Dir. Dome Karukoski

Cast: Nicholas Hoult, Lily Collins, Laura Donnelly, Colm Meaney, Derek Jacobi

Reviewed by Rob Santer (@RobSanter)

 “It’s about journeys…. journeys we take to prove ourselves, …. adventures………courage…. and…. fellowship”

If you are a fan of ‘Lord of the Rings’ and ‘The Hobbit’ you will thoroughly enjoy this film. It takes you on a magical, yet insightful journey through the early years of RJJ Tolkien, drawing you in to his wonderous thoughts and passion for adventure, mystical beings & language! 

Dir. Steven Spielberg
Cast: Tye Sheridan, Olivia Cooke, Ben Mendelsohn, Mark Rylance, Simon Pegg
Reviewed by Matt Adcock (@Cleric20)

“In 2045 there’s nowhere left to go, nowhere, except The Oasis …”

In the year 2045, the real world has become such a harsh place that most of humanity choose to spend their time in a virtual reality called ‘Ontologically Anthropocentric Sensory Immersive Simulation’ or OASIS.
Socially awkward teenage Wade Watts (Tye ‘Cyclops from X-Men’ Sheridan) only truly feels alive is when he jacks in to the OASIS – where he is known as his avatar ‘Parzival’.
When eccentric tech whizz James Halliday (Mark Rylance), who created the OASIS dies, he leaves a legacy challenge – all his immense fortune and total control of the OASIS will pass to the winner of a three-part video game contest designed to find a truly worthy heir. Cue a battle royale between the gamers of the world and the sinister IOI corporation for control.
Based on the geek-tastic novel by Ernest Cline, Ready Player One see Steven Spielberg set a high score for video game / film crossover movies. It’s a total joy watching such a wealth of references collide in one film. From the moment Parzival jumps into the Back To The Future DeLorean in order to race against Lara Croft driving the A-Team van, Batman in his classic series Batmobile and the enigmatically cool Art3mis (Olivia ‘Bates Motel’ Cooke) riding Kaneda’s motorbike from Akria, anyone with even a passing love of films will break into a smile …
There are just too many to list, with blink and you’ll miss them visual ‘Easter Eggs’ in virtually every scene. I loved the extended The Shining sequence from the book too (which might scare / go over the head of younger viewers) as Parzival and his ‘High Five’ crew must battle through the horrors of The Overlook Hotel to win one of the contest levels.
I don’t think there have ever been so many 80s pop culture references packed in to a movie – from the soundtrack that uses classics like Van Halen’s ‘Jump’ and New Order’s ‘Blue Monday’, through to quoting dialogue from John Hughes films and more … this is a film that demands repeat watching in order to appreciate everything going on.
The nerd-em-up story moves at breakneck speed and the climactic showdown is the stuff of legend, liable to discussed for years to come. The scene stealing star of the film is a superb cameo by the Iron Giant which should make people want to revisit the excellent Brad Bird film from 1999.
With unmatched use of CGI to create something truly incredible, Ready Player One will scorch your endorphin sensors as pop-culture eats itself in a most delicious way. Essential viewing.

Thinking Material: Who are you online?

Ready Player One has a deeper level too – it riffs as a cool satire on our increasingly virtual lives. It’s a human need to find an escape from things when life gets tough. Whether it’s movies, television, books and now more than ever – online, we have a growing number of options in how get away from reality for a while.
Online we get to choose how we present ourselves, our Facebook feeds can be an unreal ‘greatest hits’ of our lives (which can both inspire but also demotivate others who compare and see their existences a just ‘not as fun;). Or even worse when used by believers to present a hypocritical ‘holier than thou’ persona who seems to be living a perfect Christian walk with God – when in reality it can be a very different story. At the even more extreme level there are numerous horror stories of dodgy people masquerading as innocents to win the trust of young and/ or vulnerable people – but pretending to be being somebody we’re not doesn’t have to necessarily be a negative.
As in The Matrix, the aspirational online avatars used in The Oasis are representations of our inner self ‘fantasising’ as to who we’d like to be. Of course it’s vital to remember the line between reality and fiction – that your alter ego isn’t a solution to real world issues but it is possible to inspire and be a positive influence online. In real life, however, it’s important to channel any online persona you have in a way to complement and even support the person you are in the real world. Because as Parzival says: “as terrifying and painful as reality can be, it’s also the only place where you can find true happiness. Because reality is real …”

Rating:

*****
5 out of 5 stars
Related Viewing: Scott Pilgrim vs The World, Rick & Morty, Stranger Things

Dir. Garth Davis
Cast: Rooney Mara, Joaquin Phoenix, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Tahar Rahim, Ariane Labed, Ryan Corr, Sarah-Sofie Boussnina
Reviewed by Matt Adcock (@Cleric20)

“The world will only change as we change. I will not be silent. I will be heard.”

The enduring image of Mary Magdalene has had a tough reputation both in the Church and popular culture – thanks in no small part to Pope Gregory the Great who in the 6th Century proclaimed that she was a prostitute and a sinner. This is despite none of the four gospels saying as much. The name Magdalene is thought to come from the Aramaic word “Magdala” which means “tower” or “elevated” and now, thanks to this new screen adaptation of Christ’s life through her eyes she may finally get some wider redemption.
The writing team of Helen Edmundson and Philippa Goslett along with director Garth ‘Lion’ Davis present Mary Magdalene as an intelligent, resourceful woman, misunderstood because she refused to conform to the strict male orders in matters like who she was to be married off to. When she decides to leave her family, and follow Jesus, a huge societal ‘no-no’ at the time, some claim that she is possessed by demons. But in a key personal scene with Jesus (which she gets several of), she questions whether there is something truly amiss within her, telling him that if there is, it “must have always been in me”, he simply looks at her and assures that “there are no demons here.”

