GOBBELDIGOOK : 1 of 2

A short documentary I worked on that incorporated stop motion and archive footage to explore the experiences of those living in Falmouth, Cornwall during World War II.

Another project I produced. Based on the Frank Turner song of the same name, Long Live the Queen is about one man’s struggle to say goodbye to his best friend and the love of his life.

A short film I worked as co-producer on last year.

Smelly follows the story of a boy who was born without a sense of smell. He begins to collect them in the family shed over his life. However when a flashback of his mother sends him on a quest to reminisce in his collection, fate intervenes with some life-changing consequences.

This is a short documentary I produced last year as part of my final portfolio. It’s aim was to explore how much you can tell about an individual from the items they carry in their bag. The video is slightly lower quality due to upload restrictions.

CHRONICLE - 8/10

Generally what you would imagine if you and your friends were to gain ‘super powers’ and one of you went a bit power crazy. The hand-held cinematography has caused quite a divide among audiences but I had no issues with the technique and it was a much easier watch compared to films like Cloverfield and Blair Witch Project. The idea was fun and fresh; it may not be groundbreaking cinema but you can’t knock it for pure entertainment.

THE IRON LADY - 4/10

Despite the excellent casting, I couldn’t help but feel that Meryl Streep’s wonderfully convincing performance was somewhat wasted in this film. Most of Thatcher’s political career was glossed over and, instead, a lot of attention was focused on a fabricated (and somewhat insensitive) present where she continues to come to terms with the death of her husband. As someone who wasn’t around during her career, I was hoping the film would pay more attention to the strikes and riots, the Falklands war and other matters which led to Thatcher being such a controversial leader but much of that was merely compiled in to some quick montages to make more time for Maggie sipping tea and clearing out her cupboards. Unfortunately I left the cinema feeling as indifferent about the entire political era as before I went in.

NEVER LET ME GO - 9/10

What I love about this film is that it’s like a 20th century sci-fi with the aesthetic of a period drama. I haven’t read the book so it’s hard to know whether or not Never Let Me Go has reached its full potential but, standing as a film alone, I was blown away by the entire story as it unfolded. The locations were beautiful and I loved how the cinematography mirrors the outlook of a ‘donor’, cherishing and exploring every tiny detail. I would have liked to see more of Mulligan, Garfield and Knightley’s relationship as it developed and as it began to strain, but I’m assuming the book goes in to much more detail. Overall, a really captivating and thought-provoking film.

EASY A - 6/10

So much better than I expected. A simple and relatable storyline with some really funny moments. I especially loved the John Hughes’ references. One thing that let the film down, however, was Amanda Bynes as Christian do-gooder Mary Ann. Her acting was over the top and cringeworthy; more like a nasty 90s Disney movie than a respectable teen comedy.

SUPER - 7/10

This film is a slow starter and the low budget style makes it initially difficult to get comfortable. But Super is definitely worth the effort in the end. The concept is brilliant, like Kick-Ass on a comedown. Ellen Page is perfect as a crazy sidekick and you really start to gain interest as her and Rainn Wilson’s relationship develops.

MR. NOBODY - 8/10

A few plot elements, the non-linear narrative and some of the dialogue reminded me a little of Charlie Kauffman’s scripts. The acting was brilliant (it was particularly nice to see Leto back doing what he does best) and the storyline was thought provoking, focusing on the theme of choice and how any decision can pave a new path for your future.

CHATROOM - 4/10

I really enjoyed the use of the Shining-esque hallway and the rooms as a representation of individual online forums, but the storyline was weak and a lot of crucial sub-plots were rushed which left me feeling largely uninterested in any of the characters.