Before I begin this movie review, I need to give a little back story about my state of mind going into the Camden ODEON Lux Theater. It seems as though, due to a business trip to Spain last weekend, there were a few less sprinkles of serotonin in my body than usual. But I kinda think that my plummeting state of mind, body and soul is what's going to make this film review so ~ r a w. ~
BACKSTORY: I had (il)legally downloaded Belfast on my laptop (yep, I'm one cool kid) in which I saw a few scenes before my hard drive decided to give up on me. A feeling I know All Too Well (Taylor's Version) </3. But gosh darnit, did that little tease of Belfast leave me wanting more. But when the film got nominated for several, and I mean SEVERAL Oscars, the teasing turned to taunting. So on a Tuesday at 1pm I thought, heck, Hooper? You're getting nothing done today and why not use your one braincell to go see a movie instead of playing Candy Crush. I mean, you DESERVE this.
I roll up to the theater with smuggled Sainsbury's gummy worms in the elastic of my sweats, and park it in a seat. I must preface, the seat was a recliner, and I will say once you've reclined in the movie theater, there is absolute no way back. There were only two other people in the theater--the fellow unemployed. Well to be fair, they were like seventy, but like, okay what's stopping you from working? Lazy. They were sat behind me holding hands and downing pints of Guinness. I'd like to think their names are Peggy and Harold.
The lights went down. I have reached Nirvana.
REVIEW
Before I begin the review, I must preface, I'm American. And the thing about us Americans is that the only history lessons we are taught in school revolve around either Ancient Mesopotamia or The New Deal. There's no in between. The only thing I knew about the Irish 'Troubles' as they called it, was the term "Irish Car Bomb," and this is only because it is a DELICIOUS beverage. Note to self: don't order this the next time you're in Dublin
To quote Anna Nicole Smith, 'I know nothing about anything' and that Belfast was basically a documentary in my eyes,
(THE REVIEW REALLY STARTS HERE)
ANYWAYS, let's just get it out there. The whole movie is filmed in black and white. And I must say, the filming was, how you Americans say, uh dope? The cinematographer snapped. There would be little close ups of rain falling on a tin roof, and the cobblestone road. It was sick.
Our protagonist, a child named Buddy, allowed the audience to have a unique and innocent perspective to the calamitous events unfolding around him. Plus he was just such a little dweeb, I just loved him.
The premise of the story was in 1969 in Belfast, Ireland the Protestants waged an attack on the Catholics in hopes to exterminate their kind. I won't lie, my family's not really the churchgoing type, and mom's Jewish, so I really couldn't tell you the difference between Protestants and Catholics in any sort of way. But to the Irish it was a big fuckin' deal.
Buddy's family was Protestant, but they weren't looking to join in on the riots. The town of Belfast was crumbling fast, but Buddy's endearing and infectious spirit at times made you forget there were any issues. Then it was WHAM! Next scene. Irish Car Bomb in the street (NOT the drink).
Daddy, I mean Jamie Dornan, I mean Daddy, I mean Jamie Dornan, I mean- fuck, sorry Daddy tried to convince his family that it is was too dangerous for them to stay. Momma was PISSED and I mean PISSED. And Buddy...well Buddy shit a brick.
Belfast was all that Buddy knew. His crush was there, a little blonde hottie in math class. His friends were there. And how could we forget his grandparents, one of which is DAME Judi Dench. And look, I get it. If Judi Dench was my grandma, I would totally forget about like mass destruction and be like 'Holy toots. It's Judi Dench, the star of the hit musical CATS.'
(That was probably very inappropriate to say about Buddy's crush because she was like 7, but like, she could get it. And isn't all about women supporting women? I think so).
Rather than focusing on the turmoil in Belfast, the majority of the film revolves around this family's dynamics (which, personally, I find more compelling than war but hey, I make love not war). When Daddy is offered a new job and a better opportunity in England, the family together must decide whether they can endure the furore of Belfast, or to say goodbye to the place they call home. I mean, I have chills at this point and the emotions are freaking FLYING.
SPEAKING of emotions, remember how I mentioned my poor mental state going into the movie? So, I wasn't sure if it was due to this, or the writing of the film, that caused me to cry upwards of EIGHT times through the duration of the film. Like was it necessary for me to weep whenever Jamie Dornan hugged his son?
Yes. I think it was.
I really enjoyed this movie for a number of reasons:
Each character provided something completely different in the story, but they complimented one another while remaining lovable and relatable.
I can't tell if the movie was sad, but definitely bittersweet, which is my favorite type of film. There were scenes where I was smiling at the screen like an actual loser and other parts when my lip quivered.
Jamie Dornan is so fucking hot, it's honestly distracting. I just kept thinking of Christian Gray and that scene. You know the scene. The one with the silver balls???
Wait in hindsight I can't believe my parents let me read that book at fifteen. Like I was just sitting on my floor, reading about Anastasia being gagged and tortured fantasy and I hadn't even kissed anyone yet.
Le Conclusíon: the movie left me feeling emotionally fulfilled, yet emotionally drained. I've already told probably eleven people that they need to go see it or I'm cutting the chord on our friendship.
Wait, I kinda want to go to Belfast...? Wait, where is Belfast exactly?
So GUYS, go out. Support your local ODEON or AMC, support films, go see Belfast. I think you'll like it. And if you hate it, that's fine. But I will curse the very ground you walk on.
Kisses,
Hooper
SCORE
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