The Screen Update: Green Book, Capernaum, Beautiful Boy and Can You Ever Forgive Me?
This was a jam-packed week on Screen, and with so many fantastic films out, it is definitely worth seeing as many as you can! But if you can’t decide which ones are worth your time, hopefully these reviews will help. We were lucky enough to catch a preview of Capernaum in City Screen York this week, as well as many Oscar nominated films such as Green Book. These are the big film months and that is definitely reflected in diverse range of films on in the cinema at the moment.
Capernaum
It being one of the nominees for Best Foreign Picture at the Oscars this year, I was very excited to be able to catch a preview of Capernaum at City Screen, before its official release and the Oscars. With incredibly strong competition in the category, it may not be the favourite to win but nonetheless, it definitely deserves a wider audience.
Capernaum tells the story of 12-year-old Zain and his attempt at creating a better life for himself, as more and more obstacles are put in his way. It is clear early on, that this film is not going to be very hopeful. It starts out with the audience learning that Zain is in prison and trying to sue his parents “because I was born”. Only after that do we get to see the journey that got him to this point. We see him fighting with his parents, trying to take care of his siblings and finally running away from home to try and make it on his own.
Lebanese director Nadine Labaki does a wonderful job of creating an incredibly authentic atmosphere in the cinema. The story she tells is incredibly sad and tragic but at no point throughout did it feel unrealistic. This is especially noteworthy, considering that most of the cast — including the young lead Zain al Rafeea — consisted of non-actors. The sound design also cannot go unnoticed, as it significantly adds to atmosphere with unsettling music and an almost constant sound-scape that was often almost too loud to handle. This only helped to highlight the constant pressure that Zain feels, as he is incapable of leaving for somewhere quiet that would give him time to think or reassess. At the same time, Labaki never forgets to insert some happy moments, which occasionally lightens up the mood. These moments are particularly effective and make the story all the more touching and relatable.
However, what I most enjoyed about the film, is that it never takes the easy way out when presenting us with a new character. It would have been easy to make us side with Zain and hate everyone that stands in his way, but instead we get a clear sense of everyone else’s past and future, and how they are all comparative, none of them better or worse than the other. The impossibility of escaping their situations is often heartbreaking and overall eye-opening.
With incredibly strong competition in the Best Foreign Picture category it is I well worth a watch, and I would urge anyone to try and seek this movie out if you can.
Lena Tondello
Green Book — Michael Peel
After losing his job as a bouncer Tony Vallelonga (played by Viggo Mortensen) finds a job driving classical pianist Dr. Don Shirley (played by Mahershala Ali) on a tour through the deep south in 1960s America. The film offers an uncompromising look at race relations in the 1960’s and does not shy away when confronting these topics. However, although the theme of racism is prevalent throughout the film, the true focus of the film is the unlikely friendship which develops between the two. As the Green Book progresses these two individuals (with seemingly nothing in common) find a respect for one another’s point of view.
Tony being an Italian-American bouncer from the Bronx is expertly played by Viggo Mortensen. Tony is a likeable character as his quick wit and lack of sophistication makes him a joy to watch. However, if anyone dislikes the sight of eating they should probably avoid this film at all costs, there are many shots of Tony stuffing his face! His co-star Mahershala Ali is the polar opposite being a sophisticated and quite sad character. Although he is talented, he is ultimately alone with no close family and few friends. Ali is able to skilfully communicate a nuanced and troubled individual. Both characters learn from each other through the course of the film, with Tony becoming more aware of his own prejudices and of the prejudices of those around him, while Don becomes more down to earth and ready to re-connect with his family. Their relationship is easily the best part of the film and is genuinely heart-warming.
However, the film does suffer from an overly long run time which is made worse by the fact that a lot of the scenarios in the south are repeated, furthermore the plot can be painfully predictable at points the ending in particular. However, this is ultimately outweighed by expert performances, a great soundtrack and interesting setting which make Green Book a heart-warming story of friendship overcoming social backgrounds.
Can You Ever Forgive Me?
Academy Award nominated, Can You Ever Forgive Me, is based on the life of Lee Israel. Melissa McCarthy plays the writer who once basked in success writing celebrity biographies. Stuck in a rut and facing writer’s block, Israel feels the pressures of life beginning to suffocate her. She has no income, her cat is sick, and she is months behind on rent. This is the moment she puts her hand to crafting fake letters from famous authors in exchange for hundreds of dollars.
McCarthy has shed the skin of her happy, bubbly, and quite often ‘type-cast’ role. Instead, she portrays a grumpy, alcoholic; a character who hates herself and pushes away anyone close to her. Her best friend, Jack Hock (played by Richard E. Grant), is recruited by Israel in order to continue the acts of fraud. Grant’s character draws a duality with McCarthy’s in every way. Whilst she is constantly grumpy and socially awkward, Hock is charming and charismatic. They complement each other very well and make for a wonderful on-screen duo.
Can You Ever Forgive Me is a biopic that gives us insight into a character who loved neither herself nor another (besides her cat). Yet, Israel comes across as a sympathetic and McCarthy’s performance is undeniably one of her best to date.
Stephanie Dale
Beautiful Boy
Beautiful Boy tells the story of the strained relationship between a father and son, David and Nic Sheff, as the disease of addiction, specifically, but not exclusively, to crystal meth, tears their lives apart. Before seeing the film at City Screen I was aware the film was based on drug addiction, however I was not prepared to be thrust so brutally into the harsh reality of an addict’s everyday life.
Beginning somewhat slowly, it is ambiguous as to which direction the story will take as one of our first encounters with Nic is his father driving him to be checked into rehab. Whilst his admission into rehab so early in the plot may seem promising to Nic’s recovery, the film’s main focus is to highlight that relapse is part of recovery. Tension is held throughout the entirety of the film as Nic’s addiction constantly acts as a barrier, inhibiting him from functioning in ordinary life. Temptation is everywhere, and the film excellently portrays the shocking lengths and price he will pay to get his fix and feel his life turn from black and white to technicolour, even if it is only for a short period.
The film has such a strong emotional pull through the heart-breaking father son relationship, played so brilliantly by Steve Carell and Timothée Chalamet, which sees a broken father questioning what he did wrong and when his son disappeared into this shadow, consumed by addiction? Childhood flashbacks throughout the screenplay make their relationship even more powerful and as an audience we also grieve the loss of Nic.
Based on a true story the film draws from two books written by David and Nic Sheff depicting their separate perspectives of addiction. Both Nic’s journey and his family’s are detailed throughout, as the story highlights how addiction affects not just the addict, but also creates an unstable environment and intense trauma for those close to them.
Drug overdose is the main cause of death in Americans under 50 years old, hence this film is so important in raising awareness of the dangers of addiction and the permanent damage it can cause. As the film ended, I was overwhelmed and in utter disbelief at this tragic story. This film is an absolute must see as speaking up about these issues is integral to helping prevent them and shines a true light on the reality of drug use, as opposed to the more glamorised perspective that the media sometimes portrays.
So check out all of these films and tune in to Screen every Friday at 6pm on University Radio York for the latest film news, reviews and updates.
Kirsten Murray
Written by Beth Wiffen
Beth Wiffen is a third year English Literature Student who hosts URYs film review show at 6pm every Friday. This goes without saying that she loves all things book and film, and is always up for a chat and recommendations.
