film reviews, interviews, features | BRWC

Author: Rosalynn Try-Hane

  • The BRWC Review: I, Tonya

    The BRWC Review: I, Tonya

    I,Tonya is a sharp, sassy biopic of Tonya Harding that talks about the incident, you know some other skater called Nancy Kerrigan had her knee busted out, and also deftly deals with class, sexual equality and dysfunctional relationships with a killer soundtrack. This biopic written by Steven Rogers cuts to the chase right from the outset and lets you know what you are in for.

    I remember this incident well: Nancy vs Tonya or should I say American’s princess vs trailer trash princess and yet there were parts of the film where I was on the edge of my seat! Is, I,Tonya telling the real story or just another version of the story. At the very beginning, the opening lines of the film it states that everyone has their truth. This isn’t just the story of how Nancy Kerrigan’s knee got busted out or the demise of Tonya Harding. Rather, it is the story of the story and how the press manipulated us into judging Tonya because of where she came from. Tonya Harding’s life that started out shit, got good for a bit and then went back to the shits again. What, I, Tonya excels at is delivering all the information in a fast paced, pseudo-documentary, conversational style with the fourth wall broken down. That last bit, the fourth wall, is just a fancy way of saying for the majority of the time the character of Tonya Harding (Margot Robbie) addresses the audience directly and this works incredibly well.

    Tonya Harding’s life was hell because of her abusive mother, LaVona Golden (Allison Janney). She added to it by marrying her abusive husband, Jeff Gillooly (Sebastian Stan). Steven Rogers doesn’t shy away from showing that abuse, yet not make the audience feel voyeuristic. However, it is not all heavy going, the pace of the film is good so where it is heavy in parts it is light and amusing in others. The supporting cast is excellent. The casting director deserves an award especially for the casting of Paul Walter Hauser as Shawn.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KuDQOMICfr0

    However, this is Allison Janey’s film and life truly does mirror art in this respect. Just as in life, or as I, Tonya leads us to believe, that Tonya Harding’s mother dominated and stole all of Tonya’s joy when she wasn’t skating. Then, so does Allison Janey in award winning role written specifically for her. When she is on screen, forget the scene with the parrot but every scene she is in from the moment she walks out onto the ice, to Cliff Richard singing Devil Woman, and smoking a cigarette you don’t even notice anyone else.  She gets all the best lines: “Are you a gardener or a flower Jeff”.

    This film feels tight because it is. Allison Janney said at the screening I attended it was filmed in 30 days and she was on set for only 8 of them.

    I, Tonya just breathed life into the bloated biopic genre – it is sharp, on point soundtrack and definitely skates on thin ice in places. A must see.

    I, Tonya opens in cinemas across the UK  on Friday 23 February.

  • You’ll Be – FilmStruck!

    You’ll Be – FilmStruck!

    There’s a new streaming service in town and it’s curated! Hoorah. But wait you say, aren’t all the streaming services curated. Well no, not like Filmstruck. The tagline is only great films leave you Filmstruck and at the launch party last Wednesday they explained why Filmstruck is going to be where it’s at.

    Filmstruck is a joint venture between Warner Brothers Digital Networks, Turner International Digital ventures and in collaboration with Curzon independent cinema chain. It is available across all forms of devices and tablets thus to enable to the viewer to watch it anytime and anywhere.

    What sets this streaming service apart is that it is curated so, gone are those days where you spend ages flicking aimlessness through the list of films. At Filmstruck, the list of films is much shorter and targeted. There are those that you’ve heard of like American Psycho, Magnolia and then others that might be new to you such as British cult classic – Archipelago.

    American Psycho.
    American Psycho.

    At the press launch, it was clear that this is a different take on what feels like a saturated market, There are indie classics, British classic and given the partnership with Curzon there will be a decent selection of world cinema available something currently lacking on the other streaming services.

    www.filmstruck.com It will cost £5.99 a month or pay the annual subscription fee of £59 and as a bonus, you’ll receive two months free.

    FilmStruck.
    FilmStruck.
    The UK is the joint venture’s initial launch market in what is planned as a multi-market roll out over the next two years. The service will launch in the UK first as FilmStruck Curzon, in collaboration with the iconic independent cinema brand.
    For film aficionados and enthusiasts alike, FilmStruck’s on demand service features a highly accessible and regularly refreshed selection of critically acclaimed films from across the decades, unlocking the stories that captivated audiences upon their release and which continue to resonate today. The service has a carefully curated Themed area, selected by film experts, to optimise discoverability and introduce ‘new’ titles to curious audiences.
  • Launch: Expressway And byNWR

    Launch: Expressway And byNWR

    Are you obsessive about the Arts? Then let me introduce you to byNWR! What’s that stand for? Who cares – acronyms are bloody cool.

    Last Tuesday saw the launch of Expressway at the very luxurious surroundings of The Academicians’ Room at the Royal Academy. What is Expressway you ask, well like the name suggests it is a direct and fast route into the arts and by arts everything is included: spoken word, film, print media and music.

    Express Way is a co-curated project between The Academicians’ Room and byNWR, the latter is the brainchild of film director, Nicolas Winding Refn (Bronson, Drive etc).

