Search Results

Hands (Mãos) film review by UK film critic William Hemingway. Starring Maria Leite directed by Filipe Piteira. HOME | FILMS | REVIEWS Hands (Mãos) Film Review average rating is 3 out of 5 Critic: William Hemingway | Posted on: Aug 12, 2024 Directed by: Filipe Piteira Written by: Filipe Piteira and Maria Leite Starring: Maria Leite Hands , or Mãos as it is in Portuguese, is a seven-minute short film from writer, director and producer Filipe Piteira. It is very much an arthouse film, or if we are to follow the tags on Vimeo, experimental, having as it does no dialogue and no plot to follow. What we do get is seven minutes of quiet contemplation of hands. In particular we get to see the hands of co-writer, although without dialogue or plot I believe choreographer would be a more accurate description, Maria Leite. We watch as Maria takes a leisurely wander around a derelict building in her bright pink ski jumpsuit. The building is large and empty but with plenty of corridors and small stairways to get lost in. There’s rubble and debris all over the floor, there’s graffiti plastered on every wall, and Maria is interested in taking it all in. Naturally, most of the focus is not on the building or surroundings at all, but on Maria’s hands. It’s about what she has in her hands, what she does with the things in her hands, how she moves her hands, and what her hands tell her about the reality she is experiencing. A nice, soft score from Aurélien Martin Vieira Lino also accompanies the visuals and builds a throughline from which we can journey with Maria as she explores her world. As you might expect, there’s not an awful lot else for the viewer in Piteira’s short film, and if you’re not interested in the philosophical contemplation of hands, then there’s really nothing for you at all. There may be something to be said for the things that Maria takes into her hands; a camera, pieces of a mirror, a prism; as each offers a viewpoint or reflection, but it is of course up to the audience what they take away from the visual representations. The one thing that might give us a clue to Piteira’s motivation is a scene where Maria drags on a vape and blows the smoke onto her hand as she holds it up. The shot becomes dreamy, as colour billows around and a drug induced haziness emerges, signalling that this may well be where and how Piteira got his idea. Throughout Hands the photography stands up, taking in the light and the shadows in equal amounts and drawing our focus where it needs to go. The idea for the film is to express the hands as the connection between body and soul, and if you really want to believe in it, then Piteira manages this well. However, Hands is not a film you’re likely to see in a cinema or at a festival, but is far more suited to being something short and enjoyable as part of an art installation. About the Film Critic William Hemingway Short Film < All Reviews Next Film Review >

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

Etwas Nutzlos (Somewhat Useless) film review by UK film critic Patrick Foley. Starring Gabriel Tauber, Leonie Euler, Matthew Greenaway directed by Eric Liddle. HOME | FILMS | REVIEWS Etwas Nutzlos (Somewhat Useless) Film Review average rating is 5 out of 5 Critic: Patrick Foley | Posted on: Apr 3, 2023 Directed by: Eric Liddle Written by: Eric Liddle Starring: Gabriel Tauber, Leonie Euler, Matthew Greenaway Eric Liddle’s Somewhat Useless (or Etwas Nutzlos in its native German) is a short, experimental film made entirely of still imagery stitched together to make a seamless symbolic story. Despite the unconventional nature of its production, this film feels alive and energetic. In an overbearing and cold Berlin, Stefan (Gabriel Tauber) experiences a severe case of depression and imposter syndrome as his relationship with his girlfriend (Leonie Euler) collapses in front of his eyes. He begins to question his very identity as a sudden and overwhelming sense of change engulfs his life. Somewhat Useless is an emotive and surreal short that is as much of an experience as it is a film. Touching on complex and difficult emotive spaces, this 6-minute feature will reach deep into the state of the viewer to extract their own experiences that are alike those of protagonist Stefan – whose strange journey through his own psyche will be familiar to anyone who has felt lost or unsure of their purpose or position in life. The shattering and splitting of his identity into a totally different person (played here by Matthew Greenaway) is executed brilliantly and never feels like a stale trope as such storytelling techniques often do. The film’s final scene and line land are a wonderful and earned conclusion of this exploration. The film is essentially told in real-life stop-motion, with still images painstakingly assembled