YESTERDAY : Tuesday 16th July 2019.

I finally got around to seeing 'YESTERDAY' this week, some three weeks after its Australian release, which carries an M Rating. Here this musical fantasy comedy is Directed by Danny Boyle (of 'Trainspotting', 'The Beach', 'Slumdog Millionaire', '127 Hours', '28 Days Later' and 'Sunshine' fame amongst others), and is written by Richard Curtis (he of 'Four Weddings and a Funeral', 'Notting Hill', 'Love Actually', 'The Boat That Rocked', 'War Horse' and 'About Time' fame also amongst others). The film saw its World Premier screening at the Tribeca Film Festival in early May, was released in the UK in late June, made for US$26M and has so far grossed US$84M, and has received mixed or average feedback from Critics.

Jack Malik (Himesh Patel) is a struggling singer-songwriter from Lowestoft in the county of Suffolk located in eastern England, whose dreams of musical fame and fortune are rapidly in decline, despite the unwavering devotion and support of his childhood best friend, Ellie (Lily James). Ellie is a school teacher and surrogate Manager to Jack who manages to score him a gig at the Latitude Music Festival which he is initially elated about, but after the fact is depressed because no one but a bunch of boozehounds and kids saw his performance. On the drive back after the gig, Jack threatens to give up his musical aspirations but Ellie is able to convince him otherwise.

One night while riding his bike home after a pub gig Jack is knocked off his ride in a head on collision with a bus during a mysterious global blackout that lasts for just twelve seconds. Jack comes round in a hospital bed a day or two later with no memory of what happened. He is comforted by Ellie who pokes fun at him because of his two missing front teeth, his fat lip, broken ribs and bruised and bloodied face. Upon release he catches up with some friends and Ellie at a beachside pub, where his friends present him with a new guitar to replace the one damaged in his earlier bike accident. His friends ask him to sing them a song. He sings them 'Yesterday' by The Beatles, and after, the three friends look on astonished at the beautiful song he has just performed, asking him when he wrote that. Jack retorts that The Beatles of course wrote it, but they all come back with 'who'? Looking on a little perplexed, he quickly dismisses their ignorance as a joke.

Later that day he visits Ellie at home to double check on her knowledge of The Beatles, and again she feigns ignorance. Jack hurries home, goes to his computer, punches The Beatles into Google, and the search reveals beetles. He tries again, with the same result and then a third time. He then tries various derivatives also with no success, even punching in Oasis to reveal a desert watering hole rather than the Manchester rock band of the '90's said to have been heavily influenced by The Beatles. It quickly dawns on Jack that in the new world post his bike accident, no one has ever heard of The Beatles. And so Jack begins performing their songs mostly in down beat clubs and pubs claiming he wrote them, but still with little success, until he is heard by a local music producer Gavin (Alexander Arnold), with whom he records a demo CD.

Following a spot on a local TV programme on which Jack performs live, he is contacted by Ed Sheeran who saw his performance and was able to lay his hands on a copy of his demo CD. Ed rocks up one evening unannounced to Jack's place and is invited to play as Ed's opening act in Moscow in four days time - next Tuesday. Ellie declines to join him, saying she has to work at her day job as a school teacher, so Jack's totally unreliable and somewhat roguish roadie friend Rocky (Joel Fry) travels with him instead. Jack goes down a storm in Moscow and has the packed audience eating out of his hand, particularly with his rendition of 'Back in the USSR'.

After the hugely successful Moscow gig, Jack is signed by Sheeran's agent, Debra Hammer (Kate McKinnon), and rapidly rises to global fame off the back of The Beatles extensive catalogue of songs which Jack has had to remember the music and lyrics to, remembering that if The Beatles never existed there are no recordings, no archival footage, no song sheets, no music and no lyrics recorded anywhere. His new Agent summons Jack over to LA to negotiate a deal and to meet with top executives in the recording industry, media people and image consultants etc. in readiness to launch Jack on a partially suspecting world as the biggest thing ever to hit the global music scene.

