Twyford Social Flicks

25/11/2024

My ‘off the cuff’ review of ‘Small Things Like These’, starring Cillian Murphy, Eileen Walsh and Emily Watson.

This film is quiet. It starts off slow, and to be frank, I wasn’t quite sure as to where it would go but it is made clearer as soon as Cillian Murphy’s character ‘Bill’ delivers coal to the nunnery and sees a daughter beg her mother to not send her there. From this scene, it becomes apparent that there will be a confrontation between the nuns and Bill. The next ‘stepping stone’ as it were in this specific regard is when Bill goes into the laundry to settle an invoice which is when the film first moves to the interior of it.

The film moves back and forth, Bill’s family to the laundry and his childhood which is shown through flashbacks which begin to occur during his ritual of cleaning his hands practically raw before going in to see his family each evening after work.

Throughout the film, the subtle tension between Bill and his wife grows as they barely talk to each other properly, both in their own denial and resignation of acceptance about the impact and control the nuns have over their lives, their family’s lives and the town overall. The tension comes to a head when they go to bed one evening and begin to actually, (for the first time in a long while it seems), acknowledge each other and contemplate their own feelings as well as each others.

About two thirds of the way through the film, Bill finds the same girl from earlier in the coal shed and takes her in to the laundry, which therein leads to the small ‘crescendo’ of the film, the meeting between the Mother Superior, who is tactfully played by Emily Watson. The dialogue overall, but most specifically in this scene is indescribably celestial, (pun intended there), it hits all the right notes. It is cinematic and yet it feels heinously realistic.

As my opening sentence stated, this film is quiet. It is one to watch on a rainy grey day. It is not a film for the popcorn and the hubbub of chatter. It is a film to sip a small hot drink reassuringly as the film builds your anxiety and anticipation up, brick by brick.
It is worthy of praise and recognition. The ending is ambiguous in a way. It ends where the story actually begins. It’s almost like the film depicts the first 2 chapters of the book, leaving the big climax to the viewers imagination. Now this is really well done and I respect and admire the film for having the end let everything hang in the metaphorical air, leaving the viewer to question various aspects of the film, the characters, the modus operandi etcetera…

However the one question that left a dissatisfied taste in my mouth is about Bill’s childhood. Throughout the film, Bill barely says a word - he is quite probably the personification of the phrase ‘actions speak louder than words’. He is clearly traumatised by the one event that is shown in the flashbacks to his childhood, but in my opinion, the flashbacks don’t feel as believably traumatising for Bill to be as badly affected in his later life. It makes me think that there must be something more to his childhood for his behaviour in the future. This is the only question I wanted more of an affirmative answer to - it didn’t need to be completely answered - I just wanted a smidge more clarity.

The cinematography should also get a mention. It is beautifully shot and I do mean beautifully, even the laundry is shot beautifully. The cinematography holds the film from veering off into horror or psychological thriller territory.

It is hard to describe the lengths and depths that this film goes to. There is more to this film than the ‘nuns’. It goes into detail about the affects on a family and how the two intersect with each other.

All in all… it is a hushed and humbling film to be experienced. If you can, go and see it.

Film Age Rating: 12A
Trailer:

Small Things Like These- watch trailer now. In theaters November 8th, starring Cillian Murphy, Emily Watson, Michelle Fairley, and Eileen Walsh.Subscribe to ...

09/10/2024

Hi! Just thought I’d send this out. We have an evening film showing at the Twyford Community Centre tomorrow. The Community Centre Bar will be open from 19:00pm, with the film starting at 19:30pm. No need to purchase tickets, watching the film is completely free! Newcomers are all welcome! All of the details are in the tagged event. We have other films coming up as well so I’ll pop them on here soon. 🎬📽️

06/10/2024

WhatsApp Community for TSF

Hello,

I have decided to create a ‘WhatsApp Community’ for the films at the Twyford Community Centre.

For those who are unaware, a WhatsApp Community is essentially a group of related groups. As of right now, I have set it up so the Community has three groups;

A. Announcements - This is essentially the same as the mailing list, I will send out the necessary details for upcoming films.
B. General Q&A - This is for anyone with any questions and it doesn’t have to be me who only answers them, all of the members can write on this group.
C. Film Discussion - This would be for people who wish to discuss films, not just ones that are shown at the TCC.

It is worth noting that you do not have to be a part of all three groups - you can set it up so that you can just be a member of the ‘Announcements’ Group for example.

If you would like to join the aforementioned community, please by all means click on this link:

https://chat.whatsapp.com/EJLWDVEJvdT7EbLo9veLK2

Alternatively you can join the mailing list by emailing [email protected]

Any questions by all means ping me a message,
All the best,
Wesley

21/09/2024

Hello, this post is not actually to do with films at all. Apologies for the lack of notice as well, I am advertising on behalf of Iram’s Desi Food. If you fancy ordering a homemade Pakistani takeaway for this evening then Iram’s Desi Food is doing direct home deliveries for Twyford and its surrounding villages.

