Live from TIFF: Son of Rambow
Son of Rambow ***1/2
Directed by Garth Jennings
96 Minutes
I was hooked on "Son of Rambow" from the introduction by director Garth Jennings and one of his producers. Jennings was so personable, and so funny, and so excited about the film, that I honestly did not have a moment of doubt, and when the film was over I did not have an ounce of regret about seeing it. This is probably one of the most accessibly quirky and delightful comedies of the year, and it being a huge hit at Sundance is very obvious. I should go to Sundance one year, as most of the big hits there are films that I end up loving-and just wait until you all get the chance to see "Snow Angels" opening in March.
"Son of Rambow" follows two young boys during the early eighties. The first is Will-played by Bill Milner who reminded me of Freddie Highmore in a way-a quiet and very religious young boy who has been raised by a brethren. In school when the class watches a film he is forced to wait outside because his mother doesn't allow television. The second is Lee Carter-played by Will Poulter-a bad boy who is often raised by his brother, and ends up being a sort of slave for him. When Lee takes the blame for an accident in exchange for Will giving him a watch, Lee convinces Will to be the stunt man in a film he is making, inspired by "First Blood," which just came out. Will ends up seeing a clip of the movie, and decides that he wants to be the Son of Rambo, and the two begin the film making process. A side story tells about a series of French exchange students coming to visit England for a period of time, and soon the two stories merge.
Jennings said during the talk afterwards that it was important to hire the right two children, because a film with bad child acting is just awful. And Milner and Poulter are the only people for the roles-they inhabit these characters as if they have been acting for years, and this is both their first project. They have the chemistry, they play the drama well, they are very funny, and cute, and everything that child actors should be. The movie has a lot of fun with movies that two directors are involved with. There are moments of "artistic arguments"-I don't know if they were there for a reason, or an in-joke, but I saw it that way. And it was just such a delight to watch this movie, and the movie within the movie, and the "First Blood" references. Jennings is obviously a very excited film maker, and I can't believe its the same man that directed "The Hitchhiker's Guide the Galaxy." Free from the studios he clearly has much more to say and do, and this should be a massive hit.
"Son of Rambow" ends up being quirky without going over the limit. There are some fun animated action scenes that are done nicely, and don't take up an obsessive amount of time. The music is rather loud, lots of loud banging noises-similar to the film "Rocket Science" which came out last month and nobody saw. The film is a lot of fun, and very sweet, and I wish it luck when its released through Paramount Vantage next April.
And to answer a question about the new Rambo, I read about a January release date for it. This should be a cool companion.
Directed by Garth Jennings
96 Minutes
I was hooked on "Son of Rambow" from the introduction by director Garth Jennings and one of his producers. Jennings was so personable, and so funny, and so excited about the film, that I honestly did not have a moment of doubt, and when the film was over I did not have an ounce of regret about seeing it. This is probably one of the most accessibly quirky and delightful comedies of the year, and it being a huge hit at Sundance is very obvious. I should go to Sundance one year, as most of the big hits there are films that I end up loving-and just wait until you all get the chance to see "Snow Angels" opening in March.
"Son of Rambow" follows two young boys during the early eighties. The first is Will-played by Bill Milner who reminded me of Freddie Highmore in a way-a quiet and very religious young boy who has been raised by a brethren. In school when the class watches a film he is forced to wait outside because his mother doesn't allow television. The second is Lee Carter-played by Will Poulter-a bad boy who is often raised by his brother, and ends up being a sort of slave for him. When Lee takes the blame for an accident in exchange for Will giving him a watch, Lee convinces Will to be the stunt man in a film he is making, inspired by "First Blood," which just came out. Will ends up seeing a clip of the movie, and decides that he wants to be the Son of Rambo, and the two begin the film making process. A side story tells about a series of French exchange students coming to visit England for a period of time, and soon the two stories merge.
Jennings said during the talk afterwards that it was important to hire the right two children, because a film with bad child acting is just awful. And Milner and Poulter are the only people for the roles-they inhabit these characters as if they have been acting for years, and this is both their first project. They have the chemistry, they play the drama well, they are very funny, and cute, and everything that child actors should be. The movie has a lot of fun with movies that two directors are involved with. There are moments of "artistic arguments"-I don't know if they were there for a reason, or an in-joke, but I saw it that way. And it was just such a delight to watch this movie, and the movie within the movie, and the "First Blood" references. Jennings is obviously a very excited film maker, and I can't believe its the same man that directed "The Hitchhiker's Guide the Galaxy." Free from the studios he clearly has much more to say and do, and this should be a massive hit.
"Son of Rambow" ends up being quirky without going over the limit. There are some fun animated action scenes that are done nicely, and don't take up an obsessive amount of time. The music is rather loud, lots of loud banging noises-similar to the film "Rocket Science" which came out last month and nobody saw. The film is a lot of fun, and very sweet, and I wish it luck when its released through Paramount Vantage next April.
And to answer a question about the new Rambo, I read about a January release date for it. This should be a cool companion.
posted by Eric at
4:57 AM
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