TRIGGER WARNING (2024)

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Directed By: Molly Surya

Written By: Josh Olson, John Brancato, and Halley Gross

Cinematography: Zoe White 

Editor: Chris Tonick and Robert Grigsby Wilson

Cast: Jessica Alba, Mark Webber, Anthony Michael Hall, Jake Weary, Tone Bell, Alejandro De Hoyos, Gabriel Basso, Kaiwi Lyman, Nadia Molcho, Peter Monro

A devoted daughter is attempting to figure out the cause of her father’s passing.

I am guessing this was supposed to be Jessica Alba’s comeback film To the big screen after being out of the film world for a while and running her Honest brand. 

This definitely was not the right project as it seems like a Netflix movie that even one of their bigger stars Jennifer Lopez would turn down that is how disappointing this movie is. I’m wondering if they had the script and tried to sell it to Alba as her return to movies but not tell her that probably Jennifer Lopez turned it down as well as another list of stars I mean Netflix as an action movie starring character actor Allison Janney. That is way more entertaining than this will ever be.

Jessica Alba, who is a great beauty even deserves better than this film. The audience doesn’t even deserve this film. The film is that poor. 

In watching the film. I know it takes place in a small town so I know it can’t be too impressive when it comes to the action plotting or visuals but this should still definitely be better.

The action sequences are not that impressive or expressive action and are far short of what one would hope for. 

The film is basically unoriginal and doesn’t seem to have any intentional humor. It also has no mystery. You pretty much know how it’s gonna go and offer no surprises in the way that it happens, except that you expect everyone in this film the characters to be a lot smarter. 

Which unfortunately is the quality one has come to expect when it comes to Netflix’s star vehicles.

This is a film, where a character you can tell is gonna be a jerk as he has a stylish mullet. that is derivative and bland that this film is.

What is shocking is that the film is co-written by some noted screenwriters Josh Olson and John Brancato. As well as Halley Gross who has quite a few screenwriting elements under her belt. So I wonder if each tried to make it better by laying on their expertise and somehow it all got simplified. 

It’s a good thing. This film didn’t go to the big screen. It would definitely be a disappointment even more than it is here. There is nothing in this film that feels worthy of being on the big screen.

Even while it was fighting for either a bad or worse. as you watch a film with a crap charisma villain, and the characters get to take down a terrorist for extra measure.

This also could’ve ended much quicker. It needs to be so long and also feel that way.

by the end, the only question I had was why do they use the name ghost always for terrorists or assassins? I know maybe it gives a certain visual or maybe informs the audience of their mysterious nature and how easily they can disappear but I think it’s time for Screenwriter to come up with a better name or alias for these types of characters. That was the most interesting aspect of this movie and it was still derivative.

Grade: F

THE WRATH OF BECKY (2023)

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Written & Directed By: Matt Angel and Suzanne Coote

Based on characters created by: Nick Morris, Lane Skye, and Ruckus Skye

Cinematography: Julia Swain 

Editor: Stephen Boyer 

Cast: Lulu Wilson, Seann William Scott, Courtney Gains, Matt Angel, Denise Burse, Jill Larson, Michael Sirow, Aaron Dalla Villa, Kate Siegel

Two years after she escaped a violent attack on her family, Becky attempts to rebuild her life in the care of an older woman – a kindred spirit named Elena. But, when a group known as the “Noble Men” breaks into their home, attacks them, and takes her beloved dog, Diego, Becky must return to her old ways to protect herself and her loved ones.

Wow, this film is much shorter and gets to the point faster. As we already know the character. It also leads to one of the biggest problems of the film. There is no suspense. We know she can take on these villains as she is faced with much worse and much tougher.

So even if it was like a horror film, where we are just here for the kills. It still proves to be disappointing as the kills aren’t that inventive or any real creativity to the table. it also seems like for a hit film. The budget is much lower for this film, which is strange.

The film plays like a familiar song only with its own different beat that isn’t as catchy but serves the purpose of it.

