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Cat McAlpine writes movie reviews for UK Film Critic. As one of the talented UK film critics, find out more here. Cat McAlpine Cat is an actor and a writer with a day job, currently living the dream in Columbus, OH. Her double major in English and Linguistics has taught her how to live off of a single jar of peanut butter for extended periods of time. Cat enjoys eating, sleeping, and sci-fi/fantasy films of questionable quality. Proud member of the MaddWolf pack at maddwolf.com and UK Film Review. Follow On Twitter Read My Film Reviews

Hope Madden writes movie reviews for UK Film Critic. As one of the talented UK film critics, find out more here. Hope Madden Hope “Madd at the Movies” Madden, a graduate of The Ohio State University, is a freelance writer and co-founder of maddwolf.com. In addition to 12 years at the award-winning independent weekly newspaper The Other Paper, Hope has written for Columbus Monthly Magazine, The Ohio State University Alumni Magazine, is a published poet and fiction writer. She also currently writes for Columbus Underground, Screen Fervor and the UK Film Review. She also contributes to Directed By Women. Hope’s an official Tomatometer film critic as well as a member of the Columbus Film Critics Association and the Women’s Film Critic Circle. She co-hosts the weekly movie review podcast The Screening Room and the bi-weekly horror film podcast, Fright Club. In Columbus, Ohio, you can catch Hope on TV every Friday morning on ABC6/Fox28’s Good Day Columbus. Contact Hope at maddwolf95@gmail.com and follow her on Twitter @maddwolf and @frightclubpod. Follow On Twitter Read My Film Reviews

Mads Mikkelsen may be a standout here, but the whole cast brings a dynamism which creates a perfectly bittersweet story." ★★★★★ Lucy Clarke, UK Film Review. Brand new film trailers. Riders of Justice Brand New Trailer Brand New Trailer for Riders of Justice The film will be released in cinemas by Vertigo Releasing on Friday 23rd July. Highly trained military veteran Markus returns home to care for his daughter after his wife dies in a tragic train accident. Meanwhile a survivor of the explosion, mathematics geek Otto, becomes convinced that the incident was part of an assassination plot involving dangerous crime gangs. When Otto and his hacker friends, Lennart and Emmenthaler, decide to confront the short-fused Markus with their suspicions, a chain of events begins which leads the mismatched group into a violent and ill-conceived revenge mission. "Frequently zany and comedically dark, Jensen’s Riders of Justice is also full of soul. Grief is explored in a multi-faceted way rather than a quick group crying session. Mads Mikkelsen may be a standout here, but the whole cast brings a dynamism which creates a perfectly bittersweet story. " ★★★★★ Lucy Clarke, UK Film Review Read our Riders of Justice Film Review . 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. The Carpenter's Son We anticipate that The Carpenter's Son will be less of a retelling and more of a deeply disquieting examination of power, temptation, and the human cost of being chosen. It arrives on 21st November. Eternity Eternity looks set to be a sophisticated, imaginative film that avoids the usual genre clichés by grounding its absurd plot in stellar performances. Kontinental '25 The promotional material and critical buzz surrounding Kontinental ’25 confirm that the winner of the Silver Berlin Bear for Best Screenplay is not only back, but operating at a fever pitch of urgency and daring. Anniversary Kenny Dalglish It's rare for a documentary trailer to stir the soul quite as effectively as the first look at Kenny Dalglish, the upcoming feature focusing on the life and legacy of one of British football's most revered and complex figures. Is This Thing On? Searchlight Pictures has premiered the teaser trailer for Is This Thing On?, and it suggests we are in for a sharp, melancholic comedy that mines the humour and heartbreak of mid-life crisis through the lens of stand-up. Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere The first official trailer for Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere, the biopic chronicling the turbulent creation of the 1982 masterpiece Nebraska, has landed. The Bride The latest tease for The Bride, the highly anticipated 2026 offering from Maggie Gyllenhaal, has dropped, and if this brief glimpse is anything to go by, British cinema-goers should prepare themselves for a truly spectacular and unsettling cinematic experience.

From Sony Pictures UK, check out the official first trailer for the highly-anticipated UNCHARTED, based on the hugely popular video game franchise of the same name.. Brand new film trailers. Uncharted Official Trailer Brand new official trailer for Uncharted From Sony Pictures UK, check out the official first trailer for the highly-anticipated UNCHARTED, based on the hugely popular video game franchise of the same name. Based on one of the best-selling, most critically acclaimed video game series of all time, Uncharted introduces audiences to the young street-smart Nathan Drake (Tom Holland) and showcases his first treasure hunting adventure with wisecracking partner Victor “Sully” Sullivan (Mark Wahlberg). In an action-adventure epic that spans the globe, the two go in dangerous pursuit of “the greatest treasure never found” while also tracking clues that may lead to Nathan’s long-lost brother. Directed by Ruben Fleischer and based on the screenplay by Rafe Judkins, Art Marcum & Matt Holloway, UNCHARTED stars Tom Holland, Mark Wahlberg, Sophia Ali, Tati Gabrielle and Antonio Banderas. UNCHARTED will be released exclusively at UK cinemas, February 11, 2022. 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. The Carpenter's Son We anticipate that The Carpenter's Son will be less of a retelling and more of a deeply disquieting examination of power, temptation, and the human cost of being chosen. It arrives on 21st November. Eternity Eternity looks set to be a sophisticated, imaginative film that avoids the usual genre clichés by grounding its absurd plot in stellar performances. Kontinental '25 The promotional material and critical buzz surrounding Kontinental ’25 confirm that the winner of the Silver Berlin Bear for Best Screenplay is not only back, but operating at a fever pitch of urgency and daring. Anniversary Kenny Dalglish It's rare for a documentary trailer to stir the soul quite as effectively as the first look at Kenny Dalglish, the upcoming feature focusing on the life and legacy of one of British football's most revered and complex figures. Is This Thing On? Searchlight Pictures has premiered the teaser trailer for Is This Thing On?, and it suggests we are in for a sharp, melancholic comedy that mines the humour and heartbreak of mid-life crisis through the lens of stand-up. Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere The first official trailer for Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere, the biopic chronicling the turbulent creation of the 1982 masterpiece Nebraska, has landed. The Bride The latest tease for The Bride, the highly anticipated 2026 offering from Maggie Gyllenhaal, has dropped, and if this brief glimpse is anything to go by, British cinema-goers should prepare themselves for a truly spectacular and unsettling cinematic experience.

Due to come to London in April/May 2020, the London Independent Film Festival is a particularly important event in the cinematic calendar. Mostly because it provides a fantastic stepping stone for new filmmakers, and a great festival to be part of. LIFF (London Independent Film Festival) puts on a selection of fantastic screenings, events, and workshops that attract big fans across the capital. Filmmakers who are looking to submit their film to a London Film Festival should seriously consider the LIFF. It has a strong pedigree amongst the industry and can provide exposure to some of the movie-making community's big players. For instance, at the London Independent Film Festival 2020, there will be a special event hosted by our Editor-in-Chief, Chris Olson, on film marketing. This is a fantastic partnership that is sure to benefit all who are able to attend. We are hoping to add a few more entries to this page as we review films that will be appearing in the LIFF lineup. You can also check out special features that have been provided by the festival organisers, or exclusive interviews. One such interview can be found between UK Film Review and Festival Director Natasha Marburger - so be sure to check it out. London Independent Film Festival Due to come to London in April/May 2020, the London Independent Film Festival is a particularly important event in the cinematic calendar. Mostly because it provides a fantastic stepping stone for new filmmakers, and a great festival to be part of. LIFF (London Independent Film Festival) puts on a selection of fantastic screenings, events, and workshops that attract big fans across the capital. Filmmakers who are looking to submit their film to a London Film Festival should seriously consider the LIFF. It has a strong pedigree amongst the industry and can provide exposure to some of the movie-making community's big players. For instance, at the London Independent Film Festival 2020, there will be a special event hosted by our Editor-in-Chief, Chris Olson, on film marketing. This is a fantastic partnership that is sure to benefit all who are able to attend. We are hoping to add a few more entries to this page as we review films that will be appearing in the LIFF lineup. You can also check out special features that have been provided by the festival organisers, or exclusive interviews. One such interview can be found between UK Film Review and Festival Director Natasha Marburger - so be sure to check it out. SEE MORE FILM FESTIVALS

From award-winning writer/director Justin Chon, Blue Bayou is the moving and timely story of a uniquely American family fighting for their future.. Brand new film trailers. Blue Bayou Official Trailer BLUE BAYOU | Brand New Official Trailer From award-winning writer/director Justin Chon, Blue Bayou is the moving and timely story of a uniquely American family fighting for their future. Antonio LeBlanc (Chon), a Korean adoptee raised in a small town in the Louisiana bayou, is married to the love of his life Kathy (Alicia Vikander) and step-dad to their beloved daughter Jessie. Struggling to make a better life for his family, he must confront the ghosts of his past when he discovers that he could be deported from the only country he has ever called home. Starring: Justin Chon, Alicia Vikander, Mark O’Brien, Linh Dan Pham, Emory Cohen Directed & Written By: Justin Chon Produced By: Justin Chon, Charles D. King, Kim Roth, Poppy Hanks BLUE BAYOU is coming soon to UK cinemas. 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. The Carpenter's Son We anticipate that The Carpenter's Son will be less of a retelling and more of a deeply disquieting examination of power, temptation, and the human cost of being chosen. It arrives on 21st November. Eternity Eternity looks set to be a sophisticated, imaginative film that avoids the usual genre clichés by grounding its absurd plot in stellar performances. Kontinental '25 The promotional material and critical buzz surrounding Kontinental ’25 confirm that the winner of the Silver Berlin Bear for Best Screenplay is not only back, but operating at a fever pitch of urgency and daring. Anniversary Kenny Dalglish It's rare for a documentary trailer to stir the soul quite as effectively as the first look at Kenny Dalglish, the upcoming feature focusing on the life and legacy of one of British football's most revered and complex figures. Is This Thing On? Searchlight Pictures has premiered the teaser trailer for Is This Thing On?, and it suggests we are in for a sharp, melancholic comedy that mines the humour and heartbreak of mid-life crisis through the lens of stand-up. Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere The first official trailer for Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere, the biopic chronicling the turbulent creation of the 1982 masterpiece Nebraska, has landed. The Bride The latest tease for The Bride, the highly anticipated 2026 offering from Maggie Gyllenhaal, has dropped, and if this brief glimpse is anything to go by, British cinema-goers should prepare themselves for a truly spectacular and unsettling cinematic experience.

Aaron Gillingham writes movie reviews for UK Film Critic. As one of the talented UK film critics, find out more here. Aaron Gillingham Since secondary school I’ve always had a passion for filmmaking. How a film goes from idea to a fully realised experience is something I wanted to thoroughly analyse and study so I could later make films of my own. Every aspect of filmmaking is one that fascinates me, from cinematography and sound design to directing and editing. Whilst studying media at college and university I was able to gain new skills and hobbies, one of those being film criticism. To make good films you need to watch a lot of them, that is how you develop your own taste and style. I created a short-lived review page on Facebook to express my interest in film. I very quickly transitioned my film reviews from Facebook to YouTube in 2015 on the channel ‘Aaron at the Movies’, which I still upload to frequently, but the idea of going back to written reviews is something that has never left me. As I have some experience in filmmaking and understand the many struggles that come with it, I never look to directly hate a film when reviewing it. I look at the film from all aspects and try my best to judge it fairly taking any limitations it may have into account. I know a film is good when I can’t stop thinking about it and feel the need to get as many people as possible to see it. The worst kind of movies for me are ones that are simply meh, they’re not good or bad and there genuinely isn’t much to say about it. You can find me on Twitter, LinkedIn or (as previously mentioned) YouTube for my film related opinions and general updates. Follow On Twitter Read My Film Reviews

Alasdair MacRae writes movie reviews for UK Film Critic. As one of the talented UK film critics, find out more here. Alasdair MacRae Alasdair is an open-minded critic, currently based in Edinburgh. He has a particular fondness for the films of Agnès Varda, Robert Bresson, and David Cronenberg. Follow On Twitter Read My Film Reviews

Read the film podcast transcript from the episode titled Joker 2 - The Substance - Speak No Evil movie reviews on Episode 20 of UK Film Club on UK Film Club part of the UK Film Review Podcast. < Back Joker 2 - The Substance - Speak No Evil movie reviews on Episode 20 of UK Film Club Listen to This Episode UK Film Club 00:00:00.01 Brian Penn I wonder what the problem was. I could hear you, but typically you couldn't hear me. It's always the way, isn't it? 00:00:06.28 Chris Olson Well, I think it might be a sign of things to come that maybe one day that's the way the world will be, that everyone will just hear me and that'll be it, you know, and it will be, yeah, maybe be a little bit. 00:00:14.07 Brian Penn Yeah, you'd like that, wouldn't you? No, no one, no one's asking you back. You know, no one's to disagree with you. No one's contradict you. 00:00:21.27 Chris Olson Yeah. 00:00:23.69 Chris Olson I mean, not that you do any of those things, Brian, but you know, but I don't want to give you the chance, you know, I don't want you to suddenly change and turn into one of these objectives to my, yeah my vast opinions. 00:00:25.60 Brian Penn No, no, no, no. I'll try not to, you know. Yeah. 00:00:34.14 Brian Penn Uh, well, yeah, you know, I mean, we like live the conversation, don't we? Let's, let's put it that way. 00:00:40.93 Chris Olson Well, that's why we're here, mainly. 00:00:42.46 Brian Penn Yeah. 00:00:42.96 Chris Olson um But have you been? You been okay? 00:00:44.30 Brian Penn I've been very well. Thank you. so 00:00:46.61 Chris Olson Yeah, not too bad. I mean, it's the season of getting ill, isn't it? We're suddenly in that part of the year again, and that came really quickly. 00:00:50.90 Brian Penn well Yeah. I know. 00:00:54.14 Chris Olson um 00:00:54.95 Brian Penn Yeah. The, uh, cops have gone back an hour now, haven't they as well? We are dead in Winston now, aren't we? Really? 00:01:00.45 Chris Olson And it's spook season. you know It's um you know almost Halloween, although when you're listening to this, it would have been Halloween. 00:01:02.48 Brian Penn I know. 00:01:07.66 Brian Penn one Yeah, it would have been, yeah. And we have got a kind of a Halloween strike horror themed show, haven't we really? Some of the films we're looking at here. 00:01:17.03 Chris Olson Yeah, some on purpose, some by accident. And and yeah, just a ah little bit of and jiggery pokery. Some of the indie filmmakers that submitted, there was one that asked if they could be in this episode because there's um is a very horror based film, but we'll get to that in the indie section. 00:01:32.51 Brian Penn Yeah. 00:01:36.11 Brian Penn that Yeah. 00:01:39.10 Chris Olson um But yeah, no, if this is your first time to UK Film Club, um welcome, as always. And you are with me, ah Chris, and with Brian, ah dedicated film critics of UK Film Review. And in this show, part of the UK Film Review podcast, UK Film Club is where we review all manner of films. So Brian, 00:02:03.70 Chris Olson gets you know gets himself to the cinema and actually sees the movies on the big screen because i have two kids and i'm lazy and i can't be bothered to get out so i don't do that anymore 00:02:09.83 Brian Penn and 00:02:14.79 Brian Penn And you know I will don't you you know I will for all yeah No 00:02:14.82 Chris Olson and yeah Yeah, exactly. This is all part of that new world order that I'm talking about, yeah, i where I get others to do, yeah you're you're basically minions at this stage. um And yeah, so we review cinema films, we're going to review a streaming film, so that's a film available on a platform like Netflix. Then we review a bunch of indie films, these are ones that have been sent to us specifically to review. um and we finish up with our nostalgia pick which is a film that we look back on that we haven't really set the full rules on this but generally it's got to have been out a little while um to to merit but there are you know probably going to be times where we have to 00:02:47.07 Brian Penn Hmm. Hmm. 00:02:51.97 Brian Penn Hmm. 00:02:54.41 Brian Penn Hmm. 00:02:54.70 Chris Olson relax that rule. But but we'll see. um Yeah, so it's I mean, it's actually it's one of those jam packed shows this one because we've got five indie films. 00:03:00.65 Brian Penn Hmm. 00:03:05.06 Chris Olson um So I don't really want to do too much preamble. 00:03:05.24 Brian Penn me 00:03:10.02 Chris Olson um The only quick preamble was going to mention was as it is October when we're recording this, I did watch a spooky film, I just thought I just mentioned it because it wasn't very good, which was Hocus Pocus 2. 00:03:20.85 Chris Olson I'm not sure if you've imbibed on such a movie, Brian. 00:03:21.30 Brian Penn oh i think a very long slime ago i think i saw the first one yeah yeah 00:03:27.64 Chris Olson Oh yeah yeah, first one, a classic, don't get me wrong, love it. Bette Midler, I'm all for it. But this this sort of sequel that they've brought together, it actually feels like they've brought something dead to life. I was watching it going, what is this? um It was just trash and the it's a shame because it's I think, i you know when you're watching a film and you're like, I get the spirit, I understand why you're doing this and on paper, this looks fun. 00:03:53.55 Brian Penn Yeah. 00:03:56.52 Chris Olson But what when you're watching it, it's like, no, no, this isn't fun. 00:03:56.56 Brian Penn Hmm. 00:03:59.66 Brian Penn Yeah. 00:04:00.13 Chris Olson This is really cringy. And yeah, it was a shame because I i do have a lot of time for the original. 00:04:02.82 Brian Penn Yeah. Yeah. Well, the curse of the sequel strikes again, doesn't it? 00:04:07.64 Chris Olson Oh, yeah, big time. 00:04:07.68 Brian Penn And again, then again, usually. And what seems like a good idea, the theory is fine. But you put it into practice. It just doesn't work, does it? 00:04:17.73 Brian Penn And but you just hope and pray that something happens to it that's positive, but By the sound of it, I don't think that's going to happen. 00:04:26.07 Chris Olson No, and I think where we get in these sequels coming long time after, you know, when the actors are, unless there is this sort of reason for it. 00:04:26.36 Brian Penn You never know. 00:04:31.55 Brian Penn Hmm. 00:04:36.28 Chris Olson ah like We reviewed them Beverly Hills Cop, right recently, we did that, and they did the actual F1. 00:04:39.13 Brian Penn Yeah. Hmm. 00:04:42.00 Chris Olson I thought that was actually pretty good. 00:04:42.43 Brian Penn Yeah. Yeah. 00:04:43.48 Chris Olson I enjoyed that. 00:04:43.68 Brian Penn I enjoyed it. I thought it was good. 00:04:44.78 Chris Olson And I think The reason why it worked was because they really embraced the idea that he was now older, he has a daughter, and that was a different dynamic. It wasn't going, oh, let's do it again. 00:04:55.70 Brian Penn Yeah, well, yeah, it'd grown up though, hadn't he? 00:04:56.02 Chris Olson Exactly the same. Yeah. 00:04:58.94 Brian Penn Axl, it'd grown up. And that's, that's good when you can see characters maturing and growing up and you trace them through the sequel and whatever comes after that, if there is anything, that's different. But when you just rehash the same idea, then that's where it falls, falls out of bed. 00:05:11.31 Chris Olson Yeah. 00:05:14.10 Brian Penn Isn't it really? 00:05:15.05 Chris Olson Yeah, and Hocus Pocus definitely fell out of bed. 00:05:18.56 Brian Penn Yeah. 00:05:18.64 Chris Olson if that's ah Is that a phrase? that Are we we running with that now? 00:05:20.43 Brian Penn ah Well, when should we make that a phrase? You know, I've been playing with it. 00:05:22.35 Chris Olson Mm hmm. Fell out of bed. Love it. 00:05:24.84 Brian Penn was was that a bit? Yeah. 00:05:26.47 Chris Olson um Well, this next film, the well, the first one of the cinema releases we're going to review is almost well, for a lot of people has fallen out of bed because I was talking to Jack Salvadore on an earlier episode yeah we do every so often I catch up with Jack on the podcast and he tells me all the films you've seen at 00:05:31.33 Brian Penn yeah 00:05:48.09 Brian Penn yeah 00:05:48.60 Chris Olson festival. So he went to Venice, he'd been to Cannes, and he watched Joker, Foley Adair, which we're going to review. 00:05:54.11 Brian Penn and 00:05:56.15 Chris Olson ah Well, you're going to review very kindly soon, but he absolutely loathed it. 00:05:56.28 Brian Penn Yeah. Mm hmm. 00:05:59.58 Chris Olson But what about you, bro? 00:06:01.07 Brian Penn What about me? 00:06:02.23 Chris Olson yeah 00:06:02.25 Brian Penn Okay, let let's just run through the basics then, directed by ah Todd Phillips starring Yakin Phoenix, Lady Gaga and Brandon Gleason. So this picks up where the previous film left off Arthur Fleck is held at Arkham State Hospital awaiting trial. 00:06:18.61 Brian Penn ah He'd been charged with murder, but his lawyer will argue that Fleck suffers with a personality disorder. that caused the Joker to commit these crimes. During a therapy session, Arthur meets Harleen Quinzel, and they become smitten with each other. She becomes his muse at as as the trial slowly unfolds. This film is a bit like Marmite. You'll either love love it or you'll hate it. I'm in the latter camp. It's an absolute mess. It goes all over the place. but but They take a great DC character like the Joker. 00:06:52.77 Brian Penn place him in a musical that's also a courtroom drama and a love story. It just doesn't work. It tries too hard to be too many things. And also, Joachim Phoenix can't sing. I mean, whoever told him he could sing, or whoever told him that he should sing. He's flat, then he's sharp. I mean, it's quite an achievement, really, to be flat and sharp. he um One of the songs that he sings, and I use the words sing in parentheses, 00:07:21.97 Brian Penn bewitched, bothered and bewildered, which is an old show tune from My Pal Joey. It absolutely murders the song, absolutely bushes it. You know, when you go to a musical, right, and you see ah an actor cast in a particular role, they don't have great voices, but they carry the tune, you know, they get by, they they do all right with it. 00:07:42.16 Brian Penn But you know, if ever a phrase can't carry a tune in a bucket was made for anyone, it's whacking Phoenix. Dreadful. Lady Gaga sounds great, right? 00:07:50.61 Chris Olson Oh yeah, she would, right. 00:07:52.07 Brian Penn But you wouldn't expect her to, that's the point. But I think the film lets her down. you know 00:07:58.37 Chris Olson Well, because I'm spit-balling here, because I'm not seeing it. And is there an element that is meant to be bad? Like, is it to showcase him as being kind of unstable? 00:08:05.57 Brian Penn well 00:08:07.27 Chris Olson Or is it just, yeah, it's just kind of difficult to listen to? 00:08:07.47 Brian Penn Now, I just there's a hint of self-indulgence about it for me. There's no need to turn it into a musical. You might say that's bold, you know to so try what they feel is something different. 00:08:21.80 Brian Penn but You know, i you know i'm not ah I'm not a huge fan of DC and Marvel films per se. I love that the books, I love the stories, I love the comics. But but to me, they're ruin they're ruining their own characters here. you know it's They're sending it out to such an extent now it becomes vaguely ridiculous. And the comics are so much better than the films. They're works of art. You use your imagination. But these films just feel like they belong to a PlayStation module. 00:08:52.04 Brian Penn It's very, very disappointing. But as I say, there is a Marmite like quality about it, but I don't buy I don't buy the idea that it that it's kind of like a self paradigm. I think it just it just completely backfires on them. 00:09:08.11 Chris Olson Well, that's, yeah, that's what I think is interesting because obviously, you know, it's great seeing filmmakers take and like crazy ideas. 00:09:08.81 Brian Penn okay 00:09:16.65 Chris Olson But the the fact that this film seems to be alienating everyone, I've not seen really a strong camp of go, oh, okay, yeah, those people love this film, that it's like, even people that I know that are 00:09:25.91 Brian Penn Yeah. 00:09:29.12 Chris Olson apologists for DC completely through and through. 00:09:30.00 Brian Penn Hmm. 00:09:32.14 Chris Olson they They just love everything they do. they Even they were like, do you know what, this one's not for me. 00:09:34.69 Brian Penn Yeah. 00:09:36.34 Chris Olson And I thought, well, you know oh, God, like that's the most damning criticism I could have heard. 00:09:36.54 Brian Penn Oh, yeah. I know. I know. It's right. when When you, when even the fans are kind of switching off and saying, no, this is not good. On Rotten Sommatos, I think it got 32% or something. 00:09:49.91 Chris Olson Hmm. 00:09:50.20 Brian Penn You know, so I'm not the um and certainly not the only one who thinks that way. And it's, In all the years we've been doing Film Club now, we've been doing it for what, a couple of years now, haven't we I think? 00:09:58.90 Chris Olson A couple of years Wow, I mean, i I was intrigued to hear your your version, um and because I tell you, somebody did like it, it was Madwolf, they reviewed it on the website. 00:09:59.97 Brian Penn Yeah. I've never reviewed a theatrical release that I can, that there's nothing I can say anything positive about, but this to me completely misses the mark. You know, for all its high production values, for the huge budget it's got and the flash premiers and what have you, you know, and I don't think it's doing great, great business at the box office. 00:10:20.02 Brian Penn I don't think it's making huge songs. um and I think it's a mess for me. An absolute mess. Yeah. 00:10:37.77 Brian Penn Yeah. 00:10:38.32 Chris Olson ah so who's oh and it was They actually sort of liked it, um but it was Jack's review that came first, and he reviewed it, I think it was... 00:10:38.71 Brian Penn Yeah. I saw that. Yeah. 00:10:43.23 Brian Penn Hmm. 00:10:48.52 Chris Olson can i think and um yeah he he gave it one star and i was like oh my goodness i mean don't get me wrong jack maybe ah get out out of the bed wrong way or whatever but it's um but no he when i spoke to him he really still hated it you know months and months after he was still just didn't like it and yeah i don't 00:10:54.81 Brian Penn well yeah yeah yeah ah yeah i have to agree here yeah really enjoyed the first one yeah yeah 00:11:09.10 Chris Olson I don't see why this film was made as well because the first one was a very strong film. yeah It's a really enjoyable kind of taxi driver-esque type sort of film. 00:11:21.39 Chris Olson And it I think it was a great idea to go, do you know what? Actually, let's just take a different look at a baddie. 00:11:26.74 Brian Penn Yeah. 00:11:26.81 Chris Olson um And because of, you know, we know all these characters through and through. There's been so many films about Batman and Joker and all that stuff. 00:11:31.38 Brian Penn Hmm. 00:11:33.98 Chris Olson that it was, okay, one is enough. like We don't need really to keep doing this, right? 00:11:38.37 Brian Penn Yeah. Yeah. 00:11:40.20 Chris Olson So it's it's strange that they decided to go in such a vast, almost, yeah it feels like they went in such a crazy direction almost to try and knock it on the head because I think maybe it was so successful. 