't feel and I've not watched it for a few years and it was like watching it for the first time in some weeks I might have it might be I don't know 10 years since I watched it but it still feels fresh. The the script is excellent. The acting spot. Um you and I love the. I see what I really like about Goodwill Hunting is the subject matter as well because really the focus is on a genius geniuses can sometimes be neglected overlooked dismissed they fall through the cracks sometimes and it's in the story. It took. 54:21.70 Brian Penn University professor played by Stumman Scarsard to recognize his potential because he was a challenger that works out the solution to a mathematical problem. No one can solve and then he gets a psychologist to really get him out of his shell I love that kind of storyline. It's just challenging you in it and on a completely different level. Ah, think it's a brilliant film. Really really love this film. 54:43.53 ukfilmreview Yeah, and I think the the way that it holds up is largely down to the cast I think it's it's a great cast. They've got a lovely chemistry like you're watching this film and whether it's yeah affle and Damon obviously they're going to be getting on like our was on fire. Best buds. 54:53.19 Brian Penn Yeah, um. 55:02.58 ukfilmreview Um, or if it's when Matt Damon's with mini driver I find that their bromce plot is just excellent like really find it very engaging because it's so believable. We we've got this almost Romeo and Juliet thing where he comes from the the poor background she comes from well what assumes to be a a wealthy background. 55:03.88 Brian Penn Yeah. 55:13.76 Brian Penn Yeah, yes, yeah, yeah, yeah. 55:21.65 ukfilmreview And the way that that has caused a central problem for them, especially for it seems for Matt Damon's character I love the way that that's explored and then you have this father figure of Robyn Williams who is like. 55:30.20 Brian Penn Yeah. Who. 55:39.36 ukfilmreview Him and st scarsard are these like surrogate parents they suddenly because because Matt da's character is an orphan that you suddenly have like the the the dad that really wants to push him which is like Stellan and then you've got um. 55:41.41 Brian Penn There. 55:48.48 Brian Penn Um, yeah, that's right? yeah. 55:53.00 ukfilmreview Robyn Williams is like the yeah maybe the more maternal character I'm using gender stereotypes here but more eternal character that wants to just make sure that he can explore his issues and and be helped be a healthy person and I think that's what's really powerful platform them because actually it really does explore very. 55:56.37 Brian Penn Yeah. 56:01.64 Brian Penn There. 56:12.46 ukfilmreview Ah, important things like um, yeah, toxic masculinity and male insecurities and things like that because it's it's doing all that and it is a largely male cast. You know it's It's only really miniage use The the female presence. 56:14.85 Brian Penn There. 56:22.27 Brian Penn Yeah, yeah, yeah, but as to say it it still works. You know I think a lot of films will die. You know over time they they do. But I don't think that's necessarily a bad thing when a film does date doesn't mean to say that. The quality diminishes. It just becomes more typical of its time. But I don't think Goodwill Hunting is obviously a 90 s film. You know there are some films that are typically 90 s typically ass but this film could have been made today. It still feels so fresh. Tragically, we don't have Robin Williams here to play that part but its thats can't kind of film. It does I don't think it does die it' so all it's the strength of storytelling. It's what I always obsess about with any film I mean look honestly now seriously Chris you compare it to. Everything everywhere all at once. It's like comparing einstein to a caveman frankly. 57:23.92 ukfilmreview Well I'm not calling it that anymore anymore I'm calling it everywhere. Everything everywhere all at once all over the place like I think yeah yeah I was that was brilliant I'm going to call it that. 57:28.79 Brian Penn All over the place yet. But again, but but you see the point of making though is that we all like we all look for different things in the film now. Everything everywhere all at once has its qualities people like it people have voted with their feet. They say right? We like this. Fair enough, but this is my kind of film. This is a type of film that entertains you and not I don't like action movies I do but the type of action movie. Well I would like I like diehard or lual weapon or Indiana Jones that's my kind of action movie. That's the closest equivalent to everything everywhere all at once that I would like I like strong characters I like story liness like things you can really relate to but not something I mean I think this is quite this works on an intellectual level as well though doesn't it Goodwill Hansi I mean this is about a genius isn't it a mathematical genius. 58:20.10 ukfilmreview Yeah. 58:25.48 Brian Penn Not that it it delves into math mathematical theory very much. It shouldn't and it doesn't but nevertheless it's dealing with an intellectual mass who isn't it's dealing with the mind Robin Wins Place a psychologist. It's it's helping a genius think more clearlyly's it. 58:40.17 ukfilmreview Yeah, and yeah, there's another film called a beautiful mind so Russell Cro and it has yeah similar like vibes but good rule hunting I think is's just leagues above it in terms of like memorable performances and just being a genuinely affecting film and that. 58:43.85 Brian Penn Oh must cry. Yeah yeah, yeah. 58:55.45 Brian Penn That. 58:57.67 ukfilmreview Obviously everyone talks about that scene where Robyn Williams talks about his wife. Um it still on the bench and I like it I'd much like you I hadn't seen it for a good few years which is why I picked it because I'd watched it recently I was like you know I got a talk about this film and it. 59:00.51 Brian Penn Yeah, yeah. 59:10.80 Brian Penn There and I does. 59:14.39 ukfilmreview Got me again every time I watch this film it just every time and everybody does the bit. You know it's it's not your fault. It's that your fault you're like oh man now I'm going I'm going and I think it's just brilliant. It's got everything going for it and it still as potent today as it is as it was back then. 59:19.86 Brian Penn yeah and I the yeah I mean I mean there are there are powerful emotional scenes throughout that film and that one particular scene that strikes me is again between Robin Williams and that damon. Where Matt Damon where will hunting's baiting him about his wife not knowing the background not understanding Robin Williams ' character properly. He makes a remark then Robin Williams character snaps the psychologist snaps and he he pins them up against the wall. 59:56.42 ukfilmreview And. 59:58.58 Brian Penn And you might think I would ask the end of that one because that was the fifth psychologist that the lamb bro I matched him up with but he he comes out of the office. He said bright Thursday Four o'clock you think great. We're on there. It's sort of like the battle lines are drawn it and we're in for a very illuminating encounter between great characters. 01:00:08.35 ukfilmreview This is. 01:00:17.97 Brian Penn And really cool actors. You know I mean Robyn William inspect Damon Ben Affle Stn scars guard a mini driver aren't they such cool actors you know, whatever cool is you know I I don't I can't define cool but I know it when I see it and this is cool. 01:00:33.27 ukfilmreview Wow. Can't say better than that. Um, well that's our lot for this episode. Um, so for the next month we will probably release a ah more kind of firm list. But. Brian is there anything on your hit list in terms of cinema releases. You're gonna be capturing up with. 01:00:52.48 Brian Penn Um, there's a couple that spring to mind. Ah there is women talking which is well representped in the Oscar nominations that's coming out this Friday I think and also what's love got to do with it. 01:01:08.80 ukfilmreview Out. 01:01:09.81 Brian Penn Not the not Latinina Turner film this is a film starring. Ah Emma Thompson and it's it's about arranged marriages or what they're now calling assisted marriages. So I'm expecting great things of that so it feels more like a light comedy so that. That's two that are will be on minus for the next podcast. 01:01:34.23 ukfilmreview Fantastic. Um, we'll be picking up some indie films from a list that I put out on Twitter this week which where I asked some indie filmmakers whose film were on Amazon prime but I just need to go through and check with those? Um, but yeah. Check back regularly at uk film review anywhere on social. So Facebook Instagram Twitter will put the list out as soon as we can once we know what we're watching and yeah, any of the films that we've reviewed in this episode. You can also send us your your reviews of those I'm happy to maybe play them at the beginning of the episode then I'd be quite cool to just. Share those? Um, we're hoping to to get some contributions if not I'll hit up the podcast crew I'm sure they've all got lots to say about this. They always have lots to say those guys and girls those peeps. Um, but as always thank you for for joining us. We hope you've enjoyed this very first episode of Ukfilm Club 01:02:15.70 Brian Penn You nowhere. 01:02:27.61 Brian Penn Yes. 01:02:28.22 ukfilmreview Very excited about it. Um Brian thank you as always good sir for joining me and for bringing such an amazing array of films to this episode. What a great start. We do um but that's it for this episode I think you get film of your podcast. 01:02:32.27 Brian Penn Yeah, Welcome Yeah needs to keep it going now. Don't we. 01:02:46.70 ukfilmreview We'll see you again next time. 01:02:47.78 Brian Penn Bye for now. Previous Next

Read the film podcast transcript from the episode titled Priscilla - Argylle - Poor Things - UK Film Club Episode 12 on UK Film Club part of the UK Film Review Podcast. < Back Priscilla - Argylle - Poor Things - UK Film Club Episode 12 Listen to This Episode UK Film Club 00:00.00 Chris Olson So end of February already. 00:03.67 Brian Penn Ah, no, that' I'm flying. You know be Christmas before you know it? ah and and and now you'll be thinking about Christmas presence soon I tell you you will. 00:07.50 Chris Olson Are gonna are gonna try and leave it to at least June we start talking about Christmas again our to what we are. It's Oscar territory. 00:18.65 Brian Penn But at the moment we're we're in the middle of a war season aren't we yeah. 00:26.29 Chris Olson Um, and yeah, there's been lots of awards flying around. Um do do you keep track of all the awards shows Brian is that something you like to. 00:30.46 Brian Penn I I try to but there are so many aren't they you know when it's usually when the golden globes start. You know that's the beginning. Don't you then you got the screen as guild or you've got the baftters and the screen as guild then the oscars. And is of course trying to keep track. But I think it's fairly clear. What the best films of the year have been I don't think they deviate very much. Do they I mean they say that the golden globes of the precursors to the oscars and they're a good indication of where they're thinking is but the word is Oppenheimer is new I think. 01:00.83 Chris Olson Yeah I was gonna say do you think that's gonna win like yeah, it's already won several right at time of recording this? um I think it's goingnna win most of the ones left I haven't seen it. You've seen it haven't you. 01:07.21 Brian Penn Yeah. 01:12.56 Brian Penn I I've seen it. Yeah I mean obviously I have my issues with it which are not that substantial to be honest I just found it slightly over abitious, but it is a very good film and I'd be quite happy if it won the Oscar for best best picture you know, particularly when you look at what else is nominated. But. Yeah, go. Perhaps we can talk about that post post. Ah Oscars but. 01:34.82 Chris Olson Well I think it's one of those discussions that gets everyone very heated and I'm I'm so far behind because I don't catch up with the films as as quickly as I should but you're yeah, right on the front line of this all. Yeah, you're really watching all these films as they come out. Yeah was there a film. 01:40.20 Brian Penn And. 01:49.75 Brian Penn Ah, well yeah I know. 01:53.72 Chris Olson Was there a film last year that you thought it was deserving of the Oscar but it's just nowhere near the yeah, the front line of the contenders. 01:59.25 Brian Penn Yeah I mean there are certain films that never never quite get the attention they deserve and I think that's more the case case now than ever one film that always stood out for me, but that completely missed out any nominations of any note was till the film that Emmett till. The 14 year old boy who was lynched and ah murdered and it was more about the story of his mother Mamie how she showed the world what they did to her boy brilliant brilliant film but just completely got eclipsed in in the Oscars and the bathrooms nobody's sucking notice of it. And I think it is so sad. But I think that's the the products of the the age we live in now that certain films will not get the attention they deserve and some films are overpraed. it's it's odd 02:44.69 Chris Olson I I definitely agree with that in terms of like the marketing strategy now like last month we reviewed saltburn and it's a good film. Don't get me wrong I think it's a very good film and I really enjoyed it. But it's I'd say it's. 02:56.64 Brian Penn Me. 03:03.90 Chris Olson Yeah, in the middle I don't I don't think it's anything particularly ah jaw dropping. There's the thing about it's a good. It's a very well-made film. but but I think because it had the Amazon star power machine behind it that everyone was talking about and like you say a film like till I remember you talking about that on our show last year 03:06.00 Brian Penn I and I Then. And. 03:18.81 Brian Penn I yeah. 03:21.78 Chris Olson And ah, it's yeah, that's the type of film here. It needs to have a light shined on it. It needs people to go and see it. But if it got like a a minimal kind of theatrical release. You know people didn't You didn't get the bums on seats that it needed. Um, it just kind of gets lost in in the the waves of all the Cinema releases and I think. 