Even the inciting incident just seems so ridiculous and minor. that feels lame, weak, and unneeded just as her enemies could’ve felt a little more dangerous instead it almost feels like you’re watching a deadly version of PROBLEM CHILD. 

So the film wants us to believe that she is tapped into a much bigger conspiracy and leaves very few victims in this film and they’re not that impressive. There is no joy even as she’s getting her revenge through it all. which is a similar problem to be found in the bigger budgeted THE EQUALIZER films, but they still find a way to be entertaining. This film wants to have a dark sense of humor and a try, but it never quite rises to the level.

It’s giving the audience it’s what it wants, but it also feels a bit lazy. which is a shame as the first one was no masterpiece, but it was a fun little sadistic action film that was surprising. Instead what we get here is gory and goofy.

The film tries to offer a twist only it’s not that shocking and you don’t really care and it’s nice to see Seann William Scott on screen and he certainly is menacing. You just wish the project matched his talent and intensity. 

By the end, there is promise of a sequel, which hopefully will help redeem the franchise. If you are a huge fan of the first film, you might take a chance and watch this. Though truthfully there is no need.

Grade: C-

STRANGE DARLING (2024)

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Written & Directed By: J.T. Mollner

Cinematography: Giovanni Ribisi

Editor: Christopher Robin Bell

Cast: Willa Fitzgerald, Kyle Gallner, Ed Beglely Jr., Barbara Hershey, Steven Michael Quezada, Madison Beaty, Bianca A. Santos, Denise Grayson, Sheri Foster

Nothing is what it seems when a twisted one-night stand spirals into a serial killer’s vicious murder spree.

This is a warning this review has spoilers and is best experienced fresh and going in blindly. So this is your warning.

This movie is beautiful and will remind the audience of movies from the 1970’s. As that is the aesthetic, look, and where its heart lies. As the film clearly states in the beginning it was shot on 35mm film. 

This is a film by design. It tells a non-linear story and that is how it unravels. Which works best. As it differs that element of surprises, as well as shocks throughout. 

Some might take away points or call it pretentious because of these reasons. Which would be justified if that was all there was to the film. There is a good story and performance. it’s indebted to a certain style and types of films. It comes through with its own identity. It offers up something original and can tell passion and thought went into it. 

What is noteworthy about the film is how it is put together. it says so much with very little dialogue or just in certain shots.

It has a relatively small cast but feels gripping and bigger than it is. Especially with the vivid shots from cinematographer Giovanni Ribisi (yes the actor).

Kyle Gallner is always great in whatever film he is in. Always feels believable and never over the top. He is in fine form in this film.

Willa Fitzgerald our other lead, will be honest this is the first time one has seen her in anything and she is great in this film. Switching from victim to psycho. Innocent to seducer and plain old crazy, but you believe her in each moment and beat. 

This is a film you watch in observance and amazement then tell your friends all about and want to go with them. So you can see it again but see their reactions to certain scenes and shots and want to discuss with after. 

Even if they don’t admire it as much as you do or at all. You want to see how they digested and dissected it for themselves. In other words a conversation starter 

One of the most memorable and engaging opening shots and scenes in quite some time. Throwing you in the middle but Presented as the beginning. 

Grade: B+

A FAMILY AFFAIR (2024)

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Directed By: Richard LaGravenese

Written By: Carrie Solomon

Cinematography: Don Burgess 

Editor: Melissa Bretherton 

Cast: Nicole Kidman, Zac Efron, Joey King, Kathy Bates, Sherry Cola, Liza Koshy, Sarah Baskin, Olivia Macklin, Wes Jetton, Ian Gregg 

An unexpected romance triggers comic consequences for a young woman, her mother, and her boss, grappling with the complications of love, sex, and identity.

I won’t lie if this had made it to a movie theater it probably would’ve turned a decent profit as it is intriguing enough. Even if it’s a basic Hallmark type of story. It has the element of a younger man, falling for an older woman, and both of them are ridiculously successful and good-looking. So of course, this movie is obviously identifiable for the audience, with its feel-good ending.

