Category: Film Recommendations

Like a Rolling Stone, Timothée Chalamet brings charisma and charm to A Complete Unknown

Hello Readers,

I am back from my holiday hiatus with a review for a film that has created a lot of buzz this awards season. Timothée Chalamet, the king of the December box office is starring in his first musical biopic as the notoriously private and exceptional musician, Bob Dylan. I have heard that Timothée spent six years perfecting his accent and musical talents to play Dylan and it really showed in the film.

I thought the film had an essence similar to the Bob Dylan we see on screen. There was structure but also some mystery and free-wheeling parts where the audience has to go along with the ride in terms of the story. I am always a fan of plot and dates being used so this pleased me but also I do not mind a different narrative structure.

There was a lot of emotion in the film, in part enhanced by Bob Dylan’s relationship with women. He had one long-standing girlfriend, Sylvie played by Elle Fanning and a number of other dalliances including with singer-songwriter, Joan Baez. He does not have many female figures in his life apart from his relationships. He performed with Joan after their relationship which ends poorly. We see some of his mentor to mentee connection with Pete Seeger and his wife, Toshi but none of his family make an appearance in the film.

One part that was dialled back were his views on ending segregation and fighting for racial equality. We see Sylvie watching him at a protest on television and he plays music with people of many different backgrounds but after reading more about him later, I think this portion of his work was sanitised.

A Complete Unknown (2024) Directed by James Mangold

Before watching the film, I did not know much about the early career of Bob Dylan. Throughout his life, he has been private about certain elements but I was even unaware of many public facts. His music has never been one that my family listened to, leaning more towards Queen, David Bowie and 70s rock bands such as Santana, Pink Floyd and Black Sabbath. It seemed so outdated for the backlash he received when wanting to try other genres as in the 2020s, many artists move from country to pop to rock with each new album or even in the same one. Look at Taylor Swift who had her start writing country songs on her guitar in Nashville and has just finished a two year tour spanning her entire musical catalogue featuring pop, singer-songwriter, pop rock and many other sub-genres.

These days, Bob Dylan plays to sold-out stadiums filled with fans who love any song he writes and plays but it was a different time in the 1960s when society was at a moment of tension and rebirth. In America, men were being sent to the front line in Vietnam to fight a war they had no stake in whereas black and brown people still could not attend the same schools or even use the same bathroom as white people. It was a time when people started fighting for social change and equality harder than ever before with previous movements such as the Suffragettes only being fought for a small segment of the population and by a small group.

Dylan moves to New York City with little more than a guitar on his back at the young age of 19 to see one of his musical heroes, Woody Guthrie. Upon finding his idol being looked after by Pete Seeger, another famous face in the folk scene, Bob plays his song to them and forms attachments that help project him into stardom. Throughout the film, he becomes more and more famous for his folk songs but yearns to write and perform his own music that is more of a rock nature featuring electric instruments.

Timothée has the perfect nature to play Dylan as you can see his soul through his eyes and Dylan’s quiet persona is a popular trope that Timothée has played many times in films such as Call Me By Your Name, Miss Stevens and Wonka. As Dylan becomes more famous, you can tell the effect it has on him by the strain in his relationships, his wardrobe and his songs. He becomes almost fervent with making music as it is what the record companies and his fans demand of him and the only part of himself that he wants to give.

His up-and-down relationship with fellow folk singer, Joan Baez is a main feature of his early career. Bob can behave in a selfish way in his relationships with women, often coming to them with his problems but reluctant to offer the same in return. Joan fell under his spell, hearing him sing at a small underground bar and despite his current relationship with Sylvie, Bob falls for her too. They are billed to America as the folk prince and princess but after Bob refuses to sing Joan’s song on stage with her, a rift is opened between them.

Sylvie is a young woman that Bob met at church and studies in the city. Bob ends up living with her but during a trip away, his attention goes elsewhere. Sylvie moves on, determined not to be the girl who trails around after a rising star but always has space for him when he drops by including going to the Newport Folk Festival with him, the very same place that she realised Bob was now lost to Baez.

After Dylan’s relationships with Joan and Sylvie, we see him make more male connections, starting to play and record with a band including someone he met at a bar shortly before being punched in the face. He also has male role models in Pete and Johnny Cash to whom he writes often and plays with in Newport.

I think that this film was produced well and while some elements such as protesting for equality were toned down, I think it gave the audience an overview of who Bob Dylan was in the early 1960s before his long-lasting career. We never learn anything about his family or backstory other than his real name is Robert Zimmerman and he lived in the Mid-West. He tells Sylvie stories about living with a travelling circus but she is always skeptical of this. He has one scrapbook of his childhood that is shown briefly but Sylvie chooses to take Bob at his word and not delve too deeply into his past.

Overall, I enjoyed the film and seeing it in a boutique cinema added a class and atmosphere to the film that wouldn’t have happened watching it on a standard screen. I would be interested in watching the film again just to absorb the world that was created and see the talent of the cast. The film has been nominated for Academy Awards, Golden Globes and other awards this season and I think it is deserving but there is a lot of competition and other films with more obvious social commentary or diversity may have more of a shot.

I give it 5/5.

Happy Watching,

Robyn

Again, Again! Films I have Re-Watched in 2024

Hi Readers,

After using the app Letterboxd, I started adding up the films I have re-watched this year so I have had this post in the back of my mind to discuss. There are a wide range of genres listed here and many of these films I have not watched for years and wanted to revisit. There are a few, of course, such as Mamma Mia! that I watch at least once a year and Wicked which I re-watched again after a couple of weeks in the cinema as I loved it so much.

2012 (2009)

This film falls into my favourite sub-genre of film: natural disaster films. This one certainly is a disaster with practically the whole world ending and our heroes racing to find an escape. Through connections, John Cusack’s character discovers arcs designed to survive the extinction level events and with his family and ex-wife’s new partner, they journey to survive. It’s a race against time across America and the world as a whole. The group meet various characters along the way, both friends and foes.

I last watched this film a few years ago and enjoyed it at the time but there’s something about 2000s visual effects and plot lines that is so different to the films of the 2020s. The family themselves are likeable and even the characters that you are supposed to dislike, have redeemable qualities. The film itself is a wider commentary on the uber-rich in the US and further afield. Should only those who can afford it, deserve to survive?

