FILM OF THE WEEK
I SWEAR
This remarkable true story is brought vividly to life by Kirk Jones who elicits a tremendous performance from Robert Aramayo. He plays John Davidson, an intelligent young Scottish man, who at the age of 15, is diagnosed with Tourette syndrome.
Tourette’s is a common neurodevelopmental disorder which is characterized by tics and swear words and at the time, his condition was hardly identifiable. It quickly put a stop to his ambitions as a promising young man full of potential and his disorder put a strain not only to his development as a young adult, but also to his family, especially to his mother Heather (Shirley Henderson), who was in total denial and was unable to accept her son’s condition…
It is one of those rare films that manages to be funny and deeply moving at the same time. Aramayo is superb as the vulnerable protagonist and inhabits brilliantly the inner world of Davidson’s condition and deserves awards for his splendid portrayal. He is a tragic figure and is swearing at everyone he encounters, even at the Queen when she is about to honour him with an MBE for being an ambassador for the condition.
A truly inspirational story and a very funny film with a terrific ensemble cast that also includes Maxine Peake and Peter Mullan in key roles. I give it five *****
A HOUSE OF DYNAMITE
Kathryn Bigelow, the Oscar winning director of THE HURT LOCKER and ZERO DARK THIRTY completes her war trilogy with this compelling nuclear thriller that demands attention from its very first sequence until the final credits.
A race against time begins when an identified missile is launched against the United States. No one knows who is responsible and how to respond…
The film is blessed with a terrific screenplay by Noah Oppenheim, the writer of JACKIE and the recent Netflix series ZERO DAY, who creates here an authentic and very topical world where war and destruction are on the precipice. Bigelow has gathered an ace ensemble cast that includes Idris Elba as POTUS, and Rebecca Ferguson as the distressed Captain Olivia Walker who must forget her family emergency and focus on the devastating events that begin to unfold in front of her eyes, while celebrated playwright and actor Trace Letts plays General Anthony Brady with authority and gravitas.
Cinematographer Barry Ackroyd shoots the entire project with urgency and style and uses his past documentary and collaboration with Ken Loach to great effect.
It is a modern classic – think DR STRANGELOVE or HOW I LEARNED TO STOP WORRYING AND LOVE THE BOMB, but much a more chilling affair and without the laughs.
GOOD BOY
Indy the good boy dog of the title delivers the best performance by an animal I have ever seen and is a worthy winner of SXSW Film Festival’s “Howl of Fame Award”.
The whole action of this supernatural horror is seen from Indy’s point of view after he moves to a rural family home with his owner Todd. Nearby is the cemetery where Todd’s parents are buried and which Indy often visits along with his master. But when things begin to turn into a living nightmare, it is now left to Indy to protect his best friend…
Director Ben Leonber and producer Kari Fischer are Indy’s real-life owners and know exactly how to coach a mesmerising performance from their loyal dog. Indy is capable to show sadness, fear and much more.
It is superbly photographed in low angles where everything is seen from Indy’s perspective and is perfectly complimented by eerie lighting and atmospheric sound design.
PLAY DIRTY
Action film director and writer Shane Black begins his OTT heist adventure with a big bang. It is based on the “Parker” book series with Mark Wahlberg as the eponymous hero who joins forces with Grofield (LaKeith Stanfield) and Zen (Rosa Salazar) when a cleverly planned heist goes spectacularly wrong. As the title suggests, everyone plays dirty and is difficult to trust or care about anybody.
There are some inventive action sequences especially in the beginning when the car chase following the disastrous heist ends up in a hippodrome during a horse race. It looks stylish but overall, it is hollow with paper thin characterization. (Prime)
PLATONIC
The chemistry between Rose Byrne and Seth Rogen is priceless in this terrific television series co-created, co-written and co-directed by Nicholas Stoller and Francesca Delbanco. Byrne and Rogen first worked together in the two NEIGHBOURS movies playing the long-suffering couple under Stoller’s eagle eyed direction. This time they play platonic best friends ready to help each other at any opportunity whether it is in relationships, at work or even at weddings…
It is one of those series that season 2 gets even better because the writing is so good, utterly unpredictable and boasting fully fleshed characters. Byrne and Rogen relish their smart dialogue, and their enjoyment is highly infectious. (Apple TV+)
Any feedback is welcome: georgesavvides@hotmail.co.uk
