Tamara Drewe

Based on the Graphic Novel by Posy Simmons, Directed by Stephen Frears and starring Gemma Arterton.

I really like Gemma Arterton, granted her turns in Clash of the Titans and Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time were very similar, but she plays the part of the ethereal princess so well! I was in two minds about whether to see this film but was gently persuaded by my parents and sister, you see I have a little aversion to very ‘English’ films. I don’t want the rest of the world to think we all live in the countryside or London. I am all for English films and was appalled to hear of the plans to scrap the British Film Institute because of funding. The confusing thing is it’s funded by the Lottery, but I suppose that’s what you get when the country goes conservative, it’s bled of colour and creativity, but I digress. When I found out that the film was based on a graphic novel, my interest was further sparked because if you haven’t guessed already I’m a very literature motivated person!

Tamara Drewe is the story of a young woman who is a journalist and has to return home to the small village she grew up in, in order to renovate and sell her family home. Before we meet Tamara however we meet some of the local characters. Beth Hardiment and her award winning crime writer husband Nicholas run a writers retreat where the film begins, as an inspiring writer I was pleasantly surprised at this part of the sub plot and immediately could empathise with writers struggling to compose and be published. Throughout the film there is a strong sense of inspiration, Nicholas bases his characters on his neighbours, the quintessential American Bill Camp is inspired by the scenery and Tamara is inspired to write a semi-autobiographical novel from her own experiences. Even the hilariously funny Dominic Cooper as Ben Sergeant is inspired to write songs about the women and fans he comes into contact with, I cannot emphasise the importance of music in film. One of the stand outs in this film is a fan of Ben’s; Jody Long played by Jessica Barden is the epitome of a teenager in love with her idol. Her obsession with Ben will stir memories in any woman about her crush on an idol - from Robbie Williams to Robert Pattinson.

Although Tamara is central to the plot, the film does not revolve around her. Many of her actions cause the other characters to act on feelings of want, jealousy and lust – mainly the male characters! They are all linked to Tamara and her past in one way or another. However you don’t feel as if the entire plot is waiting on Tamara. As a viewer you become fond of Ben and his oafishness but like any good romantic comedy fan you also know that he and Tamara are not meant to be, that spot is reserved for the first love/ex-boyfriend Andy. This is not without its mishaps and one of the pleasures of this film is that Tamara is a very real character, a real person who makes mistakes.

The comedic relief is rife,  with the writers providing much of it – a lesbian crime fiction writer, a man struggling to write about Thomas Hardy, countless unpublished writers and the incessant line of women who come to the retreat for Nicholas and his ‘crime writing weekends’. All the credit goes to Tamsin Greig in her turn as the long suffering Beth, she portrays the character as vulnerable yet not without a sense of humour, after finding her husband has been cheating she begins to cry but can only say ‘I’ve stood in the cake mix!’.

All in all I think Tamara Drewe is a very well written, entertaining British film. It shows Gemma Arterton’s talent in an understated yet moving performance and highlights how many under the radar amazing British actors and actresses we have. However, I do feel that the end of the film was a little rushed, Tamara never fully revealed herself and we didn’t get a grand reconcile between her and Andy, just a quick smooch on the doorstep. I hoping the open ending means a sequel is in the works….

Kayleigh xxx

News!!

(Does what it says on the tin).........

• It seems to be the year for 25th Anniversary’s although it seems hard to believe that means 1985 and some of my favourite films as an 80’s addict! The first is possibly my favourite film. It is The Breakfast Club and was written and directed by the god that was John Hughes (I'm not biased!) whose untimely death only came to remind us all of his greatness. You can expect a blog posting in the future featuring me gushing about his greatness! 

The Guardian has a slideshow and pictures of the reunion screening (but employed someone pretty unfunny to write the captions) http://www.guardian.co.uk/film/gallery/2010/sep/22/breakfast-club-reunion#/?picture=366940019&index=9 .

• The second is the not so timeless but still amazing Back to the Future. This time travelling comedy shot Michael J. Fox to stardom and made the DeLorean a global phenomenon. To celebrate its anniversary it is to be re-released in cinemas on the 1st October and I’m quite tempted to see it on the big screen.

• Sacha Baron Cohen is to star as the late great Freddie Mercury in a biopic of his life. But don’t get too excited as the film hasn't even been written yet but Cohen seems a good choice considering his ability to change appearance (and ethnicity in some cases) and his vocal talents portrayed in Sweeney Todd.

