Rebellious Celluloid

Under discussion:

Somers Town  (2009)

Somers Town; the neighbourhood of London squeezed between the Euston, St. Pancras, and Kings Cross railway termini is the unlikely location and title of Brit director Shane Meadow's latest effort. I say 'unlikely' as it marks the first time Meadows has shot on location outside of his native East Midlands. It also marks his first film since the BAFTA winning 'This Is England'.

Sixteen year old runaway Tomo (Thomas Turgoose) arrives in London off the train from Nottingham to a beating from a trio of cockney kids which results in the loss of his bag and wallet.

Whilst contemplating his next move Tomo meets Polish immigrant Marek (Piotr Jagiello). The pair form a mutual appreciation society for the lovely Maria (Elisa Lasowski) a French girl who works at the local cafe and they turn their attention to earning some money to spend on wooing her, and finding some clothes and a roof for the potless homeless Tomo.

Granted this is not much of a plot but strong characterisation and Meadows wicked sense of humour made me wish I could hang with Marek and Tomo long after the films 70 minutes running time. The shy and withdrawn immigrant 'Marek' is the ying to the bare-faced cheekiness of Tomo's yang and together they make one of the more engrossing duos I've witnessed in recent years. Thomas Turgoose more than proves the praise he earned from his debut in This Is England was no fluke. He really is staking his claim as the most impressive British actor of his generation.

Almost completely shot in grainy black and white 8mm film, Somers Town has a look and feel that harkens back to the 1960's social-realism of Tony Richardson and Lindsay Anderson, and the more recent kitchen-sink brand of drama that has made the likes of Mike Leigh and Ken Loach so popular. The style and technique of Shane's craft is unashamedly cheap yet still manages to elevate the borough of Somers Town itself to a leading role. It's less of a departure from his East Midlands base than I initially expected. The fact that a film this effective can be shot in just ten days is inspiring.

Meadows has built a career on portraying the working classes with good humour whilst maintaining a certain grit and determination that comes with a life spent on Britain's council estates and back-streets. This Is England depicted an England in dissaray with racial harmony, but with this outing the coin is flipped showing a multi-cultural society where people of all nationalities and backgrounds can live side-by-side, and truly bond as one.

Already sitting pretty amongst my favourite films of the year the only thing that could possibly demote it is the believability of the relationship between the two boys and their muse, Maria.

My guess is a release overseas will most likely be limited to very few theatres, if you get the chance to see this film, grab it. It's only an hour-ten of your life, that's 70 minutes you won't regret.  At least half of that you'll spend laughing out loud. Who doesn't like laughing? Anyone?

Under discussion:

Son of Rambow  (2008)

A film about cinema lovers for lovers of cinema.

Son of Rambow captures the heart and soul of the eighties almost perfectly. Although there's things that feel foreign to the decade, Brethren for one.  I can't say I ever met such people in my time on this small island. I'd forgotten how magical it was to imagine as a child, to create imaginary worlds. Thanks to Carter and Will I got to relive my youth a little. If you're looking for escape, for a light-hearted fun-packed film Son of Rambow may just be that film.

Under discussion:

I'm Not There  (2007)

'I'm Not There' is a poetic but less than revealing biopic. You don't need to be fanatical about Bob Dylan to like it. It doesn't tell anything the average fan doesn't know already. The hook is in the stylistic and innovative way it is executed and how the actors capture the various cells of Dylan's life. I wanted to dismiss the film early on but it hooked me before I could shrug it off as profound mundanity.

Director, Todd Haynes turns the film on it's head as if it's written by the subject himself, as if each of the six cells are Dylan's own fantastical view of himself. It doesn't always work, sometimes it feels just too odd and quirky for its own good, but regardless of this you just can't help but love it.

Stand-out's for me are Cate Blanchett as folk-gone-rock traitor Bob and one I totally unexpected from thirteen-year-old Marcus Carl Franklin, the kid really done got the blues. Dylan has always said there is no point to his music 'It Just Is'.

Tthe same goes for Haynes film. He has created a new genre with I'm Not There... long live the bioddity!

Under discussion:

The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford  (2007)

This film is a feast to the senses, I swear it's that well crafted I could smell it. Although Pitt gives an adequate performance the real stars here are Roger Deakins (cinematography), Nick Cave & Warren Ellis (music), and Casey Affleck as the creepy and highly annoying coward that is Robert Ford. One of my faves of 2007.

Under discussion:

Michael Clayton  (2007)

At last! A thriller with a plot that hasn't been diluted for wide release multiplex audiences. Its a little dry in places but the plot becomes more elaborate by virtue of the timeline of events, which is cleverly done . One of Clooney's better performances.

Under discussion:

The Believer  (2002)

The poster quotes read "It will pin you to your seat", "Riveting", "Volatile". It's all three thanks to a brilliant Ryan Gosling performance.

However, it's hard to get behind this film too much when the story-teller omits such important things like telling/showing us what initially drove Danny to turn his hatred on his own people. It can't of been built on classroom debate alone. Reverse anti-semitism is a pretty inspired topic to cover and the film is a tough and emotional one, it's just that unlike the title I wasn't ultimately a believer.

Under discussion:

Days of Glory  (2006)

Rachid Bouchareb's film works well as a war movie and as a study of the injustices imposed on North African troops, by the French army during WWII. Days of Glory is a well acted impressive all-rounder.  I came out of this having learned something valuable.