Top Gun: Maverick (2022)

This was my first re-watch since seeing it at the cinema and it was on a projector so felt similar to the big cinema experience. I enjoyed the film as much as the first time but knowing what happens did take a little of the drama and jeopardy away. Still a fun film and I enjoyed the makeover of the genre to make it more up to date in terms of attitudes but also the technology and visual spectacle.

Are You There God, It’s Me Margaret? (2023)

This film is such a cosy watch and the dilemmas of the teenage protagonists feel very relatable despite the film being set in the 1970s. I first saw this film at an outdoor cinema so watching it at home was a different experience. I think this is a film that I could revisit every year or so as on the whole, its very re-watchable with a great cast and nostalgic themes in terms of the period setting and also reminding you of how it feels to be a pre-teen and all the issues that one worries about.

The Devil Wears Prada (2006)

I wanted to re-watch after hearing about the sequel (the musical on the West End is now playing too) and I loved the fashion and characters but of course, some of the dialogue and attitudes towards dieting culture are outdated.

I’ve seen people comment that Nate is the real villain of the story because he doesn’t like that Andy is more successful than him but I think the societal pressure on women to be high-flying career women while juggling a long-term relationship, motherhood, friendships and quality time with yourself is the real enemy.

Nate was very supportive of Andy but he thought her industry was not as important as his and therefore never saw her career as more important than their relationship or events with their friends. Andy began to see the importance of her industry and enjoyed working in the exciting, evolving world of fashion in NYC even if it was not her true passion.

Miranda was a stern character but to be successful as a woman even in a female-focused industry required more of her attention than she was prepared to give her husband. He also did not appreciate the benefits that her career and lifestyle in fashion offered.

It will be interesting to see how the magazine industry will be presented in the sequel with Emily being in a powerful role and Miranda’s legacy fading into an increasingly digital world.

Life (2017)

I watched most of this film on a plane years ago when it was new and I might have finished it at some point but this year was when I properly sat down and watched it all. I enjoyed it but I think it wasn’t anything too dissimilar to other space jeopardy films. The humour and alien foe added something but what I think made it enjoyable was the cast. Ryan Reynolds and Jake Gyllenhaal had good on-screen chemistry while Rebecca Ferguson and the other actors provided more of the dramatic acting. During press, Ryan Reynolds and Jake Gyllenhaal got along really well and that came through on screen. I would like to see them in a film together again.

I don’t think I would watch this one again but I am glad I was able to sit down and watch it all through.

Mamma Mia! (2008)

This was originally going to be an honourable mention but of course I ended up re-watching it as I tend to do every year. My family have seen it many times since it originally came out. We like the music of ABBA and the cast and story work really well together. The summer setting gives it a great warm feeling and brings some sun to the winter. I love all the songs and while there are a lot of older themes in the film, it doesn’t feel too intense or adult and everyone can enjoy it. I do also like the second film but nothing beats the original. I have heard a third film is in the works so it will be interesting to see how they do that film, especially as interest in ABBA has had a resurgence with their hologram show in London.

Ghostbusters: Afterlife (2021)

I re-watched this film so myself and my family could go and see the new one in cinemas. I saw the first in the cinema and enjoyed it. I have not actually seen the original Ghostbusters films so it was interesting to see it rebooted for a new generation. The cast were good and of course the visual effects and plot were updated so watching the originals may not be as impressive as they were in the 1980s. I liked the inclusion of a female Ghostbuster and that the girl character was the nerd and the older brother was trying to be popular as it is often the other way around.

Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour (2023)

I actually watched this over a couple of days simply because it is very long. I saw it first at the cinema and it was a great experience and I wanted to re-watch when it became available on streaming. There were some extra songs that were not included in the cinema release and it was cool to be able to relive the concert in my own living room. This tour has been widely talked about and I hope that a new version is released including the Tortured Poets Department section of the show. I did not get to see the concert in person but the quality and camera angles of the filmed version were so good that I think I would be disappointed in person especially if I had to sit far away.

Bros (2022)

I first saw this film at the BFI Film Festival and I enjoyed it but the story was a little more complex than the average rom-com with Billy Eichner wanting to make it more authentic to the gay experience. Watching it again helped to put it together in my head and I tried to focus more on the humour and the characters than the plot and the on and off nature of the relationship. The film is the first adult gay rom-com to have the big studio backing and it is surprising that it took so long. They did sanitise it a little to appeal to wider audiences but there were plenty of gay experiences and references shown if a little exaggerated. I liked that the lead characters were gay in real life as it gave more reality to the story.

Wicked (2024)

Of course this film has been talked about widely since it came out with many audience members going to see it multiple times. I am included in this and I wanted to see it again as I loved the film and the scenes and songs. It will definitely be great to re-watch once it hits streaming but the spectacle of the film is really felt on the big screen. The second time, I knew the plot so I tried to focus more on the backgrounds and the little details but there is so much visually and aurally to take in, I think it would take a few more re-watches to fully appreciate everything. This film has set a new boundary of what can be achieved in the industry and I am excited to see what arrives next to try and compete with this film. The second film has been announced as coming out in November 2025 and I am eager to see what happens next and how it is presented.

Happy Watching,

Robyn

Gladiator and Gladiator II Review – How do the two compare?

Hi Readers,

Sequels are very popular in the cinemas at the moment with many franchises rebooting and continuing to provide content for fans of the originals or just wanting to make more money on something they know works. Some sequels have years between them and a new generation takes the reins as the star of the film. This is certainly true for Gladiator II. It takes place 16 years after the original events of Gladiator (2000) which has been even longer in reality. We have a new hero of the film but the story fits into the universe of the original even including a few characters from the first film.

I saw the first Gladiator film at home about a week before I saw the sequel at the cinema and even though Gladiator is a classic, I preferred the story of the second film. In the 2020s, films shown on the big screen have more spectacle and the plot has probably been developed more than older films. Standards have changed and audiences, myself included have higher expectations. Films have to compete with the visual spectacles from superhero films to the Fast and Furious Saga and the quality of stories found in indie films.