*

Cohen? / Mercury? 

• Michael Douglas made it to the premiere of Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps this week despite announcing he is battling throat cancer. He didn’t speak to reporters but looked surprisingly well with Catherine Zeta Jones. His co-stars Shia LeBeouf, Josh Brolin and doing for the Brits, Carrie Mulligan (I like to think of her as Sally Sparrow) were also there and I am really looking forward to seeing the film if the trailers are anything to go by.

**

Douglas and Jones

• It has been reported that there is to be a spin-off television series of Goodfellas, the 1990 Martin Scorsese gangster film starring Ray Liotta. Don’t know if I like the thought of this, the film stands alone as a brilliant retelling of one gangster’s entire life in the mob. Let me know what you think!

• Lastly a new Harry Potter trailer was released today; I have nothing to say but eeek!  - http://www.empireonline.com/news/story.asp?NID=28994

* http://flashyourstache.wordpress.com/2008/01/10/sasha-barron-mercury/

** http://www.guardian.co.uk/film/gallery/2010/sep/21/wall-street-money-never-sleeps#/?picture=366905981&index=2

Emily x

Scott Pilgrim vs. The World.

‘You're pretentious, this club sucks, I have beef. Let's fight.’

A review of Scott Pilgrim vs. The World.

Directed by Edgar Wright starring Micheal Cera.

For a film based on a graphic novel, Scott Pilgrim has a lot to live up to. For the general consensus, Scott Pilgrim will be put in a league with all the other comic book/graphic novel adaptations from the last few years. However, Scott Pilgrim delivers a KO right to the jaw of the likes of Iron Man 2, Spiderman 3 and Ang Lee’s adaptation of The Incredible Hulk.

This comedy/action film is based on the comic book series Scott Pilgrim by Bryan Lee O’Malley and directed by Edgar Wright of Shaun of the Dead/ Hot Fuzz fame. We are thrown straight into the middle of Scott’s life from the outset of the film, much like the latter films mentioned. The audience meet Scott’s new high school girlfriend when his friends do, Knives Chau played beautifully naïve by Ellen Wong, as well as being introduced to Scott’s band Sex Bomb – omb. This sets the precedent for the fast paced dynamic of the film, accompanied by a pumping, bass filled soundtrack with songs written by Beck. Music is an important theme throughout the film, with three of the evil ex’s being defeated by Scott and his bass. Soon Scott meets the girl of his dreams (literally as she turns up in his dream on roller blades) in Ramona Flowers – all kooky and dry wit and breaks up with Knives who is devastated. From Sex Bomb – omb’s first round in a battle of the bands contest, Scott learns in order to be with Ramona he must defeat her ‘seven evil exes’ who have formed an allegiance. Beginning with Matthew Patel as a strange combination of pirate/bollywood star, we as the audience also learn it’s not going to be easy for Scott. He defeats Matthew and we get a small snippet into Ramona’s past life containing many a battle.

My personal favourite ‘evil ex’ is Lucas Lee played by Chris Evans of Not Another Teen Movie fame. Lucas is a cocky mixture of Tom Cruise and Bruce Willis, with a Christian Bale esque gravely tone. His team of stunt doubles attempt to do the most damage to Scott, however Lucas reaches his demise when demonstrating a dangerous skateboard stunt Scott tricked him into because, ‘There are a lot of chicks here’. The most telling part of Scott’s story is through the defeat of Ramona’s next ex. Todd Ingram is also a bassist and dates Scott’s ex-girlfriend Envy Adams, who cruelly dumped Scott when famed called for her. Her name is telling of a range of emotions Scott felt when she was discovered before his band and also the betrayal he felt through Envy and Todd’s relationship. However through the defeat of Todd, though not plain sailing, Scott realises he can finally put Envy in his past. The most telling part of Ramona’s story is through her next evil ex Roxy Richter, the battles are taking their toll, Scott causes their relationship to falter somewhat as he is unable to process her dating history.

