Category: Film

Posted on

Priscilla – Review

‘What are you, a junior? Senior?’

‘9th’

‘9th what?’

‘9th grade”

Sofia Coppola’s ‘Priscilla’, based on Priscilla Presley’s book; ‘Elvis and Me’ explores the infamous relationship between Elvis Presley and his wife, Priscilla. We first meet a fourteen-year-old Priscilla who is approached by Elvis (twenty-four at the time) while he is stationed in Germany for military service. Coppola makes no attempt to shy away from the uncomfortable ten-year age gap and the evident power that Elvis held over Priscilla. We first meet Priscilla as a young, impressionable schoolgirl. Cailee Spaeny portrays Priscilla beautifully, first as the baby-faced schoolgirl, enamoured by the spectacle of Elvis. Later we see Elvis’ influence as well as his manipulation over Priscilla as he chooses her clothes, hair, and make-up, curating her into the perfect wife. In classic Coppola montage style, we are given a makeover scene with yet another iconic soundtrack. Priscilla is branded with her iconic winged eyeliner and dyed black beehive hairstyle. Priscilla essentially becomes Elvis’ doll, loitering around Graceland with beautiful outfits and perfectly styled hair and make-up, awaiting a call from Elvis while he is on set or having affairs with other women. It is evident that Elvis wants Priscilla to exist solely for him and be the perfect wife according to his way of life.

We watch the breakdown of the Presley’s relationship through a variety of tabloid headlines, articles, and letters. Coppola highlights the relevance of the celebrity spectacle, a common theme in Coppola’s filmography. The absence of Jacob Elordi’s Elvis in these key moments of marital breakdown highlights this importance of the “image” of Elvis as this untouchable, unattainable figure whereas the reality of the situation is clear as Priscilla attempts to navigate the end of girlhood and the start of womanhood with the supposed man of her dreams. Coppola navigates the subject of evolving from girlhood in a way that is almost universal to every woman watching Coppola’s films. Priscilla starts off as a teenage girl with a crush and a dream and ends the film with the courage to leave the life curated for her by a man who she knows is not right for her.

Elordi’s performance as Elvis is subdued yet powerful, capturing the essence of Elvis whilst allowing Priscilla’s narrative to be the one of importance. Other reviewers have suggested that Priscilla “destroys” Elvis’ reputation, I would argue that it simply shows the reality of the relationship between the couple as well as the difficulties of being one of the most famous couples in America. Coppola often plays with the subject of fame and the power it holds over her characters, showing both the highs and the lows.

Sofia Coppola’s Priscilla is a triumph, once again showing her incredible ability to capture the pain and beauty of girlhood and womanhood.

Posted on

Prophecy: Review

Charlie Paul presents an astonishing documentary; ‘Prophecy’ on one of Scotland’s most famous artists, Peter Howson. I had the privilege of watching this film at the City Art Centre in Edinburgh followed by a Q&A with Charlie Paul and Peter Howson. The film follows Howson as he undertakes a new painting depicting the gates of hell. We are given a huge amount of insight into Howson’s life and how this contributes to his art as the masterpiece develops. What stood out to me the most was how humble Howson remains despite his worldwide success, the dedication to the craft of the painting remains the number one priority.

 

Howson’s perfectionism is shown through Paul’s incredible animations of Howson’s developing works; Howson paints over his works repeatedly until Howson deems them worthy of being shown publicly. As Howson is creating this painting, we learn that the painting has already been reserved by a private collector before the piece is even finished, exemplifying Howson’s influence on the art world. Howson listens to classical music throughout his painting process, he discusses how this allows him to have no distractions and fully immerse himself in his work-Howson also does not bring a phone with him to the studio so that the outside world is completely uncontactable. Similar to Howson’s work, the depictions are almost other worldly whilst still showing the realities of humanity. Paul creates a beautifully intricate depiction of Howson’s intensive process, focusing on the details of the painting that the casual observer may never notice. Paul’s documentary style gives the viewer both deep insight into Howson’s artistic life and process. A beautiful, must watch documentary.