Gladiator (2000) and Gladiator II (2024)


To start from the beginning, the second Gladiator film has a more dramatic opening sequence with the Roman Army invading the homeland of our hero, Mano. We see that his wife is also a soldier who fights using a bow and arrow while Paul Mescal’s character is trained in hand to hand combat and strategy. Gladiator starts with a battle but it has a long build up and in the forest, it doesn’t feel as exciting or cinematic as the city barriers in Gladiator II. From a modern perspective, the battle in the first Gladiator film has a very masculine, alpha male energy with a woman not being seen until afterwards but we get to see female fighters and also people of colour in Gladiator II. Our hero in the second film participates in the battle but after seeing his wife fall to her death becomes distracted and is knocked out until the battle is over.

Maximus played by Russell Crowe in the first Gladiator keeps his composure and is undefeated in the first battle, showing us his masculinity but audiences particularly in the Generation Z and Millennial age brackets will have encountered ideals of beta males and that men do not have to be alpha to be real men. This could of course have just been a plot device to keep him alive for the rest of the film but I chose to interpret it this way.

The stories follow similar beats, our hero is shipped to a small fighting arena where he proves his worth and is sent to the Colosseum in Rome for the Emperor’s viewing pleasure. Instead of being a disgraced general, Mano is a simple man who has been raised in combat in his African home. He doesn’t seem to know his family as he was found as a child but we know he has a past. Both heroes in the film lose their wives at the beginning which results in a need for revenge inside them. Maximus knows the Emperor personally and his family were targeted as a warning to him but Mano’s wife was killed as part of a larger battle by the General and Mano seeks revenge on him.

When Mano reaches Rome, we see that there are now twin emperors who are even more unhinged than Commodus from the first film. We also learn that Lucilla, the sister of Commodus is still alive and in the inner circle. She is now married to General Acacius and has managed to protect herself. Her son is also absent. Mano has the skills in the arena like Maximus but the villains of the film are not as obvious as in the first Gladiator.

At first, Macrinus who runs the out-of-town arena is on the side of the Gladiators and the enemy is General Acacius and the Emperors. This evolves when we learn of Lucilla and the senate’s plot to overthrow the Emperors and bring power back to the people of Rome. We think that Macrinus is part of this plot but it turns out he has a plot of his own to eliminate General Acacius and turn the Emperors on each other. He backs Emperor Caracalla who has become mentally unstable and knows he can control the armies through him.

The visual effects and arena battles are more intense in the second Gladiator film and I thought that they were more interesting. There were opportunities to show Mano’s skills not just in fighting but in strategy. This is similar to how Maximus defeated his opponents. Obviously, the film has violence but I liked the fact that they were saying that violence is not always the answer and brains can outsmart brawn.

In the fight with the monkeys, Mano uses the monkey’s strength against itself, getting it to bite down on its own arm. Other fighters in the arena did not think of this strategy and tried to defeat them with brute force. Against the rhino, Mano knew that he could not defeat an animal of that size so used physics and momentum to get the rider off the rhino and challenge him to hand to hand combat. In the re-creation of the battle at sea, Mano takes charge and again uses physics and the boat’s momentum to win against the other side. It is true that the Romans used to fill the Colosseum with water but I am not sure if sharks were used.

The final fight gets personal when Macrinus takes over having killed General Acacius and knowing that Mano is the son of Lucilla, uses her as bait for him. He tries to protect her but she is soon killed by archers and Mano enacts their plan to lead the gladiators out of the arena and into the streets of Rome. They arranged for Acacius’ troops to come to Rome and Macrinus responds with his own troops.

The second film ends in a similar way to the first with a one-on-one fight between Lucius (Mano) and Macrinus. He manages to persuade the two armies not to spill blood for the sake of it. Both Emperors have been killed along with members of the Senate and Lucius claims his position as the only living heir left, vowing to make Rome for the people instead of the rich.

I enjoyed the modern touches to the second film and the broader diversity of the cast. We see women not just as pawns but as warriors and strategists. Mindless violence is not the answer with the fights in the Colosseum being less about slaughtering and more about entertainment. Even though Lucius is from the royal line, he feels like more of a commoner than Maximus having grown up that way. We saw a man of colour in power which was not shown in the first film. There was also some same sex kiss scenes that were cut but would have shown even more diversity.

The fact that both films were directed by the same man shows that attitudes can evolve over time and directors will make the film that audiences want to see and not just repeat the same story.

Happy Watching,

Robyn

Wicked: Long Awaited Adaptation makes Magical Silver Screen Debut

Hi Readers,

Anyone who is into musical theatre will have heard of or even seen the musical of Wicked on the stage either on the West End where it currently plays at the Apollo Victoria Theatre or its runs on Broadway and regional theatres around the world.

It tells an untold story of the Wicked Witch of the West when she was just Elphaba and Galinda who becomes the Good Witch of the North. We see the two start as enemies and slowly become friends at Shiz University, long before Dorothy and Toto landed in Oz. The novel that the musical was based on was published by Gregory Maguire in 1995 and based on the original Wonderful Wizard of Oz books by L. Frank Baum and the 1939 film.

The film adaptation of Wicked has been in the works since 2012 and was finally released by Universal in November this year. Actors Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo have made headlines for their stunning performances, live vocals and sweet friendship. They have been a part of a few viral moments in the press such as Ariana holding onto Cynthia’s nail and a reporter asking them about ‘holding space for Defying Gravity’, the song at the end of the film.

The film has just received 4 Golden Globe nominations including for Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande in their roles.

Wicked (2024)

As a musical fan myself, I was very excited to finally see Wicked brought to life on screen. I went to see the film twice with different people as I felt a need to watch it again and take in the spectacle. The production design, visual effects, costumes, props, acting and singing were all outstanding and really put other films to shame with the quality and imagination that went into the creation.

I particularly loved the inclusion of visual effects in the promo of the film with the Visual Effects Supervisor, Pablo Helman and other department members being included in interviews as well as blue screens being visible in promo released for the film. There was a lot of practical and special effects which are to be commended. As someone who has worked on visual effects it was great to see it mentioned when many other films try to hide their use of CGI or VFX.

Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo were perfectly cast for their roles and embodied Elphaba and Galinda with all their mannerisms and tone. Galinda had a great amount of snark and humour as well as being snooty and well-liked. Elphaba was quiet but stood up for the animals and her sister. She takes pride in her talents but feels Galinda and Fiyero are over the top. I love that Elphaba comes from the initials of the author: LFB ( El-ph-buh).