After a series of meetings in LA and more scheduled for the end of the week Jack makes a hasty retreat back to Liverpool to meet with Ellie and to conduct some more Beatles research in the hope of jogging his memory of their songs lyrics. He travels with Rocky and visits Strawberry Field, Penny Lane and the grave of Eleanor Rigby - all landmarks immortalised in the words and music of classic Beatles tracks. At a party at Jack's home, Ellie confesses that she has always loved Jack ever since they were at Junior School together, but she knows that his feelings for her aren't reciprocated. Jack tries to summons the words to express his feelings but is pressured into rejoining the party downstairs.

The next evening Ellie seeks out Jack at his hotel. They have dinner together, eat lots, drink more and then retire to his room. They embrace and kiss but then Ellie shies away telling him that she is not interested in being his one night stand before he does a bolt back to the glitz, glamour and temptations of LA. Early the next morning, Jack and Rocky pursue Ellie to Liverpool Lime Street Train Station where she is waiting to get a train back down to Suffolk. Ellie reminds Jack about making a choice between her and his career. Already running late for their scheduled flight Jack returns to Los Angeles heartbroken.

Jack flies back into LA and attends a marketing meeting at his record label in which a decision is to be made about the title of his first double album release. He had already suggested 'Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band' or 'The White Album' or 'Abbey Road' but instead the marketing guru's come up with 'One Man Only' pushing his solo and independent song writing talents. Jack is becoming increasingly disillusioned and persuades Debra Hammer to launch the album with a performance in Gorleston at a beachside hotel back in Norfolk, England - his former stomping ground. In the meantime Jack has a guest appearance on the James Cordon Show, in which Cordon reveals that there are a couple of guests in the audience who claim that Jack's songs are not his own.

Whilst waiting to go on to the roof top stage at Gorleston, Rocky approaches Jack saying that two crazies are demanding to see him, and hands over a model of the Yellow Submarine. Whilst Rocky has no clue about the significance of the model, Jack instantly recognises it and is shocked. Fearing the worst Jack nonetheless agrees to meet them. In walk two Beatles fans who tell him they know he plagiarised the songs; however, not being able to sing themselves they thank him, fearing the music of the Beatles would have been lost forever had it not been for him. Upon leaving they give him a hand written note on a scrap of paper and saying that their research had been exhaustive. Jack goes out onto the roof top stage and launches his album to a huge crowd gathered on the beach in front of the hotel, in which he belts out 'Help'.

The next day Jack is travelling in a taxi to the remote beachside cottage address given to him by the two Beatles fans who visited him the day before. It is the home of John Lennon (an uncredited Robert Carlyle), who has lived to be 78 and is still going strong. Jack asks John if he has led a successful life and John responds that he has led a happy life with his wife, and his sailing and his artistic talents and tells him to chase the one he loves and to always tell the truth. Jack hugs John for reasons that are unclear to the now unrealised musician and 20th Century icon, and leaves. 

Ed arranges for Jack to perform at Wembley Stadium which he does by belting out several Beatles classics. After his performance Jack confesses to the massive audience that he plagiarised the music that was written by John, Paul, George and Ringo (which of course means nothing to the crowd) and that he is simply a conduit to keep their music alive. He goes on to display Ellie on a giant screen behind him oblivious to the fact that she is up on stage remotely, but she hears him saying that he loves her, is sorry for fooling everyone with his songs and then has Rocky upload the songs free to the Internet, sabotaging the record release and sacrificing tens of millions of dollars in sales in the process. Jack and Ellie marry and have a family together, Jack becomes a music teacher and they live happily ever after.

I quite enjoyed 'Yesterday' I'd have to say and perhaps just a little more than I had expected going in. The film will doubtless please Beatles fans keen to hear some of their catalogue of more memorable tunes sung with conviction by a passable Himesh Patel. It's a fun feel good movie that does leave a satisfying taste in the mouth after the credits have rolled, told in a simple, no nonsense uncomplicated albeit fairly formulaic manner about a struggling musician; the girl who loves him but he doesn't get it; boy literally stumbles across worldwide stardom, fame and fortune; loses girl in the process; and then all comes good in the end. Patel, Sheeran and Fry give the standout performances in this film with equal amounts of comedic and emotional heft, while James and McKinnon are left largely undercooked and in reality not that interesting, albeit necessary to move the story along. In this parallel universe or whatever it is (which is never explained further except for a twelve second global blackout caused by a solar flare) we also learn that Coca Cola, cigarettes and Harry Potter also have never existed. If, however, two other people have memories of The Beatles, then presumably they can also recall these other products, and if there are two, how many more are there in the global population that also share those memories, and those others seemingly lost from human consciousness forever. Lots of unanswered questions mostly on a cosmic scale, a couple of half baked   storylines masquerading as romantic turmoil and the music PR machine, all just about saved by a solid debut from the lead Actor and a strong self depreciating cameo from Sheeran.

