Reviews

Addison Burke, on vacation from her medical practice management job, awkwardly gets snagged in to help her brother who works for the boss of a billion dollar company. She gets to see the two sides first hand, of how the CEO mistreats his underlings, and how his people try to butter him up for future career advantages. The film takes you to St Martin where all try to make a killing buying a company. Written and edited by Brian Brough. The film was very well cast, especially with Sashleigha Hightower. Because the script with so much subtle humor, I had to watch it a second time to laugh again and process the pressures of uber-corporate life.

Those beams of twin projector light in this 1980 seaside movie theatre are an escape for moviegoers. Through the lives of the theatre employees, there are some things of that era we get to see in the light, but other things are hidden from society in the dark. The diverse set of employees are comrades in this little world, with a wide range of emotions. Solid acting by all, direction (Sam Mendes), and photography (Roger Deakins).

We enter a decaying theatre that now only runs 2 screens, down from its 5 plus piano bar. In the projectionist booth, we find an enthusiastic projectionist of his art, taking great pride in his job.

A replica lobby was built to simulate the time. Olivia Colman, Michael Ward, and Colin Firth were so real.

I found Empire of Light a near perfect movie going experience, as I fondly look back at my years of film projection in my home town and frequenting the local movie house, the Casino, with my grandfather.

Rich or poor, a film about how one feels about oneself in a village and in the city around Mumbai, around friends and relatives, and what class has to do with it.