There were so many references to the Wizard of Oz film such as Galinda giving Elphaba her iconic black witch’s hat and cloak. Nessarose wears special silver shoes. The iconic ruby red slippers that Dorothy wears are silver in the original books and Galinda has some red slippers in her closet. When in the Emerald City with the Wizard, Galinda (now Glinda) suggests the Brick Road should be yellow as it is in the Wizard of Oz. We see Glinda visit the Munchkins at the beginning which is actually after the events of the Wizard of Oz film when the Witch has melted.

The songs were a highlight of the film and both Ariana and Cynthia sang live. All of the songs were really amazing with elaborate dance routines and montages and a host of background artists. My favourite songs include: What is This Feeling? where Galinda and Elphaba sing about their loathing for each other after being put in the same room at Shiz; The Wizard and I: Elphaba’s big solo number where she hopes that her life will turn around when meeting the Wizard and of course the finale number, Defying Gravity where Elphaba sings about becoming her true self and not letting anything hold her back anymore featuring Glinda trying to persuade her to stay and prove her innocence.

I am excited to hear the songs in Wicked: Part Two. I have seen the full play on the West End but I don’t remember the songs or much of the story. Hopefully, it will be as magical as the first film.

The ensemble cast all did a great job rounding out the film and I am glad to see people from musical theatre backgrounds get a chance such as Ethan Slater and having wheelchair users play Nessarose both as a child and as the older version was a win for disabled actors. Nessarose becomes the Wicked Witch of the East so I am interested to see how she turns ‘wicked’ as her character is sweet and caring in the first film.

Jonathan Bailey as Fiyero is a character I look forward to seeing more of in the sequel. He has strong charisma and in the film manages to have chemistry with basically every character regardless of gender which was great to see even in a PG as being not just heterosexual shouldn’t be something relegated to more adult themed films.

Overall, I loved the film of Wicked and seeing it on the big screen was a great way to watch it. Next year, hopefully they will be showing double bills with the sequel as it would be great to watch them back to back especially as they were shot in succession. Until then, I will be listening to the soundtrack.

Happy Watching,

Robyn

New Perspectives: Blitz – one boy’s journey to be reunited with his family during WWII

Hello Readers,

Steve McQueen’s war drama featuring the quest of nine-year-old George as he escapes from being evacuated and finds his way home to his mother and grandfather. While the story is not true, it contains a lot of stories that have been forgotten including the struggles of the Black community in London at the time as well as how those in poorer areas coped with the Blitz. As mentioned in many interviews, McQueen saw a photo of a young Black boy carrying his suitcase in London during World War II and crafted George’s story around it.

I worked briefly on this project as a previs coordinator on a shot panning over London after a heavy night of bombing. Seeing the final shot in the film was interesting as it looked different to what I had remembered and dressed up with the visual effects. Apart from this shot, I had not much idea of the plot of the film so I don’t feel my involvement gave me any spoilers or clues to the ending.

Warning spoilers ahead!

Blitz (2024) Directed by Steve McQueen

I have been anticipating this film for over a year since working on it and I was pleased that it was available on Apple TV+ so that I could watch it at home. I didn’t watch it at the cinema but I was able to see it on my home projector and this definitely added to the drama of the film.

I think the star of the film really was Elliott Heffernan who plays George as he carried a lot of the emotion and story line. The other main characters featured are Rita, George’s mother played by Saoirse Ronan, Jack, their neighbour and Air Raid warden (Harris Dickinson) and Gerald, Rita’s father played by Paul Weller. The other characters in the film flow in and out as Rita and George encounter new people.

George at the beginning of the film is quite protected and naive to the struggles of other Black people being raised in his White family and in a nice area of London – Stepney Green. He gets the odd comment but is sheltered from most of it by his mother.

When he finds out that he is being evacuated, he tries to resist as he already feels like an outsider but at least Stepney Green is the devil he knows. Going to the countryside with other children feels like the end of the world for him and he knows he will not fit in or be bullied especially as it seems he struggles to make friends.

Almost as soon as he has boarded the train, George forms a plan to escape and find his way home. Along the way he meets a few different characters but the first boys he meets on the cargo train understand his reasons as they too are escaping back to London. He generously shares his sandwich in an attempt to be friendly but after the shock death of the oldest brother, he does not hang around to be caught.

His next encounter is with a friendly Black Air Raid Warden who teaches George more about being Black and vows to help him get back to Stepney Green. Ife is from Nigeria and teaches George about his culture. He unfortunately meets his untimely demise so George goes it alone and is picked up by a criminal gang who recruit him for their looting.

Meanwhile, we see Rita sing at her factory on the BBC radio and learn of George’s disappearance. She recruits Jack to help her and also takes him to a shelter she volunteers at where people don’t have much. The underground stations are not being opened to the public until it is absolutely necessary and we see many people taking refuge there as shelters fill up quickly.

George almost gets caught by the police on one jewellery shop raid but a bombed ballroom gives him the best escape route while his captors are being arrested. He finds his way to London Bridge underground during a bombing but when the tunnels are flooded, he is swept up in the flood but due to his small stature manages to squeeze through the gates and get help. He wakes up in the home of a seemingly nice woman who offers to take him to the police station but he sneaks out of the bedroom and finally returns home to discover his house bombed and his grandfather dead in his bed but the cat and his mother have survived.

I thought the film was well done and while some events were embellished, they created a well thought out story of George’s quest to find his mother and along the way discover his heritage. In flashbacks we see Rita and Marcus, George’s father and the terrible treatment they faced as an interracial couple. After being attacked, Marcus is arrested and deported before George’s birth so he has not grown up having a father figure or Black role model in his life.

The young actor playing George did a great job at leading the film and you could easily empathise with him and his need to be back with the only family he’s ever known. It seems strange in this day and age that it took him many days to get back home when back in London but people did not always travel outside of their areas and even when receiving directions for a way home on the bus, he couldn’t remember them. He had probably never been on the Tube, at least not without his mother so did not know a way on the underground or have the money for it.

Saoirse Ronan’s London accent was very good and I felt more immersed in the film as most of the characters had East End or London accents. There were a lot of little details that were authentic to the time such as Rita and her friends drawing stocking lines on the back of their legs with eye liner as there was a shortage of stockings at the time. I loved all the old signs and buses especially when George is going through Central London or in the tube stations.

