Stage: Create the world you want

Buyer & Cellar
by Jonathan Tolins • dir Andrew Beckett
with Aaron Sidwell
Above the Stag Theatre, Vauxhall • 14.Oct–8.Nov.20

There's a lot of fun to be had at this one-man show, a fictionalised exploration of Barbra Streisand's outrageous lifestyle. It's witty and often surprisingly moving, even if the pace lags a bit over 90 minutes. And the show is also clearly aimed at Streisand's gay fans, who know about her movies but aren't quite as up to speed about her music or theatre careers. So you might be disappointed if you're expecting a deeper dive in to all things Barbra.

Alex (Sidwell) energetically bounds onto the stage to tell his elaborate story, which he notes from the top is totally made-up, to avoid any legal issues. An out-of-work actor in Los Angeles, Alex applies for a job in a surreal Malibu mansion and finds himself working on a Ye Olde English street notoriously constructed in Barbra Streisand's basement, a row of shops in which she keeps her huge collection of memorabilia. When Barbra descends for a browse in the doll collection, they roleplay as a shopper and clerk, which breaks the ice, developing into a friendship. But is this relationship any more real than the shops are?

Shifting between characters, Sidwell's performance is excellent, using his voice and physicality to create what feels like a whole cast of riotously colourful people, including Alex's cynical boyfriend, Barbra's husband James Brolin (depicted as nice but dim) and her sardonic house manager. Each is hilariously played, with snappy observations that add colour to Alex's rambling story. And Alex himself is likeable and optimistic, nicely shaded by Sidwell to add some intriguingly dark edges. The staging is simple, skilfully using lighting, sound, music and whizzy projections to shift the settings.

Sidwell delivers each anecdote superbly, even as the writing itself struggles to maintain its momentum. It helps that there are some big themes gurgling through the show, including a look at the general artifice of the lives of the rich and famous. You may be able to buy gorgeous things to fill your home, but that won't bring happiness or personal satisfaction. Even more interesting is the exploration of the impact of childhood on our adult selves, and the way each of us creates the world we want to live in using whatever resources we have. These ideas are beautifully textured in Sidwell's performance, which gives the show a haunting, must-see quality.

15.Oct.20

LFF: Make history

Well, that was a first and hopefully a last as well: the 64th BFI London Film Festival was an almost entirely virtual event, with a few in-person screenings just to keep the atmosphere alive for the lucky few who managed to get tickets. For me it was an intense two weeks of watching movies at home on my computer - but they're some of my favourites so far this year. Going through this makes me long even more for a time when things can return to normal, even if that's hard to imagine at the moment. Will the world still even exist a year from now? The signs aren't good, but there's still some hope. Here are my last two highlights, plus my best of the fest...

Ammonite

dir-scr Francis Lee; with Kate Winslet, Saoirse Ronan 20/UK ****

With a remarkable attention to detail, this beautifully observed drama recounts an unexpected relationship that crosses various boundaries in 19th century England. Writer-director Francis Lee takes an elemental approach, underscoring a low-key narrative with passion, earth and grit. At its core, this may be a moving love story, but it also carries with it a range of ideas that are strongly resonant nearly two centuries later... FULL REVIEW >

Lovers Rock

dir Steve McQueen; with Amarah-Jae St Aubyn, Micheal Ward 20/UK ****

Bristling with energy and colour, this 1980-set drama unfolds to the beats of the eponymous musical genre. Without a pushy narrative, this is pure cinematic bliss, a blast of happiness in a safe space away from the racism and riots in the streets. Steve McQueen, with cowriter Courttia Newland and ace cinematographer Shabier Kirchner, skilfully depicts one Saturday night, and into Sunday morning, when the world belongs to hopeful youth... FULL REVIEW >

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M Y   B E S T   O F   T H E   F E S T

1. 
   Mangrove
2. Nomadland
3. After Love
4. One Night in Miami...
5. Notturno
6. Never Gonna Snow Again
7. The Salt in Our Waters
8. Time
9. Ammonite
10. The Reason I Jump

Special mention: Lovers Rock, Another Round, Possessor, Limbo, African Apocalypse, David Byrne's American Utopia, The Painter and the Thief, Supernova, I Am Samuel, Wolfwalkers. 