'Yesterday' merits three claps of the Odeon Online clapperboard from a potential five.

-Steve, at Odeon Online-

DARKEST HOUR : Saturday 27th January 2018.

I saw the highly lauded and critically acclaimed WWII British drama film 'DARKEST HOUR' at the weekend, as Directed by Joe Wright, whose previous Directorial credits include 2005's 'Pride & Prejudice', 2007's 'Atonement', 2011's 'Hanna' and 2012's 'Anna Karenina' amongst a few others. The film received its World Premier screening at the Telluride Film Festival in early September last year and was also screened at the Toronto International Film Festival later that same month. It went on wide release Stateside just before Christmas and in the UK and Australia earlier in January. The film cost US$30M to make and has so far grossed US$99M, picking up a swathe of awards along the way too including so far 29 wins and 60 other nominations including six Academy Award and nine BAFTA nominations yet to be determined. Most notably, Gary Oldman has so far received 23 Best Actor award wins from around the circuit for his convincing rendition as Winston Churchill . . . and counting!

The film takes place over just three weeks in May 1940. As the film opens up, the Nazi forces are advancing rapidly on Belgium, Holland and France leaving a trail of destruction and occupation behind them. In London's Houses of Parliament, the Labour Party Opposition Leader demands the resignation of the then Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain (Ronald Pickup) because seemingly he doesn't have the wherewithal to protect the security of Britain from the advancing threat of Nazi Germany. Chamberlain advises his Conservative Party colleagues that he wants for Edward Wood, Lord Halifax (Stephen Dilate) as his successor, but Halifax declines citing that his time has not yet come. This leaves Chamberlain no option but to choose the only other candidate that the other parties will support in a Coalition Government, Winston Churchill (Gary Oldman). King George VI (Ben Mendelsohn) reluctantly invites Winston Churchill to form a new Government but states that it must include Neville Chamberlain (whom he is a supporter of) and Lord Halifax (whom he is close and trusted friend of). Secretly King George wants Halifax to be Prime Minister.

Going into Parliament for his inaugural speech Churchill is already on the back foot with many of his political peers. His track record is not so hot - the failed Gallipoli Campaign, his support of King Edward VIII during his abdication crisis, his opposition of Indian self-government, and that he twice has 'crossed the floor' already. His first speech does not garner much support, and his point blank refusal to negotiate with Hitler on peace talks also incites the ire of many who see this as the only solution to avoid annihilation.

He firmly believes that the Germans can't be trusted, and so he meets with the recently sworn in French Prime Minister Paul Reynaud, in which Churchill discounts any claims that the Allied Forces are staring down the barrel of defeat in the Battle for France. Halifax and Chamberlain agree that France is losing their battle against the Nazi's, and the surrender of Holland and Belgium is already looming ever closer. They try to persuade Churchill to engage with an Italian Ambassador who will act as the go between in peace talks between he and Hitler.  Halifax and Chamberlain plan to resign from office if Churchill refuses to enter into peace talks with Germany, which would result in a vote of no confidence so paving the way for Halifax to become Prime Minister. Churchill goes live on radio with a broadcast stating that all is not lost in France and the Allied Forces are pushing back against the German War Machine and that everyone at home can rest easy in their beds (or words to that effect!).

Meanwhile, with the advancing Germans well into French territory, the might of the British Armed Forces is forced back into a very tight corner at Dunkirk and Calais. Acting against the advice of his War Cabinet, Churchill orders that 4,000 holed up soldiers in Calais distract the German forces away from Dunkirk in order that they can be evacuated from the beach there. It means potentially sacrificing the 4,000 Calais contingent into a suicide mission in order that 300,000 British soldiers can be rescued. A prospect that does not sit well with Halifax or Chamberlain, but Churchill has little alternative in such desperate circumstances.