00:11:42.84 Brian Penn i 00:11:51.86 Chris Olson I know there was a thing about the filmmakers being asked and asked and asked, oh, will you make another? Will you make another? Maybe they just kind of like, all right, fine, we'll do it. And then yeah this will get us out of it. 00:12:01.05 Brian Penn Yeah, well, yeah. Also, if they're chucking a big budget at you as well, no you're getting the spondulics. You think, oh, why not? What the hell? But i I honestly think they have a responsibility with the subject matter, with the characters, with the stories. They do have a responsibility to guard that legacy because it is a legacy. You know, I don't think that they're paying it proper respect by doing what they've done with this particular film. You know, I just think it's unnecessary and you you laugh in the wrong places for all the wrong reasons. And it would have been much better without the songs, without the songs. It was just a distraction. As I say, Whacking Phoenix is a fine actor, but he can't sing. And I think people that can't sing shouldn't, if you see what I'm getting at. 00:12:49.85 Chris Olson Well, also, yeah it's unforgivable in this day and age where they have so many tools at their disposal to make people sound good. 00:12:54.84 Brian Penn Yeah, yeah. 00:12:55.29 Chris Olson right yeah they could They could fix that by the sounds of it. 00:12:57.44 Brian Penn Yeah. But yeah, but maybe it was unfixable. but again, it just makes no sense to me. And the brand is so strong as well, that you wouldn't think that they'd take these sort of chances with it. 00:13:10.03 Brian Penn And as I say, box office coverage so far, I don't think it's brilliant. one um Yeah. 00:13:14.72 Chris Olson No, I've heard similar and yeah, like you said, the aggregate sites are giving it very middling, if not poor ah scores. 00:13:20.58 Brian Penn Yeah. right Yeah, not good. 00:13:22.17 Chris Olson So there you go. It fell out of bed and we are done with the Joker part two. 00:13:26.09 Brian Penn Yeah. 00:13:29.13 Brian Penn Yeah. 00:13:29.96 Chris Olson I don't think they'll make another one. And it yeah, if if they do, I'll still send b Brian to see it. 00:13:31.89 Brian Penn I hope not. Well, I hope not. Not like that anyway. 00:13:36.67 Brian Penn Oh yeah, of course. Yeah, I'll still go and see it, of course. I've got them for punishment. 00:13:40.33 Chris Olson ah Yeah, absolutely. um Moving on to another cinematic release. um I'm not home to this one, so I'm intrigued to hear about the substance, Brian. 00:13:51.40 Brian Penn Oh, right. Okay, The Substance. Written and directed by Coralee Fargates. Starring Demi Moore, Dennis Quaid and Margaret Kweli. yeah this This is quite a long and involved synopsis. 00:14:04.94 Brian Penn So I'll try and be as concise as I can, but it takes some explaining, so bear with me. 00:14:09.93 Chris Olson Strapping. 00:14:11.01 Brian Penn All right. um So Lizzie Sparkle has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, although recently has carved out a career on TV as a Keep Fit guru. However, scheming producer Harvey Pfizer with a younger model in mind. 00:14:23.99 Brian Penn A crestfall on Lizzie is later involved in a car crash. She's taken to a hospital where a nurse slips her a note. describing a mysterious potion called Substance. It promises users a better version of themselves. She receives a kit full of syringes and takes the plunge. The chemicals do their job and another version of Lizzie emerges, young and beautiful with a great figure. All the things that Lizzie used to be, all the things that she wants to be again. Her alter ego is called Sue and consequently replaces Lizzie as host of her other TV show. 00:15:00.74 Brian Penn However, the substance only allows Sue to function on alternate weeks whilst their other self regenerates. Sue and Lizzie begins to fight with each other with disastrous results. 00:15:13.88 Brian Penn This is a quality horror film. 00:15:16.09 Chris Olson Ooh, good. 00:15:17.02 Brian Penn This is really the real quality. um It will become a go-to for fans of the genre, I'm sure that. ah Special effects are stunning. The sound effects are stomach churning. 00:15:28.19 Brian Penn I've never heard sound effects like this. I mean, if you say at the cinema, the sound effects are almost overpowering really, they're really, you know, they they really do their job. Let's put it that way. um Some things in the film are reminiscent of David Cronenberg. um But of course, I'll leave that to to listeners and viewers to so what decide whether whether it is really that close to Cronenberg, what Cronenberg does. um Only downside for this film 00:15:59.26 Brian Penn The last 20 minutes are totally absurd, and not necessary. There's a natural point at which all films should end. Some might say that's the best bit, but you know when you're watching a film, right? 00:16:11.92 Brian Penn And in your own mind, you become the director, you become the editor, and you think, right, I think the film should end now. Have you ever noticed that? But it carries on, and it goes on for another half an hour or something, and this is what happens with this film. 00:16:20.55 Chris Olson Yeah. 00:16:25.45 Brian Penn And whilst it's not a hugely long film, it's two hours 21, you take off the opening and closing titles, it's probably about two hours 10. So it's not a long film, but it adds nothing to the story. But there will be a point, as I say, maybe 20, 25 minutes from the end, we think, right, this is the finale. This is the climax. This is where you've got to end it. Right? But they don't. And it goes on. But it gives you an extra helping of blood, guts and gore. It's an 18. 00:16:59.46 Brian Penn Interestingly, the trailers don't show you much of the explicit stuff. Well, maybe maybe they want it to be a nice surprise when you go. But it's certainly six order boxes for the horror genre. It's an impressive piece of work. But an extra 20 minutes, not necessarily they didn't need it, but the story had finished and it carried on, in my opinion, and it it sort of shine off what is a very, very good film. 00:17:27.19 Chris Olson Yeah, I think that is interesting, because like you say, sometimes it's like, I don't know, films have a good quality, youre you're happy to kind of stay along with it. 00:17:33.90 Brian Penn Yeah. 00:17:34.01 Chris Olson But you you question, why is that gone there? Or why is it? 00:17:37.54 Brian Penn Yeah, I know. 00:17:38.20 Chris Olson yeah I've had that before. Because also, I suppose sometimes as well, it's the impact they want on the viewer, like how do they want the viewer to leave the story. 00:17:40.22 Brian Penn Yeah. 00:17:45.87 Brian Penn Yeah. 00:17:46.09 Chris Olson and But yeah, obviously without seeing it, I can't fully say on this one. But it does sound very intriguing, though. 00:17:50.24 Brian Penn yeah it It is and it's, um it's an intricate storyline as well. And it's quite challenging in some ways. I mean, I have to be very mindful of how I i kind of I don't want to give too much of the story away. 00:18:05.32 Brian Penn I mean, the um the overview that I normally give of a film, it's enough to let you know what it's about, but not give away anything else. But so I want to hook people in and say, right, this is major curious enough to go and see it or stream it or whatever, you know, and that's, that's what I try to stick to. 00:18:24.40 Brian Penn But there's, there's kind of a lot more to it than that. And it's this idea of duality and of an alter ego, a doppelganger, 00:18:27.21 Chris Olson Mm. 00:18:33.79 Brian Penn Um, it's an interesting concept and this is what they delve into. Uh, and that's kind of, that's jockeying for prominence with the visuals. So unlike a lot of horror movies, the story is quite strong and Demi Moore is excellent in the role. She, she has a lot of fun with it. You know, you can tell she's enjoying it. the It's, you know, she's, she's having a ball with it. I like, I like to see actors enjoying a role and it's very different from what you'd expect from Demi Moore as well. 00:19:03.81 Brian Penn It's not normally the c type of film you would you would see from her. So that's kind of, it new I feel it's new territory for her. 00:19:13.05 Chris Olson Well, I mean, you've sold me. 00:19:15.71 Brian Penn Good, nice to hear it. 00:19:17.09 Chris Olson Let me have a look. so I think we had a reviewer um send in something for this. 00:19:21.49 Brian Penn All right. 00:19:21.71 Chris Olson um The substance, yeah. It's interesting, you like you say, something like and Demi Moore obviously deciding to so take a film like this on. 00:19:31.03 Brian Penn Hmm. 00:19:31.20 Chris Olson I think that can often work because it does feel like the sort of film where it's playing against well first off you're going into horror then you are gonna need to have a sort of almost shock value and i think like you say the the trailer not giving lots of way having demi more in the role it having a kind of all right it's called the substance there's not really enough there you know if it's called like evil twin tries to kill me sort of thing then that gives you a bit more of an idea um that you might well i can imagine a lot of people going into this being very surprised yeah you know you're like oh god sort of thing 00:19:44.61 Brian Penn Yeah. 00:19:47.55 Brian Penn um 00:19:52.47 Brian Penn No. Yeah. Yeah, I know. Exactly. yeah Yeah. Yeah. I think so. I think so. I mean, what you see in the trailers gives you enough. You know, it's a chiller. You know, it's a thriller that You know, it goes along those sort of lines, but, but it will also surprise people as well when they see it, you know, because, because it's, you know, you look at the roles that Demi Moore plays usually, um, they're much more kind of wholesome role, shall we say, you know, that this is a bit more kind of sinister, frightening, you know, uh, and I like it. 00:20:16.27 Chris Olson Hmm. 00:20:37.21 Brian Penn It's good. You know, as I say, as I've often said, I'm not a huge fan of horror. But um um if it's out there and and it's mainstream, i I'll go and watch it and very enjoyable. 00:20:50.03 Chris Olson Well, we had a couple of listener reviews of this. um One from Max Martin, who gives it four stars. um So, yeah, also a fan, much like yourself. And yeah, he says, the substance is perhaps the most audacious and provocative film of the year. 00:21:06.98 Chris Olson although it starts out as a drama with a woman's slow descent out of the celebrity scene, quickly becomes a spine-chilling horror that leaves you grabbing your seat not out of fear but out of sheer disgust. 00:21:18.01 Chris Olson ah ah Max also picks up about the sound design being brilliantly horrific. 00:21:18.54 Brian Penn Yeah, it's it's very good. 00:21:22.60 Chris Olson um The eating of prawns has never looked or sounded more gruesome. 00:21:25.68 Brian Penn Oh yeah, oh yeah, oh god, yeah. yeah Forgot about that. 00:21:28.88 Chris Olson ah So thanks Max for that. 00:21:31.14 Brian Penn Yeah. 00:21:31.15 Chris Olson Max, that was a great review. There's a lot more to his review. i that's just read about Another ah critic send in a review, Jaden Abbott, also gives it four stars. 00:21:33.43 Brian Penn Yeah. 00:21:41.21 Chris Olson ah There is nothing more marketable than the shame we've been taught to feel regarding our bodies. So it's interesting picking up the themes of the film, you know, talking about, you know, there's no sort of the lines and things like that. 00:21:48.23 Brian Penn Yeah. 00:21:51.78 Brian Penn Yeah. 00:21:51.96 Chris Olson It's a so movie thoroughly swaddled in the vestments and tropes of 90s and modern day advertising. 00:21:56.25 Brian Penn Yeah. 00:21:59.59 Chris Olson Fage re-weaponized the implements of marketing to develop an argument about misogyny, society and self-loathing. So I think that's another thing which stood out because I think the film had on its like title and things was like a can 00:22:09.46 Brian Penn Yeah. 00:22:13.65 Chris Olson and logo and obviously I think it's it's won awards and things like that. 00:22:17.65 Brian Penn yeah 00:22:18.24 Chris Olson So it almost feels like a bit more of an, I mean, so I'm being very rude here, but an intelligent horror film, if you know what I mean. It's kind of a bit more cerebral sort of thing. 00:22:25.53 Brian Penn Yeah, no, I think that's fair. I think that's very common. Yeah. 00:22:29.28 Chris Olson um But I mean, I must say, I am peaked. 00:22:30.28 Brian Penn Yeah. 00:22:33.16 Chris Olson I'm very peaked to go and see that. 00:22:34.17 Brian Penn I know. 00:22:34.88 Chris Olson That sounds great. 00:22:35.58 Brian Penn yeah It's very good. and Of course, the the added dimension is the kind of the, the treatment of women in the media, traditionally, the, the way yeah the way it used to be, or the way it tends to still be is that, you know, women's careers cut short when they get to reach a certain age. 00:22:52.08 Brian Penn Thankfully, that's not so much the case now, but it It's still an issue, isn't it? In the industry, in film, TV, it's still there. So it's dealing with that side of it as well. um And then it's quite plays a very, a very good slimy TV producer, I must say. He does very well. So highly recommended, but you need a strong stomach because they the effects, the the visuals and the sound effects are thoroughly realistic. Really are, you know, the sound of ah of a syringe being plunged into someone. i 00:23:24.00 Brian Penn Yeah, you know, it's good. They, they, they really get the job done. 00:23:28.90 Chris Olson you go. Let us know anyone else that watches the substance. 00:23:32.74 Brian Penn Yeah. Hmm. Yeah, that's right. Yeah. So director by James Watkins, starring James McAvoy, Mackenzie Davis, Scoot McNary, Ashling, Franciosi, Alex West Loeffler and Daniel Hough. I've named all six actors there because 00:23:33.50 Chris Olson Another cinematic release, um Speak No Evil. It's a James McAvoy film, right? 00:23:54.05 Brian Penn I think they they are all equally stars, but the real standout here is James McAvoy. Let's just run through the yeah the plot very briefly. the So the Dortons, Louise and Ben, are on a holiday with their daughter, Agnes. They make friends with another couple, Paddy and Kiara. They have a son, Ants, who is unable to speak. Paddy and Kiara later invite the Dortons to spend the weekend at their country home. They have reservations, but they decide it will do them good. 00:24:24.25 Brian Penn However, they soon discover a darker side to the couple and unlock some gruesome secrets. This is top notch filmmaking. James McAvoy is brilliant in the role Paddy. He switches persona so quickly. One minute is friendly and outgoing. The next sinister and threatening. It's a remarkable performance. Great supporting cast to big shout out to Dan Hough, who plays on in technically a very difficult role to master because there is no dialogue for him. 00:24:53.89 Brian Penn And in many respects, his character is key to the story. Sadly, this film got relatively little attentional release. um It would never get the publicity generated by the Joker, for example. 00:25:06.44 Brian Penn But this is a damn good film. And it's a bit of a sleeper, but easily the film of the month for me. 00:25:13.35 Chris Olson Oh! 00:25:14.11 Brian Penn Easily the film of the month. Genuinely very gripping. um It's a film that that really puts you in that couple shoots, you know, the Dalton's who've gone to visit this couple, Padilla and Kiara and you think, oh, you really root for them. You sort of kind of science yourself. Get out, get out there now. Don't do this. Don't do that. Um, so it kind of puts you in the time of the place. You feel like you're in the room with them. You feel like you're in the car with them. And it's a damn good film. It's a very, very good film. And it's got, it's probably gonna be 00:25:52.40 Brian Penn coming off the big screen very shortly. It's still running. At the time of us recording this podcast, it's still on. Go and see it at some if you can, because it is an excellent piece of filmmaking. 00:26:04.50 Chris Olson Wow. I mean, it's got all the credentials that I need, but you just saying it's filmed with a month, even having just said the substance was so good. I'm like, oh, wow, this must be amazing. 00:26:14.22 Brian Penn you Exactly. Well, yeah, but see to me, to me, you may see both films and think differently, but um Speak No Evil just kind of shades the substance. It's just ah a little bit stronger, a little bit more relatable. The substance is a fantasy really, isn't it? You know, the the the storyline of the substance is just pure imagination, isn't it? But the um Speak No Evil feels real. It feels like it could happen to someone. You know, what 00:26:50.82 Brian Penn what the the Dalton's go through in Speak No Evil could happen to people. But the substance is about suspending your disbelief. And if I had the choice between the two, do I want something that's a bit more realistic, a bit more relatable and a bit more believable? I'd take that film over the ah the more fantastic storyline. Even though ah the substance is is very good, I'd say Speak No Evil is just a little bit little bit better. Because for one thing, 00:27:20.93 Brian Penn I don't think it has the gloss purely because it doesn't need it. 00:27:26.67 Chris Olson Hmm. 00:27:27.26 Brian Penn It's more of a kind of a raw basic story and that I can get into a lot more easily. But, you know, that's my take on it. But, you know, you could let me know what you think and listeners can let us know what they think. 00:27:39.98 Chris Olson Yeah, don't have... 00:27:40.35 Brian Penn ah garness so 00:27:41.69 Chris Olson Yeah, I haven't got any reviews as far as I'm aware um of that. But yeah, if you've seen Speak No Evil, do send it in. In which case, by the way, you can speak evil if you want to. 00:27:53.09 Chris Olson That's OK. 00:27:53.37 Brian Penn Oh, yeah. 00:27:53.73 Chris Olson If you want to speak evil about the film, that's fine. 00:27:56.86 Brian Penn Yeah. 00:27:56.99 Chris Olson we not We're not going to stop you. 00:27:57.44 Brian Penn Oh, that's yeah. It's a clever playing word style. I hadn't thought of that. 00:28:01.10 Chris Olson I've been sat on that for a few minutes here. 00:28:01.75 Brian Penn I wish I'd thought of that. Nevermind. Yeah, but a good film though. 00:28:06.16 Chris Olson Oh, good. 00:28:06.77 Brian Penn Great film. Really enjoyed it. 00:28:09.49 Chris Olson Well, that's your cinema releases for this episode. We're going on now to our streaming pick. This is a film which I have also seen because I can be bothered to turn on Netflix. 00:28:17.99 Brian Penn Hmm. 00:28:20.98 Chris Olson um And yeah, this was an interesting one. um Yeah, called Trouble, and originally called Stroul. 00:28:27.87 Brian Penn Yeah. 00:28:29.89 Chris Olson And ah Swedish film was it? 00:28:32.67 Brian Penn Swedish. Yeah. Yeah. 00:28:33.50 Chris Olson Swedish film. Sorry, it's a while back I saw this. And I have to recall what I actually said about it. 00:28:35.87 Brian Penn Yeah. I mean, it needs to actually to be fair. 00:28:39.68 Chris Olson But yeah, um directed by John Holmberg. And yeah, it's kind of this sort of comedy crime thriller movie with action thrown in. 00:28:50.57 Chris Olson And yeah, all it it's a very enjoyable romp. We get this character who essentially gets in prison for something he didn't do um and whilst he's there he then gets kind of wrapped up in a plot to escape ah the prison which he kind of needs to do in order to then clear his name and and and become free because he's um obviously not meant to be there but he's also trying to make up to his daughter who is now seeing him as a criminal. 00:29:02.01 Brian Penn Yeah. Yeah. 00:29:24.03 Chris Olson It's got so much going on in the film. I felt it was a very kind of, and well a bit of a rough ride, um but I did enjoy it. 00:29:35.42 Brian Penn yeah 00:29:35.52 Chris Olson What did you what did you think of Trouble, Ryan? 00:29:36.30 Brian Penn Yeah, yeah, I am really liked it now. Look, I mean, the greatest of respect to Sweden, I never realized Sweden had a filmmaking industry that they do make film. 00:29:45.99 Chris Olson How dare you? 00:29:48.11 Brian Penn Honestly, I do apologize in advance. I never realized, but um I found it a very pleasant surprise. You know, Swedish dubbed into English and it works really well. 00:30:00.14 Brian Penn um I mean, some reviews I've read have been a bit snippy about this film, but I think that's on Julie Harsh. um I think it's really good fun. It's a bit on the daft side. ah The plot has one or two holes, shall we say. um But it's great fun. And in places, it's very funny. Now, what I think is interesting about the ah kind of the comedic elements in this film, whether it's the ah the kind of the slapstick or the verbals, is that the dubbing doesn't affect the comic timing or the characters. 00:30:30.05 Brian Penn it still works really well. I really like the um the girl who's the the ah police constable, the junior police officer. I thought she was really funny in it. They came across really well. 00:30:41.17 Brian Penn ah like I like this thing where they're carrying the plasma screen around with them as well. 00:30:44.72 Chris Olson Yeah. 00:30:45.22 Brian Penn Because they can't transfer the CC, CV footage onto a memory stick. I think that's really good. um But um you know, I like these so elements of good cop, bad cop as well. 00:30:56.10 Brian Penn um I think it was really good fun. Really good fun. 00:30:58.78 Chris Olson Yeah, it's funny because I watched the I didn't watch the dubbed I watched the with the subtitles. So I watched it. 00:31:04.88 Brian Penn Ah, that's interesting, right? 00:31:05.52 Chris Olson Yes. And because I find um with dubbed it does often impact but it sounds like maybe it didn't for you. 00:31:12.98 Brian Penn Not for me, no, no. 00:31:13.00 Chris Olson And the the comedy really hits, I think because your you you're reading the lines as they're about to be spoken and you're sort of going, oh, this is gonna be funny, this is gonna be funny. 00:31:22.05 Brian Penn Yeah. Yeah. 00:31:24.66 Chris Olson And I was laughing quite a lot. And I think the film had a lot of, I've used the word sort of spunky because it was, it had this sort of edge to it. 00:31:26.95 Brian Penn Yeah. 00:31:33.49 Chris Olson Like for example, there's a bit early on in the film where the hives are playing, so it was sort of rock song and it's really, really good. 00:31:38.80 Brian Penn Yeah. Yeah. 00:31:40.22 Chris Olson um And then later on, they've got like hooked on a feeling which kind of, 00:31:40.36 Brian Penn Yeah. 00:31:43.40 Brian Penn Yeah. 00:31:44.06 Chris Olson was reminiscent of Guardians of the Galaxy, like the tone of like that, because you've got this sort of ah almost murder going on in the background and he's there trying to fix the TV with his headphones on. 00:31:44.14 Brian Penn Yeah. 00:31:52.25 Brian Penn Hmm. 00:31:55.48 Chris Olson And I think it was very much a film of that contrast where you've got a really sort of dark story, but like you say, it's a little bit daft on the other side. 00:31:56.06 Brian Penn yeah 00:31:59.91 Brian Penn yeah 00:32:02.51 Brian Penn Yeah. Yeah. 00:32:04.25 Chris Olson And I can imagine it not being everyone's cup of tea but I do think there is also something in there for everyone like if you'd like a crime plot it's there if you'd like you know kind of silly antics that's also there crazy characters you know strange things that happen action set pieces there's loads there to enjoy and it's also it's one of those movies that it it didn't drag at all it flew by to be honest absolutely flew by 00:32:08.00 Brian Penn No. 00:32:10.91 Brian Penn no 00:32:21.93 Brian Penn you 00:32:30.67 Brian Penn No, no, you know, I didn't even stop it. I mean, when it's on stream, I mean, I don't know what you do or what listeners do, but I mean, I will often stick it on pause while I do something else, while I make a cup of tea or go into another part of the house. 00:32:44.27 Brian Penn But I didn't do that with this film. I sat down and watched it all the way through. And that, that to me, is a great compliment. Bearing in mind how easily we can access films now, that we don't go to this slimmer that often, do we, generally? 00:32:56.34 Brian Penn When I say we, I mean we, we the public, we the, you know, the minions, yeah, the minions, yeah. 00:32:59.88 Chris Olson The minions, yeah. 00:33:03.29 Brian Penn So, but, and the fact that I was prepared to sit there at home and watch it all the way through without any kind of breaks, shows that that it it holds your attention. And that's what a film should do. That's what the characters should do. And I think it was hugely likable. And as I say, I never realized there was a subtitle version, because I just saw the dub version. But that still works all right, though. It still works. Because I think usually, if you've got the choice between the two, you should probably pick the subtitle version normally. 00:33:35.67 Brian Penn I think you you kind of get slightly more from it, but this works. All right. It's really good fun. 00:33:40.81 Chris Olson and 00:33:40.84 Brian Penn Really enjoyed it. 00:33:42.36 Chris Olson Well, there you go. I mean, streaming picks can be very hit and miss, and I'm glad this one was a bit of a hit. 00:33:48.57 Brian Penn Yeah. 00:33:49.61 Chris Olson I did enjoy it. um It is a bit throwaway. I think you will come away from it kind and go, oh yeah, I'm done with that. like It's not something that's going to stay with you for that long, but enjoyable romp, I think. 00:33:55.42 Brian Penn Yeah. No. Yeah. Yeah. It's good for ice. You know, it's, Some films are like that, though, some films are naturally sort of more disposable, but they do their job. 00:34:08.16 Brian Penn They're not meant to be any more than that. It's meant, you know, again, come back to what Spielberg said about a popcorn movie, you know, it's their friends, the same as for you, and it does it does its job. That's the important thing, you know, and yeah, and, you know, all very well executed as well by the cast, director, writers, they get it right, they get it right. 00:34:20.16 Chris Olson does its job. 00:34:31.12 Chris Olson There you go. Well, let us know if you see trouble um sending your reviews. Moving on now to our indie and short films. um Like I say, we've got a jam-packed show. 00:34:41.92 Chris Olson So we're gonna crack on with these because there's some incredible movies here. 00:34:42.25 Brian Penn Yes. 00:34:46.92 Chris Olson ah The first of which I reviewed on the website, um brilliant short film called Line of Fire, ah written and directed by Weston Porter. 00:34:53.11 Brian Penn Ah, yeah. 00:34:56.60 Chris Olson And the film stars 00:34:56.85 Brian Penn Yeah. 00:34:59.21 Chris Olson Max Mattern and Sidney Flanagan and they play Oliver and Shelley respectively and they live in kind of small town America. It's in the present day as far as we're aware but both of them have quite troubled home lives. um So Oliver has a very sort of overbearing father who's sort of a gun-toting masculine kind of guy, and he berates Oliver, and he's very unkind to him. 00:35:24.44 Brian Penn Yeah. 00:35:30.10 Chris Olson Shelly, she lives at home with her mother, and which played by Cathy Moriarty, which I was I was so pleased to see her. I thought that was amazing. 00:35:38.40 Brian Penn Yeah. 00:35:38.55 Chris Olson I haven't seen her in a long time. 00:35:38.72 Brian Penn Yeah. yeah 00:35:40.95 Chris Olson And yeah, she has not a great relationship with her mother and also her father, it sort of seems to be a bit estranged. She's on the phone to him and it sort of becomes clear that he has another family somewhere else that he's making more time for. 00:35:53.09 Brian Penn yeah 00:35:54.39 Chris Olson So Oliver and Shelley, very upset about their situation in life, not a lot of opportunities and things, decide to 00:35:57.94 Brian Penn Hmm. 00:36:01.76 Chris Olson make their getaway um and they're going to rob the local convenience store before they do just to make sure they've got some cash. um Not going to say anything more because it's only a 20-minute film and I've already given, I would say, 18 minutes of it away. 00:36:12.25 Brian Penn No. Yeah. Yeah. no Yeah. 00:36:15.92 Chris Olson um not that it's like yeah It's not like a twist or anything but people should definitely go and see this film. 00:36:18.44 Brian Penn No. 00:36:21.79 Brian Penn Yeah, yeah, it's good. 00:36:21.94 Chris Olson It's brilliant. What do you think of Line of Fire, Brian? 00:36:24.59 Brian Penn Yeah, I really enjoyed it. This is another hit for me. um As you mentioned it in your review, a Bonnie and Clyde type story, isn't it really? Ollie and Shelley, they they've got that kind of vibe going about them, haven't they? 00:36:37.27 Brian Penn You know, they have these domineering parents parents and they're ah strangled by routine and boredom. They want to escape to a better life. And I like the Swiss thing. There is a Swiss really when as because the story itself very quickly on phones, we would do in 20 minutes, but they pack a lot of D selling and the um ah final scenes ah to me are like a sucker punch because you're not expecting expecting it. 00:37:02.23 Chris Olson Yeah, so i I was trying to sort of lay that there wasn't a twist, but now you're saying that there is a twist, Brian. 00:37:04.41 Brian Penn Yeah. 00:37:07.16 Chris Olson I mean, stop it. 00:37:07.45 Brian Penn All right. 00:37:08.46 Chris Olson Everyone's going to know. 00:37:09.79 Brian Penn Okay. Okay, but no. 00:37:10.70 Chris Olson There's not a twist, guys. There's no twist. 00:37:14.23 Brian Penn but Well, ah that doesn't make them any worse. But I don't think really, you know, they're, they're, 00:37:17.32 Chris Olson No, exactly. Now they've got no idea who to believe, have they? 00:37:19.92 Brian Penn Yeah, um but no, it's really, really good film, ah very neat, compact, 00:37:19.92 Chris Olson Yeah. 00:37:27.01 Brian Penn um very impressed with it. And to do what they do in 20 minutes is an achievement for me. um that that's You need to be highly disciplined and a very skilled cross, because I was gonna say craftsman, cross person. 00:37:48.15 Brian Penn um But yeah, very good. I enjoyed it. And a very good review, Chris, by the way, as well. 00:37:53.10 Chris Olson Oh, thank you, Ryan. I mean, it's not why we're here, but it is actually really why we're here. 00:37:54.13 Brian Penn Yeah. and Yeah. 00:37:57.10 Chris Olson So yeah, that's the main thing. 00:37:57.88 Brian Penn Yeah. I mean, that's gotta be said, really. Very impressed. I mean, I mean, you are the editor, after all. I mean, you're, you are going to be good at it, aren't you? 00:38:06.22 Chris Olson Well, yeah, if not, you I would just change what you said. a If you said it's something different, I'll edit it to make it sound like you said that. um Thank you, Brian, it's very kind. um But no, it's, you know, when you're watching, I mean, you know this anyway, but when you watch a film that's really good, you sit in there going, oh, thank God, because the review is going to be so much like easier and more fun. 00:38:26.95 Chris Olson um It's a big kind of misconception about film critics that we love, like, slagging off films, because it's like, 00:38:27.92 Brian Penn Well, 00:38:33.08 Brian Penn no. 00:38:33.32 Chris Olson We really don't. 00:38:33.52 Brian Penn Yeah. Yeah. 00:38:34.44 Chris Olson It's not nice. Well, we UK film review, we don't anyway. 