To the modern eye, it seems cruel to send your children away to another city/part of the country but the government was making it mandatory and it did save the lives of many children as mostly cities such as London were bombed heavily. Members of my own family were evacuated at the same time as the film is set even though they did not live in London. One did go back home and survived although it was not as long a journey as George had.

I think this time period is a really interesting one to show on film as it is well documented with photos and film but there are few people still alive today who truly remember what society was like. It is certainly the oldest global event in living memory. Previous war films have not really focused on the Black communities in London during the Blitz so it was interesting to have a film from the point of view of a young boy who has been raised in a White community.

Overall, I thought that the film was good, emotional and dramatic. It exceeded my expectations from when I worked on it about 18 months ago and it gave us a war story that has not been repeated ad infinitum. I give the film 4.5/5.

Happy Watching,

Robyn

Paddington in Peru! Is the magic still alive for the bear’s third outing?

Hello Readers,

One of Britain’s most popular literary characters turned screen star is, of course, marmalade-loving Paddington Bear. He has had tea with the Queen, defeated the likes of Nicole Kidman and Hugh Grant and is loved by children and adults everywhere. The Brown family along with Paddington have returned in a new film, Paddington in Peru where we see the wee bear discover where he comes from and the meaning of family.

It has been over seven years since Paddington 2 and while most of the cast have returned, we have a new actress playing Mrs Brown, Emily Mortimer. The film did not address the change and any young children who maybe have not seen the previous films will be unlikely to notice. I thought Emily brought a certain gravitas to the role and made it her own.

Paddington gets a worrying letter about his beloved Aunt Lucy and the family decide they need a holiday to Peru to see how Aunt Lucy is getting on at the Retired Home for Bears and whatever could be troubling her. The Brown children are now settled in their identities approaching adulthood and maybe have forgotten the magic of being young. Mr and Mrs Brown feel nostalgic for the children’s childhood and wish to have one last family memory before Judy goes off to university.

Paddington in Peru (2024)

The film starts with a bemusing scene of Paddington attempting to take a photo for his British passport in a booth. Anyone who has had to do this for a baby or small child will know the difficulties but Paddington struggles more than most finally getting a unique photo. We see a brief glimpse of the London crowd with Paddington visiting Mr Gruber and the neighbours and friends gifting Paddington a special umbrella.

The film is mostly set in Peru and while filmed in London, the credits show that it was also filmed in Colombia and Peru so it’s great to see actual locations being used and not just green screens. The Browns along with Mrs Bird encounter the Reverend Mother at the Retired Home for Bears who wrote Paddington with her concerns about Aunt Lucy. She appears to be a harmless nun but as Mrs Bird comes to find out, there is more to her than meets the eye.

We also meet Hunter Cabot, handsome boat captain and his daughter, Gina who let the Browns use their riverboat to search along the Amazon for Aunt Lucy. Paddington found a treasure map and is sure that Aunt Lucy went looking for El Dorado, the famous lost city of gold. What the Browns don’t know is that Hunter is from a long line of gold hunters and this has caused many rifts for his ancestors including in his own relationship with Gina.

After a capsizing and Paddington getting separated from the Browns, he looks for the entrance to El Dorado along with Hunter. Mrs Bird sniffs around at the retirement home and finds a mysterious red wire.

I really enjoyed the film and while I think it is maybe the weakest of the three films, it is by no means poor. There is still the magic of Paddington Bear and his encounters with strangers where he always thinks the best of them. Of course, being a children’s film, the threats to Paddington are mild but he does often end up in a tricky situation.

It was also nice to see more of Paddington’s heritage and history mentioned as apart from Aunt Lucy and his childhood in Peru, we don’t know much about Paddington in his natural habitat and seeing him in his own land confirms that some of his misunderstandings in London are not due to cultural differences but rather his cumbersome nature.

The Paddington films for me have always been like a warm hug showing the best of British values and demonstrating that everyone deserves a family. I think Ben Whishaw does a great voice for Paddington that I do not recognise as his normal voice so with the magic of CGI and VFX, you almost believe Paddington to be his own person.

I don’t think that there were any negatives to the film although I will say I think if the film was a 12 that Gina and Jonathan would have gotten together and it could have added to the drama but as it is for kids, there was more focus on Paddington.

Overall, I loved the film and thought it was the perfect goodbye to the film franchise as I don’t see the need for a further film. Paddington has such a cultural footprint with all of the books and the television animation and even exhibits and stores of his own that the magic will never truly fade. I give it 5/5.

Happy Watching,

Robyn

My Culture Fix – Updated for 2024

My favourite author or book

Hard to pick just one but favourite authors are Alice Oseman, Rick Riordan and John Green. Would read anything that they write. My favourite new book is Wolfsong by TJ Klune and my favourite older book is Love Aubrey by Suzanne LaFleur.

The book I’m reading
The Pairing by Casey McQuiston.

The book I wish I had written
Solitaire by Alice Oseman.

The book I couldn’t finish
Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte.

The book I’m ashamed I haven’t read
Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen.

My favourite film
The Day After Tomorrow.


My favourite play
Prima Facie starring Jodie Comer.

The box set I’m hooked on
Last one was Manifest but currently waiting for the next one.

My favourite TV series
Heartstopper, Outnumbered or Doctor Who.

My favourite piece of music
The Chain by Fleetwood Mac.

The last film that made me cry
We Live in Time starring Florence Pugh and Andrew Garfield.


The lyric I’d wish I’d written
Made it out alive, but I think I lost it
Said that I was fine, said it from the coffin
Remember how I died when you started walking?
That’s my life, that’s my life
I’ll put up a fight, taking out my earrings
Don’t you know the vibe? Don’t you know the feeling?
You should spend the night, catch me on your ceiling
That’s your prize, that’s your prize

– Gracie Abrams ‘That’s So True’

The instrument I play
Piano and previously violin.

The instrument I wish I’d learnt
Guitar.

If I could own one painting
Yellow Chair by Vincent Van Gogh.


The place I feel happiest
On holiday either sun or snow.

The movie I’m looking forward to
Avengers: Doomsday.

I wasted an evening watching…
Wolfs with George Clooney and Brad Pitt.

The film I walked out on
Never happened as an adult but there are a few horrors I haven’t enjoyed.