Posted on

Oppenheimer – Review

Christopher Nolan’s ‘Oppenheimer’ explores the events that lead up to the creation of the atomic bomb as well as the aftermath of the world changing weapon. Cillian Murphy gives an outstanding performance as the titular role, J. Robert Oppenheimer. The film’s timeline jumps from Oppenheimer’s past to the aftermath of the creation of the nuclear weapon, the film is largely dialogue amongst courtroom drama scenes which increasingly builds tension throughout the three-hour long film. Despite its long running time, every scene in the film feels necessary to the plot and keeps the viewer constantly engaged. Despite the obvious subject being the atomic bomb, Oppenheimer is essentially a character study; centred on a man who has dedicated his life to science and must deal with the global consequences of his genius but deadly creation. Visually, the film is beautiful, often feeling slightly claustrophobic as the plot thickens. The scenes showing the courtroom drama are in black and white, emphasizing the sobering repercussions of the atomic bomb.

The women in Oppenheimer have limited screen time but steal the moment when they do, Oppenheimer’s somewhat mysterious past is represented through his ‘former communist’ wife, Kitty (Emily Blunt) and communist lover, Jean (Florence Pugh). Despite being background characters, their impact on Oppenheimer is evident. Nolan has been criticised for writing women badly however in this instance both Kitty and Jean impact the plot whilst letting the titular character take the main stage.

Note on ‘Barbenheimer’

Both Gerwig’s Barbie and Nolan’s Oppenheimer have proven that cinema is still very much alive and thriving. The films have ‘sparked the biggest UK box office opener since 2019’ according to the BBC, proving that straight to streaming is not the way to go. Recently I have visited my local cinema for other films and the turnout was nothing like Barbenheimer opening weekend which made me worried about the potential death of cinemas. But seeing so many people dressed in pink (for Barbie) and all black (for Oppenheimer) has restored my faith in people’s love for cinema and the arts.

Posted on

Barbie – Review

Greta Gerwig’s modern masterpiece ‘Barbie’ is a must see. Controversially, I saw Barbie first on opening night (21st July) instead the generally suggested Oppenheimer-to-Barbie double bill. This was under the impression that you would come out of Oppenheimer feeling down about nuclear bombs and the general state of the world whereas Barbie’s wonderful pink fun would be uplifting and fun after Nolan’s three-hour film (note: Oppenheimer review coming soon). Don’t get me wrong, Barbie was filled with laughs, beautiful pinks, and lots of fun. But in 2023 did we really expect a film praising the idyllic, blonde, skinny, capitalist Barbie? No, of course not, it’s Greta Gerwig for goodness’ sake. Gerwig tackles the way we perceive perfect, plastic ‘Barbie’ in the real-world V.S Barbie land in which all the Barbies are extremely successful, and sexism is essentially non-existent. Barbie (Margot Robbie) gets a shock when she discovers the realities of a patriarchal society whereas Ken is in awe of the men-oriented society. Barbie is for everyone, you will laugh, you will cry, and you will most likely be pleasantly surprised. With a variety of pop culture references from various films, ‘that’s so me’ moments and an Oscar worthy song from Ryan Gosling, the entire cinema was laughing and fully embracing this wonderful film. Barbie dolls have been an integral part of some of our childhoods, but ‘stereotypical’ Barbie (played by Margot Robbie) can often represent an unrealistic representation of the “perfect woman” for little girls growing up. The film embraces this criticism whilst also celebrating the collective experience of girlhood. Barbie beautifully portrays the joys of being a girl and embracing femininity but also the human experience; the highs and lows of life and the beauty of simply experiencing life. Barbie celebrates the amazing things that woman can achieve but also accepts the hardships and burdens that every woman feels. Gloria (America Ferrera) delivers a beautiful monologue, depicting all the things women are told to be and not to be. Whilst celebrating women, Barbie also explores the collective feminine pain and rage we all share. When the credits rolled, the pink filled room applauded. Seeing so many people dressed in pink, embracing the energy (or Kenergy) of this film felt like a well needed celebration of girlhood.