00:38:35.98 Brian Penn but Yeah. 00:38:38.26 Chris Olson And it's actually, we want to celebrate the film. We want to talk about the great movies and great performances. 00:38:44.14 Brian Penn Yeah. 00:38:44.66 Chris Olson And, you know, in this it's it's absolutely chock full of them. 00:38:45.03 Brian Penn um Yeah. Yeah. it's It's a pleasure to review a film like this because you can only say good about it and you could you could wax lyrical about a film you've enjoyed. 00:38:55.85 Brian Penn You could write pages. on films you've enjoyed. But, you know, genuinely, why would we enjoy slagging the film off? I mean, to me, it's it's a waste of energy. Where's the funny in that, really? The real pleasure is seeing a work of art. And it is a work of contemporary art, isn't it? That you have a story, great storytelling, strong characters, good dialogue. And when you see that, you know, it's a pleasure to write about it, and it's a pleasure to talk about it as well. 00:39:27.57 Brian Penn I suppose you could say the same thing about a bad film as well, because you could say just as much about a bad film. But, you know, I didn't like saying what I said about the Joker, but to me it was unavoidable. Because it's just, yeah you have to be honest to about it. 00:39:38.39 Chris Olson Mm. 00:39:41.09 Brian Penn And I honestly couldn't find anything positive to say. And and that's something that shots and surprised me. But no, I never liked that bad things about it. 00:39:49.36 Chris Olson And I think you when a film that you are engaged with, because like you say, yeah, bad films you could write loads about, but good films you could write loads about in it in a sort of really meaty kind of way. 00:39:59.89 Brian Penn and possible 00:40:00.23 Chris Olson With Line of Fire, there was lots of themes as well that was going on, and a lot of that was swirling around. Because sometimes you can just have a good story, like it's fine, like the story's just good, the plot's just good, and and like kind of Trouble, which we just reviewed. 00:40:13.77 Chris Olson story's fine, but I didn't really take much away from it. But with Line of Fire, it's talking about things like ah ah gun ownership, homophobia. 00:40:23.20 Brian Penn Yeah, it's a lot in there. 00:40:23.45 Chris Olson there were some ah There's a lot being being presented with these two characters, which is why in my review, I mentioned this sort of, it is familiar, like the Bonnie and Clyde thing, but it's also not because you've got these two sort of wayward teens living in modern America that are 00:40:24.63 Brian Penn It's hell of a lot in there. Yeah. 00:40:33.39 Brian Penn and 00:40:40.09 Chris Olson also at odds with this older generation and how they look at things and how, you know, also say the the prevalence of masculinity in America guns being because i i I wasn't sure if the film's title was in correlation to the Clint Eastwood film, you know, it's because it's a film called Line of Fire, right? 00:40:52.02 Brian Penn oh 00:40:59.40 Brian Penn Yeah, yeah 00:41:00.38 Chris Olson And if it does feel very masculine, and it's like, oh, but you watch the film and that's not like the message that you come away with, right? 00:41:04.25 Brian Penn Yeah. 00:41:07.77 Chris Olson It is very much actually against that. 00:41:08.02 Brian Penn know 00:41:10.38 Brian Penn Yeah, no yeah, I think it conjures up a certain image in your mind. And, you know, one of the first things you may think about is the Clint Eastwood film, but and it it does. ah You get a mental picture with any film cycle, don't you, I guess, but it's not what you expect, which kind of helps it in a way, because that then it's another surprise, isn't it? 00:41:29.35 Chris Olson Yeah. 00:41:29.80 Brian Penn So that's another good thing about it. But I think it says a lot about what's going on in America today, though, doesn't it? that you know This almost sort of Trumpian approach to life it is ah really where where America's at. It does say a lot. And it becomes a social document, doesn't it, really? 00:41:52.13 Chris Olson Absolutely. um I think for me, I was so pleased to see it. um I felt really honored to see it. It felt like it could have been a bigger film. It did feel like maybe this could have been a feature. 00:42:02.31 Brian Penn Yeah. 00:42:03.30 Chris Olson We could have easily seen an hour and 20, hour and 30 of this. 00:42:03.53 Brian Penn Yeah. 00:42:05.80 Brian Penn Well, but that's the test though, isn't it? That we always seem to, uh, adopt, you know, would it work on a feature length format? And you would say yes, definitely, because there's mileage in those characters, isn't there? 00:42:17.82 Chris Olson Yeah. 00:42:17.96 Brian Penn You know, they can be fleshed out and you could see it turning into a feature very easily. Yeah. So again, that's another measure of a great, a great short film that you wish was longer. 00:42:31.78 Chris Olson um but yeah um I don't have massive information about the film obviously you can go to the um website you'll be able to read my review, which ah you know according to other people, such as Brian, is amazing. 00:42:47.28 Brian Penn Mm-hmm. 00:42:47.55 Chris Olson It is probably the best review written this year. 00:42:48.12 Brian Penn Yeah, yeah, it's good. 00:42:50.13 Chris Olson ah But you can also, there's a link, out you can watch the trailer. 00:42:50.22 Brian Penn Yeah, it's good. 00:42:53.70 Chris Olson ah So Western Port has got the trailer on there. 00:42:54.14 Brian Penn Ah. 00:42:55.89 Chris Olson You can, there's a link to my video review where I pretty much say very much what me and Brian have already been talking about. 00:43:00.78 Brian Penn Mm. 00:43:00.97 Chris Olson But hey, look, why not just immerse yourself in everything that I've ever said? 00:43:05.02 Brian Penn Yeah. 00:43:05.34 Chris Olson You know, why not? um I think you should. 00:43:06.84 Brian Penn and 00:43:08.20 Chris Olson So Line of Fire, short film, absolutely brilliant, really, really good. um Moving on now to a feature film called Nowhere. 00:43:17.87 Brian Penn ah 00:43:18.54 Chris Olson And I may have a clip for this. 00:43:21.21 Brian Penn Oh, you're spoiling us aren't you? 00:43:21.83 Chris Olson that means Well, this is just slightly unprepared because I realized I had the clip, but I hadn't uploaded it. I'm gonna upload it now and we're gonna see what happens. 00:44:28.42 Chris Olson Wow, I'm so glad I found the clip because it does give you a really good sense of the film. 00:44:29.24 Brian Penn and 00:44:32.72 Brian Penn Yeah. 00:44:32.91 Chris Olson um Yeah, indie feature film, written and directed by Tim Safer. Do you want to take the synopsis on this, Brian? 00:44:38.56 Brian Penn I cool. Yeah, pleasure. um So American teacher Max is coming to terms with a traumatic event in his life. He decides to make a fresh start and follows his girlfriend Emily to England relationship breaks up and Max begins to drift, dabbling in drugs and casual sex. He takes out a living as a supply teacher. 00:44:58.57 Brian Penn a chance meeting with Michelle in a nightclub sparks a chain of events as he takes a job at a high performing school. Now, I really enjoyed this. 00:45:09.21 Chris Olson Yeah, I thought it was great. 00:45:10.09 Brian Penn Very well-paced storytelling doesn't try too hard. You know, it's, it's the kind of fun that's not in your face too much. It has that kind of the real confidence that can tell its own story and draws you in. 00:45:24.18 Brian Penn As you go along, you invest in the characters and feel concerned for their welfare. So you buy into it. There's a lot of heavy issues as well, doesn't it? You know, addiction, grief, loneliness. 00:45:35.78 Brian Penn There's an awful lot going on there, but I loved it. 00:45:35.77 Chris Olson Hmm. 00:45:38.83 Brian Penn I really, really liked it a hell of a lot. 00:45:41.26 Chris Olson I thought it's one of those films that has its own spirit about it. 00:45:41.33 Brian Penn and 00:45:45.77 Chris Olson And this is what we get a lot with indie films in UK Film Review is that it's been untouched really by anyone but the people involved in the film, like making the film, telling the story. 00:45:56.61 Chris Olson And they did it in such a way that felt really authentic. um I know in, I think Patrick Foley reviewed it on the website and he talked about that the film isn't that like he really liked it by the way he also sings its praises do go read his review but one thing that he picked out was the fact that the film isn't that ambitious cinematically like it's quite you know it does other than the Cornish location which is lovely um it is often just like in a school room or in his ah in his flat and I actually was totally on board with that because I felt that 00:46:12.72 Brian Penn Yeah. 00:46:18.06 Brian Penn No. Yeah. Yeah. Hmm. 00:46:31.90 Chris Olson we needed to stay with this character. and We needed to be with him because the whole thing is his whole journey out of this pit that he's found himself in. 00:46:37.79 Brian Penn Hmm. Hmm. 00:46:43.55 Chris Olson And to then throw in anything that would distract us, you know, anything kind of like, oh, here's a big, motorcycle chase or something like that, it would have felt almost disingenuous. 00:46:50.81 Brian Penn Hmm. 00:46:52.66 Chris Olson And yeah, no, but I feel like I've actually picked up and Patrick was, again, like I said, really on board with the film. I think he was just picking up something that viewers may find if they aren't really, really into the story, that there's not actually that other spectacle to keep them going. 00:47:10.07 Brian Penn No, no, I mean, what it feels like to me is a bit like a kind of ah a feature length TV play. 00:47:17.39 Chris Olson Hmm. 00:47:17.52 Brian Penn And I don't think there's anything wrong with that at all. You know, but you wouldn't imagine it weren't necessarily working that well on a big screen. But, you know, it doesn't have to be cinematic to be good. You know, you could have a film with cinematic quality in it and it does nothing. 00:47:31.95 Brian Penn Come back to the Joker again. You know, that's cinematic, but the it doesn't work on all kinds of levels. It doesn't work, but this film does. So the fact that it is kind of raw and it's paired back and it's just simple storytelling emphasis on the characters. 00:47:50.32 Brian Penn No worries about about the visuals as such. It's just telling a ah story about real people living real lives. And I love that sort of thing. Love that. 00:48:00.37 Chris Olson It was interesting to have this school set up. It briefly reminded me of School of Rock, you know because there's this bit in school the right way, obviously Dewey gets like brought into the school and he's sort of like a bit a bit wayward. 00:48:08.87 Brian Penn Yeah, yeah. 00:48:12.40 Brian Penn Yeah. Yeah. that true I straight up thought that. Yeah. 00:48:15.19 Chris Olson but ah There's not many similarities between the two films, but that was one. But the film did have a lot of uh sort of film and no sorry so school and literary sort of detail and that gave it a lot of sort of credence it felt like oh you really are you you really believe that this guy is a substitute teacher you it's not too too much of a stretch and i felt that it 00:48:26.72 Brian Penn Hmm. Yeah. 00:48:40.94 Chris Olson gave that film a really great foundation that we were going into this story. 00:48:43.06 Brian Penn Yeah. 00:48:44.67 Chris Olson I mean, he's also a bit of a fish out of water, right? Because he's an American as we hear in that clip, he's American living in Cornwall, we came here to be with a girl who then went off. 00:48:51.11 Brian Penn Yeah. 00:48:54.64 Chris Olson um And I think that that gave it a very accessible nature. I think people that could be watching this could sort of relate to that, you know, that he's got this humdrum career now having made just one bad relationship, you know, choice. 00:49:09.05 Brian Penn Hmm. 00:49:12.00 Chris Olson And even then it's actually not just to do with that, it's actually to do with his own sort of family baggage that he's got, um keeping him back and keeping him making bad decisions. 00:49:20.95 Brian Penn Yeah. 00:49:22.19 Chris Olson Like he is his own worst enemy throughout a lot of the scenes. 00:49:22.82 Brian Penn Yeah. Yeah. But, but he is a character that's relatable. He could be somebody you know, he could be a work colleague, a next door neighbor, he could be a cousin, a nephew, a brother, you know, it has that sense of reality about it. 00:49:40.37 Brian Penn Now, you may well say that's not for some, that's not the reason why they watch a film, they want to escape to a different world and a different life. But to me, 00:49:51.66 Brian Penn Films are about truth and about reality um and um making scenarios believable. Right. So whilst it kind of lacks that kind of big, big screen presence, it's just as as effective in its own way, you know, and it's probably more indicative of, um, the type of budget they were working with, but they, they do a hell of a job with it. They really do. 00:50:16.17 Chris Olson And like you were saying about it, touching on lots of these themes, um I think ah the the filmmaker ah Tim Safer had actually got in touch saying about its semi-autobiographical and to do with yeah the idea of grief, and but also masculinity. 00:50:20.02 Brian Penn Yeah. 00:50:29.07 Brian Penn Ah, really? 00:50:34.70 Chris Olson And I think that's a really powerful theme. yeah And we've we've talked about that and in the other short film, that it was um 00:50:37.05 Brian Penn Yeah. 00:50:39.83 Brian Penn Hmm. 00:50:42.28 Chris Olson It's a very powerful film to stick with because he's got this sort of, on the one hand, his behavior is very typical of of a young man who's sort of being reckless and and wayward. 00:50:47.87 Brian Penn Hmm. 00:50:54.23 Chris Olson But then on the other hand, you see him, he's actually quite fragile. And when we when you find out why, it it was very moving. 00:50:57.85 Brian Penn Yeah. 00:51:00.86 Chris Olson I actually found that section of the film particularly hard to watch and just from a personal sense and yet also lifted 00:51:05.52 Brian Penn Yeah. 00:51:09.54 Chris Olson very much by the music. The music in the film was really well done. There's a scene where there's a band playing where he meets the the girl who actually turns up by the woman who turns out to be also working at the school. 00:51:21.33 Chris Olson um That was really well done. It's really fun, really like lively, but there's some also other great music choices later on. 00:51:24.62 Brian Penn Yeah. 00:51:27.77 Brian Penn Yeah. I would always think a soundtrack is so important for any film. 00:51:29.18 Chris Olson Yeah. 00:51:32.83 Brian Penn Now the songs like they select it can make or break a film literally it can because it helps the narrative doesn't it the narrative can write on on a ah certain songs and they've done it very well here and never forget how important songs are you pick the right song it it helps the film you know it it helps move move it along it keeps the place going the momentum going so yeah that was good as well but it doesn't surprise me that it was semi autobiographical because 00:52:04.41 Brian Penn you know, for any aspiring writer, strike direct, so they will always say, write about something you've experienced, something you've been through yourself, and it becomes more authentic, doesn't it? 00:52:11.97 Chris Olson Mm. 00:52:14.79 Brian Penn You know, or write about something that happens to somebody close to you. You know, there's nothing like writing about you your, your own experiences in life, because then they become more powerful. 00:52:26.29 Brian Penn So that really shows as well. 00:52:28.29 Chris Olson Yeah, I wanted to shout out Derek Nelson who plays Max because it's a difficult character because he's quite at times unlikable, right? 00:52:31.79 Brian Penn Yeah. 00:52:35.23 Chris Olson I think there is an element of like, oh, he's not being a particularly nice boy. 00:52:35.96 Brian Penn Yeah. 00:52:40.91 Chris Olson um But then there are lots of sort of depth to that performance. 00:52:41.03 Brian Penn No. 00:52:45.20 Chris Olson But I also want to shout out Jennifer Martin who plays Michelle because there's a scene 00:52:45.63 Brian Penn Yeah. 00:52:49.32 Chris Olson and I won't spoil it but seen later on in the film where he's she's in his apartment and it is incredible she gives this brilliant ah and performance scene and yeah it's worth watching for those things and I think I love when these things happen because it shows that you know the 00:52:49.52 Brian Penn yeah 00:52:53.78 Brian Penn Hmm. Yeah, that's really good. 00:53:07.26 Chris Olson director knows what he's doing with the material and knows how to elicit that response. He knows how to do sort of ah curate that. And yet the whole film is absolutely littered with these moments of ah brilliant sections. 00:53:19.28 Brian Penn Yeah. 00:53:20.57 Chris Olson But I think it's definitely got that touch of someone that knew what they were doing. 00:53:21.40 Brian Penn yeah 00:53:25.86 Chris Olson Like you say, that you can tell slightly that there's a a person behind this story, a real person. 00:53:25.93 Brian Penn Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. And as to say, it works all the much better for that doesn't mean to say that characters you invent, I mean, 00:53:38.22 Brian Penn writers and directors will write will just invent a character sir and invent a scenario that means that's not anything to do with them personally, that can still work just as well. 00:53:41.56 Chris Olson Hmm. 00:53:48.27 Brian Penn But I think if you're writing about something firsthand, then and it becomes more special as a result of that. So it is good. It's good. 00:53:58.90 Chris Olson We reviewed the film earlier in the year, um so do feel free to go and read Patrick's review. The film is going to be available to watch soon on Amazon Prime and Apple Plus from November 29th. 00:54:11.56 Brian Penn Oh, all right. 00:54:16.95 Chris Olson Take that with a pinch of salt, because I know sometimes filmmakers suddenly have other things come up, and imagine I don't know, maybe it doesn't happen. 00:54:22.10 Brian Penn Yeah. 00:54:22.49 Chris Olson But hopefully it does happen, and go and find it. and You may struggle sometimes, you if you're looking, especially on Amazon Prime, for a film called Nowhere, because it will show you loads of things you didn't really look for, or it will show you a toaster or something. 00:54:30.88 Brian Penn Yeah. Yeah. and I 00:54:35.59 Chris Olson um So yeah, it's directed by Tim Safet, S-E y f e r-T. ah And I'm sure if you go and and follow them on your socials, if you're into that sort of thing, um they're called Colonel Fournier films. 00:54:41.91 Brian Penn yeah 00:54:49.26 Brian Penn and 00:54:51.86 Chris Olson and So yeah, do go and and stay up to date with the release of that film and and watch it and send us your review because we'd love to hear what you what you think of it. um Because yeah, it was really, really powerful. 00:55:03.68 Brian Penn definite Definitely a thumbs up. 00:55:05.61 Chris Olson Yeah, next film, powerful, but also one of the craziest films I've watched in a very long time. 00:55:05.72 Brian Penn Double thumbs up. 00:55:12.52 Chris Olson ah Indie film, Watch Them Come Blood and directed by Mike Cuenca and co-written with Joaquin Dominguez. 00:55:13.28 Brian Penn Oh, right. 00:55:20.32 Brian Penn a 00:55:22.76 Chris Olson it is absolutely terrifying um and and shocking. 00:55:25.78 Brian Penn Yeah. 00:55:28.31 Chris Olson It's a horror thriller and I'm saying this by the way as a preview too, I did very much enjoy it. 00:55:28.58 Brian Penn and 00:55:33.47 Chris Olson I just want to say that outright. 00:55:34.58 Brian Penn yeah 00:55:35.03 Chris Olson I thought it was very powerful as a horror film but I'm intrigued to see what Brian thinks because I don't think this is his wheelhouse. 00:55:40.17 Brian Penn yeah 00:55:43.51 Brian Penn ah Well, ah yeah now you you do the synopsis and I'll come in after that. 00:55:43.67 Chris Olson Do you want me to do the synopsis or would you rather take this on? 00:55:48.25 Brian Penn Yeah, yeah 00:55:48.44 Chris Olson I'll take it on. So yeah, this group of friends are getting together for sort of almost one last time. and so It sort of feels like they're on the cusp of adulthood. They've all got things they're going to go off and do. And they all manage to just get this one last evening together and decide to kind of and anything goes. Even the goody two shoes of the group steals a vegan cake um from a nearby shop. They end up in a bar and they witness this guy um self-pleasuring in the bathroom and yes ah rather than you know run in fear which is what I would have done they decide to follow him um even getting a taxi to follow him because he is still self-pleasuring they eventually come to a brothel um and again rather than running a mile they decide to go in and inside the brothel it is all manner of um 00:56:18.53 Brian Penn Very well described that by the way. 00:56:44.82 Chris Olson crazy things going on, but actually it becomes clear. It's a bit of a spoiler, so if you don't hear a spoiler, do skip ahead a few minutes, um that this isn't just a brothel, it's actually a sort of euthanasia clinic almost, where people can end their lives whilst having the fetish of their desires yeah acted out. 00:57:03.92 Chris Olson um Also running sort of tangent to this is a pair of ah criminals, ah the thieves yeah that are planning to rob the place and to come in and take all the money. 00:57:17.41 Chris Olson And they are also terrifyingly violent. um It is, I mean, purely unique. It is so thrilling and gripping. 00:57:28.05 Chris Olson It is quite scary. But Brian, what happened? Are you okay? Do you need to talk to someone? 00:57:32.98 Brian Penn um yeah Yeah, no, no, I'm okay. I'm okay. I've stopped crying myself to sleep now, so I'm okay. Look, I mean, I would never say that a film should should be constructed in in a certain way. There's no right or wrong way to make a film. Depends what it is you're making. And what they've what they've done here is very clever. It's very smart. 00:57:54.92 Brian Penn It's it will be a cult horror movie in years to come. 00:57:58.13 Chris Olson Yeah, yeah, yeah. 00:57:59.38 Brian Penn Absolutely without a shut of a doubt. There's so much going on in a plot that's so incan incoherent. I can't follow it properly. It times it feels like a series of unrelated sketches without any really coherent thing. 00:58:15.25 Brian Penn Maybe that's deliberate that you can trace a ah vague seam of what's going on, you know, it's like the these this group of friends ah I've got a one last road trip and they're going to go out with a band kind of thing. um So I see that side of it. Every frame screams anarchy and chaos. You know, it's ah it's ah amazing in that way. And it's relentless. It keeps it going. You know, there's no less up at all. um mainstream it isn't. And it is designed for a specialist audience. So 00:58:48.88 Brian Penn So respect to the filmmakers in that sense is so far that they've made an excellent film that fits its niche. I'm not a fan. It's not my kind of film. 00:58:59.95 Brian Penn But first one to admit that, but it's very effective. 00:59:04.21 Chris Olson Yeah, i I watched this and I was watching it thinking, I'm really into this because I just think, I don't know, I just i was into the chaos of it, but I was watching it also thinking, Brian is not gonna be a fan of this one. 00:59:04.27 Brian Penn But where would Yeah. but 00:59:14.85 Chris Olson um but not But I also knew that you were gonna be in the sense of you knew it wasn't aimed at you and you would obviously respect it from a professional distance. 00:59:21.42 Brian Penn Yeah. Yeah, of course. Absolutely. Yeah. 00:59:24.84 Chris Olson um Because i yeah I've read a few other reviews about it and I i sort of read up about the film and I knew a bit going into it, which I think it does help sometimes. 00:59:33.31 Brian Penn Yeah. 00:59:33.42 Chris Olson um that it is designed to sort of unnerve you it is disjointing it isn't it's not linear they have these chapters but they move back and forward in time and it is sort of yeah it's very hard to sort of fully appreciate what's going on um I just thought that it had a ah rawness to it that was, I haven't seen anything kind of like that in a long time and that that got me that you know in that sort of sense. 00:59:36.88 Brian Penn Yeah. It does that. It does that. Yeah. 00:59:48.59 Brian Penn Yeah. 00:59:53.99 Brian Penn yeah no no yeah oh yeah she would yeah absolutely yeah yeah yeah hmm yeah 01:00:00.09 Chris Olson And we say that you're both me and you are not really massive horror fans. We always say that. i Rachel on the Scream Test, she's yeah she'd love this. um But I was so glad that I got to see it, especially in this month of you it being spooky time. 01:00:16.94 Chris Olson Yeah, no, I thought it was really, really good. um Even down to things like the lighting was really good. like It was like red at the bordello and it was sort of there's this spooky school going on. um ah Yeah, I just found it. 01:00:26.72 Brian Penn yeah 01:00:29.86 Chris Olson It was passionately made and it was not for the faint of heart. Absolutely not. 01:00:33.98 Brian Penn No, not so. 01:00:34.74 Chris Olson Gory bits as adult scenes. 01:00:35.35 Brian Penn No, no. 01:00:36.94 Chris Olson um But that it was this 01:00:37.67 Brian Penn Yeah. 01:00:40.56 Chris Olson recklessness, I guess, of the characters. They were just abandoning their reason and throwing in their lot as, you know, as adolescents do. 01:00:44.62 Brian Penn yeah 01:00:47.78 Brian Penn Yeah. 01:00:47.86 Chris Olson And then they were paying like a crazy price for it. 01:00:50.40 Brian Penn Yeah. 01:00:50.60 Chris Olson um One thing I one i did find with the film is you couldn't really attach to many people. 01:00:51.07 Brian Penn Yeah. 01:00:58.42 Chris Olson um It was like, that girl actually who I mentioned who steals the cake. I think she's really the sort of the only likable character in it. Like most of them are quite ah nasty or or do do bad things. 01:01:07.18 Brian Penn Yeah. I know. 01:01:11.45 Chris Olson um And I think that can often put people off if there's not someone that they can follow and root for, you know? 01:01:14.42 Brian Penn Yeah. 01:01:16.94 Brian Penn Yeah, there's nothing, yeah, there's nothing particularly redeeming about the characters generally, but they're not meant to be. That's not meant to be the case, is it? You know, the, that's the idea of it. 01:01:24.29 Chris Olson Hmm. 01:01:26.44 Brian Penn And usually in films, like you could even root for a bad guy, couldn't you really? Or, or, or someone who's a, a bit of a bit of an nasty piece of work but you still they still strike a chord in you somewhere but this doesn't do that but I think it's still deliberate you know that the characters are drawn in that way that there is nothing vaguely redeeming about them they are doing what they do but I love the wackiness of it I respect the wackiness of it and then the sense of as I say anarchy and chaos there's all sorts going on there but you know within its field within its genre it stands up 01:02:05.59 Chris Olson Absolutely. um Watch them come below. I don't think it's actually been reviewed on the website, um but we've reviewed it here, so you're welcome. um And if you want to find out more, the film is having a premiere in LA. 01:02:19.01 Chris Olson Not a lot of our listeners in LA, I don't believe. If you are, give us a shout out. 01:02:22.50 Brian Penn Yeah, that's not you there, yeah. 01:02:23.08 Chris Olson We'd love to hear from you. Um they're happening uh they're premier the american cinematic cinematic void and if you go to mike coenka so that's m-i-k-e-c-u-e-n-c-a dot net uh and they there's a page on the four slash what time come blood premiere you'll be able to sort of find out more about the film more about the filmmaker um And yeah, if it does sound like the sort of thing that you like, and you given what me and Brian have said about it, I would recommend going and have a look. 01:02:54.99 Brian Penn yeah 01:02:57.55 Chris Olson and There is also an Instagram page, actually, which might be easier to find information. 01:02:58.31 Brian Penn yeah 01:03:01.61 Chris Olson So they are at Watch Them Come Blood, or One Word. Just be careful when you're searching these things, guys, online. um There's some buzzwords there that you may want to make sure that you maybe add add the word, I don't know, Mike Cuenco or something into it. 01:03:09.34 Brian Penn Yeah, that's very true. Yeah. Yeah. 01:03:16.09 Brian Penn Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. 01:03:17.58 Chris Olson don't want to I think they've done that on purpose to mess this podcast up. 01:03:17.89 Brian Penn That's probably just be on the slave slide. Yeah. Yeah. I know it's, it's, it's mischievous, isn't it? It really is. 01:03:25.50 Chris Olson yeah 01:03:26.24 Brian Penn Yeah. 01:03:26.51 Chris Olson um But no, i like I said, I actually, for all its wackiness and absolute shocking theatrics, I thought it was a really interesting horror film. 01:03:33.79 Brian Penn and Yeah. 01:03:34.39 Chris Olson One of the most interested I've watched this year, actually. 01:03:36.36 Brian Penn it It's very effective. It does its job very well. 01:03:38.84 Chris Olson There we go. 01:03:40.86 Brian Penn Let's put it that one there. 01:03:41.95 Chris Olson Moving on now, this is not the nostalgia pick, but interestingly, we get to hark back to a classic horror film in our October episode because we have a documentary about the exorcist to review. 01:03:54.50 Brian Penn o 01:03:56.58 Chris Olson um Directed by John Larkin, this documentary called Fear and Love, the story of the exorcist 01:04:03.81 Brian Penn Yeah. 01:04:04.38 Chris Olson really gets into the, you know, detail behind the film and some of the things that went on, some of the passionate, you know, situations ah going on regarding the director and everything else. 01:04:06.58 Brian Penn Yeah. Yeah. 01:04:12.35 Brian Penn yeah 01:04:15.94 Brian Penn I know. Yeah, it does. Yeah. 01:04:20.41 Chris Olson I mean, just I'm going to preface this with all the fact that I'm not someone who's watched the excess. I think I've watched the excess once a long, long time ago. 01:04:28.30 Brian Penn Well, yeah, now this is, well, this is surprising. 01:04:30.42 Chris Olson What about you, Brian? 