ALL REVIEWS >

NB. My anchor page for the LFF is HERE and full reviews are all linked there, with winners of the audience awards to come soon.

LFF: Get a grip

So we're in the final days of the very odd 64th London Film Festival, which has had in-person events right through its run, not that I've witnessed anything firsthand. There have been quite a few great films - I'll list my favourites tomorrow, along with the award winners and comments on the closing film, Francis Lee's Ammonite. The only big-name movie I've missed at the festival is Pixar's Soul, which the press was blocked from watching (except for major outlets Disney likes). Here are four more highlights for Saturday...

The Human Voice

dir-scr Pedro Almodovar; with Tilda Swinton, Agustin Almodovar 20/Sp ****.

Based on the Jean Cocteau play, this is Pedro Almodovar's first English-language film, and it's a remarkable bit of surrealism with a sustained emotional intensity. It's also as sumptuously designed as you'd expect, with lashings of primary red and a fiercely dedicated performance from Tilda Swinton. Boldly conceived and directed, this is a remarkable exploration of the messiness of romantic emotion and how reality fades away when there's passion involved... FULL REVIEW >

Possessor

dir-scr Brandon Cronenberg; with Christopher Abbott, Andrea Riseborough 20/Can ****

Echoing the work of his father David, writer-director Brandon Cronenberg weaves intriguing themes into a compelling horror movie that's both sexy and hyper-grisly. Ideas of identity and free will swirl through each scene, punctuated with wildly inventive visual touches that disorient the audience, keeping us on our toes. The film's unsettling tone and pulsing pace are darkly riveting, and the inventiveness of the premise makes it impossible to predict... FULL REVIEW >

New Order [Nuevo Orden]

dir-scr Michel Franco; with Naian Gonzalez Norvind, Diego Boneta 20/Mex ***

A dryly vicious satire, this Mexican drama opens with a wealthy crowd holding a lavish party while the city around them burns. And where it goes is deeply unnerving. Filmmaker Michel Franco deliberately shocks the audience by placing a horrific uprising in a major Western capital. What happens is familiar from news stories about places like Syria or Bosnia, so seeing it in a more familiar location is indeed chilling.

African Apocalypse

dir Rob Lemkin; with Femi Nylander, Amina Weira 20/UK ****

Activist Femi Nylander delves into his Nigerian heritage, exploring the real-life inspiration for a literary icon while learning history they don't teach in school. The focus is on the route taken by the English and French as they conquered Africa's interior village by village. It's a fascinating travelog tracing a line from the present into the past. And it adds firsthand accounts to events mainly known only through fiction.

NB. My anchor page for the LFF is HERE and full reviews will appear in between these daily blog entries. They're coming.

LFF: Light the way

The strangest London Film Festival in memory is heading into its final weekend, and I still have yet to have any physical evidence that anything has actually taken place - no printed programme, press badge, not even a single in-person screening. But I've watched a lot of amazing films over the past couple of weeks (two of the best so far are below). I did get out of the house again yesterday for a theatre press night, which was good fun (watch for that review once this LFF blog ends on Sunday). In the meantime, here are four more highlights...

Nomadland

dir-scr Chloe Zhao; with Frances McDormand, David Strathairn 20/US *****

A hybrid between drama and fly-on-the-wall doc, this astonishing film takes a journey through an unseen segment of US society, chronicling the thousands of Baby Boomers whose lives have been irrevocably changed by the 2008 Great Recession. Almost everyone on-screen is playing themselves. Filmmaker Chloe Zhao, Frances McDormand and gifted cinematographer Joshua James Richards create a powerful portrait of a vast community on the move around the American West.