    Expressway And byNWR
    Expressway And byNWR

    It was certainly an interesting event which kicked off with an interesting and hilarious conversation with legendary journalist Jimmy McDonough who regaled the audience with tales of past escapades. The evening also saw a screening of the newly restored Night Tide (1961) with a young Dennis Hopper.

    byNWR – an unadulterated expressway for the arts. Find out more here http://www.bynwr.com/

  • Dave – Go 8 Bit: Interview With Ellie Gibson

    Dave – Go 8 Bit: Interview With Ellie Gibson

    Here at BRWC, we don’t just live for film, often we can be found in front of that flickering box called, I think, a television. Yes, dark cold winter nights were made for television especially when it’s full of laughs and retro games. Did someone say games, you know the ones that you play on a console like….Mario and something called Minecraft?! So who better to talk to about Go 8 Bit, gaming in general and the changing role of women in the gaming world than Ellie Gibson, resident games expert on the show.

    [BRWC] How would you sum up the show in 5 words? 

    [EG] Funny people playing video games.

    [BRWC] Resident’s games expert on a tv show is a pretty cool job. How did you get involved in Go 8 bit?

    [EG] I have worked in games for nearly 20 years, mainly as a journalist. Have written lots and lots about lots of video games over many years, and they needed a gaming expert for this comedy show and just so happened started doing comedy, and I got to know Steve and Sam through that. And then, yeah I was lucky enough to get an audition and get a part for the show.

    [BRWC] How has the show evolved from when you first started on it?

    [EG] It first started many years before I had anything to do with it, it was an Edinburgh comedy show that the guys did live.  The original stage show didn’t have Dara, it didn’t have a revolving stage (which some people may think is a good thing). It didn’t have me, but I think when they brought it to TV they wanted someone to explain to people who were watching who maybe haven’t heard of some of the games, kind of how they worked and stuff – and that’s where I came in. But the basic principle has remained the same – it’s funny people playing games, sometimes perhaps taking it a bit too seriously but just having a good time with it and enjoying themselves, which I think really is what playing games should be all about.

    [BRWC] What’s your favourite retro game of all time?

    [EG] I do have a soft spot for Thundercats on the Amiga, because that was one of the first games I ever played. And then I was a Sonic more than a Mario girl growing up.

    [BRWC] Representation of women in games has always been alarming like bit players in a male-dominated world. Will we see a better representation of women in the future?

    [EG] I’m hopeful that things are going to get better, there are more women working in games now than ever before, and I think that’s really a big factor in terms of changing things. You’ve got to have people who understand women, to create good female characters and the best people to do that of course, are women. I think the games companies are starting to recognise that. If you look at the game ‘The Last Of Us,’ which has a really strong, well rounded female character, and in fact, more than one which again is quite unusual historically for games, and that game was directed by a woman. I’m optimistic that things will change and also perhaps even some of the reluctant gaming directors will realise that you can have women in video games and it doesn’t ruin them – you know, it’s alright!

    [BRWC] Do you think video games can be a force for good, and, if so how?

    [EG] I think they can definitely be a force for good – again, there’s quite often quite an old stereotype of video games that they are all about shooting and destruction. But actually, if you look at modern video games, there’s some amazing stuff out there. There are games like Minecraft and Mario Maker, that let you create and build stuff and let your imagination run wild. And there are games like That Dragon, Cancer that make you think about really serious subjects in a really interesting way.

    Go 8 Bit airs on Dave from Monday 12th February at 10pm.

  • Listen To Your Fave Audio Shows From Audible

    Listen To Your Fave Audio Shows From Audible

    Love visual, love audio but not sure what to listen to? Well, the folks over at Audible have got your back.

    Today marks the exciting launch of Audio Shows which will feature some of your soon to be favourite podcasts. Audio Shows Offers Unlimited Listening To Short Audio Programmes, Original Series And Exclusive Podcasts. Here at BRWC, we love Kermode on film – I mean he is the British godfather of film reviewing after all.

    Mo Farah!
    Mo Farah!

    It doesn’t stop there here are some of the other podcasts that are on offer from today include Bake Off’s favourite, much missed and loved presenter Sue Perkins, Mo – Joe a collaboration between Sir Mo Farah and, wait for it, Joe Wicks. It doesn’t stop there, lots of shows will be added, so make sure you get in there and take a look.

    More great content.
    More great content.

    Audio Shows launches with 14 Audible Original series, commissioned by Audible’s Peabody award-winning and BAFTA-nominated producers, available to stream and download here.

    Audible members can enjoy free, unlimited listening to Audio Shows as part of their regular monthly subscription. Non-Audible members can enjoy free, unlimited listening with Audible’s 30-day trial, or can purchase entire series or individual episodes for a one-off payment.

    Tracey Markham, UK Country Manager at Audible, said: “Audio is booming and we couldn’t be more thrilled to bring such an array of gripping, funny and insightful shorter listens to audio lovers across the country. Working with some of the world’s best writers, producers, commentators and comics, Audio Shows gives Audible members access to a wealth of great audio programmes, original series and exclusive podcasts, ad-free, at no extra cost.”

    For a full selection of currently available audio shows, please visit www.audible.co.uk/audioshows