to make a coherent plot. The editing is so seamless, unaware audiences will likely think traditional shooting forms the basis of the film for the most part. The minimal jumpiness seen throughout lends itself to enhancing the storytelling by emphasising a sense of disconnect and otherworldliness to Stefan’s interpretation of the world. Eric Liddle even plays with the technique as a photograph taken of Stefan becomes a key storytelling device within the world itself – and the implications that someone’s state in a still image has for the plot. Liddle uses the Berlin setting itself to map the complex journey Stefan undergoes, with artistic framing of everything from park gaslights to the city’s metro system to further demonstrate the film’s inventive nature. Gabriel Tauber captures Stefan’s torn nature brilliantly – feeling both at home and lost in his surroundings. Tauber lounges in the most European of fashions around the city streets, yet questions his every move as he navigates a confusing time in his life. Somewhat Useless is not just an artistic accomplishment, but also a poignant emotional journey that is empathetic, unnerving and intelligent. It’s depth and layers are worth exploring again and again, and will be sure to be debated by viewers as it taps into intimate personal experiences. About the Film Critic Patrick Foley Digital / DVD Release, Short Film, World Cinema, Indie Feature Film < All Reviews Next Film Review >

Gradually, Then Suddenly: The Bankruptcy of Detroit film review by UK film critic Jason Knight. Starring Nancy Kaffer, Bill Nowling, Kevyn Orr, Brian Day directed by Sam Katz, James McGovern. HOME | FILMS | REVIEWS Gradually, Then Suddenly: The Bankruptcy of Detroit Film Review average rating is 4 out of 5 Critic: Jason Knight | Posted on: Jul 4, 2024 Directed by: Sam Katz, James McGovern Written by: Nathan Bomey Starring: Nancy Kaffer, Bill Nowling, Kevyn Orr, Brian Day A feature-length documentary about the crisis the city of Detroit went through following the decision to file for bankruptcy on July 18 2013, which was the biggest municipal bankruptcy filing in the history of the United States. Through many interviews, photographs, some animation and plenty of archive footage, this informative and intriguing documentary investigates this dramatic time that put the strength of this city and its citizens to the test. Separated into chapters, the film discloses the devastating impact that this financial downfall had on the daily operations of Detroit. Examples would be that due to lack of funding the city's emergency services are unable to be efficient, people are becoming homeless and violent crime is on the rise. Particular attention is given to the effect the bankruptcy has on people's pensions, placing them in jeopardy and on the Detroit Institute of Arts, whose sale is taken under consideration in order to help pay off some of the city's debt. These terrible facts prove that bankruptcy does not harm the city just economically, it also destroys its spirit. In order to determine why the city found itself in such a state, its history is also analysed, beginning from the 1930s, revealing a time when that place was thriving with opportunities, a strong economy and a large population. However, as the decades passed, things fell apart partly due to a lack of financial support from the federal government and the state government. The variety of interviewees work in sectors that include journalism and politics and some are simple people living in Detroit, including pensioners. Some of these individuals are Nancy Gaffer from the Detroit Free Press, Communications Director Bill Nowling, Kevyn Orr the Emergency Manager for the City of Detroit, Detroit Historian Ken Coleman, photographer Brian Day and Dave Bing, a former Mayor of Detroit. All these people share their knowledge and experiences regarding many aspects of the city. The animated sequences by Jacob Rivkin help understand Detroit's history and the events that led to its current unfortunate situation. The animation includes maps of the city and the surrounding areas and people inside a courtroom. The same title card appears several times, that contains the definition of the word 'debt'. Although its significance might be understood, seeing it again and again could be a bit tiring. Commendations go to editor James McGovern for the superb and creative job and the same applies to composer Daniel Slatkin for the tense and dramatic music. This is an informative and shocking documentary that explores a city that is suffering from bankruptcy. Those who watch this feature will learn a great deal about the challenges Detroit has faced due to lack of funds. About the Film Critic Jason Knight Indie Feature Film, Documentary < All Reviews Next Film Review >