01:04:33.18 Brian Penn Um, but I only saw the exorcist all the way through and it's in clarity only about a year ago. 01:04:39.13 Chris Olson Oh! 01:04:39.80 Brian Penn It was on BBC two, I think late on a Saturday night and I came in, I thought, Oh, do you know, I've never seen it all the way through and I watched it and it's, it's one hell of a film. 01:04:50.98 Brian Penn It still packs a hell of a punch. You know, it's, but Bear in mind it's 50, what, 51 years old now, 1973 it came out. And whilst I was very, very young, I do remember the film coming out. I remember all the fuss, you know, the Ferrari over it being released um on what it represented and the alarming subject matter that it dealt with. But as is often the case, I think I've mentioned it before when we've been chatting that when something's hyped up too much, it puts me off, it deserves me. 01:05:23.66 Brian Penn And for years, I swerved it, not because I didn't want to watch it, because I thought it's just too, they built it up too much for me. And consequently, I only saw it about a year ago, but it's such a good film. And this documentary, I think is excellent because it's very revealing. It gives you real insight. They actually talked to people that were involved in the projects. It's a shame that they couldn't talk to Linda Blair. She didn't participate, which is a shame. 01:05:53.06 Brian Penn a great performance from her as a 14 year old. And really, it it it gets under the skin of the story, doesn't it? Because you you get some idea of what was inside the mind of William Freakin, the director. 01:06:08.10 Brian Penn And Ellen Bernstein's interview was revealing, like there's a lot I didn't know. I mean, she sustained some quite bad injuries making the film. 01:06:18.92 Chris Olson Well, we have a little clip actually, let's play it. 01:06:19.03 Brian Penn ah was and Oh, I clip. 01:06:21.32 Chris Olson Let's see what you think of this. 01:06:22.31 Brian Penn Yeah. 01:06:59.94 Chris Olson So just to give you a sort of tone of the doc, just in terms of, yeah like they do get some big names from the film, and the original, and yeah some really moving testimony about what happened. 01:07:03.41 Brian Penn and 01:07:09.22 Brian Penn Yeah. yeah 01:07:14.16 Chris Olson Like you said, the um physical elements that happened, um and yeah the actions of the director and how he was, 01:07:16.62 Brian Penn Yeah. Yeah. 01:07:24.88 Chris Olson ah Shall we say an artist? um I think that's a nice way of putting it. 01:07:27.31 Brian Penn Yeah. Well, yeah, that's a nice word, but yeah, I was going to say, yeah. 01:07:28.84 Chris Olson um Yeah. It's because it was, like you say, such a long time ago, the film was made and the practices and the society has come a long way since then. 01:07:34.74 Brian Penn Yeah. 01:07:39.71 Brian Penn yeah 01:07:41.02 Chris Olson And it's yeah it's always quite disturbing when you hear about some of the methods that they were using. And that was something that definitely stuck with me watching this. 01:07:45.96 Brian Penn Yeah. 01:07:49.52 Brian Penn Yeah. 01:07:49.94 Chris Olson And yeah I think alludes to the title as well, right? 01:07:50.35 Brian Penn and Yeah. 01:07:53.05 Chris Olson Fear and love, like this idea about the atmosphere that Freakin was creating. 01:07:58.22 Brian Penn Yeah. Yeah. and and it it it really works though doesn't it i mean even now i mean i always I always wonder to the the yeah how the passage of time affects a film like The Exorcist. Once it attains a significant age and the um special effects, technology and film overtakes the story somewhat and where and where that leaves the original film. you know But it's still powerful, it still works. And what I thought was fascinating was that the you know you get a true measure of the film's greatness but where 01:08:34.55 Brian Penn the last 10 or 15 minutes of the documentary, ah they were talking to the makeup artists and the effects artists that work today in films. And they're still talking about it like it's, you know, a reference point for them. 01:08:48.25 Chris Olson Mm. 01:08:50.85 Brian Penn You know, that's how influential it was and still is that today's technicians still looked back to the Exorcist to say, right, how did they do it then? And that to me is the greatest compliment you could play a film like that. 01:09:04.48 Brian Penn that it it's a supernatural film, it's a chiller, it's horror, you know, it belongs in that genre, but it relies so heavily on effects. But they are still valid, they're still affected, they still work today. And when you hear today's ah technical artists talking about it in those harsh times, you know how what ah what a great film it was. 01:09:27.32 Chris Olson And I think anyone going into watching a documentary like this, as I said, I've only seen the film once and I can't really say that I remembered it that well. I'm not sure what state I was in when I watched it. 01:09:39.80 Chris Olson um We won't go into that. 01:09:40.26 Brian Penn the 01:09:41.59 Chris Olson But the I think this is a documentary for people that will be well versed or at least have you seen the film a number of times and know the sort of general history of it. 01:09:52.97 Chris Olson um I know it is a very revered movie um and I used to be a big fan of the Mark Kermode podcast and things. I know he he always whacks his lyrical about The Exorcist. 01:10:00.68 Brian Penn Right. ah Yeah. Yeah. 01:10:03.70 Chris Olson It's a big big 01:10:03.89 Brian Penn Yeah. 01:10:04.92 Chris Olson lover of that film. 01:10:05.96 Brian Penn Yeah. 01:10:05.98 Chris Olson And ah you I think this is a documentary for film lovers. I think it's yeah people that are gonna, either you love this film or you love filmmaking. 01:10:10.82 Brian Penn Yeah. 01:10:15.14 Chris Olson ah There's ah a really great section where the stuntman is talking about the bit where he goes out the window and down the steps. 01:10:15.21 Brian Penn Yeah. 01:10:21.57 Brian Penn Oh, yeah. Yeah, yeah. 01:10:23.28 Chris Olson And that I was you having, yeah see, I had definitely seen that bit. I was like, this is really powerful, really yeah great to hear from this person. 01:10:31.54 Brian Penn Yeah. 01:10:32.91 Chris Olson um who who did that and and how they did it. And he kind of just sort of did it, which, you know, when it was, this thing's like, oh yeah, I put put a mattress here and there and I was fine. 01:10:38.85 Brian Penn and 01:10:42.03 Chris Olson I was like, my God, they would never let you do that now. 01:10:43.00 Brian Penn but Yeah, I know. That's right. Yeah, I mean, God god forbid. Yeah, but the um yeah, I love seeing documentaries like this that explain how films were made, what the thinking behind it was, what the logistics were. Actually, what are the brass tacks get down to brass tacks? How did you make that scene? How did you affect that scene? And it it gives lots of technical detail. So for the likes few of you and me would be fascinated by that, about what goes into a film and how it's made. Now that may be what will suit everyone but to me it was one of these all encompassing documentaries that but gives you insight, gives you detail. It's revealing and I never realised that the exit the book The Exorcist was based on facts. There was a ah young boy in but in New York or Brooklyn or somewhere in the late forties who were subjected to a similar exorcism so I never knew that. 01:11:41.56 Chris Olson Yeah Yeah, I mean it's 01:11:41.70 Brian Penn so It tells you things that you wouldn't have known, but you have to be interested in the and the mechanics of filmmaking to really enjoy this this type of documentary, I think. 01:11:54.72 Chris Olson It's a really slick doc and there's lots of bits which I was like, oh, that's what I've done. 01:11:56.51 Brian Penn ah 01:11:59.43 Chris Olson Oh, he's got that clip and you they were using some really great. 01:12:00.74 Brian Penn yeah 01:12:01.85 Chris Olson But when I, the um filmmaker ah John Larkin actually got in touch when when he submitted the film and said it was self-funded for 30K. It's a low budget here for it's such a good, I could have easily seen this on the BBC. 01:12:12.08 Brian Penn Yeah, it is. Yeah. 01:12:15.05 Chris Olson They were watching this guy. 01:12:15.49 Brian Penn Yeah. 01:12:15.85 Chris Olson They've got like a documentary about the exorcist. 01:12:16.98 Brian Penn Well, ah yeah, I'm shocked if it was because it looks more expensive than that. 01:12:21.31 Chris Olson Hmm. 01:12:24.64 Brian Penn Much more expensive. You know, you could you could see that on one of the big streaming channels easily, couldn't you all the as you Yeah. 01:12:29.46 Chris Olson Yeah, I mean, it should be. I mean, like, filmmakers love it, right? ah Phil Founds are going to love it. And James Leeroy, who reviewed it on the website, um he's he's a really good critic and he absolutely yeah loved it too. 01:12:35.29 Brian Penn Yeah. 01:12:43.70 Chris Olson um It just shows you it's resonating with people that love films. And if you're in that niche, which a lot of people are, I could easily see this too very, very well. 01:12:53.05 Brian Penn Yeah, no, ah I really, really liked it. Really did. And, you know, when you've got those high production values and they've done it so cheap, that's, it almost seems impossible to be able to pull something like that off, particularly when Well, 01:13:06.42 Chris Olson Well, he also goes on to say he spent five years doing it. So I think maybe the trade-off was that he gave a lot of his time, and but absolutely worth it. 01:13:14.79 Brian Penn Well, yeah, but it's been worth it, I guess, though. I mean, yeah. 01:13:18.25 Chris Olson Such a great doc. 01:13:19.71 Brian Penn But what you often get with a documentary like that, you get a lot of talking heads that weren't directly involved in the in the film they were talking about. You you will get writers and ah celebs and actors, you know, who were just talking about the film. 01:13:28.01 Chris Olson Yeah. 01:13:36.06 Chris Olson Or like, yeah, I like to celebrities that will kind of just go, oh yeah, I've always loved the X's and you're kind of like, yeah, but you weren't there. 01:13:38.19 Brian Penn Yeah, yeah, yeah. 01:13:41.69 Chris Olson Like, what are you talking about? 01:13:41.95 Brian Penn You weren't there, yeah. But you see that they talked to the the stars of the film, the that the the sound men, the technicians, the stuntmen. So and they're talking to people that were actually there, they were involved, and it gives it validity. It gives it weight. It gives it gravitas. And that's what I think is great about this. 01:14:03.91 Chris Olson There you go. Fear and love, the story of the exorcist. um Do go to the site and read James's review. um And the film has been released through Film Hub just to get it out there. So not sure if in the UK you can watch that, but do go check it out, see if you can. ah Drop us a line if you if you see it and what you think of it. 01:14:28.21 Chris Olson ah Our last indie film is a short film called Bonding, ah which Jason reviewed on the website, ah written and directed by Luke Rex. 01:14:39.15 Chris Olson And as the name subtly implies, it's a little bit of a James Bond type movie. 01:14:44.91 Brian Penn really and Really? 01:14:45.98 Chris Olson Yeah, just a little bit. 01:14:47.69 Brian Penn Really? Really? 01:14:47.79 Chris Olson um There's a lot of talk about Martinis being shaken, not stirred. um There is a guy in a bar, John, um played by Luke Rex as well, I believe. 01:15:00.12 Chris Olson And he's talking to his partner on the phone and it sort of it seems that he's A little bit distressed, shall we say. um Then a woman turns up at the bar and things get to be a little bit espionagey and a bit, what's the word? 01:15:15.04 Brian Penn Yeah. 01:15:17.91 Chris Olson It's kind of, there's like a frisson in the air. It feels like something's going to erupt and it feels like the tension, yeah. 01:15:20.73 Brian Penn Yeah. Tension. It's tension there, isn't it? 01:15:24.66 Chris Olson It's tension. 01:15:25.27 Brian Penn Yeah. yeah 01:15:26.31 Chris Olson that it feels like yeah he's going to be given a mission ah to do. And yeah this seems to be quite troubling for him. 01:15:34.54 Brian Penn Yeah. 01:15:35.24 Chris Olson um What do you think of bonding, Brian? 01:15:37.71 Brian Penn Yeah, I like this. I mean, look it's pretty obvious where where it's inspiration lies. um you know Flemingson, the name is Flemingson, John Flemingson. Does that work? 01:15:47.79 Brian Penn I think it kind of does, doesn't it? um I liked it. I really liked it. I think it was very slick, very, ah very well, well shot. And it does feel like and it is cinematic and feels well, it feels a bit like a trailer for a big movie. 01:16:05.12 Brian Penn It's me. 01:16:05.20 Chris Olson Yeah, 100%. It felt like a proof of concept, right? 01:16:07.64 Brian Penn Yeah. 01:16:07.63 Chris Olson It was like, okay, yeah, this could be like a spy thriller that you could do. 01:16:10.70 Brian Penn You know, And I liked, I liked the characters. I liked John Flemingson. I liked who's the shaven headed lady. Anastasia Mansfield. That's a blonde girl name, isn't it? 01:16:22.65 Chris Olson That's a name, yeah, that's strong. 01:16:23.54 Brian Penn That's a blonde girl name, obviously. 01:16:24.37 Chris Olson I love it. 01:16:25.84 Brian Penn Um, but yeah, I think it was really nicely done and, um, makes no secret of, of where, where its inspiration comes from, as I just said, but nothing wrong with that. 01:16:37.51 Brian Penn Really enjoyed that. I liked it a lot and ah I'd like to see more. There's another test of a great short film. You want to see more. They've left us wanting more. So that's good. I like that too. 01:16:49.83 Chris Olson Yeah, I would say it doesn't pass the test of it working as a short film, though, in terms of it being ah like on its own. I feel like it needs more. It's it's one of those things, yes, you want more. 01:17:00.28 Chris Olson I absolutely want it more. 01:17:00.79 Brian Penn Yeah. 01:17:01.28 Chris Olson And it felt like ah ah a scene or a trailer for a much bigger film. 01:17:04.10 Brian Penn Yeah. Yeah. 01:17:05.76 Chris Olson But it has it on its own, I don't think you're going to walk away from that satisfied, you know? 01:17:08.71 Brian Penn No. It's an hors d'oeuvre, isn't it? It's a bit of an hors d'oeuvre. 01:17:12.21 Chris Olson Yeah, unorder, I love it. 01:17:12.87 Brian Penn It's an hors d'oeuvre. I mean, you nailed it when you said that it's proof of concept. It's almost like a demo, isn't it? 01:17:20.47 Chris Olson Yeah. 01:17:21.01 Brian Penn If you were making a record, this is what you come up with kind of thing. It's a demo. And it's it's is's something you might even present to a producer that or a film studio and say, look, what do you think about this? 01:17:33.81 Brian Penn you know and Who knows? Maybe that's what will happen to it. But it it's enough to get to reel you in and make you curious. And that's, that's what it aims to do. So good stuff. 01:17:46.81 Chris Olson Yeah and it's it's got a caliber about it that felt like I was watching someone very far down the line if you know what I mean I felt like oh yeah this this does feel like it's been taken out of a much more so established film um but yeah as far as I'm aware the the film is set for a world premiere 01:18:02.97 Brian Penn Yeah. 01:18:09.43 Chris Olson um although that was a while ago, so maybe it's already come out. Let me see, so there is a trailer. Yeah, if you go to the so our review of it, you'd be able to watch the trailer um from Luke Rex's channel. 01:18:24.79 Chris Olson um And yeah, it's it's got that, I mean, a little bit similar to... 01:18:24.83 Brian Penn yeah 01:18:30.10 Chris Olson trouble, not not in the comedic sense, but just in that sort of slick, fast paced kind of thrillery sort of, you've got a henchman and you've got, you know, intriguing plot going on. 01:18:34.66 Brian Penn yeah 01:18:41.70 Chris Olson I could see this ending up on a platform like Netflix, it feels like that sort of film, you know, you kind of go, oh, look, they've got this yeah bonding film. 01:18:46.20 Brian Penn Yeah. 01:18:50.82 Chris Olson I'm not sure about the play on words if it needed that, because it felt like maybe it would stand up on its own. 01:18:55.22 Brian Penn Yeah, maybe that's it. 01:18:55.35 Chris Olson i But I guess it gives people a good idea. 01:18:58.23 Brian Penn Yeah, maybe that was a bit too obvious, perhaps to call it bonding. um But, you know, um perhaps they didn't need to do that. But it just sets their stall out, doesn't it? 01:19:10.29 Brian Penn They're making no secret where, where it all comes from what it's based on. And that's, that's fair enough. But Yeah, maybe they maybe they could have been a bit less obvious, but you know, there you go. 01:19:21.41 Chris Olson um So yeah, sorry, it's it's been out. of ah They had a festival run in 2023. So the film has kind of um been around. ah So yeah, we might might well be available. do Do seek out, I say, the director's Luke Rex. And yeah, really interesting. So you can follow them on 9livesentertainment. So Instagram, that's 9 underscore lives underscore entertainment. And I'm sure they've got plenty of information there. um And you can stay up to date. 01:19:56.35 Chris Olson So that's the Indian short films done. A great crop. Absolutely. And what a wide ranging amount of films we had there. 01:20:06.60 Brian Penn Hmm. 01:20:06.76 Chris Olson We're moving now. He was already mentioned earlier in the episode. So I'm not sure if eagle-eared listeners would have picked up on the mention of David Cronenberg. 01:20:16.06 Brian Penn Yeah. 01:20:16.60 Chris Olson But our nostalgia pick for this episode is Videodrome. 01:20:19.32 Brian Penn Hmm. 01:20:20.99 Chris Olson And for no other reason, well, two reasons. One, it's a bit of a scary film, but secondly, it's one of those films I haven't seen and I always get told I need to watch. um I've not seen it. 01:20:31.19 Brian Penn oh you not Oh, right. a 01:20:33.77 Chris Olson So I'm taking from your reaction, Brian, that you had seen it before. 01:20:37.10 Brian Penn Yeah, I've only seen it once. Do you you know, again, you've done it to me again, Chris. You've got me into a film that I've never seen before. Bear in mind, this is 1983, which was really the the decade that I started to go go out and see movies seriously. 01:20:51.92 Brian Penn It would have been the 80s. That's when I became a grown up, physically became a grown up. 01:20:55.93 Chris Olson Hehe. 01:20:57.48 Brian Penn um That's when I started watching films, and I never never saw it when it came out, which I find surprising, but there you go. So, yeah, so it's directed by David Cronenberg, as we just mentioned, ah starring James Woods and Debbie Harry. I love James Woods. I love Debbie Harry, but as a singer, not necessarily as an actor, but anyway, anyway, very briefly, then the synopsis, ah Max Ren is a programmer at, say, Toronto TV station that specializes in adult entertainment, it's probably fair to say, but he becomes intrigued by the mysterious Nicky Brand and begins to look for the producers of a dangerous broadcast channel called Video Drone. 01:21:29.82 Chris Olson Yep. 01:21:39.58 Brian Penn Now this deals with some very dark themes, typical David Cronin though, self harm, suggestion of snuff movies as well. ah It's all highly effective. As I said, I've never seen it before, but I found myself comparing it to Cronenberg's other films, and I think about Crash and Dead Zone, it doesn't really come close to to those films. But one of his earlier efforts, but still, you know, a spine singlet still gets you on the edge of your seat. um ah It's a very kind of raw look at filmmaking. yeah There's no gloss there. There's no shine to it. It's 01:22:24.91 Brian Penn It's kind of like the underbelly, isn't it? It's the it's the underworld. you know It's a twilight world that we but most people keep away from. And ah there are some really, really sort of startling scenes, particularly with Debbie Harry. And although, as I said, I don't think she's a brilliant dancer, but she looks great on screen. You can't take ah your eyes off her. And James Woods is a great character as well. 01:22:52.39 Brian Penn and The fact that I mentioned David Cronenberg when I was talking about the substance film, there are similarities. There may be listeners who can check both films out and let us know if they see any similarity there. But the techniques that Cronenberg used in that film were, I would suggest, also being used in the substance. um But you know bearing in mind, those two films are four years apart. But you know as a film, it's very good. 01:23:23.93 Brian Penn It's very alarming. It's, it's not a comfortable watch. But it's a film that you have to get your eyes are glued to the film. You can't take your eyes off it. But it's not I would say not one of his best. It's good, but it's not one of his best. 01:23:39.12 Chris Olson Yeah, it's interesting, filmmaker, because um we reviewed The Fly a few, well, quite a few episodes back, which i I had seen before, and I i enjoyed rewatching that. 01:23:44.25 Brian Penn Yeah, we did. Yeah. 01:23:50.20 Chris Olson ah With Videodrome, I was impressed. yeah I do love watching these 80s sci-fi films where they've gone full on with the body horror and that stuff still stands out really well, I think. 01:23:57.92 Brian Penn Yeah. 01:24:01.00 Brian Penn Yeah. 01:24:03.88 Chris Olson like It's often the special effects that let a film down, but the body stuff, the physical stuff, the practical stuff is still really good. 01:24:07.67 Brian Penn Yeah. Yeah. 01:24:11.26 Chris Olson James Woods, great performance, um but I couldn't help but comparing it with The Fly. like I was watching it kind of going, do you know what? I'd rather be watching The Fly. i'd rather I think I'd rather be watching 01:24:21.28 Brian Penn Yeah. 01:24:22.41 Chris Olson ah yeah know yeah our legendary Jeff Goldblum ah go through that. 01:24:25.47 Brian Penn yeah 01:24:26.32 Chris Olson But I was intrigued enough by the story. I liked the film touching on these themes you about our yeah absorption into media and into things like that. 01:24:36.59 Brian Penn Yeah. 01:24:36.69 Chris Olson It still has relevance now, you know the way we are all with our phones and things now. um I think the the The plot got slightly muddled for me. It started to sort of, ah because he gets kind of semi-wrapped into it and things get a little bit wayward, it didn't quite make all that much sense to me and and not in a good way. 01:24:55.14 Chris Olson I was kind of like getting a little bit lost at times. 01:24:55.25 Brian Penn ay Yeah, ah it's not. It's not the most coherent storyline. 01:25:00.64 Chris Olson m 01:25:01.00 Brian Penn I think to be fair, but it but Yeah. 01:25:01.95 Chris Olson um the the score dates it quite a bit um but yeah I don't think it's his best no not by any means but I felt like it was like one of those films now where I can kind of go yeah I've seen that like that's that's filled a hole in my cinematic ah knowledge 01:25:10.52 Brian Penn No, no. 01:25:17.60 Brian Penn yeah Yeah, a gap in your knowledge has been filled down. Yeah, and that's true enough. But yeah, look it's it works. I mean, there is a certain quality, you know, great directors have a have a ah mark of quality about them. And Cronenberg always does that. You will and you see it there. But as I say, not to be absolutely firm, not one of his best, but you know, 01:25:38.61 Brian Penn riveting stuff, it keeps it keeps you on your toes. It's that kind of film. 01:25:44.91 Chris Olson Well, it was available on now TV. I think it still is depending on when you're listening to this. um So if you've got the now movies or Sky Cinema or whatever it is, i'm it's available on there. 01:25:56.35 Chris Olson And I think if you are a Cronenberg fan, then you have to watch it. Like you just need to yeah fill in that ah bit of his ah back catalogue. 01:26:01.16 Brian Penn Oh, yeah. 01:26:05.25 Brian Penn Yeah. 01:26:05.45 Chris Olson But I think for fans of horror films, for fans of that sort of stuff. Like there's other films in his list that I would go to first, um not to mention other films just generally that I would go see. 01:26:17.83 Chris Olson um I mean, I should probably rewatch The Exorcist having watched that very good documentary. I still feel like I should probably watch that. 01:26:23.68 Brian Penn Yeah, should give you a slice for it really, in a way. 01:26:26.75 Chris Olson you know i mean we've got halloween coming up maybe i'll just uh close curtains and stick that on um or i just watch hocus pocus 2 again and ruin my whole evening do you see how i brought it full circle there i just thought do you know what let first film last film we're talking about hocus pocus 2 01:26:26.88 Brian Penn and Yeah. 01:26:30.27 Brian Penn Yeah, that'll do the job. Yeah. 01:26:37.20 Brian Penn i Yeah, yeah. Masochist. 01:26:46.58 Brian Penn Yes. Okay. Okay. Yeah. Yeah. Good stuff. 01:26:50.35 Chris Olson oh But yeah, thank you. If you've listened all the way to the end of this podcast, we do appreciate you. ah Thank you to all the filmmakers who sent us their movies. They were terrific. Really enjoyed all of those. 01:27:00.58 Brian Penn Yeah. 01:27:01.72 Chris Olson um We have already got a bumper selection for next month. So we may be doing an extra episode. 01:27:05.31 Brian Penn oh Wow. 01:27:06.79 Chris Olson I'm going to talk to my minion shortly and see what his availability is. 01:27:09.44 Brian Penn Okay. Yeah. 01:27:11.45 Chris Olson But yeah, that is all for this episode. And yeah, thank you again to Brian for everything you do. Go to the cinema and yeah watching Joker. 01:27:17.62 Brian Penn sure 01:27:20.54 Chris Olson ah 01:27:20.91 Brian Penn Yeah, yeah, I hope you're grateful. 01:27:22.07 Chris Olson which which you loved. um But yeah, um thank you for listening. Follow us on all our socials if you can. If you can't, don't worry, it's not a big thing. um And we'll see you again next time. 01:27:26.79 Brian Penn Bye for now. Previous Next

Spinal Tap II: The End Continues. Set for a glorious return to UK cinemas this September, this film promises to be a welcome, if profoundly daft, comeback for the geriatric rockers.. Brand new film trailers. Spinal Tap II: The End Continues The amps are tuned, the drum risers are ready, and after four decades, the world's most enduringly hapless rock band is back. Yes, in a move that feels both long overdue and a magnificent piece of Spinal Tap-esque madness, David St. Hubbins, Nigel Tufnel, and Derek Smalls are reuniting for one last hurrah in the eagerly awaited sequel, Spinal Tap II: The End Continues . Set for a glorious return to UK cinemas this September, this film promises to be a welcome, if profoundly daft, comeback for the geriatric rockers. For those of us who grew up on the original, the idea of a sequel is both exciting and terrifying. The 1984 mockumentary This Is Spinal Tap was a genuine cultural landmark, a film so perfectly pitched that many viewers initially believed it was a real documentary. It defined an entire genre and provided a near-endless supply of quotable moments, from the famous amp that goes to eleven to the unceremonious demise of various drummers. So, what’s left to say? A lot, as it turns out. The premise sees the band, now estranged and in the twilight of their careers, forced to reunite for a final contractual obligation concert. This setup, of course, is a goldmine for the kind of observational, bone-dry humour that made the first film a classic. The genius of the original cast—Christopher Guest, Michael McKean, and Harry Shearer—is that they don't just reprise their roles; they truly embody them, giving us characters who are simultaneously pathetic and strangely endearing. We’ll get to see what David is up to, presumably still pontificating on the mysteries of rock 'n' roll, what Nigel is doing in his later years (a guitar-and-cheese shop, apparently), and how Derek Smalls has been getting on after his solo tour. The return of director Rob Reiner as Marty DiBergi, the long-suffering documentarian, is the perfect framing device, ready to capture every new misstep and glorious failure. The buzz around the film has been building for months, not least because of the promise of star-studded cameos. Sir Paul McCartney and Sir Elton John are among the musical legends set to make appearances, a testament to the original film’s legendary status within the music world. One can only imagine the hilarious interactions and improvised chaos these new faces will bring to the chaotic world of Spinal Tap. Ultimately, Spinal Tap II: The End Continues isn't just a sequel; it's a celebration of a cinematic institution. It’s a chance to see a legendary comedy act prove they’ve still got it, and a reminder that even after forty years, some things never change—notably, Spinal Tap’s inability to get anything quite right. The UK release this September is set to be a momentous event, and we can’t wait to see if the band finally find a stage prop that doesn’t mysteriously go missing. 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. The Carpenter's Son We anticipate that The Carpenter's Son will be less of a retelling and more of a deeply disquieting examination of power, temptation, and the human cost of being chosen. It arrives on 21st November. Eternity Eternity looks set to be a sophisticated, imaginative film that avoids the usual genre clichés by grounding its absurd plot in stellar performances. Kontinental '25 The promotional material and critical buzz surrounding Kontinental ’25 confirm that the winner of the Silver Berlin Bear for Best Screenplay is not only back, but operating at a fever pitch of urgency and daring. Anniversary Kenny Dalglish It's rare for a documentary trailer to stir the soul quite as effectively as the first look at Kenny Dalglish, the upcoming feature focusing on the life and legacy of one of British football's most revered and complex figures. Is This Thing On? Searchlight Pictures has premiered the teaser trailer for Is This Thing On?, and it suggests we are in for a sharp, melancholic comedy that mines the humour and heartbreak of mid-life crisis through the lens of stand-up. Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere The first official trailer for Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere, the biopic chronicling the turbulent creation of the 1982 masterpiece Nebraska, has landed. The Bride The latest tease for The Bride, the highly anticipated 2026 offering from Maggie Gyllenhaal, has dropped, and if this brief glimpse is anything to go by, British cinema-goers should prepare themselves for a truly spectacular and unsettling cinematic experience.

