Confessions of a Film Lover

With cinemas set to reopen in the UK from this week, I'm continuing my theme of talking about films I love, films I hate and everything in-between. This article is inspired by the Confessions of a Film Lover Original Tag by Rhianna from Rhianna Toria on YouTube. Therefore, I will be answering her questions and I encourage anyone who wants to, go follow her and even do the tag yourself - in written or video form, totally up to you!

Okay, here's my Confessions of a Film Lover...

1. "Yeah, well, that's just, like, your opinion, man." - The Big Lebowski: Your most unpopular film opinion

Malcolm & Marie (2021)

Okay, I have admittedly had to justify this particular film in recent months and how much I enjoyed it. Sam Levinson writes and directs a drama centred on a filmmaker's conflict with his girlfriend over the inspiration of his film. This project was the first Hollywood feature to be entirely written, financed, and produced during the COVID-19 pandemic, with filming taking place in secret in June and July 2020.

John David Washington and Zendaya play a director and his girlfriend's relationship is tested after they return home from his movie premiere and await critics' responses. This is a great two-hander which explores the psyche of both characters whose relationship has blurred the line between art and reality. The dialogue flows effortlessly between the actors with a dynamic and scenario which reminds me of a stage play, because we - along with the characters - are trapped in this confined space, feeling the aftermath of every cruel word or moment of vulnerability.

The creative mindset of these characters is also an interesting aspect to explore, both having in their mind creative licence over a personal film that they both collaborated on together, but not filmed. This was an uncomfortable watch at times - especially when they went into dark and brutal conversations, but it also had a heart-breaking honesty which an authentic and moving story.

A lot of people I spoke with about this film were surprised that I liked it. It was heavy handed in terms of dialogue, but that actually made the dynamic feel more uncomfortable - because we are seeing one fight over an hour of seemingly years of a relationship, but this also allows the audience to fill in the blanks.

2. "The limit does not exist!" - Mean Girls: A Guilty Pleasure film you can watch over and over again

Magic Beyond Words: The JK Rowling (2011)

Aside from the Potter films I watch yearly, I do have a soft spot for the true movie of the author who started it all. I watched this film way back in 2011, during my teenage years when the Harry Potter film saga was coming to a conclusion, it was literally the end of an era. Which is why Lifetime clearly decided it was time to bring the author's story to the screen.

The rags-to-riches story of JK Rowling is one that many writers will be familiar with and it was based on a fairly well-researched biography - J.K. Rowling : A Biography by Sean Smith, which I actually read after seeing this film. Poppy Montgomery gives beautiful portrayal of Rowling throughout her adult years, leading a surprisingly good cast as the film chronicles her humble beginnings as an imaginative young girl and an awkward teenager, through the loss of her mother and becoming a mother herself, to how Harry Potter began.

For Lifetime, this was a decent film - I would have liked this film to go a bit further, because Sean concluded his research around the publication of Goblet of Fire, whereas the film concludes the night of the London Premiere of the Philosopher's Stone. Which I get, it gives the film a fairly neat ending, but it would have been good to see the immediate aftermath of her sudden success and fame.

3. "Are you not entertained?!" - Gladiator: A film that is universally loved that you found boring

Call Me By Your Name (2018)

This is a film I really wanted to like, especially considering it won many awards for its screenplay - Including this year's BAFTA for Best Adapted Screenplay and was getting critical acclaim for an LGBT leading romance, but I found that this film lacked any real depth and was quite disappointed with how bored this film made me. This took me two attempts to watch, where I actually gave up halfway through and although I was encouraged to return to the film by others - it really didn't have any impact on me. The only thing I truly enjoyed was the cinematography, but the story itself had a lot of dead space where nothing really happened.

My main issue was the relationship between Ellio and Oliver - not just the actors, but the characters - there was no real chemistry between them and I spent the majority of the film wondering why these characters were even interested in each other aside from purely sexual attraction. Although there was a seven year age gap between these characters, they did not seem to compliment each other - one can say it awakened Ellio's sexuality and Oliver's vulnerability, but both were at such different stages of live. There was also no real conflict, despite the fact this was set during the 1980s where homosexuality was a taboo subject, this was never truly addressed - there was not even an actual love making scenes between them, so the build-up to the actual scene was pretty anti-climactic and there was more implied sexuality through dialogue.

There was also the fact that even among the characters, the gay themes were never discussed or if it was, it was vaguely touched upon - unlike Moonlight (2016), My Brother the Devil (2012) or even Love, Simon (2018), who handled the themes of homosexuality brilliantly - it could have brought up some interesting discussions for a couple with a big age difference or showed the challenges of having a physical or intimate relationship as a same-sex couple in that era. I am honestly sceptical of the sequel that is in the works - one reason is because there is no book to adapt, but also because I honestly can't see where a second film can go with a relationship without substance.

4. " Sorry! My Prada's at the cleaners! Along with my hoodie and my 'fuck you' flip-flops, you pretentious douchebag!" - The Social Network: The most pretentious film you've ever seen

I'm Thinking of Ending Things (2020)

As I write this, I am actually watching this film. In theory this film should be up my street, but it was too abstract for my liking. I usually love psychological thrillers, unreliable narrators and horror aspects - but this film Had a mixed response to. The film is based on the 2016 novel of the same name by Iain Reid, directed/written by Charlie Kaufman and stars Jessie Buckley, Jesse Plemons, Toni Collette and David Thewlis.