For any fan of old school gaming this film will bring back a sense of nostalgia, so many of the graphics made me feel like a kid again playing my Sega Mega drive, especially in the final acts of the film. Scott harnesses the ‘Power of Love’ and the ‘Power of Self Worth’ – with the help of a huge sword provided by the 1 Up life he gained from defeating the Katayanagi twins, Ramona’s five and sixth evil ex’s during another round of the battle of the bands. Unfortunately for Scott, Ramona’s final evil ex is G Man-Graves, the sponsor of the battle, Sex Bomb-omb sign with him and Scott is forced to quit the band with the excellent Young Neil (played by Johnny Simmons) replacing him on bass. The final act of the film sees Scott alone and ready to win Ramona back whilst defeating Gideon ‘G Man’ Graves at his new super club Chaos Theatre – which isn’t really chaotic at all. A very video game ending follows with Scott able to resolve his issues throughout the film.

Michael Cera is ‘that guy’, the character he plays so well, geeky but loveable. In Scott Pilgrim however his edge of arrogance adds a new layer to his repertoire, mirroring his excellent turn in Youth In Revolt. The fact that Scott is somewhat a super hero only adds to Cera’s credence whilst he continues to help the geek chic revolution of smashing stereotypes (thank you Tobey Maguire).

Kayleigh x

Is This England?

I recently decided to sit down and watch Shane Meadows This is England. Partly because I’ve wanted to see it for years and also because Channel 4 were about to start showing a four part drama spin-off set years after the film ended. It tells the tale of a troubled young boy growing up in Grimsby, mourning the death of his father in the Falkland’s war and trying to find an identity for himself. He finds solace in a chance meeting with some skinheads and is taken under the wing of their leader Woody. With the help of the boys girlfriends Shaun transforms from flare wearing prey to bullies into a skin headed, tough lad with an older girlfriend. However, when Combo (an old friend of Woody’s) turns up after a stay in prison, this happy existence takes a turn for the worse when he brainwashes Shaun with racist views reflecting the National Front organisation.  Portrayed unflinchingly honestly is Shaun Meadows experiences of growing up with the racism and violence under the Thatcher government. The film is able to communicate this because of its low budget and amateur although brilliant actors. The film mixes in real footage of rioting and unrest making the claustrophobic and almost desperate nature of England at that time apparent. This was unrest which would affect the entire nation and must not be forgotten.

It reminded me of a film I was shown in 6^th form called Made in Britain. This Film was made for TV and therefore similarly on a small budget in 1982. It starred a very young Tim Roth as Trevor the Skinhead who spends his time stealing cars and breaking out of his detention centre. The authorities try to make him conform in the most demeaning, patronising and abusive manner and therefore are unable to get through. This theme of youth gone awry did not start in the 80’s but is reminiscent of films such as A Clockwork Orange (1971), although fictional, and Quadrophenia (1979) which both portrayed the dangerous nature of gangs and division due to difference in the UK. This theme will always be apt as we still have debates over class (e.g. the recent election), race, sex and gender.

Therefore I would definitely recommend This is England, not only for its brave message but also for Thomas Turgoose who plays Shaun who is an amazing little actor and amazingly cute! Once you’ve seen it find the recent rebirth on Channel 4 which you can view on 4OD now. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CXDNsPRTANw

Emily x

Big Brother

(I know this a TV entry but I wanted to write about it and we will be putting up entries on our favourite TV in the future)

And so the time has come to say goodbye to Channel 4’s Big Brother. After eleven series and over 1000 episodes, how will Channel 4 and E4 respectively fill the massive gap left by the program?

When the show started I was thirteen and thought it was an interesting concept, put eleven people in a house for a ‘social experiment’ to see if they could work and cohabit together successfully, whilst being watched 24 hours a day, seven days a week by camera’s and in the case of the first series, 4.5 million people on average. I immediately fell in love with the show, as an avid people watcher in every day life; it was so interesting to watch how people react under the demands of Big Brother. Who can forget the stand off between the housemates and Nasty Nick? With BB1 winner Craig taking the helm to confront Nick on his nomination methods.

I couldn’t wait for the next series to begin and in those early days the housemates had it relatively easy, no ‘evil’ BB, cases taken in when they entered the house and even a chicken coup for fresh eggs. The house’s décor was improved but the format remained the same, bringing us such gems as Helen ‘I like blinking I do’ Adams and the irreplaceable winner of BB2, Brian Dowling who has an extremely good chance of winning the current Ultimate Big Brother.

What set Big Brother apart from other reality TV programs is that is was the first of its kind in the UK. As the series has progressed, we as viewers have seen a variety of changes made. The third series had a new house, the rich/poor divide, Jade Goody and the highest average of 5.8 million viewers as well as the first female winner in Kate Lawler. Most importantly the characters that enter the house drive the show and the viewing figures. For the first four series’ the housemates were relatively ‘normal’ but after the snooze fest that was series four with Cameron Stout a devout Christian winning we entered the faze of ‘Big Brother Turns Evil’.