03:25.40 Brian Penn Ah I. 03:29.40 Brian Penn You there? Yep, that's all it was down. So yeah. 03:41.15 Chris Olson That's a bit of a shame sometimes but then awards season does also have the ability to shine a light on some gems because sometimes it does you you a few come through especially in the lesser known categories like you suddenly go oh that that won an Oscar for something and you go but better. Check it out because yeah, it wouldn't. 03:46.75 Brian Penn Yeah, so. 03:59.10 Brian Penn Yeah, it it makes you curious I mean I I think it's interesting because maestro's been nominated for an Oscar. It's got 4 or 5 nominations in the big categories and that's the life story of Leonda Bernstein which starts. 04:00.30 Chris Olson Get that recognition if it wasn't at least half decent. 04:17.12 Brian Penn Bradley Cooper and rosmond point and it's very good. Had a very limited release in order to qualify for an Oscar it has to go on theatrical release for a certain amount of time but you could literally have seen it on Netflix at the same time more or less you know, but they satisfy the rules and that's. 04:31.55 Chris Olson Um, yeah. 04:36.32 Brian Penn That's kind of the opposite. That's a film that that might have been might have flown under the radar had it not been for the yeah, the pulling power of Netflix it is very influential now. 04:49.12 Chris Olson There you go well in this episode. Um, we are chock ah block I don't this has got to be 1 of our biggest slated ah list of films that we've ever tried to attempt? Um, so. 04:54.40 Brian Penn I and I this a lot. Yeah. 05:05.69 Chris Olson Welcome to UKFilm club if you're wondering what the hell is going on. Um, it is essentially Brian and myself um, discussing all manner of films we will cover cinema releases some streaming films indie films and also look back at a classic movie. 05:17.72 Brian Penn And yeah. 05:23.53 Chris Olson Um, I won't tell you what the classic film is right now but I will go dinner a Dan a dinner. Um because I've had it in my head. Yeah I've in my head quite a lot. Um, but yeah, we have got an enormous amount to get through. Um, so. 05:30.50 Brian Penn Ah, very so very subtle. Yeah. 05:39.93 Chris Olson Yeah, what we do is we like to review some of these films shine light on them. We have some that people have actually asked us to review it physically sent us so we'll get to those in the indie section. But first off, we're starting with the films that have been or are available at cinema recently. Um. 05:55.30 Brian Penn And. 05:58.90 Chris Olson And we even have a film both of us have seen this I hope um that isn't available yet. Um, it's coming out in March I believe I will look up the official ready state shortly? Um, but we were giving we were given a pre screener to this. Um. 06:07.69 Brian Penn And. 06:14.19 Brian Penn Yeah, so. 06:17.97 Chris Olson And the film is called banel and aharma and now from your ums and Rs Brian you have seen this right? Yeah and um, whilst I look up the release date. You want to give a a quick synopsis on this one. 06:18.76 Brian Penn Yeah I've seen it. Yeah. 06:28.72 Brian Penn The yeah sure cool so beno and a dharma directed by ramaa to Leisai starring Katie Main and Mama do dialo a young couple in senegal must contend with the disapproval of their remote village and its elders a visually beautiful film. Great use of light shade and color. They've got the wire plains of Africa to film. So it looks absolutely stunning the storyline I found slightly thin on the ground. We've got this couple trying to break free of the tribe's influence and the fact that a dharma has refused to be head of the tribe. Which has led to supposedly led to a drought and the death of villagers I might see a bit more going on there but otherwise a very solid picture very well made beautifully short and some very sensitive portrayals there of. A different way of life and a way of life that we wouldn't comprehend that all a very simple life. A very austere life but not always a very happy life if the two carats is portrayed or anything to go by but good stuff. There's a lot of good stuff going on there. 07:39.16 Chris Olson Yeah I think you're right in terms of that. Ah, for me, it felt like a gothic story and it was like you had this way of life that was completely like anything that we are used to in the Western world. Um, but there was so much going on there that was relevant. Yeah in terms of talking about. 07:53.66 Brian Penn Button first. 07:56.88 Chris Olson Gender roles and talking about expectations of the generations below and because Dma Obviously he's like the is a chief of the village but he's very young I think like his father died or or something and they are very keen on keeping those bloodlines in the. 08:08.00 Brian Penn Yeah, yeah. 08:15.94 Chris Olson In the chiefdom as it were um and then so there's a lot of expectation on him as a male you know to provide not just for his own family. But for his village and yeah for everyone. Um, and then but he's torn because you've got this love story obviously with banal and yeah, you're like rooting for them as this. 08:23.96 Brian Penn And here. 08:34.75 Brian Penn So yeah and I know I know that? ah but it just makes you yeah it just makes you wonder what? what? an incredibly different life that we lead and the comfortable life that we lead compared to some but. 08:34.85 Chris Olson Beautiful young couple. They dream of like digging their home out of the sand or on the outskirts of village and heartbreaking. 08:52.41 Brian Penn The life they are living in their village in Senegal is probably no different from the life that their ancestors would have lived a hundred two hundred years ago that's what struck me about that is that progress in itself or what we would see as progress in the western world. Um literally stand still. 09:02.68 Chris Olson Um. 09:11.30 Brian Penn And that's what I find interesting about it. Um, but you know as I say visually, it's great to look at absolutely brits look at I mean you may well think that you can't go wrong filming in Africa really because the scenery is absolutely spectacular. But I like the way they handle extreme closeups. And they allow silence to drop into the story from science to time some I'll come back to with with other films that we're reviewing. But I think silence if you do it properly can be really effective in a script because you allow the stories to breathe the characters to breathe. And you have time to contemplate the story as well. So yeah. 09:51.17 Chris Olson I Think it makes it that much more haunting as well as a film like because there's lots of different genres at play in this movie but it's definitely got horror elements to it like um, what happens in the story and some visuals as well I won't go into it but is this. 09:59.20 Brian Penn I. 10:06.61 Chris Olson A shot of her on top of a well and a red dress and it just really stuck and like you say I think that silence is so unnerving. It makes you go Oh it sends chills down and that's why like I said it felt gothic. It felt like ah um, a story that you would have told you know centuries ago. 10:07.63 Brian Penn Yeah, yeah, and it. Yeah yeah. Um, know that. 10:26.27 Chris Olson And there was something about it as well. That felt almost um so unnatural to it like it had this element of like what's going on around these characters around this village and yeah, they they allude to this as well. That yeah maybe she's um, done things to cause these. 10:32.13 Brian Penn The. 10:45.10 Brian Penn Yeah I. 10:45.25 Chris Olson Ah, horrific things to start happening and and also it doesn't ever veer into that territory. It doesn't veer into that. Okay, right now we're going to get all gruesome like at all that's not at all what this film is like it's far more intelligent and mature than that It's more sophisticated I think it it causes you to do a lot of the. 10:53.98 Brian Penn Good. So. Yeah, yeah, yeah, which is which is more challenging it in a way where you don't see it like it's where the filmmaker leaves a certain amount inside your own head which I think is quite clever and not easy to do so. 11:04.46 Chris Olson Imagining yourself I think um yeah. 11:19.60 Brian Penn Um, yeah, it it just it's got a great look and a great field to it really has but you know it's the visuals that strike strike me more than anything else. But you know it is so I guess it is about tradition Superstition responsibility being passed down from father to son. 11:39.28 Brian Penn And really I feel they're trying to break away from that tradition and live their own lives that seemed to be the the tenor of the story and it's a question whether they were able to do it or not and they have parental pressure on them. Don't they as well for them to do what what they feel is the right thing not necessarily what. 11:51.61 Chris Olson Yeah. 11:58.19 Brian Penn But now in a dharma think it's the right thing as well. So. 12:01.16 Chris Olson I Think that came to sort of lot fruition with the like the expectation on Banel to like have children and I think that's a strong theme through this yeah terms of what's expected of men and what's expected of women and I must say Kaie Maini plays the banel character. She's. 12:07.76 Brian Penn Yeah, yeah, yeah. 12:20.79 Chris Olson Incredible. She's so engaging to watch like you' you're watching her and absolutely lethal with a slingshot am I right? I mean those pop those poor birds. Yeah, no, um, but it's a fierce performance. It's really strong and I think on a film like this where. 12:21.86 Brian Penn Yeah, you like yeah I'm gonna say yeah you will you were You wouldn't want to get on the wrong side of it Would you let's but put it that way you know, but but yeah, yeah. 12:40.32 Chris Olson You know it's playing to its strengths like the the location's amazing, but it's not going many places so you do have that element of it's very claustrophobic. It's insular that you're relying heavily on the actors to do that sort of heavy lifting. 12:41.98 Brian Penn And. 12:52.37 Brian Penn Yeah, yeah, yeah I think they've they've all got potential I think the lead employers in this film. You would imagine them going on from here and you know breaking out into the. 12:55.30 Chris Olson And I think that they've got a great cast here and the direction's really good. 13:06.28 Chris Olson Um. 13:10.57 Brian Penn Us Strike British film industry. Shall we say but you can't imagine them staying put you know in other words I suppose what I'm saying is they won't stay provincial. They will break out of that because that they very photogenic both both leading as have got something there. You know? So yeah. Very solid piece I would say and. 13:33.54 Chris Olson Go so bananaa dharma is out in cinemas in the Uk and Ireland on Fifteenth of March Twenty Twenty four depending on when you're listening to this um and has done really well at festivals you may have caught it at last year's bfi London film festival. 13:47.58 Brian Penn And. 13:49.43 Chris Olson It was also a can selection toronto as well. So it's it's done very well critically I yeah we were talking about till earlier this feels like the type of film again. It will go completely under the radar up and yeah, as much as we'd love to say that we're shining a light on it I I don't do you get that feeling that is not going to get. 14:01.60 Brian Penn Yeah, yeah, yeah, um, yeah I think so it's it's not going to do great business Sadly, but that's no indication of how good it is. You know. 14:09.37 Chris Olson The the eyes it deserves. 14:17.62 Chris Olson Um. 14:17.90 Brian Penn Because so many films now I think we often say this on film club that so many films deserve a bigger platform and deserve more praise but it almost works the wrong way around that films that deserve the Attention. Don't get nearly enough. And films that you think kind of yeah okay, but you know you shrug your shoulders a little bit but they go mad over it and I don't get it I mean I don't know it's all about opinions isn't it and you know some films have and and a natural momentum about Them. Don't they that there's ah. 14:37.20 Chris Olson Yeah, 50 14:51.13 Brian Penn They are self-perpetuating and they generate their own publicity and for some reason they work but it's not immediately obvious to me or pu for you but you know as I say you know, um, it's the way it works now but it doesn't you know it doesn't always make sense to me. Um, if I'm really being honest. 15:09.27 Chris Olson There you go. It's not meant to make sense. But and that's the thing. Well hopefully the next film makes sense I'm George clooneys the boys in the boat. 15:10.70 Brian Penn But there you go? No no, it'd be boring. It'd be boring if it made sense wouldn't it really? well. 15:23.36 Chris Olson Um, you've seen this Brian I haven't seen these next cinematic films but Brian has what do you think of the the boys in the boat. 15:41.47 Chris Olson 3 2 1 15:43.22 Brian Penn Okay, then. So let's do the basics then directed by George Clooney starring Joel Edson Callum Serner Hadley Robinson and Peter Guinness this is a true story based on the book written by Daniel James Brown the story begins in the mid. 30 s as Joe Rance is tryinges to pay his way through college Washington University are looking for rowers to fill their junior eights boat. The lucky 8 will get better and bald. But more importantly, a regular wage. They might even clinch a spot represents in the Usa at the 9036 Olympics Boys come under the watchful eye of coach al ubrickson who has the moulded scene that will compete with the wealthy ivy league universities Joe is gently motivated by a childhood sweetheart Joyce whose sense is a champion in the making now Chris this is all about underdogs fighting the system. Working class boys out to prove that money can't necessarily buy success. It's a touching story of sporting excellence and a desire to be the best. It's never cornney or sentimental but tells a story of honest graft and genuine endeavor. It was a much simpler world on the cusp of global conflicts yet these values still endure as an example of the way a good life should be lived I love this Chris I really think it's great for me the film of a month because yeah film and a month I got to say it of the 5 that we're looking at. 17:04.33 Chris Olson Um, yeah, oh film in a month 17:12.54 Brian Penn Say 6 including um, including benal ah and a armma. This is the best of them. It's a true story so it has more impact because you know it's a true story but it's told with a lot of guts and a lot of honesty I love the way George clearly directs. Rowing I don't think he's a particularly easy sport to capture on film either. You know you don't see a goal being scored or a touchdown or a try being scored. You're just you're just filming a boat on a river but the way he captures. It is absolutely brilliant I love it. There are