Sonata For A Calendar film review by UK film critic Julian Gaskell. Starring Oswaldo Salas directed by Carmen Rosa Vargas. HOME | FILMS | REVIEWS Sonata For A Calendar Film Review average rating is 4 out of 5 Critic: Julian Gaskell | Posted on: Jun 18, 2022 Directed by: Carmen Rosa Vargas Written by: Carmen Rosa Vargas Starring: Oswaldo Salas An immaculately shot black and white short follows Alfonso, a 53 year old accountant from Lima, who as he prepares to go to work each morning, marks off the days on his calendar, all to the enchanting piano sounds of Beethoven. The short starts with some bleak overcast skies and empty establishing shots of a tower block in Lima. We then enter inside the apartment of Alfonso (Oswaldo Salas) who’s getting up to go about his daily morning routine before he leaves for work. This is perfectly orchestrated to the sounds of Beethoven, which editor Carlos Andrés must get some credit for, turning the mundane morning routine into a choreographed ritual in Alfonso’s apartment, as we listen to probably one of Beethoven’s most underrated tracks. The black and white camera shots have a heightened artistic effect and the extreme close-ups bring a personal intimacy into Alfonso’s own stark reality, bringing to attention some of his fastidious routine as he washes and dresses, combs his hair and fastens his shoes; so much so, this clockwork manner is like an OCD. Finally, before he exits his apartment door to leave for work he marks off the day on his calendar. There is a small pause in activity as the camera holds on the empty flat before he returns home again from work, walking back through the door to do his routine in reverse. The classical music score further adds an element of artistic poetry to the static black and white shots assembled together. Oswaldo is a quirky little character actor to observe going about his daily routine and added to this is a mysterious wooden box, which he gives a knowing glance to. The cinematic shots give the impression of the familiar daily humdrum. Day becomes night and night becomes day as the birds sing and the trains rattle on and Alfonso gets on with his daily routine. But there is a slower lethargy creeping in. One day he has a shock though when he can’t open the door and falls into a forced panic. Being mysteriously locked in, and not being able to get to work, he is drawn to the wooden box, which makes his eyes fill with tears. Is it time to open the box? Shot in Oswaldo’s own apartment in Lima there is no dialogue, so no need to worry about any translation. The exquisite piano allegro matched to the movement around the apartment gives the feel of a silent movie and a magical understanding to what is happening in Alfonso’s life. About the Film Critic Julian Gaskell Short Film < All Reviews Next Film Review >

The Northman film review by UK film critic Hope Madden. Starring Alexander Skarsgard, Anya Taylor-Joy, Claes Banghttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oMSdFM12hOw&t=3s directed by Robert Eggers. HOME | FILMS | REVIEWS The Northman Film Review average rating is 4 out of 5 Critic: Hope Madden | Posted on: Apr 21, 2022 Directed by: Robert Eggers Written by: Sjon, Robert Eggers Starring: Alexander Skarsgard, Anya Taylor-Joy, Claes Banghttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oMSdFM12hOw&t=3s Robert Eggers releases his third feature this week, a Viking adventure on an epic scale called The Northman . You had me at Robert Eggers. On display once again are the filmmaker’s aesthetic instincts, his mastery of framing, and his ability to squeeze every ounce of brutal beauty from a scene. This film is gorgeous, simultaneously broadcasting the wonder and unconquerable ruggedness of its Nordic land and seascapes. There are also familiar faces. Anya-Taylor Joy plays Olga, a spoil of war too cunning to remain long in bonds. She’s joined in smaller roles by Eggers favorites Ralph Ineson, Kate Dickie, and Willem Dafoe as a wizened court jester. Now, if you’re not a fan of the director’s two previous features, 2015’s The Witch and 2019’s The Lighthouse , that does not necessarily predict your feelings about his latest effort. Eggers is working in a different genre with a different, far larger cast and scope this time around. Alexander SSkarsgård is the film’s titular hero; Claes Bang, his uncle and foe. What you have is a classic vengeance tale: prince witnesses royal betrayal and the murder of his father. He loses his mother and his crown and vows revenge. You’ve seen the trailer. I will avenge you, father. I will save you, mother. I will kill you, Fjolnir. SKARSGARD is cut to play a Viking. His performance is primarily physical: blind rage looking for an outlet. He’s believably vicious, bloodthirsty, single-minded and, when necessary, vulnerable. The entire cast around him is equally