My guiltiest cultural pleasure
Élite – Spanish drama that could rival Riverdale.

Overrated
It Ends with Us (film and book).

Underrated
My Lady Jane on Amazon Prime. First series was amazing but it didn’t get a second.

Film Review: How ‘We Live In Time’ has restructured the Rom-Com

Hi Readers,

The cinema, for me, is normally a place for big blockbusters or films I know will look good on the big screen. Nothing has caught my eye for a few months so when I saw that the new Florence Pugh/Andrew Garfield film was in cinemas where I currently am, I decided to check it out.

What separates it from the usual affair is that the film is not told in chronological order. The typical story structure is beginning, middle and ending but this film played around with it making it different from what could have been a run-of-the-mill romantic comedy. The love story of Almut and Tobias jumps around various events in their relationship. We don’t get much of their lives without each other apart from a focus on Almut’s profession as a chef and Tobias after his divorce.

I thought that this idea was interesting and while I am usually an advocate for stories being told in the right order with accuracy, I didn’t mind the time jumping as there was no true story details missing or big plot details absent. It did take me a minute to get used to it but when you were invested, I felt that you could enjoy the scenes individually that contributed to their story as a whole rather than the film showing the plot in the specific order. As the film becomes older, I am sure someone will edit it into the traditional order as I have seen happen to other film or TV programmes that like to jump around the timelines.

We Live in Time (2024)

This film debuted at the Toronto International Film Festival a couple of months ago and will be released in the UK on New Year’s Day. However it is already in the cinema in some territories such as the US. It was also shown at this year’s BFI London Film Festival. When I saw it was showing early where I am, I was excited to see something from the festivals as I was not able to attend any screenings at the London Film Festival this year.

Ordinarily, I tend to wait for romantic comedies to come on streaming or watch ones that debut there but I do like to make exceptions. If there had been other more cinematic films out at the same time, it might not have made my list but with the chatter from various press and the meme about the carousel horse on the poster, I was intrigued.

Florence Pugh is an actress I have followed for a few years since she starred in the Oscar-winning Little Women and Fighting with my Family that was set and filmed in my home town. She is a very interesting and dynamic actress who says so much with slight expressions on her face. I have loved her in Dune: Part 2; Black Widow; Oppenheimer and Don’t Worry Darling and her other projects such as The Little Drummer Girl, The Boy and the Heron and Midsommar are well-liked.

Her performance in We Live in Time was good for the role as she presented the many sides to her character: the girlfriend; the chef; the competitor; the daughter; the mother; the figure skater and the cancer patient. She was not someone who was going to be content with settling down and being a doting housewife so it was great to see a focus on her career and journey as Almut. The one thing I struggled with was seeing her as mid 30s up to mid 40s as there wasn’t much to age her up apart from a fringe and winged eyeliner in her younger days. This wasn’t too much of an issue as I enjoyed the film but I would have maybe given her a few more facial lines.

Andrew Garfield was almost a supporting second to Florence. Most of their scenes were shared and apart from just before their meeting, we don’t have many scenes of Andrew alone. We learn he works for Weetabix but only get a glimpse of his job and never meet his friends or family apart from his father. We get to meet Almut’s mother, twin brothers, sister and many of her friends and co-workers. This film plays to Andrew’s strengths as the awkward, quiet guy who we’ve seen him play in The Amazing Spider-Man and tick, tick… BOOM! I did think that he was maybe a little old to play opposite Florence as a 40 year old but he has quite a young energy to him. I like that his character Tobias was very encouraging of Almut’s dreams and despite their arguments, he still supported her especially at the end with her chef aspirations.

The film was quite a gentle one peppered with some emotional or dramatic scenes such as their daughter’s birth in the petrol station bathroom. I think these scenes are good to set off the slower or sadder scenes in films like these. The cancer element added an extra level that you don’t see in typical American rom-coms/ chick flicks.

The director’s other films, Brooklyn and The Goldfinch had similar emotional peaks that gave them an edge over standard dramas. I thought this film was very British in its nature with many phrases and situations being very intrinsic to the British experience so I think audiences who have enjoyed other British films like Notting Hill (1999) and Four Weddings and a Funeral (1994) would enjoy this one too.

I thought the film was well thought out and despite being told in a different order, it still made sense and it was sometimes good to know what was coming as it made the sadder scenes more hopeful. The music and settings all fitted in well and even though many of the supporting characters floated in and out there were known actors that were good such as Lee Braithwaite who played Almut’s commis chef; Kerry Godliman in the petrol station scene; Douglas Hodge as Tobias’ father and Adam James as Almut’s mentor/former boss.

Overall, I thought the film was enjoyable with a great cast and a lovely story. It will definitely be one in the future that audiences will put on at home on a cosy winter’s evening to watch. It does have minimal nudity so is marked as a 15 but along the same vein as Love Actually (2003) so not particularly intense or graphic. I give it 4.5/5.

Happy Watching,

Robyn

My Film/TV/Theatre September Highlights

Hello Readers,

As the nights get shorter and we settle into the autumn season, I want to reflect on a film, television programme and play that I enjoyed in September. I must confess that I have not been attending the cinema as regularly as I did earlier in the year but with more to watch on the television and the end of summer lull, there have been slim pickings for my tastes.

However, before the awards season films get started, there have been some gems and I have picked one from each medium to review. My choices are quite varied, all different genres and all I enjoyed for different reasons. Back to Black is a feature length drama chronicling the life and career of Amy Winehouse. It was released in cinemas earlier in the year and was recently added to Netflix in the UK. Starring Marisa Abela (Industry) as Winehouse along with Jack O’Connell (Skins), Eddie Marsan (Sherlock Holmes) and Lesley Manville (The Crown).

Nightsleeper is a six part thriller series that was shown on BBC and still available on BBC IPlayer. It stars Joe Cole (Gangs of London), Alexandra Roach (No Offence) and Sharon Rooney (Barbie) among the talented cast.

Prima Facie, Jodie Comer’s hit one-woman play was on the West End and Broadway in 2022/23 earning her multiple accolades and was recorded for National Theatre Live. It arrived back in cinemas for a limited engagement mid-September where I saw it for the first time.