really nice performances throughout. Peter Guinness is very good as the the grizzled boat builder. Really good. Love this. But as we've just mentioned that you know how great films can fly under the radar this one's going to do the same. It is still on general release. You've got a look for it. But I think it will be coming to the end of its run on theatrical release more's the pity because I think this is a terrific film. Really a lovely film. 18:22.64 Chris Olson It looks fabulous and nice I Ah got a lot of time for clean these filmmaking and with a cast like this is yeah yeah, got a lot of reasons to to be watched I think you know that you say there's that essence of it's mostly about rowing that. 18:27.46 Brian Penn I Yeah yeah. 18:36.95 Brian Penn Yeah. 18:39.93 Chris Olson It's going to fall outside a lot of genres you know sports films. Yes, that's a big category. But I mean I just googled like rowing films and there isn't really much on there that sort of I'd say that um that that big. It's not like boxing. Yeah, like boxing films you could list them all day. Um. 18:44.40 Brian Penn Yeah, yeah. 18:52.83 Brian Penn And and yeah. 18:59.83 Chris Olson But often with these stories. Obviously it's it's far more about the context. Yeah, obviously what's going on and I love films that are set in the depression era I think that's it's such a ah rich ah ground for stories and this sounds like 1 of those movies where it's going to be that I'm so glad I've heard that. 19:07.14 Brian Penn Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, is. 19:17.54 Brian Penn I yeah and one life about Nicholas Winson yeah yeah i. I 19:18.72 Chris Olson Story it was like um in our previous episode. It was the anthony hopkins film was it one one life so was called well life. Yeah, but oh I never heard about and it was like such an important story that suddenly it's like yes we we know we we got that and that I think is really important, especially at the moment with. The way filmmaking is going yeah becoming more ah just bland like guess like just yeah that they they're trying to make the movies as cheaply as possible as blandly as possible that someone like Clooney who does have such a artistic. 19:42.79 Brian Penn Yeah, yeah. 19:53.64 Chris Olson Merit to his name. He could have gone off and just been an action star but he hasn't like he's chosen to go and do this, you make these films I think they are worth our time. Um is it is it cinematic though. Is it worth the cinema visit. That's why I always wonder with these films. 19:57.52 Brian Penn Yeah, yeah, yeah, absolutely. Yeah, it's a good point actually because because I would say most films do but a lot you can get away with this film. You've got to see on the big screen to see that have the full dynamic view get the benefit of dollby surround this has got to be seen on the on the big screen and. I think you realize what a very good director George Clooney is you know I I'm a a huge fan of Clooney as an actor and a director but he knows what he's doing. You know he's got a a great eye and he sees what's most important in a story now look you know what? a big fan of sport I am in general. I didn't know this story at all. You know when you vaguely are vaguely aware of it but I didn't know the background so I learned something new I felt slightly embarrassed that this was big. These are olympic ah competitors and I knew nothing about them and so. Even for me as a huge sports fan is something I didn't know about. So if I didn't know I'm sure there are a lot of people that won't be aware of the story as well. So. 21:08.95 Chris Olson Absolutely yeah, you are doing a service Brian by telling us all about these films because yeah I wouldn't have known either. So that's the boys in the boat as Brian said currently on release. But. 21:12.14 Brian Penn A hope sign I hope so that's that's that's my job. But if I can do that My job is done. Yeah. 21:25.79 Chris Olson Very limited I'm probably going to go to streaming not not too long. Ah for that. But let's know what you think because it sounds like a fantastic movie. Um poison the boat now I watched the Elvis film recently. Um. 21:27.40 Brian Penn And. Yeah, yeah, love it. Love it. 21:42.83 Brian Penn Oh right? Yeah there. Alright yeah. 21:45.64 Chris Olson 1 called Elvis gives you a hint guys and girls and everyone in between that we're where we're going next to the next film. Um, and I thought that was really strong. Yeah bas lurman film. Ah great. Great movie. So I'm very intrigued to hear what you're gonna say about Sophia Coppola's Priscilla. 22:02.34 Brian Penn Yeah, yeah, okay, so yeah as you say directs by Sophie Copler very very solid director. Ah you know a careful hand on the tiller you'd expect to be to be good and it is good stars. Caylee spy and jacob ilauddi. Who we saw recently in sawburn don't we ah based on the book written by Priscilla Presley this is the story of her life within all this now because it's based on on the book written by Priscilla I don't doubt it's all Authenticicity. There's no exaggeration. No mudslinging. She's got no reason to lie and can only be a true account of what happened on that basis I find it disturbing and quite creepy. Actually let's make no bones about it. Elvis groomed Priscilla from a young age. She was fourteen years old when they met. He wouldn't let her go out to work. He told her what clothes to wear. It's a textbook study in coercive control if that's what happened if that's true. But I'm working on the basis that it is a true account and there's no reason why it wouldn't be but I put that proviso in um so fas of Elvis will not enjoy this film. You know they say never meet your heroes. I'd supplement that proverb and say never learn the truth about your heroes because you will be upset and disappointed. But you know it throws the light on the dark side of Elvis um, as I say Sophie Coppola does always does the sound job in the films that she makes although. 23:34.58 Brian Penn I would say though that the the interior shots are are in darkness I'm not really sure what they were getting out there but the lighting was terrible and with the interior scene. So I'm not exactly certain why that was the case but otherwise very good film very well made and. Interestingly there are no Elvis songs on the soundtrack which are which I think is a good move in some ways because it's not necessarily about Elvis it's about Priscilla but there's a great soundtrack of 6 sixty s and 50 s music but a good solid tell and as I say quite. 23:53.35 Chris Olson All right. 24:10.44 Brian Penn Quite disturbing in it in its own way. Very effective very well made. 24:15.93 Chris Olson It's interesting. Yeah I I hadn't heard amazing things I sort of read some good reviews and some sort of middling reviews and I think of just my my very limited knowledge of Elvis and Priscilla Hours I thought yeah it's definitely a. 24:21.80 Brian Penn So yeah. 24:31.54 Chris Olson A person of history that deserves a a film you to find out. Yeah, she was so close to Elvis but also had her own story to tell. Um, and I think these the sort of films and stories that if you're a aficionaddo of the time. Yeah, you're gonna you're going to watch it like say and and you'll know the history whether it's true or not. 24:32.92 Brian Penn Yeah, yeah. 24:43.80 Brian Penn Yeah, so. 24:51.50 Chris Olson Um, I don't personally I don't care if it's true or not like I find sometimes that does get in the way like people get a bit funny about it. Oh well that didn't happen like this and it's like yeah but you know they've got to tell this story right? It's not about yeah what actually physically happened. 24:59.13 Brian Penn Yeah, yeah I Ah I. 25:07.78 Chris Olson Um, I mean even documentaries don't do that like even documentaries have to try and like yeah, kind of put together some narrative. Um, but I I Also think that you say that when there is authenticity when you are at least sure of the source that you can kind of go. 25:08.60 Brian Penn I yeah. 25:25.85 Chris Olson Be a bit more invested in it I guess because it's like okay, watch know some of this is gonna be based on truth Obviously you take it with a pinch of salt. But there's a there's a enhanced viewing experience there because the narrative is coming from that person. 25:26.80 Brian Penn Yeah. 25:34.55 Brian Penn Yeah, yeah, I mean even for Priscilla, it's an interpretation of the life that she had with Elvis right? Who better who who better placed to to talk about Elvis than Priscilla she was married to but again like I say you always kind of put that. That health warning on it. But then again as she points out. It's interpretational isn't it. It's what you see it's what you experienced. It's the it's the spin you put on the facts right? And in 1 person's eyes. It's going to be totally spot on in somebody else's eyes. It won't be you know and. 25:58.39 Chris Olson B. 26:14.14 Brian Penn That's I suppose. That's the challenge of of putting true events on screen is that you can't always be absolutely faithful to the truth. But it's supposedly based on a firsthand account on that on that basis. You'd go with it and say well. Yeah I mean. And you you put yourself in her shoes and what she must have gone through and you know that everyone you know everyone has a dark side. 1 thing I would say about this film like um Jacob Ilaudie who plays Elvis who we saw in saltburn is one hell of an accent. He. Perfective elvis' southern draw down to a sea. Absolutely brilliant. You know you wouldn't think he's australian Jacoblaudie and in saltburn he played a character with us. You know, ah a home county's accent and you wouldn't have thought he was lost anything but english you know and there he is. 26:53.85 Chris Olson Shift. 27:11.69 Brian Penn Playing ah a high profile historical figure like Elvis with as authentic a southern american accent as you'll ever find. He's definitely ones who watch I was really impressed with him. 27:24.63 Chris Olson There you go fans of Jacob Alaudy will be very happy to hear that. Um, so that's Priscilla yet currently in theaters as well. But um, at the time that you're hearing this. It may not be but do let us know what you think because some more's intrigued. Um. 27:33.35 Brian Penn Yeah, yeah, absolutely. So. 27:41.10 Chris Olson Now this next film has been talked a lot about is a lot of people obviously big fan of the director yogoslanthemos um, and I've I've seen a lot of different things I'm intrigued see what Brian is going to make of poor things. 27:55.46 Brian Penn Yeah, right? Okay, so this you know it's on general release doing good business um directed by as you just mentioned Yorgos Manthem Latheus mathhammo. 28:08.34 Chris Olson Lathemo You are well is one of the few directors where I was like'm gonna learn that one. Um because I love the lobster thought lobster and the killing of the sacred deer both fabulous films i' so I'm intrigued to see with this one. 28:10.50 Brian Penn But you've been rehearsing them I can yeah hello. 28:18.61 Brian Penn Yeah, he's he's a very capable director for sure. This is starring Emma Stone Willem Defoe and Mark Ruffalo what we have here is a female version of Frankenstein with some bells and whistles added. This is the tale of Bella Baxter a young woman who is brought back to life by a brilliant and highly unorthodox scientist called Godwin Baxter Bella's life takes an unexpected turn when she escapes the gilded cage built by the doctor she lands in Paris where her life is never quite the same again now. I would have to say this is ah a very well-made film. It's a good picture I'm not denying that for a second but what I am surprised by is acclaim that it's received again. It ties in with what we were discussing earlier on about films that. Get passed over films that are overpraised. This film has been nominated for 11 oscars and it's won five baftters and I'm whilst it's good I'm not sure it's that good. Um, you know it's actually very explicit. The sex things are really really explicit leave nothing to the imagination. It's virtually all I can remember the film really strange that isn't it. But anyway, um, it leaves nothing to the imagination as I said and it obscures what is a very intriguing story. You know it has its merits. It's it's good but it's not that good and 29:36.59 Chris Olson Yeah. 29:52.97 Brian Penn The fact that it's got fire baters already shows. How highly regarded it is but this is where you've got an academy of elected representatives voting for a film set against what the public might vote for so there is that kind of tradeoff and we've got the same scenario with the with the oscars as well. Very good film. It's good, but it's not that good if I can put it that way. 30:18.22 Chris Olson Ah Wow I mean I wasn't expecting that but it it hasn't put me off watching it at all because I think yeah I've I've recommended his films before to people I said oh you should watch the lobster and they've done that awkward thing where they've come back to me and gone. Yeah I couldn't get through it and I'm like oh okay, yeah, right? Um, and. 30:23.31 Brian Penn Yeah, yeah. 30:36.61 Brian Penn Ah. 30:36.86 Chris Olson Like if you haven't seen cu funny enough Barry Keegan who we reviewed in saltburn last month keeps coming up that film. Um he he was in the killing of a sacred deer I wouldn't recommend that lightly to anyone because it's quite is a very dark film. Um, so with this I think you if. 30:41.12 Brian Penn Yeah I know Strangeise isn't it. Yeah. And. 30:55.54 Chris Olson If you're in that genre and you're happy with that genre. Then definitely, you're going to watch it. But I think like you say when a film starts to get all that acclaim you do start to think okay is there a reason behind that like is there a reason why this is doing that. Well um, is it connections is it? Yeah is it ah a voting thing I don't know. Um. 30:58.11 Brian Penn Yeah. 31:07.89 Brian Penn And yeah, ah, yeah, yeah, ah well look you there Always always is that possibility because you know members of the Academy members of bafta are elected. They're put there for a reason. 