Posted on

Asteroid City review

Wes Anderson’s much anticipated film of the summer; ‘Asteroid City’ is a surprisingly short and sweet story that explores a myriad of stories within a small fictional town. Anderson shows a story within a story; similar to some of his previous work like The French Dispatch however with a more to-the-point plot this time. Asteroid City is a play, narrated comedically by Bryan Cranston, and written by Conrad Earp (Edward Norton). The film dances around Anderson’s classic subjects: the human condition, the delicacy of childhood, death, grief all amongst quirky one liners, an all-star cast and the occasional breaking of the fourth wall. Ultimately this is not something new from Wes Anderson however a new blindingly bright colour pallete, reminiscent of William Eggleston’s photography, that we have not seen in Anderson’s 50/60s pale, pastel colour palletes which adds a new element to the ‘Anderson aesthetic’. The story revolves around a group of scientifically gifted kids and their parents who carry their fair share of issues which are divulged throughput the film. Once again, we are reminded that both the kids and adults are in fact, not alright but a life altering event, perhaps mirroring recent events like covid, brings them together whilst simultaneously driving them insane. By the end of the film, most of the characters have ultimately gone their separate ways and the small town remains ultimately almost the same as when they arrived but they have all lived through this shared experience that shows the best and the worst of humanity.

Posted on

After Yang – Review

‘After Yang’, directed by Kogonada is a Sci-Fi/family drama which follows a family seeking help after their A.I “adopted” brother/son stops working. The film depicts the families struggle to repair the A.I, Yang (Justin H. Min), whilst dealing with their daughter who has a deep emotional attachment to her A.I brother. The family dynamic unravels as they face new obstacles on the path to fix Yang. Jake (Colin Farrell) and Kyra (Jodie Turner-Smith) initially introduced Yang into the family to teach their adopted daughter (Malea Emma Tjandrawidjaja) about her Chinese heritage, but Yang becomes a huge part of Mika’s life, and we soon learn that Yang is perhaps more advanced that ordinary A.I.

Despite the futuristic Sci-Fi setting, the film focusses on the intimate family relationships and how the failure of the A.I both forces the family apart and brings them back together again through their shared love of Yang who has brought out a deeper sense of connection within this family. Whilst questioning the potential for human feelings within A.I, it also asks its audience what it means to be human and asks us to re-evaluate these familiar relationships. In flashbacks, we see Yang getting along well within the family and exploring his potential for forming memories and feelings, whereas when he malfunctions, the family falls apart. ‘After Yang’ is a beautiful depiction of loss, family relationships and reconciliation within a Sci-Fi setting. The film was a fantastic choice for the closing gala of the Edinburgh International Film Festival.

Posted on

Dream Agency – Review

‘Dream Agency’, directed by Andy Field and Deborah Pearson follows an agency of actors who recreate people’s dreams. Whether they are chasing deep trauma or just trying to figure out what a reoccurring dream means; the dream agency goes through elaborate rehearsals to recreate these dreams. We are first introduced to Janet who is trying to understand what her reoccurring dream means through the dream agency. Janet is intrigued by the work they do and quickly joins the crew as one of the actors. Janet becomes interested in the woman who features in her ‘dream.’ Janet soon discovers that the cool agency is not all it seems, the leader of the organization is hardly ever seen, and her peers seem to distrust her.

The concept of dreams is explored through ‘Dream Agency’ whether they mean anything, is there any purpose in revisiting them or is it just a scam to make people feel as if they have accomplished something by confronting their dreams. The film has been created by Forest Fringe, an Edinburgh based organization that draws on its own connections and experience in the creative industry to explore the ‘Dream Agency’ through the eyes of those who know all the ins and outs of the industry. Seeing the film through this perspective adds another dimension as the filmmaker’s perspective came across as very natural and the film flowed well overall. I would have liked to have seen a more conclusive ending and more character development for Janet, but for a first feature film this was very successful.

