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nina-dawson
Reviews
Poly Styrene: I Am a Cliché (2021)
A brave insight into a genius, flaws and all
As a fan of X-ray Spex and Poly Styrene's solo work, I put off watching this for quite a while... Not wanting to mar my own long-held opinions of an incredible woman I never knew. OK, I was too young for X-Ray Spex at the time but did see Poly Styrene Brixton Academy in '91.
Celeste has given us a privileged peek into her mother's journey.
I had followed Poly Styrene's career and knew at a surface level her breakdowns. But wow this was raw. I Am a Cliche powerfully walks us through all that, both from Poly's perspective and also a child's innate needs-based perspective.
Watching this (eventually!) I celebrated the gigs and the interviews, and I sobbed through the struggles.
A unique approach was the use of interviewees as voice overs on scenes and footage, rather than seeing lots of talking heads that is common on similar tributes. This ensured the viewer's focus remained on the subjects, not the commentators.
A superb work of art. Not what everyone expected (from some of the reviews I've read). Highs of exuberance of creativity against an underlying unease of societal pressure and judgement. No one created good art to make people feel comfortable. Well done to Celeste, not only her mother's daughter, but the creative woman she has become both because of and despite her mother's creativity, receptiveness and vulnerability... and primarily from her own creativity, recognition of her own self worth and determination to define herself and know her needs. It's a wonderful tribute and a sensitive declaration of how a child of a revered person has their own truth to speak.
Big up marvellous audacity, bravery, and generally not giving two hoots what anyone else thinks.
While there ain't no answers from the cotton wool clouds, I Am a Cliche does answer questions of how an incredible woman influenced so many, while navigating being human with her own personal circumstances and cultural history. Just beautiful.
Boiling Point (2021)
Intense and superb
Wow, an emotional roller-coaster. Netflix prompted me to watch this. As it has Stephen Graham in it I went along with it without checking out write up or reviews.
It's difficult viewing. Each character is on the point of breakdown. I barely breathed watching it. But utterly compelling, raw and real.
Vinette Robinson in particular is incredible and steals the screen.
Little Joe (2019)
Why ruin a film with that noise?
The high pitched noise throughout made this almost unwatchable. But I'm stubborn and persevered.
Story, concept, cinematography and acting great. If I could have watched it without wincing in pain I probably would have scored it an 8.
Why? Why put that sound over the top of an incredibly unique and good film.
I rarely leave negative reviews, as it is down to taste and there are enough negative raters on IMDB. But had to put the warning in. I notice another reviewer muted it, and it probably would be far better to watch with subtitles and no sound. My ears are still ringing.
Such a shame, and totally unnecessary to add sound to a film to render it physically painful to watch.
Lapsis (2020)
A brilliant nugget of a film
I was half put off by the low ratings but so pleased I ignored them. I thought it was brilliant!
If you like the feel of Tales from the Loop or Black Mirror then you will probably enjoy it.
Perhaps the sci-fi tag unintentionally misleads people who want spaceships and aliens! No idea. No idea why the low ratings, or low raters saying any high raters must be associated with the film...
It's the whole strangeness of it, the cables trundling around in the woods - absolutely captured and held my attention throughout. And I think it's one that will stay with me.
The ending? There's a post by the writer you can find on Reddit if you are really intrigued like I was!
Flower Boy (2019)
Uncomfortable yet essential viewing
Raw, engaging yet uncomfortable watch created, generously acted and produced to further the anti bullying message.
Wow, a really difficult watch. If you were bullied at school then this is sure to bring it all back to the surface (35 years later, in my case). Yes the story line is extreme but actually a lot of the power is in the small nuggets - for example, to be bullied for how you laugh which makes you not want to laugh - that stuff shapes you and how you react to people and the world as you progress through life and is very difficult to undo without therapy. Blimey I had forgotten a lot of memories and emotions. I think this should be essential viewing in schools. And maybe too for all those now parents who knowingly bullied others at school. Do those people remember what they did and ever consider the effect they had?
Very strong performances. A pale overexposed filter throughout ensures that ugly behaviour is not hidden in the shadows. It's raw. And superb.
Found per chance while trawling the depths of amazon prime for something meaningful to watch. What a gem.
Post Mortem: No One Dies in Skarnes (2021)
Superb in acting, pace, comedy and story
I loved this, what a treasure. If you don't like the pace and humour in the first 5 mins it's possibly not for you. For me the opening scene and dialogue was so brilliant that I immediately settled down to watch it with glee (I often force myself through an episode of something before realising not for me)
All the characters are brilliant, especially Judith and Odd. Acting, timing and delivery of lines is perfect. I think in terms of comedy comparisons, more like The Detectorists style of dialogue, clever and dry rather than jokes and slapstick.
After staring at computer screen all day I find subtitles tiring, and was pleasantly surprised that the dubbed voice actors were British. In some scenes it was so impeccable I was watching the mouths in disbelief it was dubbed!
You Raise Me Up indeed.
Please Help (2021)
Please Help us see more
A 15 minute masterpiece hidden on iplayer! More more please! Hopefully this is a pilot and there is more to follow.
Too Close (2021)
Watch all 3 episodes and then review
Couldn't understand the low score on the review rating until I started reading them and realised most of the low scores are from people who didn't watch more than half an hour or one or two episodes.
Yes it is a slow burner, but I'm not into TV programmes with running about and car chases - I prefer an intriguing story, development of characters and superb acting.
This is very tense, compelling and human. The sort of real human stuff you don't often see on fiction TV. It's one of those that will stay with me, hauntingly. I'm sure there will be award nominations for the acting, absolutely incredible performances.