150W: Rush

Short reviews for clear and concise verdicts on a broad range of films...

Rush (Dir. Ron Howard/2013)

Roaring into theatres with Ron Howard’s almost-trademark true-story sales-pitch comes Rush. Documenting the rivalry between Niki Lauda (Daniel Brühl) and James Hunt (Chris Hemsworth), this could be a feature-film response to Senna. But the adrenaline-fuelled races with a personal theme pitting natural talent against brutal hard work manage to draw you in and speed you past the finish line. Brühl steals the show with an intense portrayal of Lauda who, though privileged (like Hunt), seems much more aware of the necessary knowledge to understand the dangerous vehicle he controls – opposed to Hunt, whose love of driving, women and alcohol seem to be his primary motivation. The 1976 racing season provides the main body of the film, and it slows down following Lauda’s shocking run at the German Grand Prix – but it remains a tight, focused effort only floundering a little when tackling their marriages. Overall, Rush comes out on top.

Rating: 8/10

American Graffiti (George Lucas, 1973)

"Someone wants me. Someone roaming the streets, wants ME... Will you turn the corner?"

Re-Introduction

This was one of my first posts on my blog and it has a very special significance. Shortly before I became a teacher, I applied for one-month work-experience for BBC Films. Amongst many other application procedures, I was asked to write a review of a film - and this was it. What is important is how I was offered the placement! Unfortunately, I had to review my funds and check whether it was possible to pay rent in a flat in London - having just put down a huge deposit - work unpaid for a month and buy food to live. Turns out, that ain't cheap - and I had to turn down the work experience. Again, this feeds nicely in the build up to the analysis' I am writing on Star Wars on Man, I Love Films. Not long now and, considering how the band of teenagers in Star Wars - Leia, Luke and Han - contrast nicely with the teenagers in American Graffiti, it is worth noting how American Graffiti and THX 1138 together shaped what became Lucas' masterpiece: Star Wars.

Early Days Lucas

Through reading Peter Biskinds Easy Riders, Raging Bulls, I have recently watched George Lucas' American Graffiti.The film focuses on the story of four teenage boys following their recent graduation from school - Steve, Kurt, Terry and Milner. The film is set over one night in a homely, small town (influenced by Bogdonavich’s The Last Picture Show perhaps?). We watch, and follow, each character as they change during this single night.

Kurt is the character that we primarily follow through the movie - as he starts the night considering whether he will go to college the following morning. Steve and Kurt have planned 'for months' the travels to University. Steve is keen to go to college and discusses with Kurt why - contrasting at the climax of the film, whereby Steve decides to stay for his girlfriend and Kurt decides to continue on to begin college alone. Terry’s plot begins as he is given Steve’s car. Terry – the cliché geek - picks up a girl who realises Terry just might be the man for her. He comes up against problems such as vomiting after drinking and dealing with the theft of the car throughout, concluding with the girl explaining how the night was 'really good'. Ironically, Milner who is seen as the class stud with his fast car and 'unbeatable' track record of races ends without a girl at the end of the film. Milner, without planning, picks up a young teenager called Carol. Her attitude to life strikes Milner and a bond is formed whereby it Milner realises that he himself is getting older and should begin to consider how he should tackle the next roads of life - this is made more apparent by his realisation that he was losing the race at the finale of the film.

The Influence on Me

The 'coming-of-age’ programmes/films that I watched were Dawson’s Creek and American Pie. American Graffiti has the fascinating 'small-town' element of Dawson’s Creek, while having a comedic tone - akin to the American Pie films. The use of a small-town in American Graffiti contrasts with the contained and lonely aspect of teenage life. The range of characters also meant you could relate to different aspects of each character. These aspects pulled me into the film and got me personally involved.

The film was made hot-on-the-heels of Mean Streets and the soundtrack carries the narrative throughout the 99 minutes run time. The opening of the radio sounds scrolling through the various stations - before stopping on 'The Wolfman' - reminding me personally of Tarantinos Reservoir Dogs, whereby the characters keep harking back to K-Billys super-sounds-of-the-seventies throughout the film.

I felt that the roles of Kurt and Steve could have been more passionate as the two characters appeared to be ‘drifting’ along with no real sense of direction. This may have been the intended case – Steve telling his girlfriend that they should see other people when away did see quite thoughtless. Milner and Terry’s stories were more involving as the two had clear ideas of what they wanted – and although it did not necessarily pan out – the characters would act accordingly. The focus on cars and vehicles is another aspect that I personally didn’t enjoy - even though I am quite sure that these cars are a strong metaphor for the characters stories. Kurt appears to be the only character that does not drive and I feel that this might be an important factor to bear in mind – as he is the only character who gets out of the town and reaches his dream goal of writing.

Originally Published on 2nd June 2009 alongside THX 1138 and republished on 25th May 2011.  

A-Z #20: A Beautiful Mind

You can pick up hundreds of DVD's for a round-pound each - it doesn't matter. Its never about quantity, its about quality. A-Z is my way of going through my collection, from A-Z, and justifying why I own the films... or you can tell me whether I should sell 'em...

#20 - A Beautiful Mind 

Why did I buy it?

I was - and ultimately still am - attempting to watch all the Best Picture winners and I found this cheap enough to purchase it. I vividly remember buying it at the Aberystwyth Woolworths and, as I walked home, I was dubious about whether it would be any good... would I find it long and boring ...

Why do I still own it?

In the first instance I do like it and, back when I first bought it, I watched it many times because I enjoyed it so much. I even watched it with young Jo and this brought about an epic debate: the focus of the film felt a little unclear - the romance between Nash and his wife should have been the centre-point of the film ... but it actually didn't feel important in A Beautiful Mind, hence the almost-unneccessary feel of the romance story - we were all rooting for Nash (Crowe) to simply get over his (without giving anything away) problems.

The epic debate was how I used Titanic as an example of a film that, although about the disaster and showing great sub-stories about class in 1912, the film was rooted in the romance between Jack and Rose, hence why it was so good - Titanic is, before anything else, a Romance. Jo disagreed - Titanic is a disaster movie according to him.

This incredible argument raged on all night and A Beautiful Mind is what started it all. This may be part of the reason I still own it because, capturing the frame from the film above made me give it a slight re-analysis and, having watched many Oscar contenders and Best Picture winners since this film, it does seem quite by-the-numbers so...

Should I sell it?

Remember - you can always email The Simon and Jo Film Show directly using this email: simonandjoshow@gmail.com

We are also on Twitter  and Facebook.

A-Z #10: American Graffiti

You can pick up hundreds of DVD's for a buck each - it doesn't matter. Its never about quantity, its about quality. A-Z is my way of going through my collection, from A-Z, and justifying why I own the films...

#10 - American Graffiti 

Why did I buy it?

I heard alot of good things about it, I thought it'd be interesting to see a pre-Star Wars George Lucas film and - at the time - I was reading Peter Biskind's Easy Riders, Raging Bulls...

Why do I still own it?

Because, as a fan of American Pie and such, I felt that American Graffiti was the film that preceded it and paved the way for the group-of-guys, end-of-school prom film. I mean, its alot of fun and the fifties nostalgia additionally makes a great context for the teen-comedy. Harrison Fords small role is funny and, most importantly, Ron Howard is the lead actor...  

Remember - you can always email The Simon and Jo Film Show directly using this email: simonandjoshow@gmail.com

We are also on Twitter  and Facebook.