Read the film podcast transcript from the episode titled Bob Marley: One Love - Wicked Little Letters - Spaceman - UK Film Club Episode 13 on UK Film Club part of the UK Film Review Podcast. < Back Bob Marley: One Love - Wicked Little Letters - Spaceman - UK Film Club Episode 13 Listen to This Episode UK Film Club 00:00.00 Brian Penn No no, it's barely a month ago it's not really just about. You know we're kind of in asride now aren't we really have you been? You're right good I know I know it's springtime isn't it. The days are getting longer. 00:05.86 ukfilmreview Yeah, generally been fine. The weather's picking up so that's always good. 00:17.13 Brian Penn Easter's coming that means we can scuff loads of chocolate. So you know it's a win. It's a win-win really isn't it and. 00:18.61 ukfilmreview Thank goodness. Um I mean I don't job because Easter films are not really a thing right? I don't think there's really many Easter films I Think there's like a few because I well I suppose it's. 00:30.90 Brian Penn No no. 00:35.75 ukfilmreview It's probably some religious ones which I I don't imbibe but I think it's a few about rabbits like hop and Peter Rabbit and stuff. But it's not really a genre is it. You really have easter films. 00:37.45 Brian Penn Yeah, well yeah, yeah, no no I mean I think there there're probably a number of films set around easter but it's not It's not kind of an integral part of the film. You know there was a film back in the 1940 s called east of grade which was very little to do with the season itself. It was more just ah, a place to land the the plot on the characters. You know? So it's it's not a genre like to say Christmas films are for example. 01:04.82 ukfilmreview Um, blue. 01:09.73 Brian Penn You know that I pun careful will be will it what it really. 01:12.79 ukfilmreview Yeah, it was like Christmas Halloween yeah, all those ones Valentine's day like there's you the seasonal ones. But I think East Is East is one of those ones where I it's ah it's an odd holiday. It's a very odd holiday because for the kids it's all about the chocolate. 01:18.38 Brian Penn Yeah. 01:26.29 Brian Penn Yeah, yeah, yeah, oh course? Yeah yeah, no, no, it doesn't I mean but it. 01:30.26 ukfilmreview And then if you're religious. Yeah, ah, it's a big important message. It should be It should be as important right? Yeah in terms of what it's talking about but it just doesn't feel like it has the same weight. 01:43.91 Brian Penn But it in the u kind at least it does mean the longest bank all it doesn'st it because you got a good Friday and you got easter Monday so you got a four day Bri haven't you really just for the UK of course you know a course? Yeah, and yeah, and probably well. Yeah. 01:50.40 ukfilmreview And it's yeah and it's what Jesus would have wanted really you know more time to sit at home eat chocolate and and watch movies that are not about easter. 02:02.34 Brian Penn Or maybe watch films about the resurrection about the you know the Jesuss and Azareth and you know all those great sort of minieries that were used to be on. That's what used to used to be about you'd always see something wouldn't you about Jesuss and the the resurrection but you know. 02:21.16 ukfilmreview So I'm thinking there's probably more films about chocolate than there is about Easter yeah, if you have right? You got the willy wonkers. Yeah, there's a few of those um is that film chocola that was ah a few years back but yeah that was all right? Yeah, um. 02:21.30 Brian Penn Some Yeah yeah, yeah, that's true. Yeah, oh oh yeah, yeah I forgot about that one? Yeah yeah, yeah, yeah. 02:38.39 ukfilmreview Actually I'm already out I'm already out of chocolate based films. Well technically really won clear. There's like 3 of those films now right? So that's yeah, if you're gonna embard on all of those. But yeah, so too if you if you don't like the Willy Waka stuff ah but yeah. 02:39.17 Brian Penn So well you got as far as 2 which I think is quite an achievement really right? Okay, yeah. 02:52.29 Brian Penn Yeah, well if any if anyone listening knows about other films that we haven't thought about well let us know exactly? Yeah yeah, particularly particularly the chocolate ones as well. Yeah. 02:58.48 ukfilmreview Yes, your chocolate or easter based films. Please send them in. It's very important. Yes, yes because um, it's making me hungry already. We only only 3 minutes in I'm actually it's fine. Um, so this is your first time to Uk Film Club yes 03:10.87 Brian Penn And I and I and I. 03:17.93 ukfilmreview This is the type of banter that you can expect. Um, it's it's it's 2 old boys just having a chat about movies. But we do cover a massive range so whilst we couldn't think of many chocolate based films. We will be reviewing films that are at the cinema we'll be reviewing films that are on streaming. 03:18.64 Brian Penn Oh yes, oh yes. 03:37.82 ukfilmreview We'll be reviewing independent films. So that's like short and endy features and we'll be doing a throwback nostalgic review of a film from the past and um, yes, all of that. 03:45.32 Brian Penn Hi. 03:50.24 ukfilmreview Within 1 episode of a podcast I mean and it's free I can't I can't believe this you're getting to listen to this just for free. You lucky things you lucky dogs. 03:55.61 Brian Penn Yeah, fantastic I know I know fantastic value really is the all for nothing. You know? yeah. 04:03.88 ukfilmreview Fantastic value. Yeah um I mean it's a massive lineup and oh and also in this show because here we are recording um, not long after the Oscars we're going to do a quick. 04:10.27 Brian Penn So yeah I. 04:16.44 Brian Penn Um, yes, yep. 04:17.14 ukfilmreview Ah, chat about that Brian has seen quite a lot of the Oscar movies I haven't um I've only seen a few I think but we will just get Brian's thoughts on the winners and whether they deserved it um because the gay actually podcast which is another show part of the Uk film of your podcast. They. 04:22.35 Brian Penn Oh a a yeah. 04:36.57 ukfilmreview Teamed up with Phantom Zone and did a big huge episode covering all the winners. So if you are a big fan of the oscars and want to go into that I recommend that episode. It's very very funny um hearing Ian constantly lose himself about Christopher Nolan is always worth. 04:40.19 Brian Penn Oh Wow yeah. 04:54.22 Brian Penn Ah, ah, he he still hasn't recovered does he really he still not come to terms a it was he really with crystal. 04:55.28 ukfilmreview Checking in for um, yeah, he he's not happy here. What's what's funny about it is Ian's getting bolder and bolder with his like. Anti Nolan rhetoric. It's now starting to become kind of yeah maybe he's going to become a bit of a cult leader because there is a bit of a Nolan backlash. You know people are sort of questioning whether he should get all theselaudits I think I think Ian will be their leader. Um. 05:07.45 Brian Penn I Yeah I Yeah I won't be surprised I wouldn't be surprised. 05:22.27 ukfilmreview I won't be surprised if I end up in front of the police and they say so why didn't you question him? Yeah, when he was like this I but look I ah barely knew the guy at the time. But yeah, he's a lovely sweet guy loves movies. He just was a bit of a harmless nerd. That's what I thought um, but yeah, got to be careful, especially Roundy and. 05:30.00 Brian Penn Ah, and I know and I. 05:37.10 Brian Penn Ah, you got to be careful. Um, yeah, you just gotta be careful. You never know? Yeah yeah, oh yes. 05:41.96 ukfilmreview Um, yeah, do do check out that episode is very very funny. Um, so we're going to the Cinema releases now these are movies that should be in the cinema If you're listening right away as soon as the episode comes out if you're listening in the future probably not and um, hello to the future but do do. 05:52.68 Brian Penn Easiest. 06:00.39 ukfilmreview Check out the movies wherever they have landed by that point but they are big films so you should be able to find them on the top stream platforms. We're going to start off with an absolute musical icon Bob Marley's one love or he didn't make it though right? This isn't his film. 06:03.30 Brian Penn Yeah, yeah. 06:18.48 Brian Penn Ah, well I mean Bob Marley 1 love um, directed by Renaldo Marcus Green starring Kingsley Ben adeer James Norton and Les Shana Lynch now the plot lands in the mid 70 s when. Mali has ascended to superstarton as reggae's poster boy Chris Blackwell signed into his iron record label but it's increasingly vexed by Marley's political activism Jamaica is a cordron of political instability and riven by crime Mali plans a concert to bring the people together. However, his enemies are quietly gathering. He moves to the relative safety of London where he enters the most fruitful phase of his recording career. He releases the exodus album and plays a series of legendary concerts culminating at the rainbow in North London however hangers on or exploiting Marley's popularity his long-suffering wife Rita. Bemoans his ignorance and chronic infidelity now all up up. Molly I love ra guy. Um I remember him well when I was growing up. The songs are brilliant ah reminds me of childhood as to say the portrao of London in the 70 s felt all thin sick and was a reminder of. What was a period of great social and political change. But for me personally as much as I enjoyed the music as much as I ah love the man himself. It all feels a bit too safe various members of his family were involved in the production and because of that it glows a little bit too much after all, no, 1 ne's perfect 07:50.99 Brian Penn But good fun to watch a good introduction to Bob Marley's music if you're not familiar with it. But it also gives you some idea of the political impacts he had particularly in Jamaica but a good film. A good solid effort and. 08:05.14 ukfilmreview It's funny with musical biopics isn't it because I think there is a big massive expectation if it's ah such a iconic figure like Bob Marley and we've seen really good ones like we we are talking about Elvis in a previous episode and I thought that was really good. Um. 08:11.30 Brian Penn Yeah, yeah. 08:16.96 Brian Penn Yeah, yeah. 08:22.40 ukfilmreview But I always think as well. There's a sense of danger when they're either going to yeah veer too much into the myth and you know you sort of Miss out on that real authentic story or they're going to veer. 08:30.27 Brian Penn Yeah, yeah, yeah. 08:37.30 ukfilmreview The other way which is sort of like oh they're going to go so random that you don't feel like he was served well or she was served Well yeah that that way it feels like this kind of plucks in the middle. Um and kind of maybe just went sort of yeah, not not offend anyone and just sort of make something that yeah like you say did a halffecent job and and. 08:41.11 Brian Penn So yeah, that does. 08:53.31 Brian Penn Yeah, yeah, ah yeah, a lot I mean look if you were making a film about somebody close to you for example about a close relative close friend. It is. It's going to be positive overall isn't that the picture you paint is going to be positive. 08:55.91 ukfilmreview Is entertaining at least. 09:09.30 ukfilmreview And. 09:10.96 Brian Penn But on the basis that you you realize that everyone has as a downside. There's a downside to and an upside to everyone in life. You know and you're right? It is a very difficult balancing act because you want to paint ah an authentic picture. A true picture of that person and that representation you you went up. There has got to be faithful. Got ah, it's got to give you the the ups and the downs and I think you only alluded there isn't there's nothing particularly sinister about Marley's life not I know of but I think it's important to have a balanced view and portraying Watson. All you know, but I'm very wellmade film I really enjoyed it. You know. As I say if you're a reg fan if you love this music. You'll love this film because you won't really want that much more out of it because you just want to be entertained. You want to listen to the man's music. But you know it's it's a good film. It's a good solid film but you know there is always thatvo so with any with any biopic that. You know is it going to be balanced. So are you going to get a true view view because you don't you don't want it to be too critical either. You don't want want to sling mud at someone's reputation just for the sake of it so you got to get the balance right? But I think they did a reasonable job with this. 10:17.84 ukfilmreview Yeah, there you go Bob Marley won love let's know if you have seen it and what you thought um, a couple of people have sort of mentioned to me that they found it a bit sterile. They sort of said it didn't really. 10:26.60 Brian Penn But. 10:34.50 Brian Penn No it. Yeah. 10:34.91 ukfilmreview Dig that deep and try to sort of yeah Surface skim his like political side and the the music I think the I say it depends on the outcome that they wanted as well because for some people they might be thinking actually this is going to be more of a. 10:52.91 Brian Penn Yeah, yeah. 10:53.31 ukfilmreview Record of his music and yeah, they wanted that. Yeah, they didn't want to go into that other side of things and yeah, there's there's reasons that people make films and there's stories that they want to tell and parts of that that they want to leave out so it's not for us to decide. 11:00.10 Brian Penn Yeah, yeah, yeah, and yeah, right? And also you can't please everyone can you as well. So there's always going to be that side of it that it's never going to be good enough for some people. It's no, it's never going to pick out. The bits of his life that people want want to know more about you know? So yeah star ohll is a good way of describing it. It's a very clean safe portrait of Moley but you know it's all by I mean we got the biopic of Amy Winehouse coming out next next month as well. Um. 11:34.56 ukfilmreview And. 11:37.33 Brian Penn Likes are black. Can it be interesting to see how they portray her you know, just. 11:41.13 ukfilmreview Yeah I saw the um the documentary for her that was really good. That was a ah lot a while back? Um, so yeah I've interested to see what they do there. But yeah Bob Marley one love currently at cinemas. But I doubt it'll be there for much longer. 11:46.28 Brian Penn Yeah, yeah, yeah. 11:54.44 Brian Penn I No probably not. It won't have a long long run or to thought but you know? Yeah, yeah, yeah. 11:58.46 ukfilmreview No, that's not what you think I mean you know you can't help but when you talk about Bob Marley you just immediately start singing his songs in your head I'm all already I've got easy skankking going around in my head right now. 12:09.59 Brian Penn But well yeah I know but you see the thing is that that's that you evokes so many feelings and memories and for me, it's it's waiting in vain and stir it up. It's the or um, get up standup get up Standup was was featured in the film that is such a great song. 12:16.55 ukfilmreview Um, and. 12:22.57 ukfilmreview Oh that's a tune the very first time I heard one of his songs in a film was in the beach and they played rendition redemption song sorry when there's a bit of a burial scene and they played it on the guitar. My dad said to me oh that's prop Marley and also. 12:27.35 Brian Penn You know, really is ah. 12:35.84 Brian Penn Ah, yeah. 12:39.13 Brian Penn Yeah, yeah, course. Yeah yes. 12:41.79 ukfilmreview Oh yeah, suddenly obviously a name that you'd heard loads suddenly like hearing a song and yeah, that was quite early on and when I sort of started to listen to Bob Marley's records. Yeah I saw it in the trailer I was okay yeah, that's um I've seen that before obviously. But yeah, ah, lovely stuff. 12:51.24 Brian Penn I Yeah and um Redemption song is featured in the film as well. So yeah, yeah, yep I yep. 13:01.50 ukfilmreview Great to start with such a legend Bob Marley let me just click that away because we're moving to the next film and we have a clip which I'm gonna play in the episode because I have it already loaded up I'm actually ahead of time Brian I've I've done a bit of admin. So um. 13:10.29 Brian Penn Oh and well fan and lastly wo done. Yeah, it. 13:20.70 ukfilmreview Yeah, you can enjoy this lovely clip from the film Wicked little letters. 14:12.96 ukfilmreview This is. 14:28.70 Brian Penn I Love it. Ah, love it. Love it. 14:30.41 ukfilmreview So I mean what's really nice about this so usually listeners. We I put the clips in afterwards. Um Brian doesn't actually get to hear them so what's nice is that we've played it and I played like a clip in the show this time of Brian's 14:37.58 Brian Penn E. 14:44.63 Brian Penn Brilliant, yeah yeah, okay, all right wicked little words directs bythea shaak starring Olivia Coleman Jesse Buckley timothy spool and i. 14:46.86 ukfilmreview But its good to hear it again and what a clip to start with that hasvased. It sounds great. But I mean you over to you Bri Wicked little le. 15:03.43 Brian Penn And Jane Oversan is based on a true story rose gooddding is a feisty irish girl who brings her daughter to little hampson in the 1920 s she aims to start a new life in a tightknit community. However, trouble is afoot when she falls out with godfeing neighbor edith' swamp and mysteriously receives poison penlesses. Ah, father Edward is an upstanding member of the community and repulsed by such vile prose soon these wicked little this or lesss are dropping through everyone's letterbox newcomers are always mistrusted and fingers point accusingly at wrong. The police are convinced and prepares to take action. However, Wpc Gladys Mos isn't convinced and wants to investigate the case properly wicked little lessons harks back to the classic british movie era take out the profatasy and this could easily be a classic e comedy I love this film so much I've actually seen it twice Chris oh. 15:56.50 ukfilmreview Oh I said sea of approval from Brian. 16:00.97 Brian Penn Yeah I've seen it twice. My niece want to sit and she said do you want to come I said? Yeah, yeah, yeah, I'll definitely want to see it. Yeah, the carrots are so rich and likable. It's also very funny and a true story as well. It's difficult to believe the defamation or libel could carry criminal sanction. But that was the case back in the 1920 s the law has changed now. So it's purely a civil action at least in the yeah Uk but a terrific film. Really funny intelligent well written well-acted and you know we've often mentioned in the past when you can sense that the as involved are really enjoying it. 16:34.82 ukfilmreview Um, yeah. 16:36.88 Brian Penn And they are. They're having an an absolute ball and why wouldn't you with a film like this. It's It's a wonderful film. It is such good fun and if you can provided you can cope with the pro fantasy and after all that is the subjects of the film These Wicked little letters are full of Pro fantasy and and they're actually read out but that's half the fun. It's a lovely film. It's a great film to watch and I Only hope that that people do it. The do it The compliment of of going to see it because it is such a good film. Yeah, it is. 17:10.12 ukfilmreview Its incredible cast I mean I aside just you just you could not tell me anything about the film but just show me the castless I got I need to see this film because it's insane Jason Whatkin so Sawiv Coleman Jesse Buckley love all these people. Um. 17:16.27 Brian Penn I I know? Yeah yeah and I yeah I mean it was yeah was a few as I did ah I didn't miss one I went through the introduction but you know it's a fantastic host. You know as that are instantly familiar to British Views anyway. 17:26.61 ukfilmreview Yeah. 17:35.19 Brian Penn Through film and Tv they're very familiar live Coleman she's brilliant Jesse Buckley she's fantastic she's so good. Um, she curses. Well let's put it that way. You know it's it's great. There's some you know there are so many great lines you could pick out. 17:48.30 ukfilmreview Ah. 17:54.46 Brian Penn Um, you know, um, when um, just trying to think for a line that I could I can repeat that doesn't have a lot of bad language and what what can I say? Oh yeah, when they first met now Rose and Edith were really good friends to start with and they fell out and. Rose started to use really bad language and Edith recoiled and said oh you using language indoors on a Wednesday a lot I love that so use language. Oh yeah, but it kind of plugs into that kind of traditional british sense of politeness and manners. 18:21.30 ukfilmreview Um. 18:31.62 Brian Penn And you can imagine the stir that it caused in a town like little Hanson between the wars I can't I can't recommend it enough. It is such a good film. It really is well I was just coming to that actually I was just coming to that it is for me the film of the monk. It. 18:40.67 ukfilmreview O We haven't heard film of the month yet. But it's a contender on Ger saying oh I called it I code it Yes I can tell with the way you're talking about eye. He's in love. He's in love with this film. 18:51.39 Brian Penn Is is I know yeah I know I know and I I mean look as as I say if you like traditional British filmmaking this is this is the one for you and it was co coproduced by Channel four and channel four since but always seem to have a a big run. Sort of a major role in British Films films that are British financed and made over here. You know I think ah a British film. It is a moot point isn't it. It's a question of how you how you class it how you determine it whether it's financed with British money or it features British actors. Um. 19:22.15 ukfilmreview E. 19:30.50 Brian Penn And british creators but grateful. You'll love it. Chris you see it just. 19:35.11 ukfilmreview I yeah I I just feel this is a genre that I am very very um, passionate about which is the Sunday afternoon armchair film that I'm like this is I'm gonna put on and I'll just chill to this film and I will soak up the comedy and I just yeah. 19:39.51 Brian Penn Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, the on a no, no, that's probably no, probably best. Not no. 19:52.73 ukfilmreview Not with the kids around it sounds like I won't have the kids are best. Not I mean that they they're already getting a bit foul mouthed as it is yeah the two year old. She's a nightmare. 19:57.75 Brian Penn Yeah, it's for grownups. Oh well. Yeah, for honestly, really I don't know. Yeah, but so yeah, it's um, not necessary one for the kids. It's for grownups really because of the subject matter but you know it's It's just there's so much great period. These summers weren't there as well. You. 20:08.46 ukfilmreview In. 20:17.60 Brian Penn You know they couldn't actually film in little Hampson itself that was where it all happened because apparently little hamson is is quite modern looking now it doesn't have authentic 1920 style architecture anymore and they had to go further down the coast I think to to film. Ah, but you know. 20:32.58 ukfilmreview Over. 20:37.16 Brian Penn Shows that they took the care to get it right? and that it feels real. Yeah ah I can't say much more than that. It's brilliant. Love how good. Yeah. 20:44.40 ukfilmreview There you go I mean film of the month everyone you've been told wicked little letters that means that if you're listening to this, you have to go and watch it at the center Mark right now. So stop what you're doing put this on pause. 20:54.60 Brian Penn Yeah, yeah, absolutely yeah yeah, and I Yeah yeah I know I know they it's taking you literally up I Yeah I know? Yeah yeah. 20:57.78 ukfilmreview I'm joking do keep this and it's a nightmare for our numbers. Don't just stop I've told I've done it a few times I told people to stop and they have and it's like no no, no I was joking. Yeah, yeah, don't take anything I said um Wicked little letters. Um I mean just from the clip I played I was like I want to see so much more of this. Um. 21:13.41 Brian Penn But then I. 21:15.60 ukfilmreview But yes, please let's know what you thought? um, our final Cinema film that we were reviewing was covered again in rather extensive detail on the Phantom zone So do check out there. Um, a special episode on this film but this is. 21:27.37 Brian Penn Yeah, yeah. 21:34.31 ukfilmreview Follow up to lush year door was it a couple years ago now June part one this is part 2 and again I've got a little clip. It's quite a long clip. So I might cut it off a halfway. Yeah I mean. 21:36.67 Brian Penn And oh wow it. Oh you, you're spoiling us now aren't yeah 3 clips in 1 sho. Wow yeah. 21:48.64 ukfilmreview Ah, you have to this is this is a clip as well. That really gets you in the vibe. So hope you enjoy this here. We go. 22:50.70 ukfilmreview There we go I mean seamlessly cut off there where I then realized I'd i'dda also muted my mic so it's going Well tonight it's go really really? well. Um, but I wanted to play that clip not and only because of it gives you a bit of the film but also the hi the background right? what. 22:56.97 Brian Penn Ah, right? Yeah, ah. 23:04.69 Brian Penn Yeah, the. 23:08.33 ukfilmreview When I was listening to the phantom zone I think Simone did it and oh I was just hilarious. So yeah, again, do listen to that episode but Brian come on June part two any good. 23:11.67 Brian Penn And. Right? Well how can I put it? Well all right? Let's let's just go through the basics. So some you know who's doing what? um, directly by dennisvillener starring Timothy Chammerla senddaya Rebecca Ferguson javio bardham Josh Brolin and a host of great cameos. It really is an impressive cast as you'd expect. So the story if you can call it that ah Paul treaties unites with chenai and the freemen to seek revenge against the conspirators who destroyed his family facing a choice between the love of his life and the fate of and the known universe. Tries to prevent a bleak future only he can foresee. Okay, so think game of thrones meet star wars and you've got the essence of the scripts here. Um, oddly enough I really enjoyed the first part but I didn't enjoy part 2 quite as much. Probably because I feel I've already seen it. You know if you know what I'm getting at um, technically it's brilliantly executed brilliantly conceived ah cgii special effects combat sequences are excellent, but that's something we expect from all films don't now Chris that. 24:12.57 ukfilmreview Okay. 24:29.32 ukfilmreview In. 24:31.61 Brian Penn They've all got to have that in ah I don't think that kind of raises it above other films to say that that it it is visually stunning to watch and it is it just leaves me a little bit cold. It ranks with marble and dc films now. They'll just chur out the same film over and over again. And I wouldn't bet bet against it being a part three I think it's probably safe to assume so we're going to get more of the same. So for me, it was okay but I'm not speaking as a huge fan of this particular genre wherever you feel it fits in terms of genres. Ah. To me it Varis much closer to Marvel in Dc more but for me it was it was just okay. I wasn't so to use a vernacular I wasn't blown away by it myself. 25:18.41 ukfilmreview Wow they get I mean I mean because I really enjoyed the first one but I am worried that I'm going to feel the same way as you because once you're over that spectacle once you've ah you had that that what you're left with is the story and the storytelling and it does seem to be 1 of these stories. 25:25.52 Brian Penn Yeah, yeah, yeah. 25:37.10 ukfilmreview Yeah, the book and the original film. Oh the David Lynch one we had to endure recently. Um, available in a previous episode guys. Um, there is a story that does seem to divide people does seem to upset people quite a lot. So um, yeah I don't know because the fatom zone loved it. They were they were really. 25:42.51 Brian Penn Yeah, yeah, ah. 25:55.60 Brian Penn Yeah, yeah. 25:56.24 ukfilmreview Go in for it say how much they loved it. So by I take your point massively because those guys they hold their hands up. They are very much fans of all that Marvel stuff. Yeah, that's kind of how their podcast was born. So for them. Maybe this is that sort of film that's going to appeal to that yeah genre. But um, for. 26:04.62 Brian Penn Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah I mean look I'm I'm not a as you know I'm not a huge fan of that seanre. But you know for the sake of the show for the sake of film club. 26:15.63 ukfilmreview Yourself Not so much. 26:23.79 Brian Penn I will watch these films and absorb them and give you my own honest, critical view of a film. You know I am a film fan of but I'm a fan of mainstreaming the movies but I wouldn't say this is necessarily my favorite genre. But for me, it's not giving us anything different. You know there's nothing. It's nothing there that I don't feel I've seen before in part one for example, but it's it's ah a general continuation. But if you're into the genre then you'll be able to dive deep into it and you get much more from it. But I'm speaking more as a mainstream film fan. What does it do for me, you know. If I set that against wicked little letters or one laugh. It won't come close in terms of entertainment value. But that's me but I try and review it and be honest about it and say yes, it's good. It's very good but then it Shara what it does. But what is it doing where is it adding value. Where are we seeing something we haven't seen before wicked little letters for example, um, is a true story. It's based on a true story something I had never heard of and for me the secret of great filmmaking is to uncover stories that have either been forgotten or been buried bring those stories back to life. 27:28.63 ukfilmreview Me. 27:39.60 Brian Penn And that's what they did with wiki little learn as well. That's what think's great about it right? that that. 27:41.56 ukfilmreview And if you look at like the last few episodes of film club that we've done your film of the month has always been that so last month it was the boys in the boat right? which was that story. You said you hadn't heard of that you the George Creamy film and before that it was the one life set. 27:52.70 Brian Penn So yeah, yeah, yeah. 28:01.11 Brian Penn Ah, one life that Nicholas Winson yeah Yeah yeah, 28:01.40 ukfilmreview Yeah, it switer again. Another story which you said look you didn't know this had happened and I think you're absolutely right of June is a story that has been done albeit they sort of said you know it's very hard to tell but it has been attempted but where you're getting these films like wiki little letters that you say oh what? this is a really unique news story that people don't know about. 