film reviews, interviews, features | BRWC

Author: Beth Widdicombe

  • There Are No Saints (The Jesuit) – Review

    There Are No Saints (The Jesuit) – Review

    There Are No Saints (The Jesuit) – Review

    The new film directed by Alfonso Pineda Ulloa is ready for release this week, and as a revenge movie fan, I had high hopes. With a screenplay by gritty veteran Paul Schrader (The Last Temptation of Christ, Taxi Driver), and featuring a vintage cast of hard men, such as Tim Roth, Ron Perlman and Neal McDonough, you would hope this movie of vengeance would pack a punch.

    However, it comes up more playground thumb war. And like that game of childhood, this tired format seems to belong in the past. The hard and vulgar cock-a-nayy dialogue from the protagonist lawyer, “he confessed, cause he’s got cancer of the arsehole”, seems more B-movie from the noughties than something you would get in a similar era Tarantino, or Richie.

    Much is the cinematography and editing. The clumsy juxtaposition of shots of mercenary catholic type torture, with a visit to the priest are too obvious. I also found the club scenes dated.

    The crux of the story is a wrongfully imprisoned ex-con, released from jail in Texas with a reputation for torture, trying to get his life back and finding it isn’t going to happen. A dead wife and kidnapped son send him of a mission for avengement.

    Although it was nice to see some faces, and I personally will watch anything with Tim Roth, I just couldn’t get emotionally involved with the protagonist ‘Niente aka The Jesuit’ – played by Jose Maria Yazpik. Sadly, for this type of movie to work, that is the essential element to keep the audience on-board.

    Overall worth a watch if you want to see men, being MEN and girls playing the harlot/damsel….but not something to sink your teeth into.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QT4Pyqj4g_s

    There Are No Saints (The Jesuit) – Review

  • Confetti: Review

    Confetti: Review

    Confetti – a film about a traditional working class Chinese family’s struggle to receive guidance and education with their daughter, who has recently been diagnosed with Dyslexia.

    Written and directed by Ann Hu, the film is split into four chapters, and set across China and New York.

    Meimei, a clearly intelligent and creative child, is exposed at school for her inability to write her name or read any basic words. Her mother Lan (Zhu Zhu), a cleaner at the school sees her daughter chastised and ridiculed by the teacher and kids and reports her fears back to her father Chen (Yanan Li), a tailor who works from home. Thomas (George C. Tronsrue), an American teacher, recognises that she shows similar traits to his cousin and highlights to the family that he believes her to have Dyslexia, an unknown condition in China. Facing adversity and lack of knowledge, Thomas helps the mother and child relocate to New York to give her a chance to receive the support needed to give her the opportunity to integrate into society and formal education and have the same opportunities a person without this condition has in the world.

    The trials and tribulations faced by mother and daughter during their desperate situation, are spurred on by an initially reluctant writer friend of Thomas’s, a strong-willed lady in a wheelchair called Amy (Helen McClellan). As the film progresses, we learn that Meimei’s struggles stem from her mother’s own hidden illiteracy. 

    This is a hopeful film, about the determination of a mother to give her daughter all the opportunities she herself lacked. Worldwide 1 – 10 of the population are dyslexic, and many of those go unrecognised and often end up in dead end jobs, far beyond their abilities. I found this film heart warming, and as a fellow dyslexic (I wasn’t diagnosed until my late twenties) can fully empathise with how much more difficult life is with this condition, and how important it is for people to recognise that it doesn’t make you dumb or abnormal, just makes the ordinary tasks of life a hell of a lot harder and longer. 

    A well constructed, well made film that would be enjoyed by all who watch it.

  • My Dinner With Alan: A Soprano’s Session – Review

    My Dinner With Alan: A Soprano’s Session – Review

    My Dinner With Alan: A Soprano’s Session – Review. By Beth Widdicombe.

    Don’t be put off when you see the run time of 2 hours and 41 minutes for the new documentary ‘My Dinner with Alan: A Soprano’s Session’, practically a decade of time for the TikTok generation, but absolutely time well spent. Split into three manageable chapters, we are not just entertained, we are left as sad as we were at the iconic final episode ‘Made in America’ back in 2007. 

    Which brings me to part one of the interview film based on the book ’Soprano Sessions’, the writers Matt Zoller Seitz and Alan Sepinwall meet in Holsten’s diner in New Jersey (which any fan knows is where the final scene was filmed) to catch up, reminisce about their days as critics at the ‘New Jersey Star-Ledger’ during the seasons release, and their facts, theories, favourite episodes and how it impacted on their lives. Although this could seem quite dry unless you were a fan, their chats are fun, you feel the warmth between them and the genuine heartfelt friendship. 

    The second part ’The Last Supper’ is set in another restaurant, (apt as all good mafioso chats centre around the table where wine and food are as integral as the Colt 45 under the table) with some of the series favourite cast members. It is refreshing to have such candid chats considering what we are now used to due to today’s well-oiled PR media machines influences on stars. They are a funny, tenacious bunch, very respectful to one another, and you get the sense that they really loved each other. Very complimentary of James Gandolfini…not so much about HBO.

    Closing with Part three, which unlike the Godfather is the cherry on top, we get an interview with writer and genius creator of The Sopranos David Chase. He seems a little frosty at first, but soon warms up as they coax out of him his influences. Audiences will appreciate his frank honesty, and you can genuinely feel the respect from all in the room.

