George's Film Reviews

Reviewed by George Baker

Netflix’s Black Mirror: Bandersnatch is the multiple-choice film that gives the spectator the option on which direction the story should go. What could possibly go wrong? A love letter from writer, Charlie Brooker to… writer Charlie Brooker, the film/game follows a fragile young man’s attempt to get a videogame of the same name published in time for Christmas sales. Bandersnatch is like a hipster bar in central London, or a cheese fondue, apart from the cute gimmick that is fun to talk about for a few minutes and post on Instagram, its really just an overpriced pub or a bowl of cheese that leaves you hungry.

Starring Fionn Whitehead, Alice Lowe and Will Poulter, all giving good performances, we witness the breakdown of Stefan’s (Whitehead) mind as he gets more and more stressed from the struggles of his work. With the audience often contributing to our puppets misery. It’s pretty hard to break down the plot of this film as there are so many endings but after exploring the vast tundra of Bandersnatch It’s safe to say that it’s kind of like most other Black Mirror episodes. Technology is evil, there is an omnipotent presence that is watching over you and the government controls your mind. However, due to the fact that Stefan is basically a video game character, it is hard to really care about him. He doesn’t make any decisions, you do, and although this is fun (at times) it takes away from his character being able to express himself. There is also no sense of peril, ‘Throw Stefan to his death? LOL, Okay. He’ll just respawn, and we can continue the story making a different choice.

The characters around Stefan are the driving force of the film. They offer the choices he faces, they react with what you decide instead of just following the orders. This makes them far more interesting and engaging. Will Poulter’s character, Colin Ritman stands out as the genius game designer who finds no pleasure in the commercial games he creates, and instead looks for inspiration in other things such as disappearing for weeks on end or taking LSD.

The actual dynamics of choosing which path to choose can be fun, after zoning out due to the boring story, it can be entertaining realising that you have to make a quick decision that could alter the fabric of this person’s mind. Especially when you watch with someone else who disagrees with your gut feeling. Both having to argue your point in a mere five seconds. Luckily, I was holding the controller.

As an audience I think we have to appreciate what this film is. It has exercised a new way of storytelling in film and rightly become a huge talking point in pop culture. But it also uses the medium as a way of expressing the message of the story. It’s about theories of endless parallel universes where anything and everything can happen, and it is the choices that you make that put you on the path you end up on, so why chose the boring option. Let’s be honest, if you’re playing the game, you are never deciding to do the things that you could do in real life. You want to push Stefan to the edge, and this is maybe the message of the film. Why do this to Stefan when you could be stepping out of your comfort zone and experiencing life in a whole new way because of it.

Something that was disappointing is the option to go back and repeat steps. People talk about where the film ended for them, but you can just rewind and continue playing. Therefore, the film ends when you get bored, and then I end the film being bored. Not a great way to finish a film is it?

Black Mirror: Bandersnatch is definitely a great talking point, whether you enjoy it or find it a tad dull, you will probably enjoy talking about it afterwards. But the real question is; Will anyone else attempt the ‘Choose Your Own Story’ format? Imagine themed Bandersnatches. Rom-com’s, Science Fiction, a chose your own fast and furious storyline. I’d make Vin Deasil have a sex change and run for president, how fun does that sound? There will definitely be a comedy that takes the piss out of the very idea of choosing your own story. We will just have to wait and see who is brave enough to try it.

Black Mirror: Bandersnatch is currently available to stream on Netflix

Reviewed by George Baker

Starring Eddie Redmayne, Jude Law, Johnny Depp and many, many… many more. The sequel to 2016’s ‘Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them’ follows Newt Scamander on an epic quest to find his girlfriend in Paris. Meanwhile a political battle is brewing in our beloved wizarding world. Do we side with Grindelwald, the baby killing, manipulative convict, who also believes that #LoveWins, and that muggles and wizards can marry? Which I guess makes him a complicated villain. Or, do we side with the legendary, fan favourite, Albus Dumbledore? Hmm… Tough one.

Newt, played by Redmayne. The wonderfully autistic, interesting and unique lead character from the first film, is stuck in the UK by the ministry of magic due to his shenanigans in New York. We are introduced to his brother Theseus (Callum Turner) and his brothers fiancée Leta Lestrange (Zoe Kravitz), who is in love with Newt. We are also introduced to Newt’s assistant, who is also in love with him, she is never seen again. Dead possibly.

This kind of sums up Newts involvement in the film. Even when offered the chance to join Dumbledore’s army and go on an exciting quest (which would make perfect sense given his current, bored, situation) it’s his pining for Tina Goldstein (Katherine Waterson) that gets him caught up in things. Making him a side character to the main event. But then you have to think about what the main event actually is. There are so many characters, love stories, plot twists and turns, that you’re taken on a ride that you didn’t particularly want to be taken on.

When it comes down to it, the film is about an impending battle between Dumbledore and Grindelwald. Two characters who have a handful of scenes each. Dumbledore (Jude Law) is as aloof and weird as ever. He brings us back to nostalgic places with nostalgic magical objects and his part in the film is great. Law’s representation of the icon is pretty spot on. With one scene in particular standing out not only as key to the fate of him, and his characters development into the Harry Potter timeline. But also, to the bond between him and his nemesis. One of the few moments in the film that actually adds a lot to the characters and plot.

Now onto Grindelwald, and the big ol’ elephant in the room, Johnny Depp. Given that a lot of trouble had to be gone to in order for him to be in this film, it probably wasn’t worth it. After the bone chilling, snake faced Voldemort, Depp’s, ‘dad who couldn’t let go of the punk era’ villain doesn’t quite cut the mustard. His views on the state of the wizarding society are interesting and questions are asked about the world that will excite fans of the franchise, and these things are intriguing about the villain’s motives. However, they are setting up for another movie and don’t really help this one.

Of course, the controversy surrounding Depp’s inclusion in the film is something that should be spoken about. Perhaps a film review isn’t the place to talk about societies problems with the treatment of women, but when you review this film with that thought in your mind, and consider that every female character is there to fancy the pants off of Newt, (I assume because of his perfectly floppy Hugh Grant inspired hair) you begin to realise that the entire thing doesn’t exactly scream female empowerment. Disappointing given that the writer is one of the most successful women of all time, who has previously given us the consistently epic Hermione Granger.

Overall, The Crimes of Grindelwald beats about the bush too much, despite having lovely moments scattered throughout it. The climactic finale is visually epic, but underneath that blue flamed layer of CGI the film falls short of its potential due to the overcomplicated plot that is driven by characters that are irrelevant. All we can do is hope that the inevitable sequel focuses on what worked in this film. Ezra Miller’s Credence, Jude Law’s Dumbledore and his relationship with Grindelwald (which may or may not be played by Johnny Depp), and the shots of nostalgia that reminded us of a time when witches and wizards were cute metaphors about hitting puberty and the hardships of going to school.

Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald opens in the UK on 16^th November 2018.