31:15.36 Chris Olson So be cynical but it could be. 31:25.39 Brian Penn And there is this kind of relationship between ah the Oscars and the baftass and awards that are voted for by the people by the the public and I I think you would get something totally different if the people were voting for it. That's not to say this isn't a good film. It is but I don't feel. It reaches the the heights and the zenith that that it seems to ah have Klein to but Emma Stone's very good Mark Roffo's very good William Defoe goes without saying he's going to be good. You know it's a good cast It's wellde designed. Um. Emma Stone plays the part world because for much of the film. She is very childlike and as the film progresses and the plot moves on she grows up very quickly without giving too much of the plot away but she grows up and she becomes an adult so I would say it's a challenging. Role to play which he does very well. Ah, you know it does kind of to me I look at that film the way it looks it. It does remind me a bit of Bazzluman the way he would approach a film. Um, but you know it has its merits. But. Don't really see how it it gains that much support and how it's so revered that you know it's all about opinions. You know I saw we have all we have it that could be our bus phrase for the time being. It's all we have is there opinions. 32:49.31 Chris Olson It is and that's all we have at the end of the day. 32:59.48 Chris Olson Exactly I don't think it'll catch on unfortunately as too much but too much marketing going on these days. Well hopefully the next film tries a bit harder. Um, so let's see what Brian made of the color purple. 33:00.52 Brian Penn Yeah, no well I and I we'll have to try a bit harder won't we yeah. 33:14.63 Brian Penn Ah, right? Okay, but. 33:17.84 Chris Olson Now listen it listeners will be thinking that little bit by Brian there is that good. Ah, right or a bad all right. 33:22.55 Brian Penn And oh right? Okay am I Still that mysterious I thought I was quite easy to read Well Okay, let me tell you then right? color purple directed by Blitz Buzzeroole I hope I pronounce that current correctly. 33:36.35 Chris Olson I I'm going to give you full credit for that that sounds sounds right. 33:40.64 Brian Penn Well, if she's listening in I I do apologize it. But you know anyway starring fanassia berino tarage p henson coleman domingo now this is an adaptation of the broadway hit musical based on an original book by Alice Walker listeners may also be aware of the 1985 film directed by Steven Spielberg and starring Whoopi Goldberg the story in and in a nutshell should we go for the story in a nutshell we're in Georgia at the turn of the century sisters seeli and netsie are separated by circumstances beyond their control. 34:07.34 Chris Olson E. 34:16.90 Brian Penn Seely suffers years of abuse from a cruel husband in a loveless marriage but gradually she finds strength to lead an independent life thoroughly enjoyable film. The songs are great I'd love to see this on stage I find it amazing. It's never been on on the west been on at the west end never been there. Um, but hopefully this film will might give it a a route to the west end. You never know I've got to name check the songwriters Brenda Russell Ailey Willis and Stephen Bray they did a great job The performances are amazing too. Fantasia berino god that girl can see. She's amazing. The only downside for me is that the songs bury the story to a certain extent the original novel goes to some dark places and you lose that in the context of a musical because it is so joyful and happy clappy. You know, um. But if you want more of the story itself this spill the spillberg version is better but hugely entertaining really is gorgeous film in that way, but it dilutes the story. You know the the mute the fact that with a musical the song should carry the narrative and they do that. But because the story is is so broad and challenging. It gets lost when they convert it into a musical but that might be a minor point to some but very good entertainment though. 35:39.84 Chris Olson Wow I see I misedread you I thought you weren't going like this so that yeah beginning ah right I got completely wrong so listeners if you guessed right? Then you know you know Brian better than I do um absolutely I mean yeah, did. 35:46.27 Brian Penn I ah yeah ah yeah yeah I'm keeping you on your sidees line Christmas you. 35:59.62 Chris Olson I'm always ah reticent when it comes to musicals because I do find sometimes I get a bit i' just a bit bored of it or or it's not sinking for me that you the whole breaking into song I It just jolks me Out. It's kind of like theater sometimes when you watch really good theater you okay I was really immersed in that then there's other times where you go. Yeah I was very aware that I was watching people act. Yeah, it, There's that I think you want to be sucked into the musical if if you're going to do that and it sounds like this does that and it's entertaining I think that's another thing with Musicals. They have to be entertaining. Um, but people will let us know um it's in. 36:20.98 Brian Penn Yeah, yeah, yeah. And yeah, yeah, and yeah, yeah I think. 36:38.46 Chris Olson Cinemas and I think you can even get it on Amazon already. It's on the the rental side of things. 36:43.17 Brian Penn Yeah I think it is I think they they tend to overlap now because logic would tell you that you won't get it won't stream until it finishes at the cinema but they do you know they do overlap so you can you can actually sit. Yeah so you can see it on the small screen but you know the. 36:53.40 Chris Olson Yeah I think they've got deals in place and the. 37:01.88 Brian Penn Ah, take on board. What you say about about musicals and I'm I'm always very ambivalent about musicals on film because I don't think they always translate particularly well but you know I think the the Steven Spielberg version of the color purple is that an interesting counterpoint. Because if you want to appreciate? The story is Steven Spielberg every time you know it's that's got to be the best. But if you want pure and sustainment great songs. That's buzz buzzeroola and I was showing off it I know I pronounced the right to me I thought I'd say it again anyway, um, yeah. 37:34.46 Chris Olson A. 37:40.54 Brian Penn Very good otherwise though, but you know it's I think I think you look you always lose the story slightly with the musical you know that there you go. 37:49.41 Chris Olson There we go color purple. Let's know what you think um to the our last cinematic release um not a film about the plymouth football team I'm guessing ah this film is called Argyle ah written by Matthew Vaughan 38:03.10 Brian Penn Yeah, mean should we care? Well, it's a middle it. It's a fairto middling sort of yeah like bit away then did I give away there. Yeah, okay so yeah Macy V film. 38:07.29 Chris Olson What's this one Brian and should we care. 38:13.31 Chris Olson Ah, oh yeah, you could tell your tone there. Definitely yeah, very quickly. Yeah. 38:21.77 Brian Penn Starring Bryce Dalu Howard Sam Rockwell Henry caval and a host of cameoes I feel this film can be a filler whilst we're waiting for the next bond movie if I'm being honest Ellie Conway is a successful novelist who specializes in espionage tales her latest book features Argyle. Ah, recurring all- actionction spy masterster Andie lives quietly but is constantly berated by her mother Ruth who thinks she should get out more of them as fate takes her hand Ellie finds herself on a train sitting opposite the mysterious odden wild. He urges eie to trust him as always not what it seems. Surrounded by aggressors she is quickly convinced though. Life is in danger they flee with her cat Alfie strapped to her back in a c through glass case it seems so stories are getting too close to the truth and threaten at a sinister ah organization led by agent ritter. 39:17.55 Brian Penn Great entertainment brash colorful set pieces are well executed. Totally absurd. But that's okay, you know it's tiny. She it sends up the spy genre and Bryce Douglas Howard Sam Rockquil are great in their respective roles. They have an absolute ball playing this part. These parts good cameos as I mentioned but I've got to say something about duo leappa as lagrange. Ah she I feel she struggles in a very limited role that demands too little of ah abilities cease. Um. 39:55.57 Brian Penn It's not the film. She should have chosen if she wants to break into serious acting on screen. She looks absolutely sensational. She looks gorgeous but she doesn't do a lot of acting struggles to put 1 word in front of the other It's not the part she should have taken and. Almost in a way I'm surprised she took the took the role because it gives the impression that she's there for decorative purposes I mean she does a great dance routine with with Henry Caville who plays our guy at the beginning and it looks great, but it it just feels so disposable the character in this scene. It it doesn't do anything sort of film was so and I think she would have chosen something a bit more challenging but there you go. 40:42.82 Chris Olson Go? Well yeah, some other actors that pop up richardie grant John Cina it sounds like yeah that sort of film. It's been made with a lot of fun in mind. Yeah, there's all yeah, we're gonna just have a blast. Um, the reviews aren't. 40:51.54 Brian Penn I Oh yeah, yeah, no, they not no yeah. 40:58.82 Chris Olson That favorable for it. But I don't think they would be with it with a film like this. Um but be interesting to your people think and let say you know if you're into the bond films and all all that's what stuff? Um, then yeah, the man from Uncle I actually quite like that Henry Caan and um I thought that was all right? um. 41:12.63 Brian Penn Yeah, well I mean yeah I mean bear in mind that Matthewville directs the kingsman and it shows and I found them hugely entertaining but you know it's a question what people like and don't like if you're not a founder of spy. 41:20.37 Chris Olson Um. 41:30.75 Brian Penn Like ahearted spy movies. You won't like this it' all. But if you're a bond fan as I said at the beginning of the the review. Um, it's it's kind of like a filler. You know if you've got that kind of James Bond shaped hole in your life then this could temporarily fill it. You know so. It's not as dynamic as mission impossible shall we say but it's certainly at the bottom end but it it does the job and it's pleasant to watch as ridiculous as it is you know and in the written review I I finished the the review by saying that. You need to have your disbeli suspended for prolonged periods of time because otherwise you you'll get it'll get tiome. But for its type. It's all it's all good. 42:21.56 Chris Olson Hey guy I just love the idea of them putting on the poster great if you're looking to fill your James Bond shaped hole I just think not that would be great that no, but um. 42:26.40 Brian Penn You know I know I know you think that's good last way um, wasn't bad. You know? yeah it wasn't bad, but. 42:35.87 Chris Olson Um, what a but great place to finish our ah reviews of the Cinema movies. Um, so all of those are either at cinemas now um or coming cinemas in the case of Banal Laharma Ah, do let us know if you're on certain platforms. There's comment sections or just on our social media. Just let us know. 42:45.88 Brian Penn The. 42:52.80 Chris Olson But you thought of those movies. You's always good to hear what everyone else thinks um, unless in which case you're gonna be nasty. Ah, which you know while about us in particular we we don't want to hear about that like that's fine. Keep keep that to yourself though we want to know that. 42:53.74 Brian Penn Yeah, like well we yeah know no, that's right? Well yeah, yeah, that's right, Yeah, we don't really want to know that do we? We don't need to know na. 43:11.40 Chris Olson Um, we're moving now to a Netflix movie and this came out in February I believe and yeah February the ninth on UKNetflix anyway original title cool in english means ashes and we've both seen this. 43:27.22 Brian Penn So yes, we have Yes, yeah yeah. 43:31.10 Chris Olson Brian yes, both bothing this and I I hope be honest I enjoyed it more than the reviews did I think it's been. It's got a very low score on Imd B four point two. Um, but I had more fun with it. But I interested just yeah, just your gender impression Brian are you is it was it good was it bad. 43:36.45 Brian Penn And I. 43:45.00 Brian Penn Yeah I Yeah yeah, it was reasonable for me. You know? Yeah I I think it worked reasonable. What I think was a problem with it is that it's a Turkish film isn't it oped into English I don't think dubbing lipsynking turkish. 43:56.71 Chris Olson E. 44:03.85 Brian Penn Answer English or English onto Curkish doesn't work quite as Well. If you're dubbing a French film or a German film lipsynching works better generally. But I think with Turkish It doesn't work at all because what you end up doing is that you watch the lips of the characters or I do anyway. To see how well it it syncs up and it doesn't quite do it and I think subtitles might have been better for this film and I see I didn't change it over. Yeah I see I didn't think of that I just watch it. 44:26.86 Chris Olson Oh did you not change it I changed it to. Ah yeah yeah I changed I had it on on the original language. Yeah I didn't have a problem at all with that and I strongly recommend everyone do that? um. 44:38.57 Brian Penn Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, I Yeah yeah yeah. 44:38.93 Chris Olson I'm the same I've seen so many films where I started in English and gone Whoa Whoa Whoa! What's going on and um, yeah, now. Definitely recommend if you're gonna watch Ashes. Do it in the original language and also I think just generally yeah, this is a story.. It's even near set in that. Location I think it's important that people feel that authenticity coming through. 45:00.88 Brian Penn Yeah, yeah, that's right I agree with that it was an oversight on my part because I just started watching I know and it didn't occur to me to switch back but I like the story I like the story. The the idea that ah I think it's is it goka or goaxa ah happily married woman. To Mariton Eison who runs a publishbbtion company. She has her own clothing business and edits new books and then she becomes enthralled by new manuscripts and is drawn into the plot where reality and illusion become blurred I like that I don't think that's an interesting take I've not seen a storyline like that before. 45:36.20 Chris Olson Yeah, it's got this kind of like a fascination with books isn't it because obviously they're a publisher then they've got this book that seems to be not coming alive I think that's kind of being a bit silly but she's reading into the story and then she sort of immerses herself into the story by chasing after the characters and. 45:37.10 Brian Penn About you and look. Yeah, yeah yeah. 45:53.31 Brian Penn But yeah, that's right I yeah um and yeah I like the idea you know originality so took what's Com buying films in in in any any sort of genre of right? There are you know. 45:55.48 Chris Olson It starts to take on kind of like a sinister sort of feel. Um, yeah, it's very interesting premise. 