He initiates 'Operation Dynamo', launching a flotilla of countless small pleasure craft and motor boats and yachts to head to Dunkirk across the English Channel with all haste to rescue the British troops trapped there. This incidentally was the very subject of Christopher Nolan's excellent 'Dunkirk' film of last year, which explored the evacuation from three perspectives - the land, the sea and the air, and Joe Wright also covered the Dunkirk evacuation in his earlier film 'Atonement'. As news filters through that Belgium has surrendered, and in all likelihood France will do so very soon too, Churchill calls US President Franklin D. Roosevelt for assistance with a number of war ships to help defend Britain from the German onslaught which now appears to be imminent. Roosevelt however, declines, citing that his hands are tied by a series of Acts passed in the 1930's preventing the United States from entering into costly disputes with far away nations.

The defeat in France, the ongoing evacuation of British troops from Dunkirk which had yet to be proven successful, and the rising probability of a German invasion onto British soil results in the War Cabinet overwhelmingly voting for a peaceful negotiation with Hitler, with certain conditions attached including that Britain shall remain independent. One evening, King George VI unexpectedly visits Churchill, and pledges his support in fighting the Germans at all costs. King George had thought long and hard about fleeing Britain for Canada to rule in exile from there in the event of a German invasion, but decided against that notion. Spurred on by the King's commitment of support, Churchill  does something he has never done before. He takes a London Underground Tube ride to Westminster. Between stations he talks to members of the British public about their mood, and their preparedness to live potentially under German rule. Overwhelmingly, the men and women, old and young that he talks to, agree to fight, rejecting all notions of a peaceful negotiation and surrender.

Arriving at Westminster to address Parliament, Churchill first gathers his Outer Cabinet and any other hangers on, to seek their support to reject any further discussions about a negotiated peace, but rather to stand up and fight. All those gathered offer their agreement. Before going into Parliament to hear Churchill's address, Halifax demands of Chamberlain his commitment to continue with their plan to dispose him.  Chamberlain, stalls and is having second thoughts, saying to wait until after the Prime Minster has spoken.

Churchill stirs Parliament with a rousing speech that culminates with 'We shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the landing grounds, we shall fight in the fields and in the streets, we shall fight in the hills; we shall never surrender, and . . . ' At this, and with rapturous applause from the stalls and gallery, Chamberlain forgoes his plan to depose of Churchill, leaving Halifax rejected. Churchill departs. It is the 4th June 1940, and Churchill remains Prime Minister for the remaining five years of WWII until the Allies declare Victory over Germany in May 1945, but he was unsuccessful in securing a further term in the General Election held in July 1945. Chamberlain died of cancer in November 1940, and Halifax was offered a posting to become the Ambassador to the United States. The Dunkirk Evacuation under Operation Dynamo, was a huge success rescuing some 340,000 troops using a flotilla of some 800 civilian boats.

Kristin Scott Thomas also stars at Clementine Churchill, the rock behind Winston, and Lily James as Elizabeth Layton, the Secretary to Churchill, who joins him on his first day in office as Prime Minister.

This is Gary Oldman's film without doubt. He chews up every scene in which he appears either sucking on his trademark cigar or sipping a large Scotch or both - no matter what time of day or night, or what the circumstance may be. The accolades bestowed upon him are well deserved as he adds gravitas to the character and delivers a nuanced performance whether its his laconic sense of humour, the moments of self doubt, his mood swings, the intimate times with his wife and immediate family, his intelligence shining through in times of crisis, or his ability to wordsmith with the best orators in the land. And Joe Wright has delivered too another highly polished offering combining historical fact and fiction into an engrossing film that captures the look, feel and mood of Britain at this pivotal moment in history. Don't go into this film expecting all the action of Nolan's 'Dunkirk' - here the action is largely confined to a war of words and emotion that Churchill was renowned for, and for standing his ground even though all those others around him were trying to topple him. A film perhaps best suited to those mature enough to remember the war years or our school history lessons or those from that era, and less so for the millennials that may find the film too labouring, not enough action, and less than relevant in their world of today. If you don't see this film for any reason other than Gary Oldman's performance, then that is good enough reason.

-Steve, at Odeon Online-

BABY DRIVER : Saturday 8th July 2017.