Film

Back to Black (2024)

This film was met with some controversy by those who knew Amy as it depicted her desire to have a family but those featured generally approved of the story. As opposed to Amy (2015), this film is a dramatised and condensed version of Amy’s rise to success and her up and down relationship with her partner, Blake, her father and addiction. It tells a specific journey through her first record deal and debut album, Frank (2003) and her record-breaking second and final album, Back to Black (2006). We see a focus on her relationship with her grandmother, Cynthia who is her style and singing inspiration; her father, Mitch one of her cheerleaders who turned a blind eye to her addictions and her partner and then husband, Blake.

At the beginning of the film, we see Amy as she is before success: more innocent with a bland boyfriend and living in the utility room at her mother’s house. Her mother, while shown as a supportive parent takes a back seat in the film which seems to suggest that they are not very close due to her limited screen time. This could have been her objections to the film or simply as the relationship was not as interesting or dramatic as Amy’s other relationships.

We see Amy land a record deal with her friend’s help. Her father is very encouraging but Amy is unhappy with the label trying to market her as a pop icon. As she states she is not a Spice Girl. We see snippets of her in LA recording the album but more of the affect it has on her. Her relationship with Blake is shown more in depth from their meeting in a pub playing pool to Amy making her feelings known. Their relationship starts out sweet with a date at London Zoo and spending summer days drinking on Primrose Hill. We see him introduce her to drugs including Class As which she previously would have declined.

After a fight with Blake and subsequent split, we see her record Back to Black with the eponymous song about Blake going back to his ex-girlfriend while Amy didn’t have anyone, especially with her grandmother passing away. She is now sporting her iconic beehive and thick winged eyeliner credited to her love of 1960s bands. Amy is enjoying success and this is of course when Blake comes back and the two wed in Miami. She performs at Glastonbury and at the Grammy’s via web link but after Blake’s arrest and imprisonment, her personal life is once again suffering. The last few years of Amy’s life are not shown but we hear of Blake’s new girlfriend and baby.

Having done more research since watching the film, while it was approved by Amy’s family, critics felt it was a very sanitised version of her life and showed Blake and Mitch in a better light than in real life. We didn’t see much of her friends either apart from one innocent trip to Camden Market even though many of her friends were in the music business. We also did not hear of her other relationships apart from Blake and her boyfriend at the beginning.

Despite these criticisms, I think the film overall was very powerful and gave a side to Amy that many people may have forgotten or not known: her drive and what it took for her to perform. I thought Marisa Abela gave a great performance as Amy. She had great expressions and she portrayed the script that was given well. It was a good drama that highlighted important events of Amy’s life, whether some things were embellished, I am not too sure.

I think fans would like the film and as a film fan, I did enjoy it especially as the actors picked were all very good. It captured a particular moment in music history and it was interesting to see Camden back in the 2000s. I give it 4/5.

Television

Nightsleeper (2024)

I have watched many BBC dramas over the years but Nightsleeper definitely is one of the best I have seen. I actually watched it twice in the space of a week as I needed my family to watch it so we could talk about it. This is not usual for me as I rarely even re-watch films I have enjoyed never mind a six hour long show.

What kept me hooked was the real time jeopardy as the show is set over one evening with one hour being one episode. We have a modern day issue, cyberhacking with a old plot line – will the train stop in time? – and cliffhangers to keep you on the edge of your seat at the end of every episode. I binged four episodes in a row as when I reached the end of the episode, I just had to watch on to find out what would happen.

The show has multiple settings flicking between a train and the National Centre for Cyber Security as well as Victoria Station. The train in question is a night sleeper service between Glasgow and London which is meant to take around six hours from midnight to 6am. At first, we see the characters board the train with a chase through the carriage for a stolen bag. The train is delayed and before its first stop we see that a device has been fitted to take remote control. Former police officer, Joe takes charge and using a satellite phone contacts Abby at the NCCS in Victoria. She delays getting on her holiday flight and with her friend heads back to the office.

After the majority of the passengers disembark at the first stop, the train takes off on its own with a dozen still on board. It’s then a race against the clock to divert the train and find the group behind the hacking. Just when you think you have something figured out, another spanner is thrown in the works and it could be anyone behind it.

I think there was a great array of British talent in the cast with a mix of English, Scottish, Welsh and others in lead roles. We see a chemistry between Joe and Abby despite not sharing a screen and everyone gelled well together. I had a soft spot for Tobi representing younger people and he held his own with his peers. I thought the actor playing Mouse, the only child in the show did well acting with more experienced adults and being the centre of some intense scenes.

Criticisms I have heard for the show are about the cheesy dialogue which I felt in the last episode but overall I thought was natural and the way British people interact with each other, particularly in an unusual situation. No one gave away their roles in the hacking but on my second viewing you can see how the camera work gives clues by cutting to those to whom the dialogue alludes.

If you like typical BBC thrillers or dramas, I would definitely recommend this one and it was better watched at night but start it early as it may be one to binge. I give it 5/5.

Theatre

National Theatre Live: Prima Facie (2022)

This play was on my watchlist for a while simply because of Jodie Comer and her acting talent. I am not sure why I wasn’t aware of it the first time round but when I heard it was coming back to cinemas, I made sure to book a ticket. I vaguely knew that she was a lawyer but I didn’t even know it was a one-woman outing.

The set was really different from anything I have seen on the stage before with a giant wall of folders and minimal staging with two tables, a few chairs and a suitcase of props. Jodie is known for her accent and drama work but the humour she managed to inject into essentially a two hour monologue was not something I expected.

I must confess that the first section confused me as I was not anticipating the continuous stream of dialogue and she was using a lot of legal language but once the story got started I was captivated. There was a short interlude perhaps 45 minutes from the end but no real interval so the play really drew me in. It tells the story of Tess, a successful criminal barrister from the North who has managed to make it into the boys club in London. She frequently defends her male clients accused of sexual assault and is good at her job. She thinks little of the affect her work has on the victims until she starts a dalliance with a colleague. After a tryst at work and one successful date, Tess finds herself becoming a victim of assault from her colleague. Everything she knows goes out of the window and she switches to the place of prosecution and witness.

Even though Jodie was the only actor on stage, she had such a strong presence that I sometimes forgot that she was the only person we ever see. Her continuous monologuing while acting out scenarios painted the picture of all the characters in Tess’ life including her mother, her university friends, her work friends and the police.