28:12.50 Brian Penn Yeah, yeah. 28:17.52 Brian Penn Exactly? yeah yeah yeah I mean but you know awesomely Chris people fight with their feet. Don't they and this film will do very well and it is doing very good business. You know. 28:20.55 ukfilmreview And been delivered really? well Yeah, it's interesting. What people kind of want from their cinema and what they want to experience. 28:34.25 ukfilmreview I wouldn't recommend voting with your feet in reality though guys because you may put a cross in the wrong box just saying and that may be what's happened the last few times not pointing any fingers or toes. Um, so anyway, student part 2 it's still available I think at cinemas it's been out for. 28:36.81 Brian Penn Oh Yeah. So but well yeah I got it. 28:51.68 ukfilmreview Not that long came I marched in it. So yeah, you've you've got probably got plenty of time to watch that one and I'm assuming because the first one did the first one came to Amazon prime pretty quick so I'm assuming this will do the same. Um, but I don't know sometimes they have different agreements in place. But yeah. 28:52.36 Brian Penn So yeah, yep, yeah, it'll be good that will that will run for months I'm sure it will. Yeah I. 29:10.80 ukfilmreview Um, I would definitely watch it because I'm a fan of the first one and I want to see kind of all the fuss is about but I'm probably more excited about watching Wicked little letters following your lovely review there brown. Ah. 29:12.75 Brian Penn Yeah, yeah, yeah I Ah well umm I'm glad I'm glad ah I've I've swayed you it in that direction you know, but I know I know you're you're a you're a film buff. You're a film critic and you'll you'll go it. You watch it all in time. 29:31.52 ukfilmreview Watch anything what haven't watched is a lot of these op oscar films. So we have a little quick trickle down here and Brian you can sort of just let me know your feelings on this really because you you've probably seen more of these. Um. 29:31.56 Brian Penn As we always do. Yeah oh right? yeah. 29:41.43 Brian Penn Yeah, of course? Well yeah, um, really I mean it was all about Oppenheimer wasn't it really? um I'm I'm pleased that it did so well it got 13 nominations of which seven of those turned into oscars. 29:51.94 ukfilmreview Oppenheimer did drowell. 30:00.35 Brian Penn It got best film. Best director for christoline olan best actor Colon Murphy Best supporting actor Robert Downey Jr critically and commercially it was the the best film of the year so I think the academy for a change again. It's all about opinions I accept that. But. For me the academy got it got its spot on I think it it was a great film and I personally um, christopher islandlan does have his detractors. He does polarize opinion. We were just speaking about Ian's rather unique views about christopher. No, but. 30:35.16 ukfilmreview 50 30:39.63 Brian Penn Yeah I think he he is a great director. You know, but I think he he attracts more respects than affection. That's the that's the problem with with crystal and on and people have very clear views. You know opinion just just polarizes with him and it always will do but I'm glad he got. Oscar for best director because I think he's earned it and he deserves to be in that club. You know you got to look upon it as a club you know anyone they get see oscar for best director. You know it's the license to make films in hollywood isn't it. You know your your budget for movies. Starting forward is never going to be in question. 31:11.71 ukfilmreview Yeah. 31:17.67 Brian Penn Ah, that's suppose it ever was anyway, but you know so I'm really glad it got the line share of us because we have to mention Emma Stone who got a statueress for um, poor things um wasn't madly came on that film but you know yeah yeah, was kind of got yeah you know. Ah, shrub my shoulders a little bit with without film but fair enough. Um, but you know a lot of the technical os oscars were were gathered by Oppenheimer as well. Unsurprisingly one thing I did notice this though was that um, ah for the fifth year in a row. 31:46.70 ukfilmreview E. 31:56.35 Brian Penn There has been at least one woman nominated for best director and I just wonder now whether the time has come for a new category. Best female director because you know we we have best. We have best acts. The best Actress. You know why can't we have a separate category for best female durant and yeah because I think there are enough women making films to make that category Worthwhile. Um. 32:23.12 ukfilmreview It's so it's interesting because um I I was um, raising this point years ago on Twitter about whether they should have the whole split of gender like should it not just be best you actor you know best best director that's it and then when I put that out a lot of. 32:32.23 Brian Penn Yeah, well yeah, the the. 32:40.30 ukfilmreview Ah, female actors or actresses came back to me and said that no we want to keep the category right? We don't want to like we we're all for a quality. Yeah, we're all for general polly but they don't want to lose that opportunity of recognition and and I think you're right, There is plenty of films that could support a whole extra category for for female directors. 32:46.17 Brian Penn And yeah. 33:00.28 ukfilmreview I Think the question is that is yeah I think yeah you know like the Academy awards. It's already controversial like everything about it is controversial. It always seems to put its foot wrong. 33:09.86 Brian Penn Yeah, yeah, of course. Yeah, yeah, yeah. 33:13.76 ukfilmreview Adding a another separate category now is just ah drawing its attention to the fact that they never had 1 and yeah, yeah, sort of like almost ah admitting that they're wrong or is it going to be like oh we're going in the wrong direction should it actually be like you said the just genderless kind of categories I don't know. 33:24.37 Brian Penn Yeah I mean there's an argument for Genderless Cat categories I mean the brittle wallves gone for a tangent for a second but the brittle walls abolished male and female artist didn't they. 33:40.21 ukfilmreview In. 33:41.97 Brian Penn In in their awards categories. They just went for best artists but that led them in into a whole heap of new issues because there were no women nominated you know and you kind of you solve 1 problem you create. Ah another problem somewhere else or further down the line that is the problem. You know you're never going to quite satisfy everyone. But. 33:54.15 ukfilmreview Are. 34:00.84 Brian Penn It just strikes me though that you know have that separate category there give give female directors a showcase you know. 34:08.32 ukfilmreview I Suppose The only thing to so to say for that is that is the direction relevant to their gender because with the roles It was different right because it was like all women played certain roles and men played certain roles. So therefore it was difficult for women to get. 34:21.28 Brian Penn Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. 34:28.23 ukfilmreview Oscars because they don't play the big roles which is different now anyway, but with the directing it's behind the cameras like is it a case of that women would direct different types of films which isn't it. They wouldn't right? That's not what would happen. 34:34.54 Brian Penn So yeah, yeah, yeah, there's no this, you're right there. There's no clear distinction is there between men and women making films but or being editors or being directors. But it's different if they're on screen isn't it that. 34:46.42 ukfilmreview Yeah, in in general that we are generalizing. But yes, there is like there's going to be a potential that women are going to take women roles and men are go take menros. 34:52.30 Brian Penn I have effort. Yeah, yeah, yeah, but you know I I think it's something they should think about, but it could be the reason they've not done it is because they think they feel the Academy may feel they they will open a account of worm sp. By adding a new category. But. 35:12.98 ukfilmreview Well what? um Ian said on the podcast and I agree with him is he said that why bother limiting it so much because he's only like what is it 5 films or something that ah that make it through to that final list. There's like. 35:23.34 Brian Penn Yeah, yeah, yeah. 35:26.36 ukfilmreview Best film surely they could have like 20 or something. Yeah, just have more recognition of more of the films because it's like you're cutting it off so much for it to have the same amount of final films as like costume design or editing not saying those things aren't completely worthwhile. It's just that the director award is such a powerful 1 35:32.64 Brian Penn Yeah, yeah. 35:45.91 ukfilmreview It's like an absolute career maker. Um, but I suppose several of the other categories I mean the reality is listeners. We don't really know what we're talking about and we're just kind of yeah spitballing ideas here. But Academy if you're listening and you do take this up. We will want our share of the money for sure. 35:46.75 Brian Penn Yeah. 35:57.10 Brian Penn But it. Yeah yeah I mean I mean look it's only right isn't it I think we shouldn't put a mark down and say look we started this conversation off you know it was her idea but it yeah I know I know but aside from that though. 36:05.46 ukfilmreview Yeah. 36:10.80 ukfilmreview We started it with our rambling. 36:16.82 Brian Penn You know I was quite I was pleased here. The the line show of oscars went to Oppenheimer because it is a very good film at the end of the day. It's not been a vintage year for for great movies. I don't think that good. Good films. The output's consistent but very few films will stand out you know and. My my continuing gripe is that certain films will never get anywhere near the academy awards and they should you know. 36:41.50 ukfilmreview Yeah, absolutely listen back to our episodes in your see Brian Shine a light on some very very cool films. Um, that often don't get anywhere near this list. So yeah, that is that's part of what this podcast is all about and actually brings us very nice on to the next section. So. 36:48.56 Brian Penn Yeah. 36:58.58 Brian Penn Oh yeah. 37:00.82 ukfilmreview We're going to be moving on to a quick streaming film and then we'll be looking at the indie films before finishing up with our nostalgia pick and for um, for this month's episode. Our streaming pick was on Netflix and it got quite a lot of buzz. Um. Certainly someone who deserves an Oscar by now surely um, the film stars Adam sandva and was directed by Johann rank called Spaceman um this you know so many people have asked me what I thought of this film and every time I've said the same thing which is. 37:19.26 Brian Penn So. 37:25.94 Brian Penn So. 37:36.41 ukfilmreview I still don't quite know how I feel about this film if I'm more is it's very very strange. Um, so I'll give the synopsis because Brian bless him out to do 3 already. Um, so yeah Adam Sander plays an astronaut who's been sent off on an expedition. Um. 37:40.14 Brian Penn It's that kind of film isn't it. Yeah. 37:56.82 ukfilmreview Through the sidelar system to investigate this purple cloud that has appeared above the skies and he'll be gone for a very long time. Um, and he's on his own. It's a solo mission and essentially the film is following him on the spaceship also catching up with his. Um. Wife at home paper Carriey Mulligan and um, some of the other sort of crew that are helping him on his mission but whilst he's on the ship he befriends I'm not sure that's right word but befriend a creature very much looking a bit like a scary as spider. 38:25.73 Brian Penn Yeah, a a yeah yeah. 38:33.14 ukfilmreview Um, voiced by the always excellent Paul Dano um and yeah, this creature comes on the ship and starts to interacting with Sandler's character and the 2 have this first uneasy kind of relationship. But then they start to come very much attached to each other as. 38:44.92 Brian Penn Yeah, yeah. 38:51.30 ukfilmreview Ah, sans character spirals towards this purple sky and into a fate unknown do know I didn't worry with that that wasn't too bad for me for synopsis which I do off the Cufff I don't write these down as you probably can tell. Um, but I thought. 39:02.17 Brian Penn It's pretty decent. Yeah. 39:09.62 ukfilmreview With this sort of film like we were saying a bit earlier. It's a different type of story to tell it is unique I've not seen something like this done but maybe it has been done in sci-fi before. But for me this felt like a new story I thought Sandler was great. 39:18.83 Brian Penn But. 39:24.59 ukfilmreview I'm showing his acting chops again like he did in uncut gems which if you haven't seen is excellent. Very much recommend that film but this and this aside turns it being unique and interesting I think it is all those things but I still don't know if I found it enjoyable I Just kind of got to the end of it and this sort of thought. Not sure how I feel it was a very strange introspective kind of film. How did it make you feel right. 39:47.84 Brian Penn Yeah, know it's it's difficult to describe because you know on the 1 hand you you've got this one man who's in space solo what I meant to do before we we came on air was to to check and see if anyone has actually been into space solar by themselves. Because to me that gives it an edge. The fact that he's alone right? He's isolated and. 40:11.58 ukfilmreview There was the Russian guy right? who got put into orbit I remember that this a no no not for that long. No no, no. 40:15.32 Brian Penn But for that long though for for as long as it. Yeah yeah, you see this is it right? So you've got that kind of dynamic there where you think God imagine being alone in space for that length of time and having very very little contact with with earth. And with the people that you want to remain in contact with that He was constantly saying what about my wife I want to speak to my wife you know all the way through and you kind of sense that kind of anxiety right? that the fact that they were used. You know they were using him ah to score political points off to say look It's great look at what we're doing as an ocean. 40:39.73 ukfilmreview Yep. 40:52.38 Brian Penn But controlling what he said who he spoke to um what I found very quite moving was when when there was the the satellite link up and the girl in the audience or holmes said what's it feel like to be the loneliest man on Earth You know that's a very telling line and it tells you a lot about the. 41:05.69 ukfilmreview There. 41:11.83 Brian Penn The character's motivation and about you in your own mind getting straight. Why is out there. What's took him out there and as the film wore on it told you more about the relationship you had with his wife played by Kry Mulligan who it was I thought very good in the role and Isabel Isabella Rossellina you who played the um. 41:31.76 Brian Penn The ah, the senior space commander strike politician the the person that was pulling all the strings really and then you've got this really odd relationship with this creature that apparently was stowed away on board. And he never knew he never realized he and after six months in space. He realizes this thing is actually on board with him. Um, so it's a very odd film. It is a very strange film but there's something quite gripping about it and um, Adam Sandler um s really showing you just mentioned shows. What a good a is now versus someone is because he made his name as a comedian didn't he really as ah as a comica standup you know and it's a million miles away from some of the characters. He's played. You know if you compare compare this character to the character who played in the wedding singer you know. 42:17.22 ukfilmreview There. 42:25.97 ukfilmreview Hey it great film by the way. Love the film. 42:28.82 Brian Penn You couldn't get 2 more different characters. Could you really? and that show. Yeah I love it as well. Absolutely love that? Um, but no so I like you I wasn't sure how I felt about this film because it makes you curious. It makes you interested. But this. Such a high level weirdness there that you can't really come to any real conclusions about the film about a character. He's motivations about the creature as well. You know because it was interesting to see how that relationship develops and how it kind of. Peaked then it deterioated for various reasons that we weren't going into here because it will it will spoil it for people. Um, but aside from that no I wasn't short to make of it. But it's something that you will be drawn to once you start watching it and. 43:16.42 ukfilmreview Yeah I think that people should experience it and make up their own mind I think it's ah, interesting enough film to give a go. There's a lot to take from it and enjoy. But I certainly wouldn't ever say to someone. Oh you're going to love this film. 43:24.30 Brian Penn So. 43:30.45 ukfilmreview I will not have any confidence to say that because I just I think it's gonna be a complete marite sort of film or even not even Marma I think you're gonna you're gonna have a go and go I don't know how I feel I don't I think I think that's terrific that a film can leave you like that can leave you in a space of like oblivion. 43:30.56 Brian Penn No yeah. Yeah, yeah, yeah, Well yeah, just scratching your head all the way through it aren't you really because you're just not sure what to make of it and it's unusual to be confronted with a film where where you don't come out of it with any clear view. Of what it was about the impacts it had on you because you got to think about the impacts of film handss when you watch it, you know and I wasn't sure how I felt about it. It's all like here. It's just one of those strange films. You think? Yeah, Ah, it's got something.. It's definitely got something. It holds your attention. But. 44:16.97 Brian Penn You You can't come out the feeling you've been in sustain but you don't really know what what you feel about it. Um's that kind of film is that it's just an odd one strange. Yeah. 44:18.00 ukfilmreview A. 44:26.38 ukfilmreview It's an odd one but check it out anyway, if you're already seen space fans that's been out a little while on Netflix so let us know? Um, but yes, it's a recommendation but with caution. Um, so. 44:35.74 Brian Penn Yes, this. 44:39.87 ukfilmreview Yes, we're now moving on to our indie films section and this is always very exciting So these are films that filmmakers have asked us to review. They've specifically sent us these films and said please review them on your podcast and we are very happy to do so um and I have a few clips for some of the films. Not all of them but some of them. 44:57.51 Brian Penn Oh fantastic. 44:59.58 ukfilmreview Um I know and I think that's very important to give you a bit of taste of the film and give you an idea of what yeah what it might be like um, we're starting first with an indie feature film written directed by David Stewart Snell called I bring joy. 45:02.69 Brian Penn Yeah. 45:14.39 Brian Penn O. 46:22.82 ukfilmreview Always nice to have the word gyrate at the end of a clip I think I helped. Um, so yeah, but a very useful clip because it gives you such a sense of the tone of this film. Um London -based thriller starring. Um. 46:25.65 Brian Penn Yeah, yeah, yeah. 46:37.64 Brian Penn A yeah. 46:40.92 ukfilmreview Alena Rivers as the title character of joy the film Iss called ivoring joy but she doesn't bring joy she brings stabbing um there so she plays a dancer and is part of like a a crew that were they cool dancers. They're called a crew aren't they I think troop troop. 46:56.23 Brian Penn Ah, Troop Troop Group troop. Yeah. 46:59.12 ukfilmreview Trip. Um, and yeah, that's her kind of passion but ah, an altercation happens on one night and she ends up accidentally stabbing someone. Um I think they were trying to mug her and she sort of yeah things didn't quite go the way that the muggers had planned and she ends up stabbing them kind of accidents but she's. 47:10.34 Brian Penn So. 47:17.60 ukfilmreview Feels a thrill from this and also it kind of ties in at the time of her life where she's going through quite things. There's also a trauma in her past that links to so she decides to keep doing it um to people that Chief Bills deserves it um and the film essentially sees her. 47:27.81 Brian Penn And. 47:36.37 ukfilmreview Trying to live this duplicitive life of the dancer but also a psychopath. But yeah and in the background um very dramatic, very powerful. Lots of exploration of themes. What do you think of I bring Joy Brian 47:41.81 Brian Penn You. 47:48.88 Brian Penn I think it's very good very good film very strong characters. You know where where it starts off you know Joy Joy is an inspiring dancer. She's auditioning for film roles and roles in adverts and so on. 47:54.84 ukfilmreview Question. 48:08.81 Brian Penn And doing her best to make make make ah ah, a serious break ins into performing arts but a life has d rowled up to an a certain extent where she she confronts the the mugger confront um, and that leads to a train of events doesn't it where. She begins targeting people that have challenged her people that have wronged her. It's very reminiscent of death wish isn't the devilish movies that Michael Winnerner made with Charles Brunson where someone with ah a seemingly conventional background. Um, turns turns against the society and begins targeting the the darker side of life if you like um, very good film very well written. Well-acted well shot the lighting's great. The the atmosphere is very atmospheric as well. It's a good film. 48:50.94 ukfilmreview In. 49:07.13 Brian Penn It's a very good film and it's um, it's unusual to see a film like that with an indie tag where it see it seems to be very towards are more a film that would have a bigger Budget. You know it's almost doesn't feel like an indie film to me in some ways if that makes sense. But. I Really enjoyed it and if enjoyment's the right word because it's thing with with a very dark subject matter. But and I think it takess all the boxes well written and willll observe. Well-acted and it's interesting to see how that character develops. 49:36.40 ukfilmreview It. 49:45.34 Brian Penn And the relationship she develops online with us a person that she's discussing what she's done. That's interesting as well. Yeah, we yeah the dry writing person. Yeah, that's right? Yeah, so. 49:54.62 ukfilmreview Yeah, yeah, yeah, the person try a rating. Um, so yeah I agree I think it's one of those films that does stand out as being very high quality. You don't feel like you're having to watch a film that's. 50:04.27 Brian Penn Yeah. 50:12.31 Brian Penn And. 50:12.42 ukfilmreview Skimped on the budget for that stuff. Um, but also done things in a way that it's really tonally correct like they've they've captured that sort of dangerous element of London really well. Um, there's a lot of exploration of stereotypes and yeah, but there. There's the 2 black guys that are sort of watching at 1 point and they get stopped by the police and they've got immediately kind of sort of yeah roller eyes or thing. Um and that the news you starts blaming things on gangs and stuff like that and I think it's a film that sort of got that um social unrest. It's foundation. Yeah, it's not just the film you with a. 50:33.50 Brian Penn Yeah, yeah. 50:46.35 Brian Penn And. 50:50.12 ukfilmreview Very interesting story. It is actually pick picking apart some of these other parts of our society that are also really interesting. Um I thought it was because you mentioned death which I've actually seen defish but it reminded me of American Psycho which was that. 50:54.30 Brian Penn So. 51:05.58 Brian Penn It's yeah, but yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, it's yeah. 51:06.37 ukfilmreview Idea you know that character that suddenly starts to just see themselves as outside the the norms of society and yeah, it starts to prey on people obviously not. There's not all similarities there but there's just that's just what it reminded me of that It was a character that felt really dangerous. 51:23.21 Brian Penn Yeah, yeah, yeah that I know you're right? yeah is powerful and it. 51:23.69 ukfilmreview Because she just decided that she was no longer going to play by the rules and I thought okay wow like this is you don't know where where she's going to go with this? um I thought the the score was really good as well. It's just a really pulsing energy so had sort of synth score throughout. That was really really cool I Really like that. 51:42.46 Brian Penn It kind of adds to the drama doesn't it that and it shows what you can do with a good soundtrack that doesn't necessarily drown out the the film itself. Yeah yeah, so yeah, it's a good film but there are element I mean American like I see the analogy there I can see why white reminded you of that. 51:47.23 ukfilmreview Um, no, it's not obtrusive at all. It's really enhances it. Yeah. 52:00.94 Brian Penn But there are elements of vigilanteism there and that's probably you know that's something a lot of people can relate to in some ways where you see the typical scenario is you know where where films are concerned. It is that a Killer goes free or somebody who's done wrong gets away with it. You know. 52:02.50 ukfilmreview Yeah. 52:20.95 Brian Penn And that's like you know a common emotion is to say right? They should pay for their crying you know and that's where it begins It doesn't end up that Way. It doesn't it doesn't go down that route necessarily. But that's how it starts out. But yeah, good for I mean really coming back to my earlier point about um. About it not being a typical indie film is that often with indie films part of their their charm and quality is that they are done on a limited budget and they are kind of rough around the edges but this seems to have a kind of more more gloss to it. Um, so I wouldn't It doesn't necessarily come across as a typical indie film. Um, yeah, so. 52:58.57 ukfilmreview yeah yeah I agree I think you wouldn't necessarily have known that I mean also yeah, there is increasingly less of an ah distinction between those 2 types of films now. Anyway, you know so a lot of films are independent in. 53:07.59 Brian Penn Yeah, so. 53:13.99 ukfilmreview Quotes because they're just made by people Obviously do not what we're gonna do our way and people will find a way of making the film. Um with I bring joy it just felt that it just have it has that burning ball of energy that an indie film has that it's like a powerful story. They really wanted to tell and tell it their way. They also felt. 53:15.61 Brian Penn And then. 53:25.74 Brian Penn Yeah, and. 53:33.79 ukfilmreview There was a bit of a maybe an insider track here in terms of so there's a whole um section of the film that talks about this legend in the acting sphere. Yeah, the legend you know this person who is unnamed I believe or does he turn up or something. 53:42.74 Brian Penn Of the legend. Yeah yeah, so. 53:51.54 Brian Penn Doesn't they don't appear on screen. Do they I don't think. 53:52.84 ukfilmreview Do here? Good Yeah I don't think so and they basically are a very powerful influential filmmaker or director or or a part of the the to if he talk much to but he uses his position to ipress upon women and and yeah, unfortunately. 