You can contact Iram’s Desi Food by calling or messaging 07588332532 or emailing [email protected]

Please note that you have until 13:00pm to get your orders in. Iram takes payment by cash or card. Depending on the total of your order, there may be a delivery fee.

Please find the menu attached.

17/02/2024

Review

Film Title: Bad Times at the El Royale

Cast:
Jeff Bridges (The Giver)
Cynthia Erivo (Luther: The Fallen Sun)
Lewis Pullman (Lessons in Chemistry)
Jon Hamm (Good Omens)
Dakota Johnson (The Lost Daughter)
Chris Hemsworth (Extraction)
Cailee Spaeny (Priscilla)

Director: Drew Goddard
Cinematographer: Seamus McGarvey
Producer: Drew Goddard

Running Time: 2hrs & 22 minutes

Age Rating: 15

Film Synopsis: In 1969, seven strangers meet in a deserted hotel, each with a dark past. As events unfold, their secrets come out and they soon find themselves in a bind.

Film Trailer: https://youtu.be/y7wzBVARwaU?si=SoH9rImhGody1LTw

Rotten Tomatoes: Critic - 75%, Audience - 75%, IMDb: 7.1/10

General Thoughts:

Many people have likened this film to a bad version of Quentin Tarantino’s Pulp Fiction. I wholeheartedly disagree. I believe that likening it to Pulp Fiction, would be doing this noir crime thriller a disservice, I wouldn’t liken it at all to Pulp Fiction, but perhaps Hotel Artemis. I feel like Bad times at the El Royale, (now referred to as BTER), lives in the same universe at Hotel Artemis. Both films are similar in their premise and their overall plot, however BTER feels like a predecessor, not in literal terms as BTER came out a couple of years after Hotel Artemis. However BTER is set in 1969, whereas Artemis is set in 2028. in their overall feel with the BTER plot having references to the Red Scare, the Vietnam War and other political issues, whilst Hotel Artemis has references to a Water Scandal and a general feeling of Dystopia, which has yet to happen.

Right… onto the acting. All of the actors suit in their roles. I recall being fond of Cynthia Eviro’s character, as well as Jeff Bridges and Lewis Pullman’s characters. Spaeny’s character seems chillingly innocent until a certain twist occurs. Hemsworth manages to successfully shed off the shiny skin of Thor, and come into his own as his character.

However, Hemsworth’s villain is where my one issue of the film comes into play. His acting is not the issue, the issue is when his character is introduced. I didn’t feel like I had been introduced to his character quick enough for his part to be properly cemented into the film and therefore the ending of the film does feel somewhat undermined by this.

Jon Hamm… at first, it felt like he was playing his character Gabriel from Good Omens, (who I found positively grating), however one of the twists does pull his irritating positivity into a light where it makes sense and I can enjoy his performance, now in the know, with this new information.

Switching over to the cinematography, this is skilfully shot by Seamus McGarvey. There are two particular shots, both of a door frame. One right at the beginning, and another of Room 7 - you’ll understand what I mean if you watch Bad Times at the El Royale. The split of colours between Nevada & California is an interesting concept and exquisitely executed. The cinematography is reminiscent of John Wick, however the aesthetic is more subtle I think, and this makes the film more appealing.

Amid the classic ‘Effing and Jeffing’ of a noir thriller, there are poignant moments of sensitivity which keep this film from joining the on-going repetitive late night list of shoddy crime thrillers. Of the few sensitive scenes, my favourite is the scene where Jeff Bridges character confides in Cynthia Erivo’s character. This scene is called upon later near the climax of the film which helps tie in all of the knots.

Short Sentence Sum up:

- Neon & noir-esque cinematography which is well executed.
- Twists which keep the audience in their seat, not quietly slipping out to boil the kettle, or buy another round of popcorn.
- Steady engaging build up. Different perspectives give the film more layers than your average thriller.

Stand Out Actor: Lewis Pullman, his acting throughout, and in particular the ending, is stellar.

Summing Up & Conclusion:

If you’re looking for a peculiar neon noir-esque thriller then this should be up your street. I would recommend this for an early evening or late night viewing. As said prior, the film has more layers than an average crime thriller.

A.B.O Element: The Acting, if you’re looking for a film with superb acting, this is one to go for. There are so many different characters to analyse and look at.

TSF Rating: 9.1/10 (Impressive/Very Skilful) [A - Merit]

Now On Digital: https://fox.co/2RTJdyaNow On Blu-ray & DVD: https://fox.co/2ROTBqESeven strangers, each with a secret to bury, meet at Lake Tahoe's El Royale...