46:09.95 Brian Penn Are only so many possibilities you know you think there are hundreds of thousands of plots you could come up with but they're all derived from 7 or 8 classic plots aren't they but this is different. It's unusual and when she meets with this the carton sir Keenan then the story. Gets to the the heart of the matter more visuals are great I think it again like bennoharma beautifully shot the colors light and shade again, it's all going on there I I pickeds up on the facts. It didn't get good reviews. Um. I think he's pretty decent I think he's pretty good you know um once you've got the you've got it worked out whether you want subtitles or the dubbed english version. Go for the subtitles as you points out. It's a lot better stick with that and I think it's it's ah, an enjoyable movie. 47:04.37 Chris Olson Yeah, the the chemistry between those 2 central characters. Obviously yeah with their voices as well. That is so powerful he now was one of the best parts of the film was those 2 for me and and I think the film much like a few films that we've talked like benal and aharmack it brings in. 47:05.42 Brian Penn It works. 47:12.51 Brian Penn Yeah, yeah. 47:23.93 Brian Penn Yeah. 47:24.15 Chris Olson Multiple genres but without jarring you because there's this like powerful romance story. But then there's kind of a bit more like of a sinister thriller aspect going on and I always know a film is is is good if like. 47:34.94 Brian Penn Yeah. 47:42.10 Chris Olson My wife walks in and kind of goes. Oh what's this like she sort of she got caught up in it almost instantly she was like oh yeah, um I said but she's not a big fan of subtitles my wife so she was she didn't sit through it. But um I think you know it's that sort of film is's going to sit on UKNetflix and a lot of people won't. 47:42.94 Brian Penn Yeah, yeah, yeah. 47:57.66 Brian Penn I No the yeah the yeah. 47:58.81 Chris Olson Watch. Yeah, if you're not a fan of subtitles then you probably already have skipped past this review but I think it's it deserves a bit of recognition just for being an interesting story. Well-made like you say beautiful locations. The shooting is is amazing. Um, especially when they get onto like the rooftop and things that would like that section. 48:14.94 Brian Penn You? Yeah yeah I think. 48:17.77 Chris Olson Um, it's worth your time and one of those films as well that it didn't get all of the promo that a lot of other films get so hopefully we can do a service here just to shout out. So yeah, Pronounce Cool which is K you with yo La L If you're looking up or ashes. Um, so. 48:23.29 Brian Penn I My yeah less less I'm so yeah, yeah. And. 48:37.20 Chris Olson Yeah, let's know if you watch it and what you think it's on Netflix u k at the moment and all the best to those filmmakers because I thought it was great. Four point two I do I think that's outrageous I really do I don't think it's four point two yeah um. 48:44.93 Brian Penn So yeah, yeah, good job did a good job that's unfair I think that's unfair. 48:56.93 Chris Olson Okay, we're now moving to the indie section of our show which is where we review a selection of films that have been physically sent to us. They've said please review our film and we are very honored to do so um because often these films get reviewed on the website but we don't necessarily get time to chat about them. But. 49:05.42 Brian Penn And. 49:14.20 Brian Penn So. 49:16.46 Chris Olson Here we can make some time um and great selection in this show. We've got four films to review the first of which is a feature length ah called suit hung. 49:27.67 Brian Penn And yeah, that's good I Know it's deliberate. It's deliberate isn't it on purpose. So. 49:28.73 Chris Olson Tied tongue now I had to read that slowly because so many times I've said it the wrong way around or said that right and I think it's meant to right I feel like that's a tongue twister. Yeah yeah, ah, um, which is a feature length drama directed by saudatchi and based in Ireland um, and it. Takes on this kind of documentary style to tell a story about 2 brothers who people are talking about them and some horrific events that have transpired involving them whereby I don't think it's a spoiler if I say what happens because it does get mentioned very early in the film. 50:02.44 Brian Penn No yeah, yeah, it ah was it? Yeah yeah, yeah. 50:05.64 Chris Olson Yeah, but a political figure gets assassinated by these 2 brothers and they are and and a police officer and they're talking about them. Um, yeah, there's like their family members or close relatives or friends and it's it's got this like say documentary style and we then are. 50:20.30 Brian Penn There. 50:24.64 Chris Olson Going from say like their childhood. They're talking about they would sort of normal boys go into like guitar and things like that. Um, but then how they drifted towards this sort of radicalized position that they were in and started doing videos and really talking about. So it's this. 50:37.75 Brian Penn Me. 50:42.22 Chris Olson Um, minister for change I think that's who he was reformative and we see press shots of him talking about his role and what he's going to do for Ireland and how this kind of stirs up trouble with the boys because they or the brothers they are. 50:42.78 Brian Penn Yeah, yeah, minister for reform and change I think yeah. 50:58.98 Chris Olson Under the belief that he is corrupt and ruining Island and yeah, the film kind of starts to get momentum and escalate towards a really strong almost visceral um conclusion which. 51:00.26 Brian Penn New. 51:06.99 Brian Penn Me no. 51:14.54 Chris Olson We already know what transpires. But I think it's still really powerful in the way that it unfolds. What do you think of soup hung ti tongue Brian. 51:16.21 Brian Penn Yeah. Well let's let's not discuss the title anymore because like you did really well pronouncing that problem. Yeah I know I know I couldn't even even attempt to I was absolutely fascinated by this film this This is so clever what they've done because it's told in documentary style and. 51:27.97 Chris Olson Ah, yeah, say it 5 times now. 51:39.99 Brian Penn I was watching it first 15 20 minutes I was bearing in mind that I didn't read too much about the film prize watching it so I went in and watched it cold first twenty minutes I thought to myself god I didn't know about this I was convinced. It was real right? I was convinced that they were talking about something that happened. 51:53.68 Chris Olson Yeah, yeah, me too. 51:59.65 Brian Penn 20 minutes in I thought after Google this why don' I know about this if this happened in Ireland why why didn't I hear about it. You know and but now I won't Google it. But then I think half an hour in it kind of dawns on you that it that it's purely fiction is dramatized but that gives you an idea of how. Effective the film is because it makes you buy into the characters as being real right? and it's only when the I think it's only when they were interviewing the police inspector that I can't onto it and then as you say it turned very sinister and very ugly then and the 2 the 2 brothers the helping brothers. It became more obvious what they were about who they were how their um, their attitude and anxiety grew from early in life to make them what they are now and make them do what they did. But I think what was also very interesting about the storyline was that. 52:57.29 Brian Penn What they did polarize the nation didn't it that they either were either villains or they were heroes to some people because they were challenging the status quo the nor the norms what people accepts as being normal and civilized very clever filmmaking. Got to say. Very impressed and I I was taken in for first twenty minutes half an hour I was absolutely convinced. It was real. 53:23.32 Chris Olson And I'm I'm always dubious when the so Pseudo documentmentary styles use I've always like okay, right because it gives you a lot of ability to explain. Yeah, it' explain the story and give give away the yeah so exposition right? But the way this is. 53:28.55 Brian Penn In. 53:35.17 Brian Penn I Mean yeah. 53:42.46 Chris Olson Done is really clever because it's really mysterious like they're giving you feel bits about what happened but you don't know the picture yet and it kind of Unfolds really brilliantly and what I liked as well was when the brothers start doing the videos. They have this countdown as to when they're going to attack. They say they state when they're going to attack. 53:47.50 Brian Penn Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. 53:56.93 Brian Penn So yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. 54:01.83 Chris Olson This Politician and they're even surprised at how much momentum grows from these videos that they get like lots and lots of views and it starts to almost swirl out of control because maybe they weren't really that serious or maybe they weren't yeah it certainly wasn't going to go the way it did um and. 54:06.90 Brian Penn Yeah, yeah, yeah. 54:14.66 Brian Penn Yeah, so. 54:21.45 Chris Olson That I found the most compelling aspect was it was It was genuinely thrilling genuinely thrilling I was ah I don't know where even though you know where it's going. You don't know where it's going. You kind of feel that you must. You must keep watching and I love the bit because the. 54:29.87 Brian Penn Yeah, and I. 54:37.79 Chris Olson Title refers to a poem I think or at least it's a bit of a poem and that's that's read over the film at one point. Um, and I thought that was brilliantly done. Lots of great shots. There's this really good adol drone. Oh I'm I'm assuming it's a drone shot over the landscape. At one point I Thought that was really well done. 54:40.91 Brian Penn Ah, right? okay. 54:57.48 Chris Olson Um, because a lot of the footage is this sort of like it talking head sort of um approach but there are bits in it that are really cinematic. Um, yeah I I thought it was great. Really enjoyed it and sometimes when you when we sit down to watch indie feature films. There is that element of like okay we no idea what we're in for um, this. 55:01.94 Brian Penn Um, yeah, Amy yeah i. 55:17.26 Chris Olson Really stood the test I thought this was great and would thoroughly recommend it. 55:19.70 Brian Penn Yeah, so would I So am I actually and I'd like to see it on a big screen as well. You know? Yeah yeah I think you would. 55:26.41 Chris Olson I think yeah, it would work on a big screen. Um in terms of seeing it so suit hung tied tongue. We were given a a password protective ah screener which would suggests that it's yeah, still doing the rounds i'm. Want to find out more about the film. The the company behind it is called standard practice. They have a website standard practicetic dot I e and they're also available on all the social media is the film itself has a Facebook page. So I think that's probably the best place to go for information about release and things. Um, so you've go to facebook.com/. 55:54.91 Brian Penn You. 56:01.22 Chris Olson Suit hung 1 word dot tied tongue 1 word. Um or Google it. Or yeah, if you're that desperate do email us someone will direct you to it. But um, yeah, you should be able to find it and yeah ah dar recommend that you do because it's one of those films that deserves. 56:03.39 Brian Penn We ahead comment. Yeah, well. 56:18.63 Brian Penn Me. 56:20.27 Chris Olson The eyes that I think there's a lot of lot of effort going to make this movie and for it to be as powerful and as evocative as it is it really deserves. Yeah, good viewership. So. 56:32.11 Brian Penn It's very impressive. It really is. 56:35.90 Chris Olson I Okay so that was suit tongue tied tongue I've done very well pronounced in that can I just say I've kept I don't think I got it wrong once we're moving now to a film that I can pronounce very well ah settling down feature length. 56:38.34 Brian Penn Yeah. 56:50.49 Chris Olson Comedy film. Well dark comedy I think ah from writer director Tom Risuto ah Brian want to give the synopsis on settling down. 56:51.75 Brian Penn Here. 56:57.90 Brian Penn Yeah I'll give it a go. So We we have We have a couple faith and Mike who have shall we say a dysfunctional relationship. It has Peaks and Troughs like all relationships. Do. She wants to move house and he doesn't. However, P is unperturbed and contacts whom are a local estate agent who has ways and means of removing troublesome tenants and other difficult clients and they are gradually sucked into a sinister train of events I might say more than that Because. There is so much going on in in this piece that to tell to reveal more would I feel in some ways almost spoil it but it it's surreal in places but ah I was gonna say gripping gripping something the right word but it's it's Compulsive. It makes you watch. And there are rather scenes that honestly don't make any sense. Yeah, when when they're in the restaurant and the woman's eating spaghetti off it off the man's bare Chest. Ah I Still don't I Ah still don't get that I'm sorry I don't get it at all. But you know what it it Works. It's interesting. They got um. 57:58.60 Chris Olson Yeah, that code to my head. Yeah as I Oh it. 58:11.14 Brian Penn Packed it with interesting characters that do work and they can all act as Well. I mean what we mentioned on the last podcast that well I did anyway that often with with small indie Features. You do often get as who have very very basic acting skills. But. Here They've got. They've got a cast they can all do it. They can all acts. They're all very proficient answers and that makes a big difference really? but yeah I liked it. It's got something about it. But I'm not sure what but it. It's got lots of good things going on there. Yeah. 58:46.66 Chris Olson Yeah, it was definitely um, a mixture of genres again like we saw said about a few films but this was kind of more in the ballpark of like a surrealist comedy you with a bit of a dark edge I thought and it was yeah there were scenes that were. 58:50.28 Brian Penn Yeah, yeah. 58:57.66 Brian Penn Yeah, yeah. 59:02.75 Chris Olson Very strange but it kind of it made sense tonally when you're watching it. You kind of go this makes sense in the film that I'm watching and it what they say The compulsive is a great word to use for this I thought it was compulsive to I found that I wanted to know what was going on I wanted to know how it was gonna yeah. 59:09.40 Brian Penn Yeah. 59:17.35 Brian Penn Yeah. 59:21.54 Chris Olson Conclude Yeah, with the the wife kind of unwittingly enlisting the services of these I mean maniacs. Really yeah, what they do the the actual the person who goes in ah try again trying to spoil person who ah does the nasty business. 