The use of the stage was really interesting with Jodie changing costume multiple times and manipulating the furniture to create different spaces. In the darkest part of the story, rain falls on Tess as it does in the story and then a counter adds up the days between the assault and the court case – over 2 years in total. Jodie’s awards for this role were very well deserved and even remembering the amount of dialogue would be a feat but she lent a brevity and seriousness to the role at the appropriate times. While the subject matter is serious, there were funny moments, often conveyed with physical comedy.

If you like theatre or drama in general, I would recommend this show. It may be released on streaming at some point but seeing it on the big screen was a special event. I would give it 5/5.

Happy Watching,

Robyn

New Perspectives: Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice – Can a sequel almost 40 years later really improve a cult classic?

Hi Readers,

It has been a while since my New Perspectives series. When I started posting again on my blog over a year ago, my first post was a review of the Little Mermaid after attending a cast and crew screening. Now the first film project I worked on is in the cinemas and I attended a cast and crew screening again for Beetlejuice Beetlejuice.

Despite working on the film almost 18 months ago, it was amazing to see some of the scenes in their complete form and what had changed in the final cut. I only did three short scenes so I felt that I didn’t really have much inside knowledge of the film as a whole or even any special plot details. When working on the film, I didn’t really know much about Beetlejuice and the following it has gained since its release in 1988.

I saw the original film a few days before the sequel and I was pleasantly surprised. In my head, I had built it up to be a gruesome tale with lots of goo and bugs combined with 80s practical effects and outdated plots. However, I discovered this was not the case and I can see why many people cite it as a childhood or adulthood favourite.

I had no idea that Alec Baldwin and Geena Davies were basically the leads of the film or that they played ghosts, I barely knew who or what Beetlejuice was. The effects used were a little dated especially the visual effects in the afterlife scenes but all the practical stuff held up well and was not too gooey or gory. Beetlejuice himself was a bit of a garish character but didn’t appear for the 1st third and was much more palatable. The only slight dated things were the fact that he wanted to marry Lydia played by a 15-year-old Winona Ryder but as she strongly objected and it ended up not happening, I don’t think this was too strong an issue.

Beetlejuice Beetlejuice (2024)

The sequel to Beetlejuice has been very hyped up with the cast going on a press tour and the film opening the Venice Film Festival. I think part of the reason is that Tim Burton rarely revisits his projects and so many of the original cast were really keen to make the film happen. I read that it has been an idea since 1990 so I am sure that they are all pleased it has finally happened. Winona Ryder had a Beetlejuice clause in her Stranger Things contract that if the sequel ever happened that she would be allowed to go and film it. Luckily, it was filmed when Stranger Things was on a break.

Jenna Ortega is the new star of the film having previously collaborated with Tim Burton on Wednesday, Series 2 is now in production. She has gained a reputation in the industry for loving all things horror just like Winona Ryder back in the 1980s and 90s. Her outfits on the press tour have even echoed some of Ryder’s from films or real life together with nods to Beetlejuice.

One of my qualms with the first Beetlejuice was that it took place mostly in the house, now referred to as the Ghost House because the ghosts couldn’t leave otherwise, they would end up in the afterlife. With the main characters – Lydia, Astrid and Delia, all still alive we get to see more of the world of Winter River and their lives further afield.

The film starts with showing an overview of the town as in the first film. We get to see a grown-up Lydia (Ryder) in her TV studio making her show about ghosts. It seems she has used her ability from the first film to make a career for herself. She is also dating her producer, Rory (Justin Theroux) who exhibits some controlling tendencies. Her daughter, Astrid (Ortega) is at a boarding school outside New York and having trouble fitting in. Delia Deetz (Catherine O’Hara) is a famous artist with an exhibition in the city including some of her interesting sculptures from the first film. We see one outside Astrid’s school along with the Deetz Center for Art.

The three are pulled together after the death of Charles, their husband/father/grandfather. They gather at the Ghost House in Winter River for the funeral, during which Rory proposes to Lydia, setting the date for 2 days time – Halloween, her favourite holiday but also traditionally spooky.

Astrid meets Jeremy, a lonely teen in his tree house who shows her a way to access the afterlife and see her father, who died on a trip to the Amazon. Lydia meanwhile is doing everything in her powers to keep Betelgeuse (Beetlejuice – Michael Keaton) at bay, knowing the trouble he caused for her and the family before. A well-meaning Rory summons him for some closure but this only intensifies Betelgeuse’s obsession with Lydia, of whom he has a framed photo.

His life in the underworld has expanded with a whole office of shrunken-headed Bobs working on typewriters for him. Unfortunately, a cleaner (Danny Devito) manages to disturb some storage and his undead ex-wife, Delores (Monica Bellucci) reforms and begins her search for him. She is not pleased to see his desires for Lydia.

Delia tries to commune with her dead husband after seeing how his death has affected her ability to produce her art. We also see Charles’ journey in the underworld trying to find Delia. A former actor playing cop (Willem Dafoe) is also on the hunt for Betelgeuse, believing him to be linked to Delores’ trail of murders.

Many elements of the first film have been expanded upon including the afterlife with a similar look but with more elaborate sets and new dead people, all having transformed into unique creatures after their deaths. We also see the desert place complete with sandworms. Alec Baldwin and Geena Davies were not in this film and I think that was a good decision as it would have tied it to the house too much. Geena Davies explained the absence recently by saying that ghosts stay the same age so they wouldn’t look the part anymore. Apparently, Tim Burton was keen for Baldwin to make a comeback but ultimately, I think the focus on the women of the family was a good plot point.

I enjoyed the dynamic between Lydia, Astrid and Delia. They didn’t try to make them band together in the face of adversity but I think by the end of the film some of their rifts had been healed after their brush with the underworld again.

Working on the project, I knew some scenes and plot points but there was still a lot I didn’t know and I felt I could still enjoy the film and be surprised by parts. The cast and crew have talked about the practical sets but VFX was used to enhance these and I think made the film better. The invisible effects used sometimes get overlooked by audiences as they tend to focus on CGI characters but even lightening a scene, adding extras or touching up the actor’s appearance is visual effects.

Overall, I really enjoyed Beetlejuice Beetlejuice and I think it was even better than the first film using modern technology and an expanded cast to explore more of the universe and gave us a female powered story.

Happy Watching,

Robyn