20/01/2024

Review:

Film Title: 45 Years

Cast:

Charlotte Rampling (The Little Stranger)
Tom Courtenay (The Guernsey Literary & Potato Peel Pie Society)
Geraldine James (Beast)

Director: Andrew Haigh

Cinematographer: Laurie Crawley

Producer: Tristan Goligher

Running time: 1hr & 31 minutes

Film Synopsis: The preparation for the 45th wedding anniversary of an elderly couple is disrupted when the husband receives a letter saying that the body of his first love has been found preserved in ice for 50 years.

Film Trailer: https://youtu.be/e9jb_JJwpU8?si=pYvPGFyTqYD425V3

Rotten Tomatoes Rating: Critic - 97%, Audience - 67%
IMDb Rating: 7.1/10

General Thoughts:

As Mark Kermode pointed out, the editing is really well thought out, it doesn’t cut the scene too short, nor does it keep the scene too long, so that the acting becomes stale. The performances from both Rampling and Courtenay are allowed to breathe and exist on their own, taking their well deserved time.

Many people may look to actors, such as Michael Caine, Maggie Smith, Judi Dench & Gary Oldman, for acting masterclasses and they would most rightfully so. But I feel like I must point out this absolute gem, if you are looking for a performance which has skill and vulnerable grace, then look no further. Both Rampling and Courtney are at their absolute A-game.

The cinematography helps keep the work of the actors in a realistic manner. How the film is shot, I would liken to a a signalman changing the signals to assist the locomotive on its way down to its terminus. The cinematography does not try to boast itself and outdo the two main characters, it smooths the film out and in particular, assists with illustrating the general atmosphere of the film.

It is worth noting that the dialogue is also well written. The lines, spoken by each respective character are written so that they get the point across. However as mentioned before, the dialogue gives the floor to Rampling and Courtenay’s facial expressions and body language.

The only two issues that people may have is the pacing and the ending. For me, both the pacing and the ending worked well, however I am aware that some may find the pacing very slow. The ending, I personally really admired. The film doesn’t give us definitive answer as to what happens. It is all left ‘up in the air’.

Short Sentence Sum Up

- Masterful Acting
- Gentle and Serene Cinematography
- Realistic, complicated and yet eloquently simple dialogue
- The pacing may be an issue for some people. It is a slow film. If you’re looking for something quickly paced, then perhaps save this film for a day when you’ve got nothing to do.

Stand Out Scene: The scene in the attic where Kate finds various pictures and diary entries.

Stand Out Actor: Charlotte Rampling - Rampling’s ability to communicate her characters inner turmoils with no dialogue is still, as I write this a week later, astounding.

A.B.O Element - Charlotte Rampling and Tom Courtenay’s acting are what make this film from mediocre, to quite frankly in my eyes, award winning.

TSF Rating: 9.2/10 (Impressive/Very Skilful) [A - Merit]

Charlotte Rampling and Tom Courtenay star in this award-winning relationship drama from Weekend director Andrew Haigh.Subscribe to Film4 for more interviews,...

20/01/2024

TSF Reviews Introduction

Hello and Welcome to TSF Reviews.

This is a film review series.

Each review is split into 4 parts:

1. Research, 2. Thoughts, 3. Sum Up & 4. Rating.

I will not claim to be a film expert. I am not in the film industry… the only thing I am learning, which could be in any way remotely linked is Photography, which that in itself is a bit of a leap.

Whilst I do provide a final rating for each film, that rating is to be considered as a number which reflects all of the elements combined. If there is an element which I think is stellar and most notable, you will find ‘A.B.O’. This stands for ‘Absolutely Box Office’, and will be used when I believe that a film should be seen because of a particular aspect.

I have 9 levels of scoring which are as follows:

0-1.4 = Regret Watching (G) [Fail]
1.5-2 = Just About Watchable (F) [Fail]
2.1-4 = Watchable (E) [Pass]
4.1-5 = Re-watchable (D) [Pass]
5.1-6 = Recommendation Worthy (C) [Merit]
6.1-8 = Enjoyable/Skilful (B) [Merit]
8.1-9.4 = Impressive/Very Skilful (A) [Merit]
9.5-10 = Almost Flawless (A*) [Distinction]

I plan to release the reviews once every two weeks. If you have come here from the films at the TCC, it is worth noting that the films reviewed may not match with the films shown at the Twyford Community Centre.

If there are any films you wish for me to review or you wish to share your thoughts on the film reviewed, please by all means leaving your thoughts in the comments below.

23/12/2023

Happy Christmas & A Wonderful New Year Everyone! Thank you very much to those who came to one of our films this year. See you all in 2024!

20/08/2023

Email: [email protected] to join! It’s completely free!