    Personally, I will admit to bias for this review, I watched it at its release and countless times since and have been known to call it ‘THE BEST THING TO EVER HAVE BEEN MADE FOR TELEVISION’ – so naturally I would lap up a documentary celebrating The Sopranos. For hardened fans there isn’t any new information, but the chats are funny, candid and heart-warming. This is definitely a fan film. For those who haven’t watched the Sopranos, skip this documentary and get on downloading the Boxset. You’ll never regret it.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wUCLBcESkD0
  • Sweet Street: Review

    Sweet Street: Review

    Sweet Street: Review. By Beth Widdicombe.

    Written and Directed by Leeds native Coz Greenop, this short gives us a 24-hour window into the story of Isabella, a sex worker based on the real, legalised Red District located on Sweet Street in Leeds, North Yorkshire. Having an interest in social realism and his local area, he started research to bring these girls stories to life. Taken from an interview by ‘Directors Notes’; directorsnotes.com

    “For a long time, I’ve wanted to do something that has some kind of social realism. All my previous movies have been about real issues but with this, I wanted something close to home and where I’m from in Leeds”.

    Although only 15 mins long, this short packs a punch, and we become very aware that there are no happy endings on Sweet Street.

    We meet Isabella (Ariadna Cabrol) in the early morning, finishing another shift on the street. Her friend and fellow sex worker Kayleigh (Kimberley Barrett) invites her to a party later – but unexpectedly, instead of heading back to her squat/parents/flat (who knows the background of a prostitute, it could be anywhere), she makes her way to an aquatics centre. While staring into the aquariums, she is approached by a man who works in the garden centre, Mark (Philip Hill-Pearson).

    They have a meet cute situation, and she agrees to meet him for a day trip to Farley the following day. Seeming quite excited by the prospect Isabella heads to her home (not a squat, however the neighbours are continually arguing), and gets ready to meet her friend for the party. There are scenes of drug use, and it is here that the audience gets an idea of the reason for their choice in career, and its unglamorous reality. The party is a typically seedy affair, casual hook-ups, drinks, obligatory vomit in the loo, followed by hazy camera movement.

    Feeling somewhat fragile, Isabella makes it to meet Mark the next morning, albeit late and they head to the seaside. They drink on the beach, they chat. All seems like loves young dream.

    They end their day in the local chippy. Personally, I’m living my own future love fantasy right now. Then comes the inevitable conflict…not all stories have a happy ending, and although we just want Isabella to live happily ever after, life just isn’t like that.

    Coz’s attempt at telling the stories of the red district workers both sensitive and well executed. It’s not often that I get emotionally involved in stories such as this, but it gave me a new level of empathy for these poor women.

  • The Stand In: The BRWC Review

    The Stand In: The BRWC Review

    The Stand In: The BRWC Review. By Beth Widdicombe.

    The Stand In – a dark comedy starring Drew Barrymore in dual role of both Star and Stand-in, directed by Jamie Babbitt ‘But I’m a Cheerleader’, ‘Russian Doll’, and written by Sam Bain ‘Peep Show’, ‘Four Lions’. 

    Candy Black is a box-office comedy franchise superstar, an American sweetheart with a tagline as famous as she is. Candy Black is also a disenchanted, whiskey and eight ball consuming diva. After an infamous on-set fracas, captured by a disgruntled crew member, she goes into exile on her New Jersey Estate. With interiors and a sloppy appearance to rival other famous recluses Howard Hughes and Greta Garbo, we find her at the lowest of the low, about to go to rehab to escape a prison term for 6.5 million dollars’ worth of tax evasion.

    Currently in an anonymous phone relationship with a writer called Steve (Michael Zegan), under the pseudonym of Cathy the Carpenter, she enlists the help of her old stand-in, Paula, as she fears losing him as she cannot give him an explanation for her upcoming hiatus. 

    Paula is insipid, ambitious and currently living in her car and working in an old people’s home…she is in no position to say no to Candy’s request. Like all good stand-ins, she sees the potential for fame, and agrees under the proviso that Candy takes up acting in the future and hires her for her good turn.

    Realising that Steve and Candy’s desire for a quiet life away from fame will ruin her return, Paula gets in the way and separates the pair by moving into a new stand-in role as Cathy/Candy off-screen too. Taking advantage of Candy’s reluctance to return to public life, she steps into all her media appearances, and goes on a Global ‘apology tour’ in her place. As time goes by, she seeps into all aspects of her life, and becomes an unhinged doppelgänger…enjoying the limelight and her new social media stardom. With many cameos from the world of Saturday night television, Graham Norton and Jimmy Fallon to name but a few, bringing authenticity to the film. As the plot continues, we see a more satirical turn on the realities of modern movie stardom, and a reality check on what’s important in life.

    Having fully infiltrated Candy’s life, Paula successfully manages to rid herself of the real Candy – however, as director Barbara (Holland Taylor) says “any asshole can be a celebrity, you’re an actress and a gifted one, stop apologising and start acting” – and Paula soon learns that the grass is not always greener, and not all that glitters is gold.

    This film is an effective look at the trials and tribulations on the life of the rich and famous, the ambitious and ruthless wannabes and a pitch for the simple life. Both leading roles played effectively by Hollywood royalty and old school film darling Drew Barrymore, you will certainly not be disappointed if you’re in the mood for a dark comedy, with an underlying moral tone.