Film Review: Empire of Light (2022)

From start to finish, Empire of Light is an exquisite film. Set in the early 1980's in a beautiful, vintage cinema in a quaint English seaside town, the film explores the complexities of the lives of those who work at the movie theater. While it's certainly an ensemble film, Olivia Colman's brilliant performance coupled with Micheal Ward's nuanced portrayal of her unexpected leading man allows both to shine in extraordinary ways rarely seen in contemporary films. Their performances are masterful individually, yet equally powerful as a poetic duet of two seemingly different people impacted by the collision of lives. Featuring a sensational supporting cast that includes standout performances by Toby Jones, Hannah Onslow, and Tom Brooke, Mendes creates a bittersweet extended family out of his characters all connected by place, something anyone who has worked in a similar public-serving job can relate to.

At it's core, Empire of Light is a fascinating and sometime brutal tale about the fragility of human emotions. What is the breaking point of a character? What is their moment of redemption? Their darkest place? Their point of no return?

Writer and director Sam Mendes is clever with his artistry, knowing when to allow poignancy to occur while balancing it with the harsh realities of life - at least those that exist within this cinematic world. It is this sometimes heartbreaking juxtaposition that makes the film the haunting viewing experience it is. Mendes achieves this within the duality of the main location of the film: the cinema. While the lobby and the two screening rooms are gorgeous to look at, there are two hidden screening rooms that the public never sees. Forgotten and appropriately referred to as the pigeon coop, some of the film's most tender moments occur against this backdrop of hidden decay, reminding the audience that what's beyond the surface can be far more significant and compelling. All of this is achingly underscored by a stunning score composed by Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross.

Yet it is Colman's performance that fuels this fierce engine. Through her, Mendes gives us a flawed character who's mental break speaks to the despair of vulnerability and the beauty of rebirth. To her role, Colman brings an intensity and ache that is unforgettable. Both the film and Colman's portrayal will take your breath away.

David-Matthew Barnes

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐🍿🍿🍿🍿🍿

Comments

Film Review: The Adam Project (2022)

Watching Shawn Levy's sci-fi action comedy The Adam Project is a fun, thrilling experience. The concept of the film is clever: a fighter pilot travels back to a specific point in his life, only to meet (and bond with) his younger self. The always-charming Ryan Reynolds is our leading man, playing the grown-up version of Adam Reed. Reynolds continues to prove he knows a thing or two about being funny. Here, his comedic timing is sharper than ever, evident each time he delivers hilarious lines of dialogue. The pairing of Reynolds with young actor Walker Scobell (who plays a 12-year old version of Adam Reed) creates a fantastic comedic duo. Their dynamic is very enjoyable to watch. They are surrounded by an all-star cast, appearing mostly in supporting roles, including Mark Ruffalo and Jennifer Garner (both should've been given more screen time), and a devilish performance by Catherine Keener as an ultra-villain who you will love to hate. At the heart of the film, this is a good

Film Review: Joy Ride (2023)

Joy Ride is a lot of things: a bawdy comedy, a fun road trip movie, a daughter's quest, a hero(ine)'s journey, and a not-so-deep exploration of gender norms and stereotypes. While the laughs are plenty and the cast is charming, the film tries to figure out what it is and the result is a bit muddled. Director Adele Lim (in her directing debut) knows how to tell a good story. Her pacing of the movie is what keeps this comedy going. Little room is left to catch your breath before you've been moved on to the next outrageous situation, seemingly set up to allow the cast of comedians to shine. And they do, in part to Lim's directing, but also because all four actors are so damn entertaining: Ashley Park. Sherry Cola, Stephanie Hsu, and Sabrina Wu. Any of them could easily carry a film on their own. Here, they each have some terrific moments, but are ultimately diminished by a film that's too full. Structurally, the film's first two acts work really well. After a qu

Film Review: A Million Miles Away (2023)

It is rare these days for a film to be as inspiring as A Million Miles Away . This beautifully-told biographical drama about the life of José M. Hernández, the first Mexican-American astronaut who came from very humble beginnings, is a must-see. It is to director Alejandra Marquez Abella's credit that this exceptional film is one of the year's best. Abella knows how to tell a great cinematic story and does so with mastery. The film moves at a quick pace, never wallowing in the many setbacks our hero experiences throughout his exhausting but determined journey. Instead, the audience recognizes these setbacks as the stepping stones they are, each leading Hernández to fulfilling his lifelong dream, igniting his passion even more each time they occur. Hernández is the ultimate underdog and we, his inspired audience, can't wait to see his victory. From a production standpoint, this film is near perfect. As our protagonist, Michael Peña gives an award-worthy career-best performan

Filtinsel

Search This Blog