53:57.50 Brian Penn So. 54:12.60 ukfilmreview Abuse that power that that's at play here. Yeah, the idea that someone like that and then it all gets hushed up by the other people around him to sort of make sure that nothing's affected. You know business as usual and that these people just need to sort of keep quiet that I think it was rallying against that you know I mean there was like a kind of well. 54:24.39 Brian Penn And. 54:32.58 ukfilmreview This rage needs to go somewhere. And yeah, if the societal norms that we have and the structures we have in place that seems to protect These people aren't going to work then maybe that you have to work outside them and yeah I don't think the film's making any kind of judgment on that I think it's just all. 54:38.90 Brian Penn The. 54:50.17 ukfilmreview Proposing the question. Yeah, what would happen if people did just start taking matters into their own hands and living out that idea. 54:50.99 Brian Penn It? Yeah yeah, it's a pro. Yeah, it's like a proposition isn' it. It's exam question isn't it in a way you know it's putting it out there and saying well what if you know? um so but it was good that I was impressed with it very impressed with it. So. 54:57.96 ukfilmreview Yeah. 55:08.31 ukfilmreview Well good. The film is actually available to rent right away on um Amazon prime I believe if you're in the Uk. So yeah I bring joy if you want to find out more about the film though. There's a Facebook page I bring joy the film or 1 word the director has a Twitter. 55:10.25 Brian Penn Good, excellent. 55:26.21 ukfilmreview So at Davis Snell or 1 word Instagram page I bring the joy filml or 1 word and there's also a website canyonmedia.co/film. do check them all out if you do get stuck. Ah if you saw can't find it or whatever and you've checked Amazon you've checked Instagram you've checked Facebook. Um. 55:27.00 Brian Penn So. 55:40.67 Brian Penn And. 55:44.22 ukfilmreview Also check our website so we have a review of the film and often there'll be a trailer within that review and you can watch that or just send us a message and we'll point you in the right direction we are more than happy to do that? Um I'll forward all the emails to Brian Brian or Ford then to Ian and Ian will deal with it. 55:49.36 Brian Penn And of course. Yeah yeah I leave it. My. 56:01.78 ukfilmreview Um, yeah, no I bring joy do check out very strongly recommended Um, sticking with the indie field features now. Um and from a director that I have a lot of respect for I've been watching his career quite a bit. We interviewed him. 56:04.19 Brian Penn Yeah, is good. It's good. 56:20.53 ukfilmreview I interviewed him for um, a very short-lived magazine that we had running. We had the Uk From Review Magazine and I interviewed the writerdirect Marcus Flemings um and that was I was a very lovely moment. Unfortunately the magazine didn't really last too much longer because why would you go into print I mean that was a silly thing to do. Yeah, what was I doing. 56:23.16 Brian Penn I. 56:36.97 Brian Penn And. 56:40.11 ukfilmreview Um, but fortunately Marcus has made ah better decisions with his career and has launched his new indie comedy film called everyone which again I have a clip. 56:50.57 Brian Penn You Oh wow. 58:24.19 ukfilmreview Okay, so everyone and that clip was from just which Brian is finding there which is just from one part of the film right? So it's a film made up of multiple storylines. 58:25.33 Brian Penn But I hope yeah. 58:40.86 Brian Penn So. 58:43.11 ukfilmreview Um, all set within a restaurant in London and the one that you heard there was the clip of a a footballer and his manager or soon to be x manager having a quite awkward kind of push closing brief I guess ah, he's not happy about being ditched by his. 58:55.55 Brian Penn You. 59:01.41 ukfilmreview Footballer who he spent a lot of time and and money creating and the footballer feels that this guy isn't for him anymore and you know, judging if you just went on that clip I'd say yeah I wouldn't want him as my manager either? Ah um, but that's just one of the scenarios in this film all set in the same location almost for the whole film. Um, there's. 59:10.51 Brian Penn A no I. 59:17.62 Brian Penn And. 59:20.34 ukfilmreview Other Storylines happening at the same time. There's a family of four like siblings that are talking about an inheritance and one of them is alcohol problem which is very very funny. Ah, there's a a mother and daughter. Um the daughter who thinks she's. 59:28.91 Brian Penn A. 59:37.31 ukfilmreview Messiah because she feels she can hear everyone. She's not the messiah. She's a very naughty guy. Um, there's a guy with a camera who's trying to get over his social anxiety by donating on his own and the the waitress who's going through her own stuff kind of comes the app she comes and sits with him. Um. 59:38.95 Brian Penn Um, yeah, ah. 59:46.90 Brian Penn Yeah, befriend them. 59:56.28 ukfilmreview There is a threesome fish with or what do they call it. They called it something a situation or something. Um, where there's the be yeah, not a couple but a trio and yeah, the guy that one of the guys in that in that Trio doesn't feel comfortable with that anymore and there's also a couple. 59:56.51 Brian Penn Yeah, oh yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. 01:00:06.50 Brian Penn The trio. Yeah. 01:00:11.88 Brian Penn So. 01:00:16.10 ukfilmreview And older a elderly couple just sitting there talking not talking to each other. Um, yeah yeah I don't think I've missed out any of the story lines in that film. His kid is really good. 01:00:17.26 Brian Penn And they so they think don't they they I think they they put their thoughts on screen occasionally. Ah if I remember right? like? No no, no, you've got it all I think this is brilliant I I absolutely love this. You know I will never go into a restaurant and think of people sitting around me in the same way I'm going to be curious as to what they're talking about now because you know the idea that you can have ah 6 different conversations going on and I think it was all in 1 take wasn't it I don't think they were they stopped then stopped. Choosing again, they were just panning a camera around weren't they the restaurant. 01:00:57.92 ukfilmreview I'm not sure they felt like it. Maybe there was but I think they definitely did it because a lot of the characters are in the background of the shot. So yeah, there must have been a big amount of choreography going on here. 01:01:02.50 Brian Penn But yeah, yeah I think they were close to it I mean it's It's this old. Um, this old boast of directors isn't it where where they say I shot this with one camera you know one take. 01:01:20.70 Brian Penn And Sam Meners in 7 saying of course it can't quite be done. But I think that I think here he got close to it that it was all almost well. It was nearly all in 1 1 ne's take very good editing because I think it almost looked that way because I was trying to work out where they stopped. That's one of my annoying habits now when I watch films is that where did the editor get involved. You know it's a very fine dividing line between where the editors involved and where the directs is saying what? Ah yeah, yeah, real time. Yeah. 01:01:49.29 ukfilmreview It was definitely in real time like or as close to real time as you could really want from a film. Um I think that was important right? because you're having this restaurant scene. You couldn't have it happening over like the course of two days or things. So. 01:01:58.20 Brian Penn No like yeah. 01:02:00.91 ukfilmreview And that would throw up its own logistical issues Anyway, just getting the lighting right? and making sure that yeah they get seen right? So yeah, really ambitious. Nope Really ambitious was literally how I was going to finish that sentence so you go. 01:02:03.14 Brian Penn Yeah, yeah, it shows that? Well yeah, sorry Chris off you? Oh okay, that's that's fine. No, but I thought it was great. So I mean that to been really well rehearsed I think the script was brilliant. Really crisp and bright and funny very literate I love the 4 siblings that were squabbling amongst themselves. You know where the oldest sister says to the youngest sister. How did the tongue operation. Go oh she does speak. She's the one who never says anything the um, the ah. 01:02:26.49 ukfilmreview Here. 01:02:35.30 ukfilmreview Ah. 01:02:40.75 Brian Penn The agent with it with a foot bla that was funny as Well. They were all great. They all had great lines. You know there were there were not. There was no sort of padding there that they all had good lines. None of them were kind of passengers. You know the the elderly couple were there to sort of represent. Ah, people in light years who just don't communicate anymore right? But they're not communicate. Yeah yeah I know yeah and I exactly that's it. Um I think the the scenes between the right twist and the lonelyne man with the the photographgrapher. 01:03:00.77 ukfilmreview Which always happens right? You andever, you go to a restaurant and there is always a couple there that aren't talking. They've just been married for so long. They've just ran out of things to say. 01:03:18.25 Brian Penn Quiteluching as well. Yeah, yeah. 01:03:19.46 ukfilmreview Yeah, that added that sort of much needed heart didn't it because you couldn't just have loads of funny tables going on you needed something. But even the funny tables they still have that sense of like um depth. There's still drama that comes out and bits that do move you I think yeah, the photographer who's sort of struggling. 01:03:29.70 Brian Penn Yeah, yeah. 01:03:35.18 Brian Penn So. 01:03:37.20 ukfilmreview Was a immediate way of saying that this this isn't just like some wacky comedy. That's meant to be funny throughout like you're meant to feel lots of different emotions here. And yeah I think it was navigated really well. 01:03:40.50 Brian Penn Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, so I I was really really impressed with it and it's really funny that the script is so sharp and I've not seen that a film with that kind of setup before. You know it's an ensemble piece and that in itself is not easy to work on screen to have an ensemble piece guy in where you've got I don't know how many characters have you got 2 6 8 10 twelve fourteen I think if you include the if you include the elderly couple. 01:04:12.99 ukfilmreview Give a give or take yeah. 01:04:18.46 Brian Penn And to get that ensemble cast working as well as that is wellw writtentten. Well-directed and wellrehearsed because you know as you say it's all taking place at the same time. It's in real time. That's the the correct phrase to use. But I love it I Think it's great. Really good. Fun. Yeah, but. 01:04:40.69 ukfilmreview I Love it when a filmmaker sort of takes an idea like because it could be you someone sat in a restaurant and had that idea right of I Wonder what everyone's talking about but to actually just then and go and make that film is so ambitious. Um, and so. 01:04:45.32 Brian Penn Yeah I. Yeah, yeah. 01:04:55.30 ukfilmreview On the nose as well. It's really captured exactly what it's like which is like you you could imagine yourself maybe being in one of those conversations but also overhearing those other conversations and just being absolutely yeah yeah, drawn in by the T being spilled I think the um, the film. Also. 01:05:02.65 Brian Penn I need. 01:05:13.13 Brian Penn So. 01:05:13.25 ukfilmreview Was able to feel fresh because what this idea probably lends itself to would be more like a theater production because you could imagine that you know the lights going up on one down on another and yeah, yeah, as a theatre production it kind of makes a lot of sense. But as a film. 01:05:20.10 Brian Penn Yeah, yeah, it it would work out on stage wouldn't it. Yeah yeah. 01:05:30.61 ukfilmreview I would say that you know this is throwing up so many logistical issues to film it that you would be a little bit like crazy to make it. But the result is really good and what I would say as well I am because it's it's listed as a drama but this is definitely I'd say leaning more towards comedy than it was drama. Um. 01:05:34.94 Brian Penn But. 01:05:48.28 Brian Penn It's a comedy. Oh I think it's a common. Yeah. 01:05:50.47 ukfilmreview But either way it's a very successful comedy I laughed out loud and there is for me. There is no greater compliment I can give to a filmmaker because I don't give my my laugh out louds much? Um, but you know what the bit that got me that they then carried on laughing was the bit where. 01:05:53.16 Brian Penn Yeah, yeah I Like you think. 01:06:09.87 ukfilmreview Foot is saying can you get your receptionist to stop calling me dick and and then the manager goes dick is the nickname for Richard it's just I was balling with laughter at that and from now he' gone I was sold I was just laughing all the way. 01:06:13.96 Brian Penn Yeah, yeah, and yeah, yeah, ah ah yeah I know. Um, yeah I think the the football and the agent was particularly funny and. 01:06:31.24 Brian Penn You know where where he's saying look I want to I want to I've grown I've outgrown you now I want to go and play for Barcelona They gave me a powerpoint presentation in a bottle of water. Oh well, that's it then and he said I can get your boscelo and I can get you a bottle of water and not just fizzy drinks. Um. 01:06:43.89 ukfilmreview Here. 01:06:48.57 Brian Penn Yeah I mean what was your favorite um scene I mean they kind of like it. There were a series of set pieces really weren't I what? what was the best 1 Do you think? so. 01:06:56.86 ukfilmreview Um, yeah I think there's a bit where the table of 4 siblings. Oh I don't know what it was. It's where he pours the wine through her hand. 01:07:08.53 Brian Penn So oh yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. 01:07:10.64 ukfilmreview You remember that scene is's getting very tense and he just he just keeps pouring the wine through her hand and I was like this is getting really harsh now and I thought that was excellent and but because that scene as all that the the 4 of them felt at first it felt a bit kind of like oh okay, it's 4 siblings who don't obviously get on. Um. 01:07:17.82 Brian Penn The had I. 01:07:29.99 Brian Penn The. 01:07:30.23 ukfilmreview There's plenty of drama going on here but it felt kind of they were paying just lip service to each other's or okay, yeah I know we're related but and we like each other but as more and more was uncovered about their family and what was going on and the the depths of that and why they were having to have this conversation I. 01:07:36.36 Brian Penn I. 01:07:48.40 ukfilmreview I found that really a great arc to to watch amongst all the other really good arcs are they're all very good but that 1 particularly for me what about uber. 01:07:50.51 Brian Penn I the um I think yeah that the football and the agent are really enjoyed the um the th threesome the the I think that was really very well played that that could. That could be a classic sketch from Peter Cook and Dody Moore or something you know that that was really good. Very clever clever wellserved and you know the the earnest guy sitting in the middle is really hurt by what's going on and the the guy to our right? So he's left who's kind of really. 01:08:08.89 ukfilmreview Here. 01:08:21.13 ukfilmreview It. 01:08:28.13 Brian Penn Super intelligent and really philosophical about it or he's always got an answer and yeah, and yeah, and and of course the guy in the middle is is really upset by it all because he's falling for ah you know and. 01:08:32.74 ukfilmreview He's very confident is he sat there just sort of Smug and like loving it. He's just laughing most of the time. Ah. 01:08:44.38 Brian Penn The guy on on our right is sort of saying Well, what's the problem. You know this is life. You know, um I thought that was great as well. They were all great. They're all really good but you know they they work individually. Don't they they're working as individual sort of set pieces but they work as an ensemble as well. 01:08:47.66 ukfilmreview I hear. 01:09:02.13 ukfilmreview Yeah, you could have seen this film just absolutely chopped up into short films right? each 1 having their own little film. But as a piece together I think it really works because you get that sense of human ah evolutional most that or like societal evolution and also that natural. 01:09:02.24 Brian Penn Um, yeah, yeah. 01:09:14.10 Brian Penn Yeah, yeah. 01:09:20.46 ukfilmreview Progression because you know it's like when you go for a meal and you know it's that sense of to begin with things feel really kind of odd because you're in a new setting you maybe yourself Even even if you are with someone that you know that there's a sense of like we don't know where we're going. We're in a different environment. 01:09:27.89 Brian Penn And. I mean. 01:09:35.55 ukfilmreview And as things warm up as things intensify the conversation becomes maybe a bit more truthful maybe a bit more honest and painful and then we get that kind of crescendo of of revelation which happens almost in all of the situations and I think the the filmmakers and the cast and the crew they handed it. 01:09:40.67 Brian Penn And. 01:09:52.85 Brian Penn I. 01:09:54.14 ukfilmreview Expertly It's really really smartly delivered. Um, ah but very very funny and that for me is key I think if I'm ever going to recommend a film a comedy it has to have made you laugh and this did numerous times numerous times. Um, be ah, very good. 01:09:58.17 Brian Penn Yeah, it yeah course. Yeah, yeah, it gets lots of lows doesn't it Lots of longs. Lots of lows. Oh well. Yeah. 01:10:12.64 ukfilmreview Lots of loles more than we get Brian but that's okay, that's okay, um, unfortunately everyone is going to have to wait for everyone because I don't think it's out. Um the film has a website londonnewwave.com 01:10:17.66 Brian Penn Yeah, Plus or. 01:10:22.53 Brian Penn I. 01:10:29.96 ukfilmreview Um, Marcus Flemings is available on so Twitter and Instagram things so you can find them. We've tagged him in a few posts. So um, oh that was always going to say Brian did you? So did you watch the credit. We got a name check on. 01:10:38.70 Brian Penn What's that I did we got an name check didn't we like? yeah. 01:10:45.22 ukfilmreview I can honestly say this listen I had no idea I wasn't told or if I was told I've forgotten because I'm like that and I was just I had the on I was in the background I was just sort of you know that mulling of the film I of all just letting the film sink in that's a wait a minute the producers wish to thank UKFilm review and I was like oh. 01:11:03.77 Brian Penn So yeah I know what did we do then? Chris I mean you know. 01:11:04.55 ukfilmreview We go that was a lovely little bit of claim to fame lovely I again could be wrong because my brain isn't what it used to be and that's not I'm not that old I mean my mid 30 s but I have had a lot of alcohol in my life and I think he has done quite a lot of damage. 01:11:13.30 Brian Penn And. 01:11:20.96 Brian Penn Oh I see my ah right. 01:11:22.53 ukfilmreview Um, but I think it may have been that that interview that we did in the magazine and generally we've I think we've shared his um when he was doing kickstarters and things like that to raise money for films I don't know if it was that I mean Marcus can probably tell us more best of why and or he may have put in my mistake and that'll be terrible wouldn. 01:11:39.89 Brian Penn I would not be a disappointment. 01:11:40.68 ukfilmreview Said oh I didn't mean to thank you I meant someone else? Yeah I meant total film. Not you you guys are rubbish. Um, but no, he has been very complimentary about the UK fromview stuff in the past. So yeah, what an honor. 01:11:49.27 Brian Penn Yeah, well, it's it's yeah, it's nice to get that. It's nice to get that sort of accreditation. So um, oh yeah, exactly got a permanent record of it. That's the important thing. Um I mean look I think it's great I. 01:11:55.57 ukfilmreview And I took a picture so he can't remove it now her suck exactly. 01:12:05.61 Brian Penn Frankly I mean you could tell by the way I reacted to it I've done a where to start first. It's just so good where I want to take all of it apart and think right? How did he do that. How did he do that You know what camera angles that he used sips all in real time you know was it Handheld was you know how many you know. 01:12:11.71 ukfilmreview This is. 01:12:22.10 Brian Penn When I when I start sort of going into the the deep sort of technical aspects of a film That's a sign for me that I've really got into it and really enjoyed it. You know. 01:12:33.98 ukfilmreview There you go everyone? Yeah might be harder to find that one. But yeah, do follow the social media links that we mentioned and seek it out. Um moving on to another in the feature. 01:12:40.97 Brian Penn So. 01:12:46.71 Brian Penn We were very busy. Yeah. 01:12:47.10 ukfilmreview We were busy this month weren't we right? We had 5 for this episode so we're on the third and this was another feature length. Um Matthew Butlet heart ah indie feature called dagger not spelt how you think it might be spellt ah DHER and this is the. 01:12:58.91 Brian Penn And I want no. 01:13:05.41 ukfilmreview Last film we have a clip for so I'm gonna play that for you now. 01:13:06.91 Brian Penn And. 01:14:11.78 ukfilmreview So I think that's the end of the clip. It suddenly ended and I thought is that the end of the clip that's end of the clip. Um, so Dagger um a absolute Knockout Horror thriller of the found footage genre. 01:14:12.75 Brian Penn I Para Yes yeah. 01:14:29.32 ukfilmreview Which I am a big fan of when it's done well and as well as this ah the story as you heard there is about 2 social media stars and they're known for their sort of Robin Hood type antics they pose as caterers for a posh commercial but their idea is they're kind of steal. 01:14:30.97 Brian Penn So. 01:14:46.42 ukfilmreview Of stuff while they're there and sort of just generally calls a bit of havoc but when they get there all hell breaks loose because they're in this very spooky house and things start to go awry. What did you think of dagger. 01:14:50.76 Brian Penn I I I liked it I really enjoyed it. Ah you know I have a ah fairly kind of relaxed attitude towards horror. You know it. It doesn't. Don't scare easily Chris when it comes to horror boo. No it didn't scare me, you'd have to try a bit older than that. Actually yeah, but this actually I did find quite quite scary actually and I actually find it quite. Yeah I did find a bit scary actually. 01:15:11.92 ukfilmreview Boo Now you're right? You're right. I did is a bit where she turned round and his behind I was old god. 01:15:26.60 Brian Penn And that saying something for me because I just like the imagination to be scared by horror. That's what I think it boils down to but this was really good. What I liked was kind of like the transition in the characters in the way they come across because Thea and louise were kind of these two sort of ultraconfident, funny. Cocky girls who are just having a bit of a giggle and gate crashing this camera crew making an advert or so they think then suddenly snap it all all changes doesn't it and the last half of the film I think was genuinely quite gripping. You could fill the hair on the back of your neck standing up. 01:15:54.28 ukfilmreview E. 01:16:04.78 Brian Penn You know it it was that kind of film. It did the job I think there were elements of the blair Witch project spring to mind you know all films remind me of another film somewhere along the line. Yeah yeah. 01:16:15.49 ukfilmreview It kicks died the genre right? that very rarely do you know when a film genre was was made but I think yeah, everyone kind of will agree that it was the blair which project that did film footage. Um, yeah. 01:16:23.78 Brian Penn Yeah, but um, you know there's nothing wrong with being being influenced by a film like because within the Horizonre blowr which is is up there isn't it. It's it's a leading light in in horror horror genre. But yeah I likes it. I think it was really good. It was well shot it was it was believable and it it did feel like it did feel like you were watching something on Youtube it did it did feel real so they they kind of got over that that hurdle of making people buy into it because you do you just feel that it's real. You know? and yeah, very good. It's very effective. It does the job and you know the um the one of the scariest parts of it for me though is the is the I think we you played a clip that featured him was the guy with the glass is the. The professor or the the ah the expert historian that's it. Yeah um, but I trouble finding the right words tonight Chris thank you for helping me out there. Ah we see you're gonna do it when I'm not expecting it I'm really gonna. 01:17:21.65 ukfilmreview Like Historian guy. Yeah, who's on yeah that so I'm just waiting the best time to scare you I Just gonna scare you and with the word That's right? yeah. 01:17:38.65 Brian Penn Got a go night. Yeah, but no I thought he's really good I Thought he wass really good and I think he's gone down quite well isn't it. It's been getting some good reviews. 01:17:45.98 ukfilmreview Yeah, it's done very well at certain festivals and things I think it is actually um, quite a bigger film in terms of like it's had some big reviews. It's had some um attention brought to it I think it's it's backed by Apple. 01:17:55.62 Brian Penn Oh right. 01:18:01.14 ukfilmreview Um, because of the found footage I might be wrong I think ah the director if he's in contact with him because um I wanted to get a clip and I had some issues with the watching of it. Matthew Butler Hart very lovely chap um had said something about there. Be involved with Apple. Um, so. I think it's it's showing what can be done using phones now and I think that is incredible. You look at this film. It does not feel any different to the type of horrors that you can watch in the found footage genre. Um, and even even without that you even outside of that because that. 01:18:20.50 Brian Penn And. 01:18:37.60 ukfilmreview Also it's so smartly arranged that I have a couple of gripes towards the end where I am a bit like would you still be holding the camera at this point but even so but but generally for like 99% the film. It's like yeah the way they set that up was. 01:18:45.35 Brian Penn All right? Yeah, the. 01:18:56.00 ukfilmreview Authentically done that you would say yes they would have put a camera there because they explained why there's a camera there or why they're still holding the cameras or doing selfies. Um, and even at the end. My last bit was kind of oh why they still hung the cameras. But I think it was largely because they had lights on them and they were holding them to sort of use them as lights. 01:18:57.23 Brian Penn Yeah. 01:19:10.15 Brian Penn Yeah, yeah. 01:19:13.32 ukfilmreview More than actually as cameras. So I kind of will let that light pass but why have a problem with when people use the genres often because it's like yeah but people would have just dropped their cameras by this point and run right? That's just what they would do but in this situation The cameras had already been placed. They'd already. There was a reason for them to be in there and the whole. 01:19:24.30 Brian Penn So. Yeah. 01:19:33.26 ukfilmreview Setup of the film at the beginning we get told is that all this footage has been found and used by the police and then a group of filmmakers got together to put it into the film to show you what happened so it gives that sense of all this could have happened like obviously clearly it didn't but you know like with Blair which there was people that felt that the blowitch was real because they just delivered it so well. 01:19:40.22 Brian Penn So there. Yeah, so yeah, it feels real. Yeah yeah course So yeah. 01:19:52.58 ukfilmreview And created that myth around it and I think that this is is just as good as bleitch just as good um feels more modern feels like it's tapping into that social media generation. The idea of like Youtube vigilantes you know, causing chaos I love the fact that their names are nearly thelma and louise right? It's like theater. 01:19:57.58 Brian Penn There there. 01:20:04.91 Brian Penn And I yeah know and but yeah, they did. But yeah and I. 01:20:12.23 ukfilmreview And they play on that right? and he's said why don't you change your names I don't want to change where they um but don't are. That's the other thing I wanted to really draw attention to the chemistry between those 2 actresses was incredible I could have genuinely watched their Youtube channel I hope they start one. Um. 01:20:21.14 Brian Penn Yeah, it was yeah. 01:20:29.79 ukfilmreview Yeah, so Riz Maritz and Elie Duckles were just excellent. They they really secured the film because the first like section of them of them going through the countryside and causing a bit of banter along the way was just what you needed it wasn't like the whole kind of. 01:20:32.48 Brian Penn So well. Where the. So yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, and I. 01:20:46.30 ukfilmreview Oh going to a scary house. Oh wonder what's going to happen. It was like no no, even no I idea what's going to happen with these two girls because they are just so reckless and so like just off the cuff deck. Yeah, she's she's going off for a pee. She decides to keep a a camera on. Yeah, she's just doing that. 01:21:01.10 Brian Penn Yeah, but yeah does and it makes more believable as well because you know with this this approach to filmmaking is that it has to feel real. You have to sort of believe that it's happening and the the fact they do. They seem to have ah a proper relationship there. There is a friendship there. 