Neither the film nor the filmmakers really add anything to set it apart, other than having two big stars in the lead recognizable actors throughout the film. 

Joey gives her all and she saves this film overall with her energy and comedic timing.

Everything else throughout this film is predictable and basic, not even in a quirky to present things differently.

Even the supporting characters aren’t really characters they’re just standings for the leads to either talk to or complain to, and then at some point or given a little bit of in her life when it’s time for the characters to realize that other things are more important in the world.

It’s hard to really get into a film that is just out-and-out pure Hollywood where everyone is pretty successful and even the people in their 20s who should be struggling seem not that battle and everyone is picture perfect pretty or attractive and there’s no real heavy drama I understand it’s meant to be a romantic fantasy feel-good comedy and if you are in the audience and want This film will be good for you.

It just seems like the typical Netflix movie where they are more concerned with getting star names in the project and then seem to worry about the script if at all later and when it comes, you’re probably not going to get any good quality, but if you’re comfortable with the Hollywood films of yesteryear you’ll get it here but not with any flex of imagination.

As there are no surprises and even the hint that there will be sex and or nudity in the trailer is quickly flirted with an abandoned. By the end of the film, this is not believable, but a perfect fantasy for some audiences to get lost in.

Now one will admit this is my type of film and the only thing that made me want to watch it. It was again the comedic antics it seemed of Joey King in the trailer.

The biggest shock came when noted Screenwriter Richard LaGravenese directed this film though did not write it. He has written and definitely directed better films than this. Even if romantic comedy and drama do usually fall into his wheelhouse.

Grade: D+

ANYONE BUT YOU (2023)

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Directed By: Will Gluck 

Written By: Will Gluck and Ilana Wolpert 

Story By: Ilana Wolpert 

Cinematography: Danny Ruhlmann

Editor: Kim Boritz-Brehm and Tia Nolan

Cast: Sydney Sweeney, Glenn Powell, Gata, Alexandra Shipp, Charlee Fraser, Bryan Brown, Dermont Mulroney, Rachel Griffiths, Hadley Robinson, Michelle Hurd, Joe Davidson, Darren Barnet 

After an amazing first date, Bea and Ben’s fiery attraction turns ice-cold–until they find themselves unexpectedly reunited at a wedding in Australia. So they do what any two mature adults would do: pretend to be a couple.

A sexier romantic comedy that plays like a sex comedy. Only lacking any truly carnal action, but flirts around with it, In a more innocent manner.

The whole movie is of course a will they or won’t they. Where they feel like they are fooling their friends and their friends feel like they have the upper hand over them.

The film tries to breathe life into a tired staple or genre. The results aren’t terrible. As the film stays entertaining fluff. That you will forget about soon after watching. 

It is a bunch of beautiful people in impossibly lush locations and privilege-loving fantasy lives. So it plays like a fantasy for the audience. 

the film keeps trying to make Sydney Sweeney into a more physical comedian and less an object of desire but never goes fully into quite embarrassing humor or anything truly juvenile. 

Luckily the movie focuses more on the comedy and less on the romance until it is needed. 

Hollywood keeps moving Glen Powell into being a star for good reason. As he is a movie star handsome and charming. Though you might find yourself obsessing about his hair throughout as it is usually perfect and never movies but doesn’t look stiff. 

It’s an across-the-board film as it is diverse and includes every kind of demographic a mainstream film could aim for. 

It’s nice to see Bryan Brown and Rachel Griffiths on the screen again and clearly having fun Even if the movie casting seems all over the place. Though definitely filming in Australia as most of the supporting cast seem to be natives and we see all the popular sights. 

Not to mention while you can understand Powell’s character being tempted by his ex. Played by Charlee Fraser, As she is gorgeous and it’s flattering she needed such a good-looking guy to replace him and get over him. Sydney Sweeney’s ex in the film played by Darren Barnet is there in appearance but gets nothing to do or any real character Arc. Really he’s the only character who really has nothing to do but is just there. 