Another Round

dir Thomas Vinterberg; with Mads Mikkelsen, Thomas Bo Larsen 20/Den ****

With his usually realistic approach, filmmaker Thomas Vinterberg takes a deep dive into Denmark's heavy drinking culture. Even with the high-concept premise, the film is beautifully character-based, centring on four middle-aged men on a frankly ridiculous quest to prove that humans achieve optimal performance with alcohol in their system. So as warning signs begin to appear, the shift from warm comedy to dark drama is astute, complex and provocative... FULL REVIEW >

Limbo

dir-scr Ben Sharrock; with Amir El-Masry, Vikash Bhai 20/UK ****

An offbeat approach to storytelling sets this film apart as it recounts the experiences of a refugee. Writer-director Ben Sharrock sees the narrative through a cheeky, artful eye, catching tiny absurdities and deeper resonance. With snappy production design, bleak landscapes and expectant faces, this is a wonderfully human approach to an important topic. And it worms its way under the skin, surprising us with laugh-out-loud humour and strong emotions.

Notturno

dir-scr Gianfranco Rosi; with Ali Ali, Mohamas Ali Monajed 20/It ****.

Shot over three years in Syria, Kurdistan, Iraq and Lebanon, this masterful documentary by the gifted Gianfranco Rosi immediately reminds us of the intensely personal stories behind headlines about war. This film digs deeply beneath the news to recount the human impact of political and religious violence. Shot by Rosi like a particularly beautiful narrative feature, it has elements of family drama, adventure and heart-stopping thriller woven into it.

NB. My anchor page for the LFF is HERE and full reviews will appear in between these daily blog entries. The backlog will start shrinking soon.

LFF: How did I get here?

I got to take a break last night from the London Film Festival and head down to the Archlight cinema next to the Battersea Power Station to watch the short film Cognition, which was partly filmed here. It was my first real trip away from my home since the festival began more than a week ago, and it was a relief to do something completely different. I have a theatre press night tonight, so another chance to get out. Meanwhile, the festival films are still screening through the online portal, keeping me busy. Here are a couple of highlights, plus my usual weekly roundup below...

David Byrne's American Utopia

dir Spike Lee; with David Byrne, Chris Giarmo 20/US ****

A filmed version of David Byrne's triumphant 2019 Broadway show, this is a musical and visual extravaganza photographed and edited with precision. Director Spike Lee brings the audience right on-stage to become a part of the performance, drawing out the show's striking exploration of the highs and lows of US society. The film will thrill Byrne's fans, and should also spur newcomers to take a dive into his catalog.

After Love

dir-scr Aleem Khan; with Joanna Scanlan, Nathalie Richard 20/UK ****.

Written and directed with sensitivity by Aleem Khan in his feature debut, this British drama approaches weighty themes with a remarkably light touch. It's a tender, internalised story that pulls the audience in deeply without the need for much in the way of dialog or exposition, skilfully revealing a complex story through observations and reactions. And it compassionately speaks to major cultural issues without ever pushing a message.

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C R I T I C A L   W E E K

BEST OUT THIS WEEK:
Over the Moon • Time
The Other Lamb • I Am Greta
Martin Eden • Herself 
PERHAPS AVOID:
Honest Thief • War With Grandpa 
FULL REVIEWS >

This week has been mainly about the LFF, so I've only seen four films that aren't part of that: Liam Neeson as good as ever in the tediously cliched action thriller Honest Thief; Paul Bettany in a superbly textured role in the powerful but a little too pushy topical drama Uncle Frank; the Faustian horror thriller Nocturne; and Andrew Scott and Jeremy Irvine in the lavishly produced half-hour sci-fi epic Cognition. I should have watched more, but there just wasn't enough time.

There's an enormous list of releases slated for next week that I need to watch, so we'll see how many of these I can get through, including: Colin Firth and Julie Walters in a new version of The Secret Garden, Malin Akerman in the comedy Friendsgiving, Jamie Dornan in the thriller Synchronic, the cycling drama The Climb, the fantasy adventure Max Winslow and the House of Secrets, the Train to Busan sequel Peninsula, and the short film compilation The Italian Boys.

LFF: Hold on tight

It's only Wednesday, but it's already been a busy week so far at the London Film Festival - I haven't had time for the online discussion and interview events, as I've been busy watching films and writing about them. I'm also heading out into town for a couple of non-LFF live events today and tomorrow. Meanwhile, the latest batch of festival films has been unusually strong, telling pungent stories from all over the world. Here are three more highlights, from three continents...