convincing. Nicole Kidman – who played Skarsgård’s wife in the HBO series Big Little Lies, graduates to mother here, while Ethan Hawke plays his father, King Aurvandil War-Raven. That’s a good name. Oh, plus Bjork because Iceland. In fact, Egger’s co-writer here, beloved Icelandic novelist and screenwriterSjón, penned not only last year’s gorgeous folk horror The Lamb , but also Bjork’s early work with Lars von Trier, Dancer in the Dark. Classic is exactly how The Northman feels. The story is gritty and grand, the action brutal and the storytelling majestic. As is the case with Eggers, expect a fair amount of the supernatural and surreal to seep in here and there, but not enough to outweigh the meticulously crafted period realism. About the Film Critic Hope Madden Theatrical Release < All Reviews Next Film Review >

Life Rendered film review by UK film critic Jason Knight. Starring Owen Teague, Luce Rains, Armen Taylor directed by Emma Needell. HOME | FILMS | REVIEWS Life Rendered Film Review average rating is 4 out of 5 Critic: Jason Knight | Posted on: Dec 17, 2022 Directed by: Emma Needell Written by: Emma Needell, Ryan Barton Starring: Owen Teague, Luce Rains, Armen Taylor While living at an isolated location in the countryside, a young man struggles to communicate with his father, who has a disability. Mark (Teague) lives in a farmhouse with his father (Rains), who is a uniped and moves around in a wheelchair. The two of them live a quiet life and work hard. In order to socialise, Mark uses a virtual reality device, through which he enters a digital world, where he has an avatar with which he has formed a romantic relationship with another person's avatar in the 3D environment. As Mark tries to deal with his personal problems, things between him and his dad begin to suffer as a result. This is an emotional short drama with a story that focuses on the relationship between a quiet man and his father. On the surface, things appear to be OK, with father and son quietly living and working together. However, both of them have their own issues and they do not open about them with each other. Mark wants more out of life, he wants to meet other people, while it is also indicated that his father is suffering emotionally, due to his disability. Visually, the film looks great thanks to Anton Fresco's splendid cinematography and terrific lighting techniques. The VR scenes also look great, with human characters and environments that include a snow-covered forest and a large city with tall buildings. The narrative effectively utilises the VR scenes in order to explore the characters and move the story forward. With brilliant directing, Needell contributes significantly in making this a beautiful viewing, by creating wonderful establishing shots of nature. Both Teague and Rains are very dramatic in their roles, effectively portraying a son and his dad, who care deeply for each other and both are facing their own inner issues. They seem to be individuals who are isolated not just from the world but from themselves as well. The music by Alexis Grapsas is dramatic and includes guitar melodies and it is another great feature. This is a father-and-son drama that explores themes involving self-discovery, inner struggles, support and parenthood. Beautifully shot and with a strong script, it tells a moving story. About the Film Critic Jason Knight Short Film < All Reviews Next Film Review >

Strange Journey: The Story of Rocky Horror film review by UK film critic Jason Knight. Starring Richard O'Brien, Susan Sarandon, Tim Curry, Jack Black, Barry Bostwick directed by Linus O'Brien. HOME | FILMS | REVIEWS Strange Journey: The Story of Rocky Horror Film Review average rating is 4 out of 5 Critic: Jason Knight | Posted on: Sep 26, 2025 Directed by: Linus O'Brien Written by: Avner Shiloah Starring: Richard O'Brien, Susan Sarandon, Tim Curry, Jack Black, Barry Bostwick This year (2025 just to clarify) marks the 50th anniversary of the release of the independent musical comedy horror picture The Rocky Horror Picture Show and this 90-minute-long documentary aims to commemorate this legendary film's birthday. The writer of this review would like to take this opportunity to add that coincidently, today, the day that this review is being written (26 September 2025) marks exactly 50 years since this feature was released in the United States. Just a quick description of the plot, for those who are unfamiliar with this film: the story is about a recently enganged young couple (played by Sarandon and Bostwick) whose car brakes down while they are travelling in the countryside during a rainy night and the take refuge in the castle of Dr. Frank-N-Furter (Curry), a transvestite scientist who is also an alien. Through interviews, old photographs and archival footage, this