Brassed Off (15)

Classic British film from 1996 just re-released on Blu-ray and DVD!

Brassed Off (15) (This review on FilmJuice.com)

Brassed Off is one of the best British films of the nineties, perhaps second only to Trainspotting in terms of homespun cinematic genius.  Set in the fictional South Yorkshire village of Grimley (obviously intended as the real life Grimethorpe, where much of the film was shot, and which at the time was the poorest village in the UK) the film follows a local miners’ brass band as they face financial hardships, and struggle for motivation when it comes to work, family and even the will to live, let alone keeping up their music.

Pete Postlethwaite’s star has hardly shone brighter than it does here.  He plays bandleader Danny, whose coal-filled lungs are only one of a number of problems threatening the existence of the band, the primary one being the imminent closure of the village pit, should its workers vote for redundancy over a financial viability review.  All the musicians are agreed: should the pit close and they lose their jobs, then they will disband forever. Music is first and foremost in Danny’s heart however, and he spurs the jaded men on to compete in the National Brass Band Championships, eyeing the final at the Royal Albert Hall with anticipated pride.

Director Mark Herman (The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas) expertly guides his audience on a journey of emotional highs and lows, making it impossible not to be cheering the band on as they fight to stay together and compete in the nationals.  The political message is mostly of the non-preachy kind, making it easy to sympathise with the trials of these men who face losing their jobs in the pits, with the script being loosely based on recent historical fact.

The weakest subplot is the romance between Andy and Gloria, played by Ewan McGregor and Tara Fitzgerald.  Thankfully this thread of the story is not overplayed, and more time is given to the gut wrenchingly emotional subplot that follows Danny’s son, Phil, who is locked in a downward spiral as he loses everything near and dear to him.  Even his dignity is left in tatters, as he has to resort to performing as a clown for children’s parties to keep the wolf from the door (barely).  Stephen Tompkinson fills the role with such intensity that you can’t but watch his scenes with gritted teeth.  Seeing him fume in full costume, red nose, baggy trousers and all is a sight to behold, and almost as painfully funny as it is moving.  The script takes this character to dark places indeed, only perhaps going too far during a climactic rampage in a Church.

The drama is woven between montages scored with sublime brass music, all performed by the actual Grimethorpe Brass Band.  This lends the film a warmth and gives it great character, but the montages get a little repetitive after the fourth or fifth one.

With hearty music that gets the blood going, irresistible English humour, tiptop performances and a powerful message, Brassed Off is a magnificent film and well worth a revisit.

Blu-ray extras: Theatrical trailer, Interviews, Subplots, Biographies, Photo Library

Black Hangar Studios

And now for something completely different!  Well, a little bit different.  I had the pleasure of visiting a new film studio outside London a few weeks back, and this piece of writing was the result:

Black Hangar Studios
(This article on FilmJuice.com)

Black Hangar Studios offers a beacon of hope to all those jaded by the apparent, and often misleading news proclaiming the waning of the British film industry.  From the closure of the UK Film Council to the only recently reversed doom of Twickenham Studios, the morale of British filmmakers has of late taken hit after hit.  But fear not!  Raise your weary heads and take a look at the new hope thundering its way onto the scene: the bold and exciting Black Hangar Studios is open for business.

Further dark tidings on the British celluloid shores included the government’s disappointing decision to block the planned expansion of Pinewood Studios back in January, which would have created almost one thousand jobs.  Black Hangar aims to fly right in the face of such grim events; even before its official opening on the 3rd of May, business was booming (this year’s Salmon Fishing in the Yemen was one of the first productions on site), so much so that completion of the Basingstoke based studios’ brand new facilities had to be postponed, as filmmakers couldn’t resist the services on offer.

The project was conceived and funded by a group of private investors, who saw an opportunity in the UK to offer a top quality studio to rival even the long-established major studios.  Value for money is one of the facility’s primary objectives, as the investors realised that the host of talented filmmakers resident in the British Isles needed a reason to perk up, and keep making movies in good old Blighty.  Underlining the infectiously positive vibe of this new venture, Black Hangar’s CEO Carole Siller said, “I don’t think there is a threat to the industry here, the UK has great film technicians.”