I saw 'BABY DRIVER'  in an advance screening at my local multiplex over the weekend, five days ahead of its Australian release. This action thriller getaway driver heist offering comes to us with its pedal pushed firmly to the metal. Directed and Written by Edgar Wright whose previous Directing and Writing credits take in 'The Three Flavours Cornetto' trilogy with Simon Pegg and Nick Frost on 'Shaun of the Dead', 'Hot Fuzz', and 'The World's End' and hot on the heels of his aborted 'Ant-Man' for Marvel Studios which ended up being taken over by Peyton Reed due to creative differences. In his first non-comedic big screen offering, and in film that has been in gestation for over twenty years, Wright has here crafted a stylish musical action heist thriller that features thirty classic music tracks with which our lead character of Baby (Ansel Elgort) the young talented Atlanta getaway driver, listens to in order to drown out the 'hum in his drum' of the severe tinnitus as a result of a motor vehicle accident that he was involved in as a young lad and that killed both his parents. The film has received positive critical Reviews and has so far recovered US$75M from its US$34M budget since its release in the UK and the US at the end of June.

We are first introduced to Baby (Ansel Elgort) in the opening scene as he waits at the wheel of a red Subaru WRX with the engine running, while his three colleagues - Buddy (Jon Hamm), Griff (Jon Bernthal) and Darling (Eliza Gonzalez) are robbing an Atlanta bank during day light hours. The three emerge from the bank carrying bags stuffed full of cash, guns drawn, faces masked.

They jump into the car and Baby floors it, tyres screeching, wheels spinning as the car careers majestically through the city streets, gracefully dodging other vehicles, and onto the freeway as it is pursued by Police cars and a Police helicopter from above. The pace is frenetic, but this is exactly what Baby does best - for he is a demon behind the wheel of a car, and joining two other identical looking cars on the freeway positions himself to evade the Police and escape to their designated meeting point - secure and safe.

Safely holed up in a warehouse looking building, we meet Doc (Kevin Spacey) the criminal mastermind kingpin of this outfit as he divides equally the spoils of the robbery. Griff chastises Baby for constantly listening to music, and how can he possibly concentrate on the job in hand. He also begrudges Doc paying him an equal share when all he does is drive, but Doc defends Baby's reputation as the best in the business and that he has been driving since he could peer over the steering wheel. When the three have left Baby walks out to the car park with Doc. Baby hands over his share of the robbery proceeds back to Doc as payment towards an old debt which he is one more heist from paying off in full. Doc hands him a wad of bills for his troubles, which baby stashes away under the floorboards of his apartment that he shares with his deaf 'Pops' (C J Jones) his foster father, whom Baby cares for.

Later, Baby is sat in the deserted Bo's Diner, earbuds in, gazing at the menu when in walks Debora (Lily James) a waitress singing 'B-A-B-Y' by Carla Thomas. She saunters up to his table and asks for his order. They strike up a conversation about music and it becomes clear that there is an instant attraction between the two borne out of their love and appreciation for classic music and their desire to get the hell outta Dodge and 'head out west, in a car I can't afford with a plan I don't have' retorts Debora.

Doc calls the team in for the next heist on an armoured car. Doc never uses the same team twice, except for his trusted driver, and so this time are assembled Bats (Jamie Foxx), No-Nose (Flea) and JD (Lenny Joon). After very specific instructions are given, the heist is on and again in broad daylight. Things don't go quite as according to plan, when an armed veteran witnesses the robbery and tries to stop it by pulling out his own hand gun and giving chase in his 4WD pick-up truck. After a brief highway chase sequence in which things go awry for Baby but from which he quickly recovers, Doc informs Baby that his debt is now fully paid off, and to get rid of the car in which is contained the dead body of JD who got careless during the robbery and left his shotgun behind. Baby takes the car to an auto wreckers and has the car crushed down to the size of a shoe box.

Free of the shackles of Doc, Baby takes a job delivering pizza's. He takes Debora to an upmarket restaurant for a romantic dinner where Doc is there and picks up the bill. Baby excuses himself and outside Doc announces that he has another job ready to go. Baby says he's out of it but Doc comes on strong saying 'I said we were straight, but did you think we were done?' Reluctantly to keep Debora and Pops safe, Baby agrees. This job is on a Post Office involving Buddy, Darling and Bats and again in broad daylight with the plan to steal several thousand blank money orders each with a redeemable value of up to $100.