59:27.28 Brian Penn Attack. 59:37.83 Brian Penn Yeah, yeah. 59:39.69 Chris Olson He is particularly disturbing like when he's talking I was like you are really like odd and strange and and you can't take your eyes off him. Um, and then there's like the 2 cops who are kind of investigating but quite badly. Um who I think the director is one of those. 59:42.30 Brian Penn Yeah, hello Yeah, that's right, it has some impacts on you when you watch Thunder out about it. 59:53.91 Brian Penn Yeah, yeah. 59:59.12 Chris Olson Actors I think I might be wrong. Um, that had a kind of comedic element. You know it puts in lots of moments that are so funny in the film I found it scrappy at times I thought it was scrappy that you can tell it's not a big budget film and I think that element of. 01:00:09.56 Brian Penn You. 01:00:18.20 Chris Olson Everyone was really passionate to make this film. There's a lot of people there putting in a lot of effort that their the result is scrappy. It is a bit like okay yeah, like you've really got to be into this just to stick with it I don't It's not a mainstream film by any means. Um, but. 01:00:18.67 Brian Penn Yeah. 01:00:26.74 Brian Penn The. 01:00:32.00 Brian Penn And 9 it. 01:00:36.27 Chris Olson There's something there. Well I mean we've reviewed some surrealist comedies and things on this show a few times and this is definitely better than some. We've see ah but I can also see that there will be people out there that don't get on with it that don't get on with this style. Um. 01:00:38.12 Brian Penn So there. I Will not. 01:00:52.95 Chris Olson But I think that's true of it, especially comedy I think that's true of any comedy film and. 01:00:52.96 Brian Penn It and and I think you have to accept that an independently made film will have certain characteristics about it and it will be rough and Ready. It will be ragged but you could argue that's part of its charm that it's raw right. And that's what gives it a distinctive edge so you accept that you accept that it has its imperfections and its flaws and that you know if you're a fan of slick big-budget movies a lot of indie features won't necessarily work for you. Because they can't afford the same production values but you accept it what it is and within its Genre. It works well and this film does but I take on Board. The fact that it is it. It is rough around the edges. But I mean that's more about budgetary limitations than anything else isn't it. 01:01:43.43 Chris Olson Yeah, hundred percent hundred percent and I also thought they did well to capture the there. There's a lot of comedy and bizarre things going on but there's also a theme running through about yeah being. Ah, dissatisfied with midlife. You know there's this yeah, she looks at her partner who's wearing the the mask to stop him snoring and it's kind of like that that there's that there's that undercurrent of dissatisfaction with midlife I thought that there will be things there for viewers to connect with and that there's things there for you to enjoy and. 01:01:59.17 Brian Penn The the. Yeah, yeah. Yeah. 01:02:18.77 Chris Olson If you can stick with it I think it's It's a decent film by the time you you get into that latter section and it does start to sort of vamp up in terms of what's going on. Um, but yeah, hats off to to the filmmakers and everyone involved with selling down. Um the film itself I don't. 01:02:19.88 Brian Penn Of course. 01:02:31.51 Brian Penn And. 01:02:36.30 Chris Olson Ah, yes, we had it. We have a Youtube link let me check. Um, it might be unlisted. Ah yes, unlisted and there is a web website settling down film.com but I've just been on it and there is any information about screeners currently that may change by the time this comes out. Um, but yeah, you can. 01:02:36.65 Brian Penn There. 01:02:55.66 Chris Olson Ah, stay tuned on their website um or have a look. Yeah, they've got I am db page as well. Sometimes that gets updated with screenings and platforms that it might be available on but the film is called settling down 2023 because I think there are other films called that if you struggle to find it? Um, yeah. 01:03:01.19 Brian Penn And. 01:03:10.57 Brian Penn I Ah yeah I Ah I know I know and know they go limitations to the English language isn't really. 01:03:14.55 Chris Olson Yeah that's the that's the situation we're in nowbra. There's so many films they've even got the same names that it's just you know where will it end there. Yeah so settling down we're moving on now to a short film written and directed by filmmaker Charlie Norton called the lost weekend now. This um could be a triggering film for for some people this there's a few bits in there that are sort of slightly upsetting but it largely reveals that deals with toxic masculinity I think that would be the the strongest thing that came up for me. Um, it is ah about. 01:03:39.57 Brian Penn I Mean. So yeah, yeah. 01:03:52.77 Chris Olson 3 guys the central character being James played by Brendan Egan who are having a summer blowout I guess um, a nice place in cape cod and in typical, almost kind of american pie esque fashion they're chatting about. 01:03:59.72 Brian Penn And. 01:04:11.68 Chris Olson Conquests and sex and all the things that you guys apparently do decided it not wasn't my expert. Ah, but anyway, um, that was ah yeah, and then we've got so James is within this group but he has had quite a conservative upbringing who so in catholic school. 01:04:13.99 Brian Penn Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, well yeah yeah. 01:04:27.76 Brian Penn Yeah. 01:04:30.39 Chris Olson And hasn't had any experience with women yet still a virgin and struggles to deal with the sort of masculine views being put on him as well as being kind of goaded especially by the character of nick played by Henry Lynch who is quite a toxic force. Um and the film starts. 01:04:38.52 Brian Penn In yeah. 01:04:50.40 Chris Olson With James refusing to not want to jump off a bridge and I thought that was brilliant because I don't know about you Ryan but when I was younger my mom always said to me when I got in with the wrong crowd. What if they jumped off a bridge was you I think that was. 01:04:53.20 Brian Penn And yeah, yeah. 01:05:01.14 Brian Penn Ah, yeah, and I Yeah yeah and and know it does remind you a little bit of what your mom or dad might sell you in it. Don't don't do what the others do don't do what the what the big boys do I I like this I really enjoyed it. 01:05:04.98 Chris Olson Every boy's childhood. They had that said and I thought that was a great way to open this film. 01:05:19.78 Brian Penn I think it was well captured wellobserved I like the dynamics between the 3 guys because James as you say had the very causted sheltered upbringing who's been brought along by his friend Dylan and you've got that friction between James and and Nick Nick who's a lot more much brasher. More forward James is very nervous uncertain of himself and he's basically the plus one isn't he James on that this particular trip and so I like that dynamic the one that develops. Um, when the girls are introduced into the storyline Caroline. 01:05:45.50 Chris Olson It? yeah. 01:05:56.69 Brian Penn Then everything changes and it's interesting to see the way James's personality evolves and develops over that weekend and the way again it is a study of masculinity isn't it about a guy proving himself ah to his peers. That's that's what comes through really. Really strongest for me. But yeah I like to I think it was nicely played wellacted well observed. It's good. You know I think for a ah, a small independent feature. it's it's got it's got a touch a gloss that you might not necessarily get. With yeah yeah, yeah. 01:06:34.40 Chris Olson Yeah, definitely felt a high end production value. Um, which I think goes in its favor and 1 thing I felt was they did really well capturing this sort of essence of coming of age and what I loved about it was this idea of it being. 01:06:47.24 Brian Penn Yeah. 01:06:51.91 Chris Olson Yeah, a throwa away type of weekend. You know they're going to sort of drink beers by the beach but actually these are the type of events in someone's life that can actually be really defining. Yeah that his reaction to characters put in front of him like Caroline and yeah, the sort of bullish nick it's. 01:06:52.47 Brian Penn Yeah, yeah. 01:07:01.80 Brian Penn I Yeah you yeah there. Yeah absolutely won't and. 01:07:11.98 Chris Olson These are that what actually become really important to someone even though they might not seem so at the time and I love that but I did feel that James's struggle to find these identity could have been fleshed out more I don't I think there was more to this. Um. 01:07:27.68 Brian Penn And there. 01:07:31.30 Chris Olson There's quite a rapid movement from where he is at the beginning of the film to where he is at the end of the film. It's not big enough within there I think you know it's this kind of they have this party and everything kind of kicks off but I felt that. 01:07:38.53 Brian Penn Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah I felt that as well. It it felt abbreviation in places because they you know. 01:07:45.80 Chris Olson It needed more? Um, yeah, yeah, that that was just my personal feeling on this. 01:07:57.11 Brian Penn You know they can't give it all the time they want. They've got a limited amount of screen sign. They know that and you just feel that the story loses something as a result of the time constraints which is unfortunate but there's something in there and that's the sign of a good strong narrative that. Probably needs more than they could give more time than they could give it. But yeah, you do sense There's more there you you peel back the like the layers of a character and the scenarios they're fleshing out you think want to see more about that. Want to see more but didn't quite get to it? Yeah yeah. 01:08:28.46 Chris Olson Yeah, and I think that's a is a good thing right? It's like you want more of this film and it does Well you explores youth friendship relationships really well that touches on like religion and yeah, yeah, lots of things that are big but I thought that yeah. 01:08:34.67 Brian Penn Yeah, yeah, yeah I. 01:08:45.41 Chris Olson Definitely would have been happy to watch more. That's another thing Sometimes you're watching a show you kind of go. Ah, that's a shame that's finished yeah was I was just getting into that. 01:08:45.73 Brian Penn It? Yeah yeah I know what it? Yeah,, That's right, You think it's just developing. It's just getting going and then it then it stops but no one likes it. Yeah, it's good I likes it and. You know what you mentioned earlier on ah about pivotal moments in someone's life that almost sets the tone for the way their life carries on That's what that's dealing with here is that those key experiences moments in their life when they're on the Casp. Of adulthood when they're not not quite a man not quite a boy. You know it's It's that kind of the inbetweeners isn't it if I can quote um the Channel 4 Tv show in between is where they're on the cusp of of Manhood. So it deals with a complex area of.. Anyone's life really well and as you say covers a lot of lot of things in the time they have available. 01:09:43.38 Chris Olson So so that was a short film called the lost weekend. We were again given a password protected screener but you can find out more about about the film on Instagram at the lost weekend film or 1 word or at their website flying cardproductions.com ah, yeah, definitely recommend seeking out often with these short films. They end up on platforms like Youtube and Vimeo and easy places to watch them and I strongly recommend seeking that one up really really good. Okay, onto our final indie film. 01:10:03.77 Brian Penn Yeah. 01:10:09.34 Brian Penn Yeah, yeah, absolutely. So. 01:10:20.74 Chris Olson And this is a feature length. It's film called tiger not pronounced. Ah sorry, not spelt like the animal spelt t y g e r now before we get into the film I just want to ask Brian do you know what reference that had within the film I couldn't spot it. But. 01:10:35.53 Brian Penn I No no no I thought you might know I thought you'd know these interest. No I didn't I couldn't see I thought it might have been something to do with um the the cudly toyer that belongs to. 01:10:38.60 Chris Olson I was hoping maybe you would? yeah no ah ah. 01:10:53.90 Brian Penn Joe Sta I thought it was that I thought I yeah yeah I i' been that? Yeah yeah, that was a conversation between us wasn't it really. 01:10:55.52 Chris Olson Oh yeah, ah not sure, but because also the spot The spelling was different right? but it probably does probably apologies if we've missed this? Ah, but yeah, but sorry that was on aside but just you back to the film So tiger. 