Rose: A Love Story

dir Jennifer Sheridan; with Matt Stokoe, Sophie Rundle 20/UK ****

There's unnerving horror at the centre of this offbeat British drama, which quietly builds a freaky mystery. Writer Matt Stokoe and director Jennifer Sheridan dribble clues carefully into the narrative, keeping the audience off-balance from the start while allowing us to work things out. The film's intense atmospherics are powerfully gripping, finding complex emotions in a story that's properly terrifying, even if it takes us awhile to realise why.

The Intruder

dir-scr Natalia Meta; with Erica Rivas, Nahuel Perez Biscayart 20/Arg ****

Inventively mixing real-life humour with some seriously unsettling horror, Argentine writer-editor Natalie Meta boldly spins a bizarre story about a woman on the brink. It's not an easy film to stick with, as it continually wrongfoots the audience (and the central character) about what's actually happening here. But it's made with such a hypnotic tone that it's impossible to turn away, especially as things get progressively freakier.

The Salt in Our Waters

dir-scr Rezwan Shahriar Sumit; with Titas Zia, Tasnova Tamanna 20/Ban ****

Skilfully shot in picturesque locations, this earthy drama from Bangladesh explores a mix of culture, politics, religion, art and commerce in a rural community. The push and pull between an educated interloper and the traditional locals is beautifully played, with a refreshingly understated script and offhanded performances.

NB. My anchor page for the LFF is HERE and full reviews will appear in between these daily blog entries. That's the plan anyway.

LFF: Smile for the camera

Well, this is the point, about halfway in, when attending the BFI London Film Festival begins to feel exhausting. That backlog of reviews is growing, new films keep opening outside the festival, and real life responsibilities start slipping. And there's another movie to watch! At least normally I'm running around town chasing screenings and interviews - this year I'm just sheltering at home from the rain. But when the movies are as good as these, you don't mind much...

One Night in Miami...

dir Regina King; with Kingsley Ben-Adir, Eli Goree 20/US ****.

Based on the stage play that fictionalises a real friendshiop between four Civil Rights icons at the peak of their powers, this film is beautifully expanded by playwright Kemp Powers. It's also skilfully directed by Regina King, who has a terrific eye for finding issue-based resonance within the characters. She never pushes things too forcefully, drawing out moving observations about the transformative power of politics, music and art... FULL REVIEW >

Cicada

dir Matthew Fifer, Kieran Mulcare; with Matthew Fifer, Sheldon D Brown 20/US ****

Based on real events, this gentle drama is beautifully observed by actor-filmmaker Matt Fifer. Shot in a loose documentary style with dialog that feels improvised, the film's natural rhythms are powerfully engaging. Set in the balmy New York summer of 2013, the story has an intimate tone that's both confessional and nostalgic. It's a sensitive story about two men in their mid-20s coming to terms with their sexuality as well as past traumas.

Never Gonna Snow Again

dir Malgorzata Szumowska; with Alec Utgoff, Maja Ostaszewska 20/Pol ****.

Polish filmmaker Malgorzata Szumowska takes another deep dive into her nation's psyche. Like a meditative balm, the film cuts through the noise of modern life to give its characters peace at the hands of a gifted stranger. A parable about yearning to return to simpler times, the film is expertly written, directed and played by a gifted ensemble. And it cuts through the surface with wit, emotion and brutal honesty... FULL REVIEW >

If It Were Love

dir Patric Chiha; with Gisele Vienne, Philip Berlin 20/Fr ****

Much more than a concert film, this kinetic documentary captures Gisele Vienne's dance piece Crowd as it tours around France celebrating youthful energy and the body, connection and abandon. In addition to the elaborate interaction on-stage, filmmaker Patric Chiha is also exploring how these performers relate behind the scenes, skilfully finding the points where their characters blur with who they really are.

NB. My anchor page for the LFF is HERE and full reviews will appear in between these daily blog entries. Well, it'll happen eventually.