#1 - THIS IS ENGLAND 86
Stars - Joseph Gilgun, Johnny Harris, Vicky McClure, Perry Fitzpatrick, Rosamund Hanson, Michael Socha, Thomas Turgoose
Director - Shane Meadows
Memorable Quote - 'We're not growing up, pal, we're growing sideways.'
Review - I don't usually review TV series, so you can probably begin to guess from that fact alone that I think very highly of This Is England 86. Following on three years from the movie, it is impeccably done with a wonderful cast. The stand-out star is Joe Gilgun, who many would recognise as Eli Dingle from Emmerdale, who needs only to stand in a room with a pet bird to cause me to crack up. Many of his scenes seem improvised, a fact which makes him even more impressive if I'm right. Once you've seen this you won't be able to stop thinking about it for a long time, and I highly recommend it. Despite the fact that it is at times a harrowing watch, it is perfect. The build-up of tension, the familiarity and empathy we feel towards the characters, their interactions... beautiful. I would say that the weak link in the chain is the actor playing Milky, who was not always convincing, but then having only one slightly weak character is pretty damn good for a TV show. The last episode in particular was so amazingly done - the build-up as Lol confronts her father and you wonder what she plans to do, then during the attack you're willing her to fight back, and of course afterwards Combo completely redeems himself for anything he may previously have done. Argh... I'm going to stop writing before this turns from a review into a fangirl essay. 5/5
#2 - JESUS' SON
Stars - Billy Crudup, Samantha Morton, Jack Black, various others
Director - Alison Maclean
Memorable Quote - 'There is a price to be paid for dreaming.'
Review - First of all, not being a junkie myself, I didn't really get most of the movie. I mean, I don't really know how it feels to be in that state of mind, so I can't tell whether FH really is one or is just under the influence the whole entire time. Anyway, quite an enjoyable movie with a style of narration that would still be considered cutting-edge if released today. I have to say it was quite disturbing to see this good-looking, not unreasonable young man sink deeper and deeper into the clutches of drugs and, well, weirdness, since despite his good looks he's not the type of person you would want to take home to your parents, or indeed home at all. It was not an unsympathetic movie, however - many times over we were made to feel sorry for certain incidents, such as the car crash and the death of McInnes, and most notably the handwritten note left by Michelle, which was probably the most emotional part of the entire film. Jack Black makes a worryingly good drug addict, whilst the other bit parts were all also compelling and believable. A good little film, really, considering how weird it all is. 4/5
#3 - INVICTUS
Stars - Morgan Freeman, Matt Damon
Director - Clint Eastwood
Memorable Quote - 'I thank whatever gods may be / For my unconquerable soul. / I am the master of my fate / I am the captain of my soul.'
Review - This is enjoyable just to see the level of acting that some people really can put in when they aren't typecast as idiots (*cough*MattDamon*cough*). However it has produced the downside that now, every time I think of Nelson Mandela, I get the mental image of Morgan Freeman instead. Still, this is worth a watch both as a mini history lesson and a moving piece about freedom and brotherhood. I think for me the best part of the film was seeing the little boy gradually being accepted by the police, until finally you see him wearing one of their hats - a small bit-character who does not even have a name, but instead represents a whole class of people: a nice touch, to see the continuity of the changing perceptions of South African people. Of course it was not as magic as that, but it is a nice metaphor. Also, I only got bored during the very final rugby match, and I dislike rugby, so that's an achievement. 4/5
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