01:11:11.10 Brian Penn Yeah, so. 01:11:11.20 Chris Olson Ah, directed by Alexander Milo Bischoff and co-directed with sorry co-written with Dylan Edwards the film stars. Ah Ben Aldridge sebastian hold on I'm on the right right film. 01:11:25.26 Brian Penn That's right? Yeah, yeah, it's definite edwards place Joe yeah, but Sebastian Sebastianir was his Sebastian's in it. 01:11:26.64 Chris Olson Didn and Edward sorry I was reading the wrong character. Let me damage it. It let me just let me just do that again hold on let me just pause this. So ah, directed by Alexander Milo Bisoff and co-written with Dylan Edwards the film is about a character called Joe who's just been released from prison he's in he's an ex soldier and very much going through. Ah ah, still going through a terrible time in his life. 01:11:49.67 Brian Penn And. 01:11:59.18 Chris Olson Um, he gets shown to this sort of depressing apartment where he can start to rebuild his life. Um, he tries to sort of keep to himself a lot but his plan we discover is to make enough money to get back to Scotland to be. With his his daughter who he often narrates letters to through the film. Um, he falls in with a well it was the leader of a group like ah, an alcoholics anonymous type group. Um, he falls in Neil. 01:12:24.11 Brian Penn Um. 01:12:36.80 Brian Penn New. Yeah, so. 01:12:37.57 Chris Olson Ah, played by Shaun Sean Dooley ah was he falls in with him and they the 2 kind of become friends and then Neil offers him a job and things start to look like they're kind of picking up for Joe unfortunately something happens in his apartment that caused him to have to go on the run and. 01:12:51.20 Brian Penn New. 01:12:54.73 Chris Olson The rest of the film is seeing him basically try and make his way back to Scotland encountering a few people on the way such as ex soldier that he was he served with there's some other people on the way that he meets um on his bicycle. He's on his bike for for most of the film now. Um. 01:13:08.21 Brian Penn I As you do? Yeah I No absolutely not no I I Yeah I I loved it. Absolutely love this. It's grim. 01:13:13.49 Chris Olson It's not a light film by any means this is a dark drama but it is an absolutely brilliant one I thought this was incredible. What did you think of Tiger Brown 01:13:27.53 Brian Penn 2 words I wrote down when I was watching this film grim and riveing. It's absolutely compelling. You can't take your eyes off it for a second brilliantly acted brilliantly written I think Dylan Edwards is excellent as Joe. Sean Dooley who will be be familiar to listeners. It appears in film and Tv frequently. Very busy actor but a great supporting actor and it made me think out how important supporting actors are to any film that they do make the film. Tick over and ah the the exchanges between Joe and Neil because niil's a reformed addict isn't he who it was kind of like a counselor to Joe I thought he was excellent I thought the script was brilliant what you know what? I loved about the scripts here was that. It's quite sparse. They didn't feel the need to fill the script with lots of words they didn't fill the need to fill to fill the film with lots of dialogue and we mentioned about silence being worked into a script. They do that very well here particularly where Neil and Joe. 01:14:34.94 Chris Olson Um. 01:14:42.74 Brian Penn In the car together and Joe sister ne what made you stop and ten fifteen seconds passed by before he reveals the reason why he stops do you know the part of the film I'm talking about. 01:14:54.67 Chris Olson Yeah, yeah, that scene was absolutely heartbreaking. It was I yeah yeah I I think that I hundred percent agree with you about the power of a supporting actor. 01:14:58.91 Brian Penn But wasn't that intense wasn't that in sense though you know. 01:15:07.92 Brian Penn Yeah, so. Yeah. 01:15:12.90 Chris Olson And I think doley does that amazing in this film because alone Dan Edwards says great. You know he? there's a lot of scenes actually where he is alone. But I think without that foundation of him and Neil in that that beginning part of the film. The rest of it would have. 01:15:19.25 Brian Penn And. And. 01:15:31.70 Chris Olson Not felt anywhere near as as breathtaking as it was because you get that emotion and it's not just the story. It's just the way that Sean Doley does that scene he does it incredibly I was mesmerized and I was absolutely heartbroken I don't want to say what the story is. 01:15:32.87 Brian Penn Yeah, yeah. 01:15:43.34 Brian Penn Yeah, no, no yeah I know it was it was and I felt I found it I was really surprised by it. 01:15:51.19 Chris Olson But as a parent listening to that story. My God that was hard to listen to. Um, amazing, amazing section. Yeah I love that bit. It's amazing. 01:16:03.27 Brian Penn This film delivered a number of emotional punchlines that I wasn't expecting and that was one of them really? Ah, yeah, it's It's kind of that type of film. You think well I feel quite drained through watching that. But I'm glad I did watch it. You know it's that type of. 01:16:18.30 Chris Olson Um, yeah. 01:16:21.83 Brian Penn You know when he comes out of prison this is where I think it's so well observed because he's ah, an army Veteran Afghan Veteran Reform reforming drug addicts. You know he's put up with a lot in his Life. He comes out of prison and he he enters something resembling a prison where he's in this tower block. Even though he's free. He's not.. He's kind of imprisoned in in another way isn't they living with unsavory types. You know it's almost like he's living a similar life to what he lived inside. So I think that's quite acute the way they've observed the experience of an ex-con and someone coming out of Prison. Without any immediate prospects of of work. But yeah. 01:17:01.70 Chris Olson Yeah, it's more like his psychological state right? because he when you when he comes out and even like throughout the film you're watching him you're like this is a guy that's never left prison like he's not left really right? emotionally and and psychologically and he is. 01:17:13.00 Brian Penn Yeah, yeah, yeah, exactly yeah. 01:17:20.99 Chris Olson Ah driven. Yeah by this destination. Um, we I won go into it but he's driven to do this journey and you know he's absolutely sat on it so much. So but that's that you can't help but watch it feeling so sad for him that. 01:17:26.73 Brian Penn Yeah. 01:17:40.50 Brian Penn Yeah. 01:17:40.44 Chris Olson He's not finding peace. He's not finding. Yeah what he should have found with his freedom and yeah is ah one of those films that you say it isn't up be is that he's very grim and you watch it is so grim but but done in a way that is so. 01:17:51.83 Brian Penn And oh there' 01:17:57.92 Chris Olson Enjoyable. It's not the right word but it is enjoyable. You watch it. You want to watch it. You want to see more of it. You want to feel those tears running down in your face when you're watching it when he has these moments and when he has that I think it it touches on lots of different themes as well like about War Pcsd addiction. 01:18:04.80 Brian Penn The. 01:18:13.64 Brian Penn So yeah, that's all nice things. Yeah. 01:18:16.57 Chris Olson Um, all these things that so come up ah naturally through history and it's but also it doesn't just do that. There's there's visuals that are amazing that he's by the sea. Um at the beginning is it margate I think he comes into I read in Jason's re review he said Margate. Yeah. 01:18:25.87 Brian Penn Its yeah, it's yeah, it's it's Ken isn't it. It's the kent coves isn't it. 01:18:34.96 Chris Olson Ah, so you know it's It's also got those elements to it to make it really powerful. It's beautifully filmed. It looks the part and I I Just sometimes you finish a film where you just kind of take a little a few moments to just kind of just breathe it in and this was one of them. Um, yeah I thought this was. 01:18:39.56 Brian Penn And. 01:18:47.93 Brian Penn Yeah, doing yeah. Yeah I know yeah it it? Yeah no doubt about it like you know you you fight you reach for so many superllaatives about a film like this and you none of it seems quite good enough that. 01:18:55.22 Chris Olson Phenomenal, Absolutely phenomenal. Um Tiger Yeah, strongly recommend it strong to regret. 01:19:11.48 Chris Olson Yeah, yeah, you got to struggle to it. It was more how you felt if you could have been there. Yeah when you when you felt it. Um, it's about T Y G E R Um and this film is available to watch and. 01:19:13.54 Brian Penn Yeah, yeah, that's why it makes you feel. Yeah. 01:19:27.26 Chris Olson Ah, do you know what? I don't often say this but stop listening to this podcast and go watch it. Um I think it deserves it. it's it's available um on a few streaming platforms. The filmmaker did actually should be I think the producer Olga had messaged me or or 1 of the from people from the film. 01:19:31.26 Brian Penn Ah, yeah. 01:19:44.46 Chris Olson Twelfth of February it was released prime video Itunes and Google so you have no reason not to go watch this I I think it's a rental and if you're going to watch it in those places. But yeah, 100% recommend it because this is that type of film that like some of the films we reviewed at beginning of the. 01:19:48.47 Brian Penn Man watch. Yeah. 01:19:59.21 Brian Penn Definitely. 01:20:04.21 Chris Olson Show it won't get the views that it serves I could say that yeah because even if 1 person on the planet doesn't watch it then it didn't get the views it deserved. So I really really loved it. Um, tiger got here now. 01:20:07.38 Brian Penn Um, it's the worst thing isn't it. Yeah yeah, oh exactly? Yeah well. 01:20:21.54 Chris Olson What are you doing? Why are you still listening come on I probably because we've got one more film to review haven't we yeah, that's probably why you're still here listening honest people do tune in for the nostalgics lot. Um, so if this is your first time to Uk Film Club um we review a film from the past. 01:20:21.76 Brian Penn I Love you? Yeah, it's the nostalgia slot isn't it. Yeah, they want to hear that person. 01:20:40.39 Chris Olson That we like to revisit or maybe it's our first time seeing it. But it's just something that a lot of people talk about and recently we've been tying these into new releases as well. Where possible so we did June last episode because part 2 was coming out and this month if you didn't get it from my Jingle at the beginning of the episode. Um, is the 1984 ghost bustards film now I believe our friends at the phantom zone also were covering this in an episode. So Chris Ian and the gang please don't shoot us for also covering it. Um, it's a film that deserves lots and lots of people chatting right? to be honest. 01:21:02.54 Brian Penn In. Yeah, oh okay. 01:21:13.66 Brian Penn There? Yeah yeah. 01:21:19.57 Chris Olson Um, and this is tied into the the release of the new ghostbusters film in March ah, if you're up for that. But um ghostbusters Brian now I'm always intrigued to know. Where you stand with nostalgia films in terms of because sometimes I say oh you how many times do you sin this and you say oh I saw it when it came out and that was it is that true for ghostbusters. 01:21:35.74 Brian Penn It Yeah not quite I saw I saw it when it when it first came out once the Cinelin saw it I can't believe it's false years old It nice and nighty four that is absolutely terrifying but I've seen it a few times since then but I've not. 01:21:49.70 Chris Olson Since is. 01:21:54.80 Brian Penn This was the first time I'd seen it in maybe eight or nine years so um it's it kind of feels relatively new but it's of course it's ah it's a film I know so well and and it's it's a film that I I love more more now than ever. It's It's great. It's such a simple storyline to start with um you know you've got these 3 parapsychologists who suddenly lose lose their university funding and they set up shots as a ghost removal service as you do as one does um and. Just tells the story of how they attract frightened sometimes skeptical customers and the 2 things stand out about this film haven't watched it now after forty years forty years after I first saw it 2 things stand out one is. It's how well the special effects ah have held up. You know if you think of how the way of how film technology' evolved over the last forty years the special effects in this film are still good. They're still decent and secondly I've been reminded how funny it is. 01:23:03.69 Chris Olson Yeah. 01:23:05.43 Brian Penn And of course if you've got good lines in a film and you've got Bill Murray who are you going to give the lines to you're Goingnna give the lines to Bill Murray aren't you. There are so many good lines in it. No job is too big. No fear is too big. Um, let's split up and we can cause more damage that way you know. These are just great lines. They still sound fresh to me. Ah the um, the other I suppose the other thing that strikes me about ghostbusters is the the strength of branding in the film. You've got that great logo that appeared on every t-shirt and kitchen magnet. You can you can imagine it was everywhere. Ah, had the title song sung by Ray Parker Jr that was every year when it came out so they had really really got strong branding to for the film and it's a it's a franchise that I welcome with open arms because the characters are so strong. Ah, loved afterlife I'm looking forward to seeing the latest instalment but it's such a great film. Great memories and it still wears. Well after all these years correct. 01:24:10.52 Chris Olson Yeah I echo what you say I Definitely think it's a film that doesn't I mean yeah, it looks dated but it doesn't look dated. It's still effective for what it's doing especially dealing with the yeah the is called the paranormal is that is that the right phrase paranol that you've got that. 01:24:18.24 Brian Penn Yeah, yeah. Yeah, yeah. 01:24:29.25 Chris Olson Quirkiness to it but some of it is still genuinely scary I not scary I wasn't like behind the sofa but there's a bit where they're in the library and all the cards fly out and I was like it's a practical fact. Yeah, that's not been done with computers and it's brilliant. It works amazing. Um. 01:24:31.82 Brian Penn And yeah, no I Well no, but mean I Yeah yeah, no know that's that's one Yeah, that's what what I felt was that the special effects are still good. They hold up. 01:24:47.35 Chris Olson No. 01:24:51.80 Brian Penn They still provoke a reaction. You don't feel you don't laugh it and say oh look at that look how ridiculous that is. You know it's not. It's very well done. You know? Yeah yeah. 01:24:58.93 Chris Olson Yeah, yeah, it is it definite. It doesn't do that does it. It keeps its quality about it that you're still watching it enjoying it for what it was meant to be enjoyed for whereas when we watched June last month. 01:25:07.77 Brian Penn I Yeah yeah I and I Yeah, yeah yeah. 01:25:13.60 Chris Olson Remember watching that feeling. Oh my god this feels like a relic and not an enjoyable one. It felt like an absolute slog game through that film whereas ghost restets I enjoyed every minute I finished it and I was like I'm gonna watch the second one. Yeah and I'm definitely. That's just how these films feel and there's a reason that they keep coming back. These sort of films because they know that they've been done so well that the audience is so invested they're hoping that they're going to keep the the heights of these originals I I'm always a fan of Rick Moranis if he turns up in anything and I think the fact that he's only really a secondary character in theirs I was like ah I want to see more of him. 01:25:39.76 Brian Penn There. He Yeah, and I Yeah, good. Yeah yeah. 01:25:51.39 Chris Olson Um, but it's a great cast. So gony wea is terrific. Um, yeah, it's only Hudson he's in as well. Ah, really just such a strong film. 01:26:01.12 Brian Penn Even down to the gray boiler suits that they wear. It's all part of a great image builds a great image for the film. The characters the storyline you know and it's a dead simple storyline to follow. You know there's nothing particularly elaborate or challenging about you don't yeah it doesn't need it really. You know it's all about buying into that experience. You know? And yeah I really enjoyed it and you know I suppose that I could say I enjoyed it as much as I did. The first time I saw it because nothing can beat the impact of seeing a film for the very first time but you know nostalgia can bring. Can trigger great memories and also reminds you what of what great filmmaking is about you know and not. 01:26:41.52 Chris Olson This definitely fell well into the nostalgia category for me because I grew up with a brother who was 4 years older than me and he would show me films that to be honest were probably a bit inappropriate. 