This seems like the movie the Justin Timberlake movie FRIENDS WITH BENEFITS was supposed to be, only here the leads are likable and insistent like it is chasing any trends or trying to be cool. Instead, this movie just remembers to be sexy. 

This seems a starter movie for both the stars here, trying to see how much box office power they have with them as the main stars.

Grade: C

CRAZY/BEAUTIFUL (2001)

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Directed By: John Stockwell 

Written By: Phil Hay & Matt Manfredi 

Cinematography: Shane Hurlbut 

Editor: Melissa Kant 

Cast: Kirsten Dunst, Jay Hernandez, Taryn Manning, Bruce Davison, Herman Osorio, Lucinda Jenney, Miguel Castro, Richard Steinmetz, Tommy De La Cruz, Cory Hardict, Keram Malicki-Sanchez

Carlos Nunez, is a poor but athletically gifted Latino teenager who endures a two-hour bus ride every day from East L.A. to attend the posh, wealthy Pacific Palisades High School in Los Angeles on a football scholarship. A straight-A student, Carlos is focused and driven, but his future is cast in doubt when he becomes the flirtation target of a spoiled, self-destructive bad girl Nicole Oakley, who’s the daughter of a prominent congressman. When his friends, family, and even Nicole’s own father oppose the romance for Carlos’ sake, he chooses to ignore their advice and stubbornly pursues his relationship with Nicole, whose feelings grow from simple physical attraction to something much deeper.

This is the movie in my teen years I was hoping the Drew Barrymore film MAD LOVE was going to be.

At the time this film was a rare interracial romance, where it seems to be downplayed, but then becomes a kind of class difference with a switch whereas the Hispanic character is the more responsible and stable with a rich family life, and is well respected 

Whereas Kirsten Dunst’s character is a mess who might be good-hearted and is an addict with mental problems and a family that isn’t close but has money 

With this film, Kirsten Dunst is trying to be more professional and take on a dangerous and challenging role. The kind that she was usually offered at the time was more cookie-cutter. This role is the one that Disney stars try to do to be seen as more adult and be seen in a different way allowing them to show range. 

The film isn’t original but keeps your interest as not only a teen romance but a romantic story that has dramatic deaths and comes across better than you probably would expect.

It helps that you like, and admire both lead actors and their characters, and they do have solid chemistry, and they get you to care about both of them.

Happily found trays the minority character as more of a positive and Caucasian character trouble, and the one might end the future of the other. Everyone agrees that he is too good for her.

One appreciates the film, even though Kirsten as a star who was the bigger star. The film and script explore Jay  Hernandez’s character and family ties. just as much as it does hers. Showing atmosphere family, culture, and surroundings can affect a person. 

One admires that he tries to be deeper than just a stereotypical teen romance.  it offers some depth. As it shows a shocking amount of heart throughout. 

The film takes you back to when these movies would actually make it to theaters and not be some offshoot of a streaming channel. 

Grade: B- 

MELODY (1971)

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Directed By: Waris Hussein

Written By: Alan Parker

Cinematography: Peter Suschitzky

Editor: John Victor Smith

Cast: Mark Lester, Jack Wild, Tracy Hyde, Roy Kinnear, James Cossins, June Ellis, Tim Wylton, Colin Barrie, Billy Franks, Ashley Knight

Two youngsters declare to their parents that they want to get married. Not sometime in the future but as soon as possible. The story is told from the children’s point of view.

This is a film that was hard to find and wanted to see it since hearing about it. when it was suggested as a companion to films like A LITTLE ROMANCE and BUGSY MALONE, especially the latter, as these films share the Director, the great Alan Parker, who directed BUGSY MALONE, but wrote, and came up with the story for this film. He wasn’t allowed to direct this film though he wanted to but did shoot a bit of a second unit on the film. 

The film offers a narrative that allows kids to be more rebellious, troublesome, rough, but still likable where kids could actually run the risk of hurting themselves or getting hurt, but you never really worried about it because you knew they would bounce back.

