Film award season is upon us, and I know you are all waiting for the important award announcement, no not the Brits or the BAFTAs or the Oscars. Heck, you’re not even focussed on the ASBO awards yet. No, you’re busy worring over the South West London Film Blog Awards, and I have some mixed news on that. The good news is that we were nominated for the big awards, the bad news is that having previously being third, we were relegated to fourth after a new film blog swept in and took the award,
Thankfully, after it was discovered that Wordle isn’t a film blog, nor is it a part of SW London, it was disqualified. However DSFoJLiHoG.com is just about in a SW postcode so is elegible and somehow won despite the odds being against them. Needless to say, both ourselves and third place Surbiton Rebel Wilson fan club have complained. The SW Film Award leader has announced that they will be investigating the result, and I shall not comment until I have read their report.
Ahem, as I was saying, awards season is upon us, and I should have an opinion and will do the usual spiel further down the line. After last years scaled back set of fantastically diverse and creative films, this years contenders are certainly more of a mixed bag with some nice surprises in there amongst some mire. It is a relief that Jared Leto didn’t get nominated for House of Gucci, which was an absolute mess. However, with that, one controversial film had to be nominated, and that was Don’t Look Up, which I finally finished having previously being unable to stomach the first 10 minutes.
From the director of The Big Short and Vice, Don’t Look Up is a film about how the US government and media responds to a meteor hurtling towards earth. It’s meant to be a comedy, but I didn’t laugh. I think the most damming thing about the movie was how little I cared by the end. I’d heard the ending was shocking, but no it was entirely predictable. There is an asteroid going towards Earth, what do you think will happen? None of the characters were especially endearing, and the big names were just so grating. It really was a case of the industry voting for their best mates, something my alternative award show won’t do (Sorry Riz).
The main problem for this film was its timing. We’ve seen people respond to crises over the past couple of years, we know how it works. I know this is meant to be a climate change metaphor, but it isn’t a particularly apt one, as the outcome of a meteor is significantly easier to envisage. It was also so long. At 2.5 hours, you don’t need a random pop-song and the constant repetition of so many ideas. Also, Jonah Hill murdered any scene he was in, and I don’t mean that in a good way. He made me want to turn the film off, heck Rebel Wilson would’ve done a better job than him. At first, I didn’t hate this film, mainly because I was texting during it, but the more you think about it, the worse it is. [D]
So which film could’ve been an Oscar nominee instead? Surely, fans of Mass (both of the people who watched it) would be upset their film didn’t get in. A simple film, 90% of which takes place with four characters in one room, much like 12 Angry Men does, our characters are two sets of parents who sit down to discuss the aftermath of an incident which left both of their sons dead, both confused and angry, yet also looking for something, whether that be answers, apologies or forgiveness.
With minimal music, action, or exciting camera angles, Mass needs to be something special to hold up, and my goodness it is. The script is absolutely top notch. It flows between different discussion points, getting loud at the right points, before braking in a very natural way. It creates four very deep and thorough characters, each of whom is unique, yet incredibly similar and remain consistent throughout. As a debut screenwriter, Fran Kranz is superb.
The four actors who lead this film are superb. Jason Isaacs and Martha Plimpton have chemistry together, united by their hurt and mourning. Ann Dowd and Reed Birney almost seem divided. Each one of them brings their A-game and would’ve been worthy of any award. Not a single person is unique as they wear their hearts on their sleeves to get this film alive. It’s available on Sky Cinema, and if you can watch it, then please do as it will be one of the best of the year. [A]
One film I enjoyed more than I thought I would was The Eyes of Tammy Faye. The film focuses on the true story of fraudulent televangelists Jim and Tammy Faye Baker as they start up their “Praise The Lord” channel to spread the word of god, before it all comes crumbling down. Televangelists are a common idea in America, but not so much in the UK, so I went into this film not knowing the story, and somewhat feel like I don’t as the script felt rather liberal with the truth.
The writing wasn’t perfect, it felt a bit repetitive and about 30 minutes long, for a film which was just over 2 hours. It could’ve been much tighter, and looked at Jim’s inner troubles before everything came to light as well. The fact that we see Tammy act with her traumas implied is smart. The opening scene of her childhood attempts to explain so much. As a child of divorce, she wasn’t openly welcomed into the church, but her faith was unwavering and her feelings around Christianity were influenced by this.
Despite the imperfections in this film, two things were brilliant. Firstly, the hair and make up used for Tammy were sublime. She kept looking older, and the make up was such a vital part, almost hiding the vulnerabilities while keeping Tammy’s illusions alive. The thing which made this very okay film into a good, enjoyable watch was Jessica Chastain as Tammy Faye. I totally bought into this fleshed out character and forgot I was watching a movie at times. She owned the camera, oozing with charisma being both quietly vulnerable and loud and proud, often at the same time. While I didn’t feel Andrew Garfield was right for his role, I can’t think of anyone who could’ve played this role as well as Chastain. On the whole, the film is a fairly by the numbers biopic, but the lead is at least brilliant. [C+]
One film which will go under the mainstream radar is the brilliant new animated documentary Flee. The Danish film tells of the life of Amir, a gay Afghan refugee who fled to Denmark as a boy and is soon to be married. His actual name is changed for his anonymity, we learn why as the film progresses.
What director Jonas Poher Rasmussen does really well in this film is talk very intimately with his friend. They really have to trust each other. Rasmussen never pushes Amin to say more than he wants to at a given time, using his silence to allow our protagonist to reflect. What this leads to is an incredibly personal film, some seemingly small details are big and important to Amin, while treated as so and you get a very honest telling of what life is like for Afghan refugees, something which is still sadly important today.
The animation here is beautiful. The film was nominated for animation at the Oscars, and the beautiful 2D style synchs with what Amin says, showing his expression and that of those around him clearly and in an unfiltered way. It is also used smartly, allowing Amin to be honest without consequence, while allowing the audience to visualise his life in their minds.
Everything about this film is on point. The score is wonderful, the use of the dialogue is fantastic and each location and moment feels alive. Your knowledge that what is happening is true allows for a quiet reflection not allowed in more fictional melo-drama. It is also more than a refugee story, it’s about coming of age. Amin is reflecting on his story, which he has kept secret for the first time. It’s one where he hasn’t been able to settle down and have a home or trust anyone for most of his life, and has consequences with what is happening in the present with his fiance Kasper. It all ties up nicely and this element of showing the present while telling the story humanises our narrator even more. Flee is a phenomenal film, and is a must watch. [A]
That’s all from your third, sorry fourth best SW London film blog. Goodnight.
The Film Ramble 