Posted on

Fashion Reimagined – Review

‘Fashion Reimagined’ directed by Becky Hutner explores the world of fashion, sustainability, and the very real impact that fast fashion has on our world. I had the opportunity to introduce this film at the Edinburgh International Film festival 2022, in which I discussed how fashion may not be something each of us think about every day, but it impacts all our lives. Without knowing it, we make fashion decisions every day. Whether we dress head to toe in the latest microtrends or wear the same sturdy jeans that have lasted for over five years, we still contribute negatively or positively to the planet.

The film follows designer Amy Powney on her journey to create a fashion line that is completely sustainable. The film shows the difficult journey to make sure that every part of the clothes’ making process is genuinely sustainable and not just ticking greenwashing boxes. Amy comes across an incredible family run business that makes sure all the workers and animals are treated well and that the quality of the fabric is the best that it can possibly be. It gives us hope to see these thriving businesses that are making a genuine difference, but when Amy tries to retain this exact fabric, it is clear that bigger companies are less worried about the quality and sustainability of their fabrics. The difficult process of dealing with larger manufactures poses a threat to the sustainable fashion world. The prospect of making a profit appears to be more important to larger corporations, some were not even able to trace where their materials were coming from which is a huge issue for Amy’s sustainability line. Amy’s business is just one of many fashion brands trying to become more sustainable to build a better and greener world for us to live in. this is a wonderful documentary opens the viewers eyes to the realities of both the negative and positive aspects of the fashion world.

Posted on

Nude Tuesday – Review

‘Nude Tuesday’ directed by Armağan Ballantyne is a brilliant comedy which is spoken entirely in gibberish! The films subtitles are hilariously written by comedian Julia Davis in response to the gibberish on screen. The film follows the chaotic day of the unhappy couple on their tense anniversary before being given the chance to work on their relationship in a unique couples therapy retreat. The middle aged, city couple stick out like a sore thumb amongst the mostly young and hippy like couples who have joined the retreat which is led by the hilariously horny ‘Bjorg’ played by Jemaine Clement. Bjorg has the energy of a horny cult leader who encourages the group to express themselves in a variety of different exercises that seem to baffle instead of help Laura (Jackie van Beek) and Bruno (Damon Herriman). The contrast of all these hilarious characters, gibberish, physical comedy, brilliant writing from Julia Davis and wonderfully directed by Armağan Ballantyne makes this one of the best comedies I have seen in 2022. The film was shown as part of The Edinburgh International Film Festival and the audience at the brand-new Everyman cinema were absolutely loving the comedy as much as I was! This feel good comedy is a must see.

Posted on

Millie Lies Low – Review

‘I’m sorry I’m such a disappointment, mum.’

‘Well, we can’t all be appointments.’

‘Millie Lies Low’ directed by Michelle Savill is a beautifully told story about the pressure faced by many young people to overachieve and become the absolute best at what they do. Mille (Ana Scotney) is set to start an internship in New York but has a panic attack on the plane and stays put in Wellington, only to pretend as if she is in New York by posting extravagantly planned photos on Instagram. We see the extreme measures Mille takes to appear as if she is having the time of her life in New York whilst she is hiding in a tent, avoiding her friends, and desperately trying to get a loan for another ticket to New York. As director Michelle Savill stated (paraphrasing here) after the screening of her film at EIFF 2022, ‘smart people do dumb things’. The large posters and advertisements of Millie and her internship opportunity serve as a constant reminder of the pressure on young people in the age of technology and social media to be constantly posting and overexaggerating about our achievements. Whether it is on Instagram, LinkedIn, Facebook or Twitter, there is a constant stream of boasting posts. Millie Lies Low explores this overwhelming pressure to overperform in life and prove to the world that you are supposedly doing well. Millie refuses to believe that she had a panic attack on the plane and refuses to believe her mother’s diagnosis when she insists that Millie seeks help for her panic attacks. Millie is determined to overcome any obstacle she faces as we see with her elaborate posts and excuses to get a loan. We see from her relationship with her mother and friends that Millie may not always have been 100% true to herself on this journey to get this internship and from this realisation Millie can break free from the immense pressure of the modern world.