Order finally titled S.W.A.L.K. (Sealed With A Loving Kiss) it takes to look at childhood and shows you all the heartbreak and pain but more of the joys and treats each misstep as it feels crushing, but also how quickly things can turn around and bounce back

It’s a coming-of-age tale that while whimsical also feels very true and charming to the cast and the period and kids at that age. as the film isn’t whitewashed or manufactured, nor do the characters feel overprotected, though they obviously are safe.

The film is mostly innocent. It’s also rambunctious with an abundance, score, and soundtrack, full of songs, not a musical as at heart it is about love at first sight. And first love.

It maintains an innocence, as well as exploring, budding, friendship, and bonding, and how jealousy can come into play when it feels like you’re losing that friend’s degree to their new bond girl in his life that leaves the friend lonely in an orphan, feeling forgotten.

It also shows them both being made fun of for their love and wanting to be happy with one another in which the adult seem to think it’s cute, but also rally against it and don’t believe in their feelings and emotions.

it also allows the kids to be kids, but have recognizable human emotions and treats them even more seriously than it does the adult characters so the film respects them maybe because they can be more honest at their age and still have that wondrous vision of the world and everything before becoming more knowledgeable as an adult and not being as openhearted.

The film feels kind of like an early prototype less star-studied version of MOONRISE KINGDOM

 as you can tell Director, Wes Anderson has definitely been inspired by this film. The film might also remind some viewers of the Francois Truffaut film, SMALL CHANGE, where a narrative and story are secondary to feelings and the young characters. And the reality that is all around them.

The film is about moments, with no real plot or story, though it does offer a certain explosion of maturity and a strike against the adults that almost feels like a game.

The film offers a sweet and mischievous ending.

While I didn’t love it as much as I expected it to I think it is still charming and will enjoy it as a kind of artistic family film.

Grace: B

THE SWEET EAST (2023)

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Cinematography & Directed By: Sean Price Williams

Written By: Nick Pinkerton 

Editor: Stephen Gurewitz 

Cast: Talia Ryder, Simon Rex, Jacob Elordi, Ayo Edibiri, Jeremy O. Harris, Andy Milonakis, Keith Poulson, Rish Shah, Mazin Akar, Gibby Haynes, Mimi Ryder, Jack Irv, Ella Rubin, Betsey Brown, Earl Cave

A picaresque journey through the cities and woods of the Eastern seaboard of the U.S. undertaken by Lillian, a high school senior from South Carolina. She gets her first glimpse of the wider world on a class trip to Washington, D.C.

The film has an Alice in Wonderland quality. they coming of age tale. where we follow this girl who right after losing her virginity goes on a school field trip to Washington DC gets mad wanders off and kind of gets involved in all these kinds of extreme groups and gets involved with these characters who have such great passion for their beliefs that she seems to put up with as long as she can, and they take care of her, but then soon grows of them and moves on, especially leaving them and ruin when she does

as it seems like all of those, she gets involved with seem to put their ideals dreams, and wishes upon her as some kind of fantasy is going to help them or save them or make them successful and she’s quite the opposite as she is just a schoolgirl trying to survive and trying to have fun

I think this film might’ve been a little stronger been directed and written by a female because as it plays, which might actually work and its favor seems more to go throughout this film as a kind of young female seen through the male gaze so she’s constantly made into a fantasy. it is directed by noted cinematographer Sean Price Williams.