The main studio, as one would expect, is a former aircraft hangar (yes, it is black).  With 32,000 square feet of studio space, and a 5,000 square foot outdoor water tank, the studios can cater for a wide range of needs.  ‘Flexibility’ was one of the watchwords when the studios were designed (by filmmakers, reassuringly) with the site also featuring a complex of offices, kitchens, screening rooms and multifunction spaces, enabling clients to use the facilities however best suits their needs.

The impressive water tank has two shooting platforms for filming either under or above water, and the main studio is more than large enough to accommodate multiple sets, enabling a full feature film or television series production to be wrapped on site.

Situated at Lasham Airfield, a mere forty minutes from Central London, clients can, with permission, access aircraft landing facilities to bring in the stars.  Additionally, the range of local World War Two era buildings could save legwork for a client’s location department.

The real icing on the cake though, and a real bonus for productions, is the on-site team of renowned filmmaking professionals.  From legendary special effects supervisor Digby Milner (Star Wars, Harry Potter) to award-winning art director Simon Lamont (Casino Royale, The Dark Knight) any customer of Black Hangar Studios will be able to draw upon decades of experience and expertise to ensure their productions are completed to an impeccable standard.

The studios offer a refreshingly positive outlook on what some have cynically called a dying UK film industry.  With business certain to take off before you can say “Digby’s your uncle”, plans to expand and a business model designed to keep costs down and professionals employed, Black Hangar looks set to earn a place in filmmakers’ hearts and film history in no time.


http://www.blackhangarstudios.com/

The Monk (15)

Out in UK cinemas tomorrow is French horror/drama The Monk (originally 'Le Moine').

The Monk (15) (This review on FilmJuice.com)

The Monk is the latest big screen adaptation of the classic gothic novel by Matthew Lewis. After being abandoned as a baby on the steps of a monastery in the 17th century, Ambrosio (Vincent Cassel) is raised as a monk and soon becomes renowned for his godly sermons and piety. As with all serious men of God, the Devil makes a beeline for him, relentlessly searching for a weakness.

Because Ambrosio was never exposed to the outside world, he has no experience of the perils and pleasures that those in his congregation must daily face and feel. This sets him up for a monstrous onslaught of temptations, thanks to the all too real influence of the Prince of Darkness himself. His troubles begin as a strange new face enters his life, in the form of Valerio, a soul who has suffered much and wants to withdraw from the world to be with God.

Cassel bottles up his usual angry energy, giving a brooding performance as the distant but intense Ambrosio. The supporting actors aren’t as strong, especially compared with this typically gripping turn by Cassel, but their efforts are plenty adequate to not be distracting.

Marking director Dominik Moll’s most ambitious project to date, The Monk offers a dark and oppressive vision of 17th century France. Fans of the book might be sorry to see that some of the more visceral thrills found in its pages have been replaced by a more subtle style of horror, one that creeps under the skin and leaves you feeling uneasy. Moll brings out the elements of the subject matter that provoke thoughts of real life horrors, things impossible to portray on screen; unseen terrors which we all must face. That isn’t to say that the film doesn’t provide thrills for the horror movie fan, it’s just that the focus is more on the impact that Ambrosio’s testing has on his character.

Alberto Iglesias scores The Monk with a bombastic and almost over the top soundtrack, full of ominous choral cues and Church-like echoes amping the eeriness. Patrick Blossier’s cinematography makes striking use of contrast, giving most of the film a dim and slightly sepia look, only turning the colour and brightness to eleven for a series of dream sequences. These could have done with a more creative effort from Moll as one would think that Ambrosio’s subconscious would be the perfect canvas on which to further highlight how far removed his impression of reality is from that of others.

The Monk is a haunting portrait of a tragically flawed character; a well-intentioned man who finds out the hard way that his faith wasn’t so strong after all. The film never pretends that evil isn’t a genuine power, a refreshing concept these days and one that disturbs with great precision. Go into this expecting to have your mind toyed with, as well as your emotions.