The house was changed to a confined environment, claustrophobic living space, intense décor and promoted as ‘Black Friday’. Mattresses were removed as housemates were evicted and the prize money was reduced every time they failed a task. Big Brother was criticised for the choice of housemates in this series, controversially choosing Nadia Almada, originally from Portugal and post op transsexual, however this theory was soon turned on its head when the nation feel in love with Nadia and chose her as the winner. However the tension and characters in the house, as well as Michelle and Emma’s knowledge from a residence in the bedsit next door to the house, culminated in the notorious fight night of BB5 when they re-entered the house. Scenes of aggression and violence followed and the live feed was cut when security were forced to enter the house and resolve the situation. In the aftermath a psychologist on the show resigned, claiming that his warnings to Endemol of their deliberate selection of housemates were likely to cause conflict and lead to a fight went unheeded.

The next five series were produced in a similar vein, personalities chosen because of the potential to clash with others and cause drama, characters such as Makosi, Kemal, Saskia, Science and Maxwell from series six consistently broke rules and had physical altercations with each other. Series seven, or as I like to call it ‘The One With All The Water’ also controversially chose a tourettes sufferer in Pete, who just like Nadia started as an underdog but ended up winning. This series also introduced us to the delights (ahem) of Nikki Graham, ‘Who is she?’ became THE quote of summer 2006.

Series eight began with all an all girl cast, which inevitably digressed into many arguments, mainly involving the poisonous Charley but the series also highlighted the importance of the BB fan. The winner Brian Belo had been a fan since the series began and through his love for the show and questionable intelligence he came out on top, kind of ironic for a series which didn’t have any men until day 17! To me, the format fell flat during series’ nine and ten and I watched very little. The people who entered all wanted their fifteen minutes to extend further and the show that had started as social experiment had turned into a circus.

When Channel 4 announced in 2009 that 2010 would be the last series of Big Brother I was heartbroken, for all my ‘I’ll never watch it again, it’s tired’, I still couldn’t imagine my TV viewing without it. The excitement to see who they put in, would there be a fitty for me to obsess over all summer, who would I hate? I wasn’t disappointed with the fourteen housemates picked by BB, especially the one who looked like David Beckham! There was unrequited love between women, a crazy old minister with very strong opinions, scary robots and the nicest Bristolian who I took a shining to straight away. For me Josie was a winner from day one, BB was made for this down to earth girl who defied stereotypes, was loyal but would stand her ground when tested. Along with Brian Dowling, Kate Lawler, Pete Bennett and Brian Belo she can be proud to be a BB winner with dignity.

We’ll have to wait and see who is crowned Ultimate Big Brother winner tonight and I’m sure there will be plenty of familiar faces and reminicising to do, I may even shed a tear. In the immortal words of Davina McCall ‘Big Brother house, this is Davina, please do not swear’.

Kayleigh xxx

The Third Kind

 Directed by Olatunde Osunsanmi, starring Milla Jovovich.

'There are four kinds of alien encounters. The fourth kind is abduction.'


The film 'The Fourth Kind' concentrates on the town of Nome in Alaska and the sleep deprevation that the majority of its inhabitants suffer with. Psychologist Abigail Tyler (Milla Jovovich) notices the similarities between many of her patients symptoms, the white owl that sits outside of their homes, never moving or changing. She sets out to discover what is traumatising them, these discoveries lead her to a disturbing truth, that there maybe something other wordly terrorising the town.


Now that I've set up the story for you, I can be honest, this film leaves a lot to be desired! For Milla Jovovich to announce at the beginning of the film that it is based on real events and contains real footage immediatley sets off alarm bells. The advertising campaign carried out for this film is very much like the massive internet advertising campaign carried out by the makers of The Blair Witch Project. Their campaign managed to capture our imagination and drove millions of us to the box office, 'The Fourth Kind' however lacks the originality produced by The Blair Witch Project. The 'real footage' seems contrived and scripted, with an unconvincing performance from the 'real' Abigail Tyler, if she even exists. Also, for the director to put himself centre stage is narcasstic, Alfred Hitchcock he ain't.