The film doesn’t make her a victim, though it shows that she’s not that innocent and that she kind of enjoys the power that she gets from all these experiences as these types of scenarios and with the female being victimized, it’s kind of refreshing to see a film, where the female is the one who realized that she has the power and takes control, even though she doesn’t know how deep or dangerous the waters she’s stepping into truly 

The film is very experimental as it even has a musical sequence early in the film and seems to be mostly handheld gorilla style though has some beautiful shots the film does keep a sense of humor, but also has a kind of shock value that it produces every now and then just to make sure you’re paying attention 

as in one section of the film, she ends up staying with a white supremacist who is more of an intellectual than an actual member of the KKK who he spoils like she’s a pet, but never touches, though she keeps offering peaks and glances. He never makes a move, though he wants to and generally respects her, which makes her quite fast

she goes from there to African-American filmmakers who keep talking about being revolutionaries and even dress the part in 1970s wardrobe, but then when we actually see that the film they are making it some kind of merchant ivory-type production that is more about Caucasian characters in the pet in the past which proves to be one of the most, but also shocking sequences in the film

those throughout there are no real consequences for her character and the film tries to throw the audience off just as when she ends up secretly staying with what seems to be a Muslim paramilitary group. They are more of a music group dance and very secretive. so this film keeps to survive.

no, by the end, it doesn’t really seem to have all that much to say and still feels like the musings of a middle-aged Caucasian man declaring his thoughts on modern-day subcultures but putting it through a young female point of view, making it seem more open and not so fitting closed off.

In the end, it’s not quite an adventure. I’m sure most audiences will want to make but if they do, they might find something that captures their interest throughout. As the character travels through the eastern seaboard.

That is a great showcase for young actress Talia Ryder. as she constantly plays the main character, but also that character has to play the role that she is given by all these different people she comes across and even using other stories as her own to get more sympathy

in the end, it kind of amounts to a movie that seems like it was a hip hang-out for most of the cast that was made up as it went along to touch on certain subjects and meanings

Grade: C 

ROMPER STOMPER (1992)

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Written & Directed By: Geoffrey Wright

Cinematography: Ron Hagen

Editor: Bill Murphy

Cast: Russell Crowe, Jaqueline McKenzie, Daniel Pollock, Alex Scott, Leigh Russell, Dan Wyllie, Josephine Keen, James McKenna, Eric Mueck, Frank Magree 

Violent tale of white supremacist skinheads who spend their time beating up anyone who isn’t white or who doesn’t comply with their version of acceptability. In the end, Hando and Davey will clash violently of a disagreement of principles.

It has taken me 30 years to finally watch this film that came out as a young teen. I remember it had a lot of buzz around it and controversy. This was the first time I heard of Russell Crowe as an actor. This was before the Hollywood starring films This was not the beginning, but when I was getting a bit more intense into my love and study of movies, especially independent Cinema. I remember reading about this film, and this was when I was starting to read the film magazine film when it was still at newsstands. that was just one of the movie magazines I was reading at the time there were like Movie Line Premiere, The Hollywood Reporter, entertainment, weekly, and any other magazine I could really get my hands on. FILM THREAT was your key into the underground, the village voice. Those of us in New York were getting advanced on these upcoming films and this was definitely one of them. 

I have to say it now I can see where it had all the hype at the time and watching it now it’s a punch. It’s not quite the knockout that it might’ve been back in its day. 

Certainly grimy and dirty, dealing with racism, skinhead, and Australia, and this in particular their day-to-day life of harassment and violence. they are certainly the main characters we follow. They end up themselves more side characters who happen to get tangled up, which is. Gabe played by Jacqueline McKenzie

She is a character who seems to go from one bad situation to the next. It’s more of her survivors as she seems to go to men who seem like they can protect her and give her a place to stay as long as she is willing to do what they need for the time being before their own vices take over, and she just seems to be secondary. She seeks to get away from her abusive father. though, you can’t tell exactly if she’s the epitome of their downfall or came along when they were on a downward trajectory and only helped to accelerate it.

We see her and the gang’s own stories before they eventually collide, and she finds her way into the gang as the current lover of their leader played by Russell Crowe. what eventually ends up misplaced emotions, dooming the romance as it soon becomes a love triangle. when the leader’s right-hand man falls for her, she realizes it and doesn’t turn him away. though later in the film once the two of them pair off and crows character finds out about it he feels betrayed, but you’re not quite sure by which one, or it might be both even though there seems to be a little homoerotic going on between him and his right-hand man. towards the end, They are trying to out-strengthen one another to see who has more power and influence.

this all happens very fast before any of them can really think about it as the film only examines a few days in the life of these characters in which everything seems reckless and those supposedly trying to be a community and protect it like all they really do is destroy.