documentary, which was directed by Linus O'Brien (who is the son of Richard O'Brien) and written by Avner Shiloah, takes the viewer on an informative and exciting journey to discover this film's background, how it all began, who was involved and how things progressed over the course of half a century. The numerous interviewees primarily consist of people who were involved in the production, some of which are members of the cast, including Tim Curry, Susan Sarandon, Barry Bostwick and Richard O'Brien, who also wrote the musical stage show The Rocky Horror Show and co-wrote The Rocky Horror Picture Show feature. Some of the crew members include Jim Sharman, the film's director and Sue Blane, the costume designer. These individuals (and others) share their experiences in bringing this project to life, building a detailed account of the events that led to the creation of the feature (and the play) and the story is quite fascinating. The documentary begins with Richard O'Brien's background (since he wrote the play) and he gets significant attention throughout as he reveals his music skills and his personal struggles. The part about the late legendary singer and actor Meat Loaf is a highlight and the addition of Hollywood actor Jack Black is a big plus. The impact that this documentary had (and continues to have) on people is evident. There is plenty of footage of everyday individuals enthusiastically explaining how watching this musical has affected their lives, motivating them to embark into their own personal journeys of self-discovery and self-expression. Viewing this documentary is a fantastic way to celebrate fifty years of The Rocky Horror Picture Show , a feature thar currently holds the record for the longest running theatrical release in film history. And it is being released near Halloween, which makes things even better. Strange Journey: The Story of Rocky Horror will be in UK & Irish Cinemas from 3rd October, and on DVD, Blu-Ray and Digital 20th October. About the Film Critic Jason Knight Indie Feature Film, Documentary, Theatrical Release < All Reviews Next Film Review >

A Trillion Miles West of Bradford film review by UK film critic Jason Knight. Starring Craig Andrew Mooney, Chris McLeish directed by Hamish Robertson. HOME | FILMS | REVIEWS A Trillion Miles West of Bradford Film Review average rating is 4 out of 5 Critic: Jason Knight | Posted on: Jan 18, 2022 Directed by: Hamish Robertson Written by: Hamish Robertson Starring: Craig Andrew Mooney, Chris McLeish A grieving young man discovers a way to travel to a parallel universe with the intention of locating his partner, who was killed in a car crash. One night, inside an empty home, there is suddenly a quick flash of light and Ricky (Mooney) appears out of nowhere. He is breathing hard and is wearing a peculiar electronic device on his forearm. Shortly after, Adam (McLeish) arrives, who lives in the property and is shocked to find Ricky there. Ricky has managed to travel here from another dimension, in which he and Adam were a couple and after Adam tragically died, Ricky was unable to cope and decided to find a way to be with Adam again. However, Ricky only has approximately ten minutes before he will likely disappear and return to his own world. This short science fiction drama tells an interesting and moving story that deals with loss, death, grief, love and finding the strength to move on. After a slow and mysterious beginning, the narrative goes on to introduce the situation and things get more and more dramatic as the two men have a conversation, tell each other how they feel and more tragic events are revealed. Ricky is desperate to be with Adam again while Adam does not share his perspective. Both protagonists deliver rather dramatic performances and are very convincing as two people who meet under quite extraordinary circumstances and go through a great deal of strong emotions. The pain and struggle they are going through is clearly visible on their faces. Shooting was done in black-and-white and Jakub Sirkowski's cinematography creates a melancholic atmosphere that goes well with the scenes. Robertson's script contains dramatic dialogue that explores the characters well and the directing is good and includes well-executed long takes. Jacob Aigner Reid develops a score that is dramatic and includes sounds of violin and piano and it is a composition that accompanies the images effectively. This film is heavy on emotions and revolves around losing a loved one and the idea of having a second chance. The plot is intriguing, the acting is strong and it offers a moving experience. About the Film Critic Jason Knight Short Film < All Reviews Next Film Review >