All of the three slightly scary moments in the film you will have already seen in the advert. Don't get me wrong, these moments do make you feel uneasy but also a little jipped when, convieniently, the interference obstructs your view of the fourth kind. Oh and the alien's speak an ancient language which is only half heartedly translated for us, leaving us all the more perplexed as to who these alien's are and what the purpose is for abducting these people.

Thank God for Milla Jovovich, her performance is convincing and heartbreaking. She never fails to keep you in the moment and you do genuinely feel her frustration at the lack of understanding and mainly fear from the police of the town.Unfortunatley we have two annoying children to contest with, a 'wise beyond his years' son and a daughter who's blind (queue sympathy). The character of fellow psychologist and friend of Abigail Tyler, Abel Campos (Elias Koteas) could be seen as symbolising the audience's voice, he attributes every incident to something based in reality eg. hallucinations, dementia. Where as Abigail Tyler is quick to believe the alien theory, he is more cautious.

The film ends with both Milla Jovoich and the director Olatunde Osunsanmi leaving the decision to us. We have be shown the facts and footage, now it is the audiences turn to choose whether to believe or not.

My advice? If you believe in aliens, it would probably be better to watch War of the World's again and feel your heart sink as Tom Cruise survives.

Rating: K K - That's just for Milla's performance!

Kayleigh x

'I felt like destroying something beautiful'

 A Profile of David Fincher


For my first post on our blog I decided to write about something or I should say someone I feel I know very well. When I first began to look at films as a student, studying film studies at sixth form, we were asked to pick one director to profile for a presentation. I, on a whim, chose David Fincher as the director who I just happened to have seen and owned most of his films. This project turned me from an accidental unconscious fan of his into someone who loves his films and the work he creates. I purposefully now go and see anything he is involved with, which is unfortunately quite few and far between.

David Fincher always wanted to be a director. He loved Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid as a child and at the age of 18 gained his first job in the film industry. He began his directorial career directing adverts for companies such as Coca Cola and big budget music videos for artists such as The Rolling Stones, Michael Jackson and Madonna’s Vogue. His directorial debut in feature films was Alien 3 but Fincher first gained critical attention with 1995’s Se7en. It tells the story of two police officers investigating a serial killer whose motivation for murder follows a pattern of the seven deadly sins. It contains what would become auteur like trade marks noticeable in all of Fincher’s films. For example his lack of geography often setting films within an unknown ‘cityscape’, the weather is often awful throughout with torrential rain and storms and many other editing techniques such as flashing up single frames in the middle of a scene, a most important feature within Fincher’s second film with Brad Pitt, Fight Club. Now a cult classic, Fight Club was originally panned by critics but now appears in the top 10 of many journalistic film lists. It is based upon Chuck Palahniuk’s book of the same name about an insomniac office worker (Edward Norton) who opens up a bare knuckle fight club with a mysterious acquaintance Tyler Durden (Brad Pitt). Fincher’s other notable films are 2002’s Panic Room starring Jodie Foster and 2007’s Zodiac continuing his choice of thriller based storylines which best suit his technical choices discussed above. Although both films were successful in terms of box office figures and critical consideration Fincher did not gain international recognition until The Curious Case of Benjamin Button. The Film was nominated for thirteen Academy Awards including best director and is based on the short story of the same name by F. Scott Fitzgerald. Brad Pitt, in his third film with the director, starred as Button, an extraordinary human who ages backwards.

Fincher's next film The Social Network is released on the 15^th of October. It tells the story of the creators of the internet social phenomenon Facebook and the subsequent problems they faced. Nothing could be more apt a subject, particularly for people of my age. With Facebook taking over the world, people’s lives been documented on the web and whether someone is ‘in a relationship’ or not seeming to be determined by your relationship ‘status’ this film is set to be a must see. Fincher, I feel, is bound to have a long and successful career so try him out and see to his back catalogue because with such quality of stories you will not be disappointed.

View the trailer here - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o5TvbyvYeGc

The Social Network (2010).

or go to -http://social-network-movie-trailer.blogspot.com/



Emily x

To introduce ourselves....

This is The Film Boards and with it we aim to create a diverse, interesting, entertaining and informative discussion on film and all its triumphs and pitfalls. We are fans first and foremost and therefore will not attempt to be anything but honest and fair in our discussion of the film industry.

This blog will include; Reviews, Features, a ‘Vintage Vault’ where we suggest older films we believe any self respecting film fan should see, Profiles upon people in the industry, Top 5’s, Exciting news and links to all of our favourite sources about all things film. 


Happy reading! Emily and Kayleigh x