The film doesn’t paint their victims as entirely passive victims they fight back as it seems like the minorities they are rebelling against or truly jealous of the Asian community. who all seem to be prospering and more successful than that which is more of the problem this jealousy leads them to believe that they are being looked down upon by people of color.

The film is ultimately a tragedy for most involved. It doesn’t pass judgment on the characters. It doesn’t celebrate the characters though mainly the skinheads are who we follow.  while the film brought to Russell Crowe who is certainly violent and charismatic in the lead role, the performances are Jacqueline McKenzie and Daniel Pollock the latter of whom sadly died before this film’s premiere. It’s a shame as he would’ve gone on bigger and better.

While here Russell Crowe just had more of the star-making magnetism. I give Jacqueline McKenzie a lot of credit as she has what at first seems like a typical role but in the end, has the harder role as she’s a survivor what comes off as emotions at times might just be manipulation so it’s hard to tell what she truly believes and feels and what she’s just showcasing to get her way and stay protected.

The film has a few graphic sex scenes that supposedly are real as they definitely come across as realistic, but they are also very well edited to not seem as pornographic.

while the film deals with racist skinheads, it doesn’t reveal any of their beliefs in radiology as it’s not the main focus. The main focus seems to be the dynamics of this gang and their behavior so there is plenty of violence. It never feels exploited, but it can be shocking at times. ask for skinheads who seem to shun those different than them or outsiders who seem to be growing to be outsiders in their own town and Goths and punks into the revelry with them, though that might be more of a sexual thing as the punks and Goths are female.

Director Geoffrey Wright truly came through with a dazzling debut. While he has made other films that are memorable for their own reasons, they never reached the strength of this film.

Grade: B

RITA, SUE AND BOB TOO (1987)

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Directed By: Alan Clarke

Written By: Andrea Dunbar (Based on her stage plays) 

Cinematography: Ivan Strasburg

Editor: Steve Singleton 

Cast: Siobhan Finnerman, Michelle Holmes, George Costigan, Lesley Sharp, Kuruinder Ghir, Willie Ross, Danny O’Dea 

Realistic story of working-class Yorkshire life, alternately serious and light-hearted, as two schoolgirls have a sexual fling with a married man.

This is a movie of its time and moment. A domestic drama and comedy of the working class that becomes a kind of sexual drama. We see each cohabitant’s personal lives and how their actions and situations shape their futures.

It offers a gritty and sometimes sad look with some laughs. No one is perfect or seems to make the so-called right decisions.  This is an early film of an example of polygamy. The film is definitely an uncomfortable experience to sit through.

While this film on the other hand could be a fantasy come true or a T&A sex comedy or even the basis of a porno. This film shows the pain this causes not only the people in their lives but how it affects each other and even the enjoyable moments of the Union are short-lived to non-existent.

It’s a character study at heart given just enough info that makes us angry at the characters but not hate them. As they seem to show humanity just when ready to write them off. As the younger female characters seem to know no better and go along for fun and something new. There are no ideals just dealing with each and the results of the situation.

Not glamorous, Warts and, all realness to it. It keeps you interested as none of the characters has it all figured out or any grand plan all have weaknesses, yet try to portray themselves as invincible. 

It offers a view of the future. Dealing with the best ways they can. A slice of life. Sticking mainly only to those in the love triangle. 

It doesn’t help that most of the characters come off as despicable, the young ladies get a bit more sympathy. It’s a little more obvious why and they have a chance to grow out of it. Bob comes across as miserable in a midlife crisis and not-capable of getting better.

Throughout the film, it feels like a downtrodden and depressing experience not only for the situations at hand but even looking at any possible future for the characters.

A film that wouldn’t be made today for many reasons. 

Grade: B-