On the way back from collecting new weapons from a bunch of corrupt Police officers that ends up with most of them dead, Bats decides he wants to stop off for a bite to eat as they drive past Bo's Diner where Debora works. Baby tries to dissuade the group for going knowing that Debora will be working, but remains quiet for fear of giving away their connection. Upon entering Debora senses Baby's trepidation and goes along with the ruse. An argument at the table however, between Bats and Buddy sees them leave prematurely. The night before the Post Office heist, Doc orders the crew to remain in his warehouse and sleep to be fresh and coordinated ready to go the next morning. Baby tries to leave for a 2:00am rendezvous with Debora to skip town but is intercepted by Buddy and then Bats. Baby also records conversations which he then remixes into his own music tapes, and it just so happens that he recorded a conversation of earlier that evening. The heist is almost put in jeopardy, but proceeds when Buddy returns with a whole case of Baby's own mix tapes, and realise that there is no danger involved. But, they listen to a mix tape of Debora's voice and make the connection between Baby and her and the Diner they were in previously that night.

On the day of the Post Office heist, all goes according to plan and the money orders are successfully taken. What doesn't go according to plan is Buddy shooting a Security Guard. Baby is outraged by this senseless killing and so stalls driving off, and then accelerates hard headlong into a builders truck which has overhanging rebars sticking off the end of it. The rebars smash through the passengers side front windscreen impaling Bats and killing him instantly. The other three escape on foot.

Baby hails down another car and commandeers that while separated from Buddy and Darling who are now left to their own devices and running a gun totting rampage through the streets of downtown Atlanta chased by heavily armed Police officers (similarities here with Michael Mann's classic heist drama 'Heat'). Baby then collides with Buddy and Darling in a car park who by now are in their own vehicle, and in the ensuing fracas Darling is shot and killed. Buddy swears revenge on Baby for getting Darling killed. Baby steals another car and escapes to his apartment to take Pops to the safety of an assisted living home with his pockets stuffed full of money and a voice recorded message to look after the old man.

Buddy meanwhile has fled to the Diner and is sat at the counter with a gun concealed under a newspaper effectively holding Debora prisoner until Baby arrives, as Buddy knows he will. In a moment of distraction Baby shoots Buddy and flees with Debora as the Police close in. However, Buddy thwarts the Police and escapes in a stolen patrol car. Baby drives back to the warehouse to retrieve a special mix tape that has high sentimental value, as it contains music by his Mum, who was a singer. Initially Doc refuses, but relents when he sees Debora too. Feeling sentimental over loves young dream, Doc hands over a bag of cash to the couple, and escorts them down into the parking garage, where all three are ambushed by Buddy behind the wheel of the Police car, and now more pissed off than ever.

Needless to say it doesn't end well for the bad bad guys, and the good bad guys ride off into the sunset in a bullet ridden pick-up truck with their stash of cash, blood on their hands and music in their ears. But the Police were never that far behind and the long arm of the law eventually catches up with Baby and Debora. Baby gets sentenced to 25 years for his crimes and is up for parole in five, and as Baby does his time, so Debora waits patiently for her love until the day comes of his early release.

'Baby Driver' first appeared as a song on the classic Simon & Garfunkel album of 1970 'Bridge Over Troubled Water' and plays out at the end of the film. With nods to the aforementioned 'Heat' and Walter Hill's classic 1978 'The Driver' especially, here Edgar Wright has crafted a stylish kinetic heist story where the good bad guy is our strong and silent anti-hero whose growth through the film sees him as a willing participant through to reluctant accomplice prepared to risk it all to save the two people he cares most about in life. The practical getaway driving stunt work filmed on the mean streets of Atlanta is delivered expertly and puts you in the centre of the action; and then there are strong performances from a talented supporting cast that include Hamm and Fox especially as thoroughly convincing career criminals; to the moments of laugh out loud humour, and one-liner quips; through to the emerging love story interwoven with Baby's tragic back story and his reasons for where and who he is. And then of course let's not forget the soundtrack handpicked for every scene by the Writer/Director himself, and a significant factor in the appeal of this film where the action is synched to the music rather than the other way around. This film has heart, exuberance, fast paced action, violence and an originality all its own. Catch this joyride on the big screen while you can - you won't be disappointed.

-Steve, at Odeon Online-