Reid's writing is lifted straight off the page in sometimes clunky and unusually dialogue and voiceover moments and whereas Reid eventually gives the reader an answer as to what is going on - Kaufman relies heavily on abstract visuals and the ending of both are drastically different. Kaufman does capture beautiful scenery and character moments - I even liked his creative decision to film in 4:3 ratio, but I feel his desire to emphasise on the stranger aspects of this story deviated from what was really going on.

Also for some reason I did not enjoy Jessie Buckley's performance - even though I thought she did a superb job in The National Theatre's Romeo & Juliet (2021) and Beast (2017) - I found myself comparing her performance to the audiobook's narrator Candace Thaxton and preferred the later.

Visually this film was stunning, but I think it got too pretentious by going a bit too far on the abstract aspect rather than the psychological aspect towards the end.

5. "Draw me like one of your French girls" - Titanic: A film that describes your aesthetic

Moonlight (2016)

Visually, this film is just beautiful. The cinematography captures the beauty of the urban environment that some filmmakers would have chosen to look more unappealing or "gritty" - Barry Jenkins mainly creates working-class dramas and will always find intimacy in the characters and location.

A raw and emotional story, the three act structure captures three crucial stages in the main character's life as he struggles to come to terms with his sexuality. All three actors capture the emotional depth of this character, making him recognisable in each act with the outstanding Naomie Harris as the complex and flawed mother.

As a screenwriter and director myself, I will often reference this style when discussing the development of one of my stories - how these characters develop and where they come from is fundamental in each film. This filmmaker taught me to find the beauty and intimacy in each of your screenplays, regardless of how dark and hopeless things might seem.

6. "That's a bingo!" - Inglourious Basterds: A director who has never let you down

Steve McQueen. Enough said. Two films that stick out for me are Shame (2011) and his adaptation of Lynda La Plante's Widows (2018). His style is so intimate and he really delves into the light and dark sides of humanity.

I am planning to watch his award-winning Small Axe anthology this month - I know, I'm late to the party, but I doubt I will be disappointed.

7. "Don't believe his lies" - Memento: A film you were told was bad but you loved

12 Feet Deep (2017)

This was a film a few people I know had not given kind reviews for, so naturally curiosity got the better of me... And I found it to be a surprisingly emotional and intense independent psychological horror-thriller film. With such a simple premise, "12 Feet Deep" focuses on two estranged sisters trapped inside a pool, it is very much a character driven story - where they have to face their shared demons and fight to survive. Eskandari and screenwriter Michael Hultquist pen a realistic sibling relationship and tackle some hard-hitting subjects, while also incorporating a dark thriller aspect.

Alexandra Park and Nora-Jane Noone are outstanding as rebellious Jonna and sensible Bree, they have perfect chemistry and bring great emotion to their characters. Tobin Bell and Diane Farr also do a great job in their supporting roles, but this was mainly a two-hander between Park and Noone. I'm surprised this hasn't received more recognition, it has terrific acting and storytelling with great cinematography for a claustrophobic thriller.

8. "It's only forever, not long at all" - Labyrinth: If you could only watch one film for the rest of your life, what would it be?

Jane Eyre (2011)

If I had to watch one film over and over again, I would probably go for this adaptation of Charlotte Brontë's classic gothic horror. Moira Buffini's screenplay was grounded and broke the mould of adapting Jane Eyre - going for a non-linear narrative, which was made stronger with director Cary Joji Fukunaga's beautiful visuals.

This was one of the first adaptations that embraced the fact this story is a gothic horror, not just a romance and the leads are effortlessly performed by Mia Wasikowska and Michael Fassbender

9. "Were you rushing or were you dragging?" - Whiplash: A long film you thought was perfectly paced.

The Silent Child (2017)

If I can't say Whiplash - that would feel like a way too easy answer. Therefore, I'm going to mix this up and go for a short film. The Silent Child is an absolutely outstanding film. It has brilliant performances with beautiful cinematography and a moving script. A very grounded and realistic portrayal of a physically disabled child growing up in an able bodied family who don't really understand her needs and yet feel intimidated when an outsider does.

This film raises great awareness of deafness alongside fantastic leading performances by Rachel Shenton and debut actress Maisie Sly. A worthy Oscar win and a must watch for all audiences.

10. "As you wish." - The Princess Bride - Your film dream team. (Directors, writers, genre, actors, music, whatever.)

When I say a thousand people come to mind, I'm not kidding. I would probably want to see my ideal film have notable newcomers and fresh talent alongside established actors. Ironically this feels like the most difficult question - but here it goes:

• Director - Guillermo del Toro
• Screenwriter - Emerald Fennell
• Genre - Gothic Horror, Drama, Psychological Thriller
• Actors - Ruth Wilson, Daniel Kaluuya, Jessica Chastain, Michael Fassbender, Lupita Nyong’o, Lilly James, Riz Ahmed and Chance Perdomo
• Music - Blair Mowat