Didnt intend to post this review so late my bad people…
Its that time… that occasion that happens a couple of times a year where you pay your money & you take your chance. Yep its time for Secret Cinema. A film you have no idea what its going to be until the BBFC classification appears. No clues, the only clues are the trailers before the film, so lets see what weve got shall we. What are we getting in advance of the rest of the world.
So when i booked my seat for this just before christmas, i couldnt pick my preferred seat in screen one, i wasnt happy. It was almost sold out, in fact it got to the point where Brighton actually put on 2 secret cinema screening of this film. They then did ask some larger groups if they would prefer to sit in the other screening tho as our screen ended up being 80% full. Thats still good. Proper mix of ages too. I had promised myself that i would talk to who ever came & sat next to me if they wanted to, to make some cinema friends. But nah both sets of seats either side of my empty 🙁
Trailers are really helpful for predicting at these things, & so is hearsay & the buzz when you walk in. Most people before it started thought it was going to be boiling point. But trailer wise was interesting first was the 355 (which was everyones second guess) then it was the Duke (which looked interesting but nah) then it was Sonic & someone shouted out oh god no not sing 2 please no (as its was a kids film) Then it was nightmare ally (horror) & Finally we had A journal for Jordan (oscar season) so the entire cinema was completely baffled once the trailers were over, what the hell could it be.
& then the BBFC line eventually appeared… & im sure at secret cinema it takes longer than the usual for the film name to appear on the screen, maybe its the anticipation… or maybe you never notice the 6 second gap. There was a audible ghastly from the screening when the name appear someone actually went wooohooo. 10 people got up & left straight away including 2 people in my row & a couple of other groups got up part way through the film, they had obviously seen enough. But i hadnt… the film was got for Secret Cinema, is Oscar front runner… BELFAST!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! A whole 3 weeks before its out to the general public. I just sat back & was like yes Sir Ken take me back in time.
When i write my mini reviews for my films in my book so i can work back from notes for my blog (yes i do have a plan for these cinema viewings i know its not all just thrown together) i usually write half a page. Belfast got a whole page & starting with the world WOW!!! in caps with 3! after it. The film left me speechless.
The Kid Jude, hes brilliant, hes so sweet & naïve & just loves his family & the girl down the world & does care about whats going on but in his own little naïve way. Hes amazing. Hes not Roman in JoJo but hes bloody close. I really felt for him & what he was doing all the time & how this was all just effecting his life.
Can you share a best supporting Actor Oscar? Asking for friends Jamie & Ciaran… I mean because they both give such epic performances means the vote will probably be split & neither will actually win it, which is a shame. Both i think give the performance of a life time & its a shame they both cant be recognised for it. I think a Bafta will come ones way but maybe not an oscar… but it should bloody do.
For a black & white film, there was real depth & feel to the cinematography. Okay yes you can make things look older by putting it in black & white, but it really worked. There were some brilliant shoots & scenes with this, especially of the barricades & streets & fields. It just looked right & automatically put you in the 60s. & then the random flashes of colour to in the 60s when they were looking at something at he cinema or on tv that was very clever.
The start & end being in Colour was good to, & it showed how thriving Belfast is now & the history behind the great city & its people & their lives & the messages for those who stayed, left & lost. Properly emotional. You could tell Sir Ken was writing a love letter to his past, telling himself it would all be okay & where he would then be.
Any film is improved with Dame Jude Dench in it…. FACT! Her words of wisdom & soft nature throughout this film was life affirming & exactly what we needed in the light & shade. She was stunning.
Every time the film kind of paused or it panned on something, i sat there with dreed as to what was going to happen next. What shit about to go down? Was tonight the night the barricade would be broken or the riots start? & im guessing that is what it felt like at the time for the people who lived there too. Were they safe. Its hard to do that in a film, but it just got that so right.
Are Northern Irish Funerals still like that? I have not Irish of any sort in my family, so this is a genuine question. If so thats madness but also pretty cool.
There were a few kitchen floor resets, arguments & tantrums throughout the film, which were acted superbly. It felt so desperate & so concerning for the people involved at that time, & you really really did feel for them & just want them to be okay & be safe.
So a little while ago when i saw King Richard, i said well god help Sir Ken if hes gonna get best picture as King Richard bossed it. So i was only alive for the end of the Troubles in Norther Ireland, & didnt know too much about it. Sir Ken is winning that Oscar. Oh man is Belfast winning a load of oscars. If it doesnt i want an internal enquiry, it was jsut stunning & a master piece & i am so privileged that ive seen it early.
Im going to finish this review with a story.
Once upon a time a long time a go, me & my friend Kirsty once a month used to go to the cinema, when we didnt have full time jobs & she was at uni. If it wasnt our local cinema i would drive & she would pay as i would have “forgotten my student card” if you get me. We would also decide on the drive over as to what we would see at the cinema. One day we choose The Kings Speech & i told her that people had applauded it like they were at the theatre & we laughed & joked about it & said who in their right mind would do that at a film. So we went & sat down & watched the film & as the credits started we looked at each other & both said we clap right, & we did. & then so did the people either side of us. & then so did the row behind. about 30 seconds later the entire cinema was standing up clapping & applauding. & since then i have never applauded a film at the cinema….
Until Belfast… I just suddenly realised as it was fading out that my hands were clapping & then i heard other people do it too & id say 75% of what was left in my screening was applauding Belfast. I didnt give it a standing ovation, but oh man… I never thought i would do that again at a cinema, but i did.
So for those of you still unsure, i think thats a reason to go to see it. Its defiantly a contender for this years golden buzzer.
Beautiful & Brilliant… well done Sir Ken.