3000 film review by UK film critic Jason Knight. Starring Lea Catania, Jackson Millhollan directed by Davis Chang. HOME | FILMS | REVIEWS 3000 Film Review average rating is 4 out of 5 Critic: Jason Knight | Posted on: Apr 20, 2022 Directed by: Davis Chang Written by: Davis Chang Starring: Lea Catania, Jackson Millhollan An unvoiced and dramatic story about androids. The plot of this rather intriguing short sci-fi drama evolves around two androids, that appear to be by themselves in the countryside. Both of them have the form of a young adult, one female (Catania) and one male (Millhollan). The female seems to have just arrived there and the male is taking care of her and showing her how to do various things such as using a knife and fork and pretend to eat. The two of them are dressed in white clothing and are occasionally examined by scientists in a laboratory. Initially, things seem calm and organised, however something changes and the atmosphere becomes sinister. There are no spoken words in this film and the viewing experience is rather interesting. The main focus is the relationship that develops between the two robots, which begins as simple and diplomatic and then becomes romantic. The narrative is nonlinear and it is implied that there is trouble and the male android is becoming unstable. Generally, this could be categorised as a science fiction love story with elements of thriller and self-discovery. Both protagonists deliver convincing performances as humanoid robots. They are constantly silent and communicate with body language. They look utterly human, apart from a device on the back of their neck that appears to serve as a button and symbols that they have marked on their wrist. From time to time, they also have a liquid blue substance inserted into them through tubes. The female one behaves more humanlike, expressing a variety of emotions. The male one comes across as more in control, more calm and robotic, although that changes later. Director of photography Miguel Tafich creates wonderful cinematography and Yi Roy Yang does a great job with the editing. The music is tense and dramatic and helps create the right emotions. The creative sound effects play an important part in understanding the narrative. This is a viewing experience that is worth pusuing. It is a clever way of telling a story, without the use of dialogue and letting the images do most of the work. The result is a film that is moving and at times frightening and beautifully shot. About the Film Critic Jason Knight Short Film < All Reviews Next Film Review >

The Strange Dreams Of Hypnos And Venus film review by UK film critic William Hemingway. Starring Dante Fournarel, Eva Langlet directed by Alexandre David Lejuez. HOME | FILMS | REVIEWS The Strange Dreams Of Hypnos And Venus Film Review average rating is 2 out of 5 Critic: William Hemingway | Posted on: Apr 19, 2023 Directed by: Alexandre David Lejuez Written by: Alexandre David Lejuez Starring: Dante Fournarel, Eva Langlet You know, I really enjoy University Challenge. I watch it every week and think that it's the best quiz show on television. The reason that it's really good (apart from the dry sarcasm of Jeremy Paxman, of course) is that it's super difficult and you have to have an intense knowledge of a wide and varied number of subjects if you're going to stand any chance of answering the questions with any sort of frequency or accuracy. I usually manage to get one question right each episode, even before the plucky youngsters with their enormous intellect buzz in to tell Jeremy what they know, and sometimes I can even bump up my score by shouting out a random artist's name at the TV when a painting is flashed up on screen during the picture round, or by similarly shouting out the name of a random composer during the music round. So, when a film like The Strange Dreams Of Hypnos And Venus comes along you'd think that I might be in a pretty decent position to enjoy, decipher and understand what it's all about. Apparently not. Photographed, edited and directed by Alexandre David Lejuez, The Strange Dreams Of Hypnos And Venus opens with a quotation from Henry David Thoreau, a poem about love and the playing of some baroque(?) classical music. Then we meet Hypnos (Fournarel) surrounded by his own artistic impressions which seem to resemble himself, Jesus and the Devil all in one, and Ravel's Bolero begins to play (I know that one! 5 points to me) as Hypnos broods over making some tea before taking a drink and falling asleep to dream. This takes the entire length of the musical piece to do, some fifteen minutes, and by the end of it the audience is left wondering just what else they're going to get in the rest of the one hour and forty-five minute runtime. Well, the answer is not a lot. Inside Hypnos' dream more classical music plays while he sees images of faces – busts, statues, statuettes, masks, tapestries, paintings – faces, myriad faces