01:21:01.29 ukfilmreview I Think that really added a sense of comedy to the film as well that you needed. Yeah. 01:21:19.74 Brian Penn There is kind of like chemistry and there's a rapper between them that that you get straight away so that makes it even more convincing. Um, but yeah, you got to be impressed with it the way it's been been done and the way it's been made. 01:21:36.26 ukfilmreview very very good um don't know if I don't think the film is out yet because it sounded like they were still doing lots of touring. But if you um, check out Fiz and ginger films dot code at UK that's fiz with two zeds and ginger. Um, they are the the sort. 01:21:37.37 Brian Penn Yeah, if you're already good. 01:21:41.74 Brian Penn And. 01:21:53.84 ukfilmreview That the company name I believe and they've got Instagram Fis and Ginger Films Twitter Fis and ginger. So yeah, plenty of um, ways to check them out again if not head to our website with the review. There's probably a trailer and you can find it on through there. 01:22:07.60 Brian Penn Yeah, is something. Yeah there. 01:22:09.44 ukfilmreview But strongly recommend it I am I'm really excited about that. It's something that maybe Rachel on the screen test podcast that we have she should review it. You know she should check it out because yeah, that's a really and great piece of horror filmmaking there. So yeah, dagger spelt D a g r by the way I know I said it earlier but' gonna say it again. 01:22:27.55 Brian Penn And yeah, and thorough and thorough. Ah yeah. 01:22:27.79 ukfilmreview Because I am nothing if not repetitive and boring. Okay I'm sorry oh I'm sorry that's what I meant to say not boring thorough. That's dagger we're moving on to a short film now I'm titled the a CTT so the act. Um. 01:22:42.33 Brian Penn Oh yeah. 01:22:46.74 ukfilmreview Which was reviewed on the website already by Jason Knight and we are reviewing him on the on the podcast. It's to do with a community theater I didn't quite catch the name of the the a the aquanic I had what did you have for fit the theater. Yeah, 2 theaters. 01:23:00.60 Brian Penn Yeah qua community Thea Thea wasn't it 2000 as like yeah. 01:23:06.64 ukfilmreview Which they make a joke about in in the ah the film. Um, it's kind of done in this sort of moary style where they're almost sort. Yeah talking about their theater and and the things that go on there. There's a ragtag group of actors and crew. Um, and then you know sort about the idea of putting on. 01:23:14.89 Brian Penn Yeah. 01:23:25.66 ukfilmreview Ah, New play. And yeah, you've got this sort bizarre director who sort of thinks a lot of himself but he's just kind of like a local guy. You've got an actor who she sort of comes from maybe above this sort of type of community theater. But yeah, she's sort of roughing it I Guess Um, yeah, there's a few different characters in there and we sort of given. 01:23:28.62 Brian Penn Yeah. 01:23:35.69 Brian Penn Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. 01:23:45.20 ukfilmreview Um, an insight into what happens within these these bases. Um, very low budget I think they actually told us that the budget was about $500 which I mean that wouldn't get you very much at all. So yeah, they they've done very well to create this short film it. It's ah it's not a. 01:23:46.68 Brian Penn And. 01:23:54.60 Brian Penn I now and I and I like that. Well really? Well yeah. 01:24:04.45 ukfilmreview Tiny film movie is on um for a little bit and um, yeah, it goes through ah a different type of plot I think in terms of trying to tie in so there's like this main guy who's the sort of um, the lead character I guess. 01:24:17.92 Brian Penn He. 01:24:21.40 ukfilmreview And there's a reason why we're watching it and which happens sort of more towards the end as to why they're struggling financially. But oh I spoil that I feel that's a bit of a spoiler. Um, but yeah, what do you think of the act. 01:24:24.57 Brian Penn I yeah yeah, no ah I think it is a really really good effort I really enjoy watching it the the fact that you've got this It's um, what we would call amdra in the Uk. You know you'd call it community theateratre in America. It's like the kind of the second set or the third tier of this. Ah you know it's where aspiring a learn their trade and. It's interesting to get that kind of friction between different characters where one of them is an equity card holder a professional actor who's used to something much bigger and is used to playing bigger audiences and trying to prove how superior she is which I quite like and then there's the other girl. Who's who's super enthusiastic who's bragging about the part she had in little women in a local production but its not doesn't quite pan out that way and then you've got the ah the direction they've all got huge egos really in their own way. Ah, he's he's trying to big himself up and if they're making ah. 01:25:34.82 Brian Penn they're they're doing he's play basically um and he's directing it so you got all of that going on. Ah I think it's really good fun because it's just what happens in and the amateur amateur fit theatrical companies is that you've got lots of egos that people that have different expectations from what they're doing. Some are doing it for fun. Some see it as a stepping stone there are people on the way up in the profession. There are people on the way down and all that is kind of packed into like 10 to 15 minutes and I think it's really great, really great. It's cute. The way it's been put together and the fact they've done it on such a limited budget as well. I think it deserves a lot of credit. Good phone. 01:26:13.60 ukfilmreview Yeah, I'm always impressed by people that do take an idea in they run with their yeah with limited resources I'm the filmmakers. So it's directed by Colby Cyrus and it's written by Andrew Madeirro and they both star in the film as well. Um, but I think. 01:26:25.45 Brian Penn So. 01:26:30.44 ukfilmreview They've submit films to the site previously and I think I love that passion. There's definitely an element of ah, almost poking fun at this world even like the filmmaking world as well. There's a bit where they talk about a film festival like said, no one cares about your film that won the the larvi da award in the random. 01:26:39.19 Brian Penn I mean Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, fin it the Phoenix It's a film festival. Something wasn't yeah. 01:26:49.13 ukfilmreview Fell through wherever and I think yeah and I thought that's such a yeah important part of this film terms of what they're do they they're sending themselves up almost. You're sending up their own livelihood in their own place. But there's a lot of heart. There's a lot of characters that you could feel that were genuine and and you. 01:26:56.91 Brian Penn Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. 01:27:09.00 ukfilmreview True to the sort nature of who you come across? Let you say we are amateur dramatics in the uk I do drama at ah, 6 form and yet you had these sort of people that were very much that sort of way. But um, yeah I think it's that film that will connect with people that have ever experienced this type of world. Especially from the inside. Um. 01:27:14.81 Brian Penn Oh. Yeah, yeah, yeah. 01:27:28.42 ukfilmreview I Don't know whether the film has much longevity around other than that I in terms of will a wider audience. Enjoy this I think it's quite limited by its scope. Ah yeah, in terms of what it can do. But I think you that it would it will touch a nerve with the people that that connect with it. The idea of it. 01:27:34.53 Brian Penn Yeah I I yeah you will do I Also I think it's a good showcase for the the directs on the writer it shows what they can do on on a shoestring. Really. 01:27:48.23 ukfilmreview Yeah. 01:27:54.32 Brian Penn And for what it is is well well it's self-contained. It's well put together and it works. But as you say probably not that you know it's probably not as accessible as some stories because as you say it's It's very niche isn't it So people that have been involved in the the. I mean I write this review So I kind of got more of it than maybe some people would have done because I've had some experience of it through the ah reviews I've written for first. So I get it. But it might not work for everyone and some of the they're in jokes aren't they. There's some jokes that might only work. If you if you work in that environment but aside from that. Yeah yeah, exactly yeah. 01:28:33.67 ukfilmreview And it was yeah if you very expect. Yeah if you experienced characters like this before you'll kind of go. Oh yeah, That's yeah, That's what that person's like um, but yeah I think it's a very good effort special on that budget and again proof fear that these filmmakers are capable of doing a lot with. Not much yeah terms of resources I Just think that there is definitely a limitation to the appeal of the act but you can let us know you know you can go and watch the film if and when it's available I don't again I don't think it is um although the link we had. Yeah I mean check out. 01:28:54.12 Brian Penn Yeah, yeah, I'd agree. Yeah. 01:29:08.59 ukfilmreview Um, instagram.com and go to skip productions films. They'll have more information there you follow them. But I'm sure they'll be able to direct you to the movie if and when it becomes available for public consumption. But um. 01:29:13.72 Brian Penn So. 01:29:26.36 ukfilmreview Yeah, that's the act. Um, one of the 2 short films that we're reviewing the second short film written and directed by Elias suhel called beneath a mother's feet again. Don't have a clip of this which is a shame because it's a. 01:29:29.43 Brian Penn Is in. 01:29:44.87 ukfilmreview Only powerful film Brian Drnna do the synopsis on this one. 01:29:45.90 Brian Penn Yeah, yeah, so tells the story of we dad a single mother who's trying to survive day to day in roco ah very skillfully put together minimal dialogue. But. It relies more on visuals to convey feelings and emotions and it's dealing with a very bleak outlook of very bleak life but you you get so much from it. But they're not it is an overburdened with dialogue I mean like it's only 50 minutes long but it doesn't overdo. It. It doesn't give you too much to. Take on board but you appreciate the situation. She's in and the decisions that she has to make and the impact that it has on her and others around her. The fact that she is a single mother. She has the opportunity to remarry and this gentleman wants to take it. Her and her 2 children on and the conversation she has with her parent that which is the key conversation in some ways where they're saying but not many men would take on ah a woman with 2 children and that's a very sort of a very sort of engrossing sort of dialogue. And it kind of sets it up. Um, but very so very sensitive very perceptive but gets the message across without cramming too much dialogue into the time they've got available but I thought it was really good, really powerful really moving. So. 01:31:15.26 ukfilmreview Yeah I think you're right about the the dialogue as well that that absence of dialogue it really makes you question like the emotion of the piece instead and you start to feel more of what is going through her head. There's a bit where she's on the balcony. 01:31:21.52 Brian Penn Yeah. 01:31:32.27 Brian Penn So. 01:31:34.00 ukfilmreview And she's not doing I think she's just finally catching a breather from her situation and then her neighbor kind of interrupts her and she sort of gets back to work and she just again doesn't really say much even though the neighbor's kind of like rattling off about her day and what she's got to do that. There's this sense of such an internal struggle. 01:31:36.85 Brian Penn The. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Yeah. 01:31:52.77 ukfilmreview This character. Um, and like say yeah, the conversation with her parents about this this gentleman that will take her on. It's really strong. There's also a adult I'm not going to spoil this but there is a scene where she goes to the bathroom that something happens and it is. 01:32:05.71 Brian Penn The. 01:32:11.70 ukfilmreview That I mean that was first off, not really expected and secondly wow how well was that film that was amazing. That's so good. Um, and it's tying into for me it tied into sort of these ideas of postnatal depression. It typed. Yeah things about expectations of. 01:32:14.21 Brian Penn But no yeah I know yeah I know it was good. It's very well done. And. 01:32:29.30 ukfilmreview Genders and things like that. Yeah and the way so you've got the silence which is really powerful but there's also the framing they were framing this actor really well often like very strong Close-ups or blurring her family in the background. 01:32:35.50 Brian Penn Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. 01:32:46.98 ukfilmreview The neighbor who I mentioned you can't actually see her. She's not really brought into the into the picture and it's almost like our central character has just been detached from this this. So her surroundings are not her reality. It's almost like what my why am I here and I think that explains us to what happens in the sort of latter part of the film. 01:32:54.59 Brian Penn Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, but she's very good though I think her name's Nisrene adder. Very good, very charismatic. She's got real presence and. 01:33:05.13 ukfilmreview Yeah. 01:33:13.88 ukfilmreview Um, in. 01:33:14.33 Brian Penn You know, certain scenes are so perceptive where they don't say anything you know one of the one of the hardest things to do for a filmmaker is to write silence into her scripts and be confident enough to leave it there and not fill that silence with words. There was 1 thing where she's preparing vegetables. 01:33:32.12 ukfilmreview Yeah, yeah. 01:33:33.10 Brian Penn You know the same I mean and she's kind of cutting an onion in half and just chopping it furiously in her hand and that in itself is so kind of a manifestation of her own frustrations about her life of what's going on and how she wants to change things. But there's no dialogue there. She's not saying anything. No One's talking to her. But it's just her a knife and a vegetable but you kind of get something from that you know the firsticalaxy of that scene is actually quite impressive when you look at it because I watched this film twice I don't normally do it with short films I don't normally watch them twice but I watched this one twice because I was curious and I wanted to pick up more. From it but very good for it. Very very good, Very impressed. Excellent. 01:34:15.40 ukfilmreview Yeah, really powerful. It's got a lot of strong themes strong filmmaking. But it's also that that's all there. But it's also subtle and soft at times as well that the way the lighting is done and the way that kind of telling this film very heartfelt I Ah yeah. 01:34:26.35 Brian Penn Yeah. 01:34:34.68 Brian Penn The. 01:34:35.25 ukfilmreview I was really moved by I mean I'm a parent and and for me yeah, very strong film to watch Gay I watch it twice I do that with most shorts if I can but it was yeah well worth another watch and yeah, even just for that bathroom scene again I was like Wow that's incredible. Um, yeah. 01:34:42.81 Brian Penn Yeah, yeah, oh yeah I know I know it stays with you doesn't it really? yeah. 01:34:54.50 ukfilmreview If you are um, looking for information about the film. There's a website dedicated to it so beneath a mother'sfeat dot com or obviously 1 word or there's an Instagram page I believe of the filmmaker which is at DA r underscore elias 01:35:13.90 Brian Penn So. 01:35:13.19 ukfilmreview So E L I a s spelling that out for you. So hopefully you can find it. But if you do get stuck please just let us know or you can head to our social media where if we are able to we would have tagged the film worker when we promoted our written review of the film just give you a little insight into how we help there. Yeah. 01:35:18.18 Brian Penn Me. 01:35:25.93 Brian Penn Yeah, maybe. 01:35:30.96 ukfilmreview Can always go to us. Um I'm going to help another film right now. Um, so this was a film. We reviewed a while back and we're not doing a review and we're just doing a bit of a shout out to be honest swatti verma reviewed it back in May Twenty Twenty Two films called blank shas. 01:35:50.79 ukfilmreview I believe it's a short film and yes it the filmmakers got in touch with us. We reviewed it. Give it a very good review. A Fourstar review they got in touch recently to say that it was now available to watch in full on the Youtube channel called dust which I think shows a lot short films or sciphon films and things. Um. 01:36:02.55 Brian Penn Ah. 01:36:06.72 Brian Penn What. 01:36:10.40 ukfilmreview So yeah, it's available to watch on those channel in full and if you want to you can even watch it on our website because if you go to the review for Blank Shaws at the bottom of the review is the full film embedded in the review currently now I say currently because if you're listening to this in the future that may not be there because often these films. 01:36:16.44 Brian Penn And plastic. Wow. 01:36:28.98 ukfilmreview Don't stay on platforms. They don't stay all Joers Well I'll end up with a broken video but for now very happy to say that it works as all for recording and um, yeah I'm gonna watch it and I don't think I've seen it yet. So yeah, yeah, and what great value. We're providing here you can literally go onto our website and watch a whole film. 01:36:30.36 Brian Penn But yeah, ah yeah I'm I'm gonna watch shit as well cause Love i' seeing. So. 01:36:45.13 Brian Penn Online then. 01:36:48.59 ukfilmreview For free just go and do it blank shores. It's called and so yeah, that is available now. Um, now that's all the indie films reviewed all the streaming all the cinema. So all that's left is our nostalgia pick and we are heading back to the same year I believe that we headed back last. 01:37:01.33 Brian Penn Wow! yeah. 01:37:07.50 Brian Penn Good. Yeah. 01:37:08.59 ukfilmreview Last month we went to, we reviewed ghost bussters from 1984 and we're going back again to 9 8 4 to review gremlins ah written by Chris Columbus who always has a yeah strong place in my heart. He's written many of my favorite 90 s movies. Um, yeah, and even. 01:37:15.45 Brian Penn Oh. 01:37:21.82 Brian Penn Yeah. 01:37:27.90 ukfilmreview Harry Potter he was seated the first Harry Potter directed by Joe Dante um ah do we need to say what gremlins is about I feel most people must know what gremlins is above quick rundown. Um you go for Brian you you love these bits. Don't you. 01:37:35.70 Brian Penn Well, you think so wouldn't you really But oh that's an a quick rundown all right? Then it's a nice simple storyline Randall Paler is the inventor is looking for a present free sum. He buys a mysterious and cute creature called a magwa the celler warns him not to expose him to bright, light and water nor should he feed him after midnight or else biles. We know you've got a set of rules. What do you do you ignore them. Don't you. Simple as that and um, it goes on to ah well it it kind of um elaborates on what could happen if you're told not to do something and it's brilliant. It's it's still. Still one of those films that wears well is false years old which I find incredible I never realized it was forty years old and a bit like ghostbusters you you look at how well the the special effects have worn over the years and if we're really honest, you know the. Some of the special effects look a bit a bit basic now I guess um, but it still works and it's still great fun and there are still great things to pick out. There aren't I you know with the the g grams break dancing and smoking and getting drunk and you know it's still so well done. 01:39:00.39 ukfilmreview Um. 01:39:03.21 Brian Penn And the fact that it's co-produced by Steve Spilberg gives it that extra that extra dose of polish doesn't it really, but still great fun. It's I mean I enjoyed it when it was firsted out when it first came out and I enjoyed it now. It's just one of those films. It's a classic eighty s film isn't that. 01:39:18.99 ukfilmreview Yeah, that's why I picked it because for me I had only a very vague memory of it like my brother used to watch it. He was a bit older than me and I remember being a bit scared because I must have been or been about sort of maybe 5 or 6 01:39:33.83 Brian Penn The the. 01:39:36.89 ukfilmreview 7 when my brother's putting this on. Yeah that age would terrify. Um I've even completely forgotten that it's basically a Christmas film right? because he's he's at set at Christmas and he gets he gets the boy the present for Christmas um, and there's there's some snow and all that sort stuff. But. 01:39:44.50 Brian Penn Yeah I forgot about that Actually I must admit. Yeah, no. 01:39:55.11 ukfilmreview Really holds up and I think it's because of the practical effects being used. Yeah, they're using a lot of puppetry and and things like that and I think you know that's absolutely fine. Just still side note weirdly actually I heard that obviously they're doing a new and beetlejuice film and Tim Burton was saying about going back to more of that sort of filmmaking ah doing the practical stuff and. 01:40:05.82 Brian Penn All right. 01:40:14.60 ukfilmreview Because it wanted it to feel like that again, you know, not just relying on tgi. 01:40:16.22 Brian Penn Well Bc this is the thing though. Chris isn't it I mean maybe that's the key is to go back to something a bit more basic that it you know it's to so I mean this is why my opening comments were focusing on the special effects because they look pretty basic by today's standards but what's wrong with that. 01:40:34.70 ukfilmreview E. 01:40:35.86 Brian Penn You know what's wrong with it being the way it was you know I think you can come up with something that's a bit too clean and a bit too stile. So I'm pleased to hit Tim Button It is looking back rather than just looking forward and just taking the easy way out which is the often the way we seegi now is that. 01:40:53.16 ukfilmreview Yeah, and I think this is that sort of era where you did have some special effects. Yeah, we saw in ghostbusters. You know we sort of see the lights and things that but it wasn't too crazy. Um, especially not to modernize. But. 01:40:53.17 Brian Penn Can sight the easy want. 01:40:58.97 Brian Penn So. 01:41:07.81 ukfilmreview With gremlins like I didn't really feel that there was that much special effects going on a lot of it was just kind of practical stuff albeit not that well done like. For example, there's obviously fake snow coming down like it is obviously that sort of thing but I I think there are also bits to to genuine needs or scary that. 01:41:17.63 Brian Penn Well yeah. 01:41:26.49 ukfilmreview Ah, gremlins do kind of still spook you up a little bit. Um I mean maybe not you Brian because you're not afraid of anything apparently but you know. 01:41:27.18 Brian Penn So yeah, yeah, I so well yeah I know well of course naturally but I mean the thing is one one particular scene that I think is quite um, would be quite alarming for some is whether the is where the ah the bad griman shall we say. Break out the chrysalis or break out of the cocoon that's quite that's quite yeah yeah it was yeah yeah, that's a good analogy with alien yeah islandsia definitely so yeah, it still works on that level and you know I quite like the ah the special effects that were done back then you know we. 01:41:47.49 ukfilmreview Yeah, yeah, that bit alienesque wasn't it. It felt like that sort of film. Yeah. 01:42:05.45 Brian Penn Mentioned guy bosters just now I mean I saw a clip of the new ghost bussters film which we'll review in the next episode the new film but the the effects for the for um, the new ghostbusters film does strike me as being very reminent reminiscent of the first ghost bosters film that. They haven't kind of given it this radical makeover. It's like they kind of taken it and think right? We'll just preserve that and we'll maintain it and there's a degree of constuency there and it doesn't become this very sort of clean sterile treatment that can. But leave me cold. Let's put it that way you know. 01:42:43.35 ukfilmreview Yeah I agree and I think touching back on these films has been such a nice treat because you do sort of capture that sense of films that obviously we're speaking to people that were born in that century. Yeah, that were worn around these object. Yeah that we were going to have that feeling towards them. It might be different for. 01:42:48.95 Brian Penn I. 01:43:00.60 Brian Penn Yeah, yeah. 01:43:02.71 ukfilmreview Modern modern eyes but I certainly think that especially what we're seeing now with this sort of um, splurge of Marvel films not doing very well because they're just failing to capture the storytelling that they've got all the special effects still but the stories of rubbish that. 01:43:14.50 Brian Penn Yeah, yeah. 01:43:19.49 ukfilmreview Or even modern audiences are getting turned off from that because they want the good stories and I think gramner's is a great story. It's such a fun thing and ah a cool idea. Is it executed really well over a Christmas period and there's that sort of genuine sense of threat and peril from these creatures. 01:43:23.47 Brian Penn Yeah, yeah. 01:43:32.50 Brian Penn Yeah, and I it's it. It's it's it's done it I just say it's really cool. You know we use that word call don't we we we know it and we know it when we see it but you can't redefine it being cool but it's one of those films that will always be cool. 01:43:36.14 ukfilmreview It just gets delivered really really well. 01:43:50.47 ukfilmreview So I Brian I already know my mom said that I'm cool. So that's that done? Yep yep! Thank you. 01:43:52.14 Brian Penn And a way and I oh well. Okay, are you the definition of call it. Ah right? Okay, yeah, fair enough fair enough? Yeah ah, but yeah, um, yeah, its I also saw another thing about these these films and the nostalgia slot that we're doing is that. Kind of feel a ah case of where are they now coming on because there are actors featured that you think god what happens to them and in this film you got people like Phoebe cakes and Jake Galligan you know who are kind of you know they're vaguely around somewhere but they're not anywhere near. Being an a-list actor anymore. Do you I mean they have their time in Cory Phil you know now as's interesting. You mentioned Cory Feldman because 2 years after this film was made stand by me came out and we reviewed stand by me didn't we on the nostalgia slot and I can't believe. 01:44:33.65 ukfilmreview Um, yeah, no Corey Feldman I think is in it. Um. 01:44:45.18 ukfilmreview Um, yeah. 01:44:50.93 Brian Penn Ah, two years elapse between these films because Cory Feldman in gremlins looks about 7 8 but in stand by me. He looks about 15 and he's put on a couple of stone I with um, but maybe that's just my imagination I know but um, but i's just interested to see the why a's careers ebb and flow and. 01:44:58.17 ukfilmreview Um, just said out out. 01:45:10.73 Brian Penn They experience different fortunes but they they have their time in the sun. Don't they but it seems to be more common in the a s where you you see a lot of Axs you think they're going to be the next big thing and they fought by the wayside for various reasons and oh yeah. 01:45:25.80 ukfilmreview That's right, it's all down to decision making. Um and if you've decided to listen to this whole episode. Well done I mean this is a long one isn't it. We we have been through so much together Brian we've you know we've understood that you don't scare. 01:45:32.39 Brian Penn So yeah on I Yeah I know I say what we we found a choer list. Um way. 01:45:41.24 ukfilmreview That my mom thinks I'm cool and yet that there's some incredible phones right now. Um, it's massive I mean it's because as we're very fortunate. We get a lot of submissions to review on the podcast. We've already got some lined up for next month um 01:45:49.75 Brian Penn Ah, really good sense. But. 01:45:56.19 Brian Penn Alright. 01:45:59.30 ukfilmreview And yeah, we're we're very very honored to be in this position. But yeah, thank you to the people that listen, especially right to the end my goodness I mean you're as crazy as us. Um, so yeah I mean my only advice would be to follow the Gremlin rules really you know don't get yourself wet. Don't eat after midnight or was the other ones. 01:46:01.90 Brian Penn Yeah, yeah. 01:46:15.70 Brian Penn Yeah, yeah, not bright lights Spriy lights sprayates. No bright lights. 01:46:18.27 ukfilmreview Sunlight was it that I can't remember now. Yeah bright lights bright lights. But yes, thank you ad for listening. Thank you Brian again for your amazing reviews. Um, yeah, absolutely privileged to have you here as our chief film critic. Ah. 01:46:27.58 Brian Penn No problem. Okay, Well thank you. 01:46:36.21 ukfilmreview But yes, this has been the UKFilm review podcast with UKFilm club um and yeah, we'll see you again next time. 01:46:43.70 Brian Penn Bye for now. Previous Next

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