01:26:46.38 Brian Penn And yeah. 01:26:57.80 Brian Penn I. 01:26:58.26 Chris Olson And ghostbusters fell into that category ghostbusters I found terrifying when I was watching it as a young young boy like especially the I mean in the first film It was the hellhounds The dogs I always terrify them in the second film. It's the painting but the painting that just creeps me out it still creeps me art tobut. 01:27:01.70 Brian Penn Yeah, was a young kid. Yeah I guess it would be I. Yeah. 01:27:14.77 Brian Penn Yeah, yeah. 01:27:18.10 Chris Olson But the first film. Yeah, those dogs and but there's lotss of bits in this that are pretty ter terrifying to a child. Um, but it also really reminded me of so many great um stories from my childhood because we had the we had the ghostbusters car we actually had it as a toy and. 01:27:21.52 Brian Penn Then. 01:27:34.26 Brian Penn Brought out I was Stillnna mention that earlier on actually that much nice. And yeah. 01:27:38.12 Chris Olson Yeah, so I had that toy and this is great memory I have of us as kids and we had a family cat called Bubbles who she got in through the back of the car through the boo and would and would push the car along like through the and that came back to me ah the stay puffed. 01:27:44.27 Brian Penn You right? Oh right? Yeah there and oh Mr. But yeah, Mr. Yeah yeah. 01:27:57.33 Chris Olson Big thing you know that is like a visual memory from my childhood. Yeah, the marshmallow man kind of thing. Yeah that there's so many of bits of this film that was oh yeah I remember that I remember that. So yeah, it felt like a real trip back to yeah childhood. 01:28:03.47 Brian Penn Mr. Marshalo yeah mush mar yeah yeah and also the yeah the 80 s was a pivotal sign for the film industry in general because I think the they cottoned on so in the 80 s in a big way. They cottoned on it to branding merchandising. Ah, they realized how important a good soundtrack was to ah a film as well. So I think during the as in general there were some great films made because you had it was a pot boiler had all these relatively new creative talents coming into the into the genre into the game and you you just had great. Great films I think the eighty s a bit like pop music. Really. Um, the as was a great sign for films and they may have who knows they may have reached their peak in the as you know these days I I think you you get films. Ah good but very few are great. Some I always return to and it's not just That's what nostalgia does Chris I think it reminds you of what great filmmaking is and you don't necessarily get it these days. It's it's a rarer thing back then you were tripping over great films. 01:29:21.72 Chris Olson Well hopefully next month we'll see the release of a great film. Ah so if you're listening to this one. It's come out in feb um or early march ghost bussters frozen empire comes out on March Twenty Second so very intrigued see because I yeah I've like I've that's all though. 01:29:23.70 Brian Penn Yeah. 01:29:39.47 Chris Olson Um, recent ones. Um I don't think there's been a ghost plus films that I haven't enjoyed I have been told that the new film the previous cast members do have more kind of to do in it. They're not just cameos as a bit more so to them in there. Um I love Paul Rudd as well looking for to him. 01:29:53.70 Brian Penn Yeah. 01:29:58.59 Chris Olson I'm James a cast is in the the new film. So I'm looking forward to seeing what he does in there. But yeah, um, if you haven't seen the original ghostbusters film. It's available on now Tv so if you've got sky cinema or one of those packages or the now Tv movies. It's in that I just. 01:30:00.45 Brian Penn Yeah. 01:30:15.59 Brian Penn Yeah, absolutely. 01:30:15.74 Chris Olson You just will have fun with this film if you go and watch it if you don't have fun with it then well maybe there's something wrong with you. You know? maybe I don't want to diagnose without actually speaking to you personally, but you know wonder. 01:30:20.92 Brian Penn But yeah, well yeah, know yeah I I don't know, No no, no, no yeah, that's right, but you would wonder I'd get cause you might wonder better hey what? the hell but no, what the hell? well you know, but yeah great. It's the samement you. 01:30:34.12 Chris Olson What. 01:30:39.45 Brian Penn You can't really beat something.. That's just so Relatable. It's such a great film to watch and I think with the new films coming out. It's attracting a new audience isn't as well. It will be Curious. You should be curious about where where the genre where the um where the series came From. Where the franchise came from where did it all start where did it all begin and that's what it gives you. 01:31:04.90 Chris Olson Yeah, and also it just makes a lot more sense as well. When you got these other characters turning up, You know you don't think who are these people that yeah you need to know that um and that's the end of the episode. Wow I mean this is an absolute Bm myth of an episode if you stuck with us through all this. Ah. 01:31:05.67 Brian Penn And and I. 01:31:16.70 Brian Penn You well done you? Yeah yeah. 01:31:21.64 Chris Olson Congrats well done. Um, we don't give out physical badges. We just ask that you make one yourself and yeah, just pop it on your lapel or something you know, um, but do send a pick. We'd love to see them. Um, yeah, thank you very much for joining us Brian. Thank you as always for seeing. 01:31:32.98 Brian Penn And. 01:31:39.70 Brian Penn For pleasure. Yeah I I never get bored. Yeah yeah I never get bor. Yeah, no chance getting bored. You know, keep meleasing. Yeah. 01:31:40.44 Chris Olson But the cinema films as well as everything else thought I throw at you as was a big list this month I don't like thinking that you've got nothing to do I just think if Brian's not yeah if you've got a minute spare then I'll just give you another film to review? Yeah, yeah, absolute. Um, thank you to all the the filmmakers who sent us their films and yeah, if you want to do that then head to the website yoChris Olsondot code uk that is a button a big button that says get reviewed and you click that if you message me saying how do I get my film reviewed I might. Be sarcastic like Bill Murray in ghostbusters. Okay I make it very easy for you to get reviewed I have a button that says get reviewed. Okay, click it? Um, yeah, no, it's fine I understand people are busy. Maybe they just want to ask that's fine. You can ask? Um, thank you for listening please. 01:32:21.21 Brian Penn Ah, companies be it couldn't be sim. Everything. 01:32:29.69 Chris Olson Um, to share subscribe and all those things it helps us reach so many more people that we want to be part of the community. Um, and if nothing else just put this episode on again, you know, just replay it. You have to listen to it necessarily but dip in and out put it on the low volume. You know? yeah. 01:32:40.61 Brian Penn And just put it put it in the background. You know it can be. It can be movie music. Can't it really? Yeah, yeah yeah. 01:32:48.48 Chris Olson Ah, Dolcet Tones can just yeah, accompany you on a long drive or a train journey. You know? Um, but yeah, thank you as always ah to everyone for listening. We really do appreciate it. But that is your lot. Thank you and goodbye. 01:33:01.86 Brian Penn And Bye for now. Previous Next

Read the film podcast transcript from the episode titled UK Film Club Episode #007 - Gran Turismo, Strays, Oppenheimer, Prisoner's Daughter, The Fly on UK Film Club part of the UK Film Review Podcast. < Back UK Film Club Episode #007 - Gran Turismo, Strays, Oppenheimer, Prisoner's Daughter, The Fly Listen to This Episode UK Film Club TRANSCRIPT MISSING In this episode of UK Film Club, film critics Chris Olson and Brian Penn review the following films:Gran Turismo: This action-adventure film based on the popular video game franchise stars Aaron Paul as a young driver who is given the opportunity of a lifetime to compete in the FIA World Endurance Championship.Oppenheimer: This historical drama film tells the story of J. Robert Oppenheimer, the scientist who led the Manhattan Project to develop the atomic bomb. The film stars Cillian Murphy, Emily Blunt, Matt Damon, and Robert Downey Jr.Strays: This comedy film follows a group of stray dogs who are abandoned in the city and must learn to survive on their own. The film stars Will Ferrell and Jamie Foxx.Haunted Mansion: This supernatural comedy film is a remake of the 2003 film of the same name.Prisoner's Daughter: This thriller film tells the story of a woman who is forced to confront her past when her father, a former prisoner, is released from prison. The film stars Jodie Comer, Brendan Fraser, and Brian Cox.The Man With His Fingers In His Ears: A short film. Zapper! an indie feature film.The Fly: This 1986 sci-fi horror film tells the story of a scientist who is accidentally transformed into a half-man, half-fly creature. The film stars Jeff Goldblum and Geena Davis.Learn more about our film podcast on our website - https://www.ukfilmreview.co.uk/podcast Previous Next

Sorious Samura is Sierra Leone’s best-known investigative journalist, making documentaries for CNN, Channel 4 and PBS that have won two Emmy Awards and seem him described by The Independent as “the world’s most fearless filmmaker”.. Brand new film trailers. Sing Freetown Trailer Sing, Freetown Trailer Sorious Samura is Sierra Leone’s best-known investigative journalist, making documentaries for CNN, Channel 4 and PBS that have won two Emmy Awards and seem him described by The Independent as “the world’s most fearless filmmaker”. Over the last 25 years, he’s tackled the toughest issues in the region including civil war, starvation, AIDs, corruption, attitudes to homosexuality and more. But Sorious has grown tired of telling negative stories about Africa and, having moved to London many years earlier, begins to realise that he is only telling half of the truth about his continent. Desperate to change the narrative, he turns to his best friend and mentor, Sierra Leone’s iconic playwright, Charlie Haffner. These two friends embark on a journey to create an inspiring work of national theatre – to restore pride to a nation with a rich and amazing history, yet known today mostly for conflict, poverty and corruption. It doesn’t go as planned. It becomes clear very quickly that the two men have a shared ambition but have lived very different lives. Their two cultures collide and tensions flare, as Sierra Leone itself teeters on the brink of civil unrest. For both men, the play becomes a matter of personal and national salvation. Through increasing adversity, they push to opening night. What will happen when the curtain lifts? WORLD PREMIERE ANNOUNCEMENT Friday 11th June // Sheffield Doc Fest UK RELEASE DATE ANNOUNCEMENT Sing, Freetown begins its limited cinema release with an exclusive run at Picturehouse Central from Friday 25th June Supergirl As we look toward the 2026 release, Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow stands as a testament to the new direction of DC Studios. Masters of the Universe With the arrival of the first trailer for the 2026 reboot of Masters of the Universe, the cinematic landscape prepares for a collision of sword, sorcery, and surprisingly, suburban Earth. Wild Foxes Dune: Part Three Picking up roughly seventeen years after the seismic events of Part Two, the trailer immediately signals a shift in tone. While the first film was an act of world-building and the second a visceral war epic, Dune: Part Three—an adaptation of Frank Herbert’s Dune Messiah—looks to be a far more claustrophobic and tense affair. In The Grey Scary Movie 6 The horror-comedy world is officially being turned upside down as the first trailer for Scary Movie 6 has finally arrived, marking a monumental return for the franchise that defined a generation of parody cinema. Empire of Lies Empire of Lies arrives in UK cinemas and on digital platforms on 27th March. Undertone Undertone is scheduled to arrive in cinemas on Friday, March 13th, 2025. If the trailer is anything to go by, we suggest you keep the lights on and perhaps think twice before pressing play on your next favourite podcast. The Moment The Land of Sometimes Twins Alfie and Elise find a magical Wish Watch on Christmas Eve and are swept by the Wish Collector into the musical Land of Sometimes, where they learn that wishes have consequences. Avengers: Doomsday Fans are elated at the release of the first teaser trailer for Avengers: Doomsday. Set for a theatrical release on 18th December 2026, find out more here. Greenland 2: Migration Now, the first official trailer for the sequel, Greenland 2: Migration, has landed, promising to take that survivalist tension into even more treacherous territory. Looney Tunes: The Day the Earth Blew Up Looney Tunes: The Day the Earth Blew Up Official Trailer. Looney Tunes: The Day The Earth Blew Up will be in UK & Irish cinemas from 13th February 2026. Mother Mary Ultimately, the Mother Mary trailer establishes a compelling promise: a film that uses the theatricality of the music industry to explore something primal about identity and obsession. Ready Or Not 2: Here I Come In the trailer for Ready Or Not 2: Here I Come establishes a new, thrilling chapter. It’s a sequel that dares to go bigger, transforming a single family’s twisted tradition into a full-scale, world-controlling bloodsport. Shelter People We Meet On Vacation People We Meet On Vacation looks set to be a thoroughly British affair in its tone and appeal—a charming, heartfelt escape, promising both belly laughs and a good cry. Doctor Plague Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery This first glimpse of Wake Up Dead Man isn’t just a trailer; it’s a brilliant statement of intent. The film looks primed to be a festive treat for audiences looking for a compelling, cleverly constructed mystery. Michael Michael is set to arrive in cinemas in the UK and Ireland on the 24th of April 2026, and based on this compelling first look, the world will indeed be waiting.