and in the end some skulls. These are all still images which are cut together and zoomed in or out of alternately to give the impression of movement or gravitas. Then Hypnos wakes up, smokes something out of his pipe – probably weed – and falls asleep again for another extended dream sequence. This time he sees images of iconography and idolatry, mostly through stained glass windows, before moving onto lights and buildings. All of this might mean something to some people, if you're able to identify the faces of antiquity and the music which accompanies them, but unless you've had a classical education or have a serious interest in art and art history a lot of this is going to fall by the wayside and mean nothing at all. Part two is a mirror of the first, this time focusing on Venus (Langlet) whose poisons are cocoa and lollipops, and she prefers to dream about the seaside, coastline, cliffs and rocks. Venus enjoys sunsets and sunrises and eventually settles on the countryside and the gardens of country estates. Still the classical music plays and it's debatable whether any of this means anything to anyone other than Lejuez. It is clear to see that what Lejuez is trying to recreate here is his own version of the seminal artistic collaborations between Godfrey Reggio and Philip Glass, Koyaanisqatsi (1982)/ Powaqqatsi (1988) (and the third one which shouldn't even be uttered in the same breath). However, while Reggio's work focused on humanity and its destructive relationship with the natural world – which was able to be distinctly picked out as a narrative despite the lack of story or dialogue – Lejuez's work doesn't appear to have any such narrative to it at all, even with the basic attempt at plotting. Lejuez's images and music never really match up at all (certainly nothing on the scale of Glass' achievements), except perhaps Bolero which gets used twice, and it is unclear throughout the film just what he is trying to get at. The whole movie is one giant arthouse piece with a lot of navel gazing involved, which if it says anything at all seems to scream, “I am far more intellectual than you.” Granted some of the visuals are nicely photographed and very nice to look at, especially those filled with colour, and of course the music is very impressive but they just don't marry together into a cohesive structure to give the viewer enough to stay engaged. The Strange Dreams Of Hypnos And Venus is very slow in what it does and is likely to pass over the heads of many who take the time to sit down and watch it. Perhaps Lejuez's work would be better suited to an art installation but even then its interminable length will be too much for most to bear. Lejuez should be commended for his vision and commitment to his art but for the rest of us he's probably best left alone to dream his own dreams. About the Film Critic William Hemingway Digital / DVD Release, Indie Feature Film, World Cinema < All Reviews Next Film Review >

118 Fest film review by UK film critic Alasdair MacRae. Starring Sam Critchley, Alisha Palmer, Peter Field, Janine Read directed by N/A. HOME | FILMS | REVIEWS 118 Fest Film Review average rating is 1 out of 5 Critic: Alasdair MacRae | Posted on: Apr 27, 2022 Directed by: N/A Written by: N/A Starring: Sam Critchley, Alisha Palmer, Peter Field, Janine Read A 2018 promo piece that acts as an introduction to the Christian punk rock band Peter 118 and their then-upcoming festival, 118 Fest, a Christian pop-punk festival in Stoke-on-Trent. The short four-minute promo unfortunately doesn’t give much insight into the band past the first minute as the core members of the band introduce themselves. The group was originally founded in 2012, and at the time of filming consisted of drummer Sam Critchley, vocalist Alisha Palmer, guitarist Peter Field, and bassist Janine Read. The only attempt made beyond the formality is an on the fly interview with an anonymous friend/fan who gets side-tracked during his description of band founder Pete and careers into ‘well you know him, you know what I mean’, cast out towards an unknown offscreen presence. There is an uncomfortable moment when frontman Pete proclaims to ‘Make Pop-Punk Great Again’. Hopefully, he is blissfully unaware of the unfortunate connotations of that phrase from someone preaching Christianity and adorned in the stars and stripes during the middle years of Donald Trump’s term in office. That aside there are a few rounds of the lyrics ‘Start thinking, stop drinking, stop fighting… listening to the world cause it’s got no truth’, a small glimpse into a quiet pub and quite an amusing shot of someone who has stepped in gum. This short promo is really just preaching to the converted (Peter 118 fans). About the Film Critic Alasdair MacRae Music Video, Short Film < All Reviews Next Film Review >