Rooney ‘The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo’ Mara brings Mary to life with an intensity and respect that shows her as an intimate witness to many of the biblically recorded events. Jesus (Joaquin ‘You Were Never Really Here’ Phoenix) is presented as thoughtful, just-charismatic-enough and fully human in a restrained performance, a million miles away from the Jesus Christ Superstar persona.
The plot of this Apostle-em-up certainly ticks off many of the well-worn Biblical narrative beats including Christ’s interaction with Lazarus, the money lenders in the temple, and his teaching the crowds. Phoenix depicts Jesus as having moments of very human exhaustion after his miracles which shows how his disciples had practical roles in supporting him.
Speaking of disciples there are strong turns from Chiwetel Ejiofor as Peter who often bumps heads with Mary, and Tahar Rahim brings a fascinating motivation to his Judas who is painted in a less damning – more misguided light.
Some may baulk at the film’s somewhat sombre tone, find the leisurely pace too slow or the plot overly introspective, but this Mary’s tale makes for a thought-provoking experience which is worth soaking up on the big screen.

Thinking Material: Female Empowerment is Biblical

Mary Magdalene is a film that empowers its female lead character, and at the screening I attended some of the theologians from King’s College were there to explain the authenticity. I got the chance to ask New Testament expert Michelle Fletcher for her thoughts and she explained:

“We know women were disciples, on the road, in crowds, following Jesus. But seldom do we see this. As a New Testament scholar, I spend my time re-inscribing these women and their experiences back into the biblical text. Finally, here is a film that does the same. And refreshingly, this Mary Magdalene is not a post-feminist product for us to consume, but rather a window into another world. She allows us to experience what it would have been like to be a female follower of Jesus in a way that previous bro-fest productions have not. Stunning cinematography and subtle scripting go a long way to facilitate this. Indeed, it is such a visceral production, during which I could almost feel the water on my skin and the damp mist on the ground. And on top of this, it presents a figure who somehow manages to hold in tension the complications of feminist dialogues. That’s a rare thing in cinema, and for a Bible film? Well, it’s definitely something to see, and to celebrate.”

This is certainly Mary’s film and it is her piercing gaze that will stay with you long after the credits roll. I fully enjoyed seeing Mary restored to a position of authority as a key apostle of Jesus and an important element of the early church in her own standing.

Rating:

***
3 out of 5 stars
Related Films: The Passion of the Christ, Jesus of Nazareth, Risen

Free Resources

Damaris Media have produced a discussion guide in partnership with Mothers’ Union. Individuals and groups can download the FREE Companion Booklet which explores the issues addressed within the film from a Biblical perspective.

Dir. Francis Lawrence
Cast: Charlotte Rampling, Ciarán Hinds, Douglas Hodge, Jennifer Lawrence, Jeremy Irons, Joel de la Fuente, Joel Edgerton
Reviewed by Matt Adcock (@Cleric20)

“Every human being is a puzzle of need. You must become the missing piece and they will tell you anything.”

Sex is a weapon in this brutal espionage-em-up which sees Jennifer Lawrence star as Dominika Egorova, a prima ballerina, who becomes coerced into a dangerous high-level intelligence operation.
Forced into an abrupt career change, Dominika becomes a ‘Sparrow’ a secret branch of the Russian intelligence network where the recruits were trained in a depersonalized type of manipulative sexual training to seduce targets and extract information.
What follows is a kind of slow burn cat-and-mouse game of intrigue as she stalks her prey – CIA agent Nate Nash (Joel Edgerton) – with a view to winning his trust and finding the name of the high level Russian mole he is in contact with.
As the two collide, things get muddled as Dominika employs her ‘special skills’ on Nate and in the charged atmosphere of trade-craft, deception, and forbidden passion the only question is who is playing who?

Director Francis Lawrence (no relation), reunites with Jennifer Lawrence after working together on several Hunger Games films and the reward is one of Jo-L’s bravest performances to date. Red Sparrow isn’t really an action film even though it covers similar ground to last year’s Atomic Blonde or the classic La Femme Nikita but it does feature some crunching violence and much sexualised nudity.
Charlotte Rampling and Jeremy Irons are on hand to offer some classy support on the Russian side and Douglas Hodge gives good sleaze as Dominika’s Budapest Bureau chief. Speaking of sleaze, Red Sparrow is not a feminist friendly film – whilst based on an actual and disturbing use of women to wield their bodies as tool for the Motherland, it does feel exploitative at times.
The plot is engaging in a nasty way but the film reaches for wannabe ‘epic’ status with an unnecessarily bloated running time of well over two hours. Red Sparrow pushes the limits for a 15 rating with very strong violence and torture as well as the sexual content. It certainly makes for uncomfortable watching at points and isn’t a feel good popcorn flick by any means.
So this Sparrow isn’t for everyone and won’t be remembered as a classic but it does effectively capture the paranoid feel of not being able to trust anyone and atmosphere of just how depressed life in Russia was.

Thinking Material: Be careful who you fall for

Back in the day Pat Benatar sang “Stop using sex as a weapon – You know you’re already my obsession …” Red Sparrow shines a light on the very unseemly practices that the Russians used in the Cold War espionage battle – basically forcing their Sparrow agents to prostitute themselves in order to gain emotional currency with targets and extract their secrets.
We live in a still incredibly sexualised society, it’s hard to believe how popular purely trashy film like 50 Shades of Grey are etc. But are films like Red Sparrow any less demeaning? The fact that sex appeal is used to sell products, influence people and is seen as a key measure of people is a message that is tragically still prevalent, creating an enormous amount of expectation and pressure that has an impact on well-being, on self-confidence, on relationships – so many facets of life.
It can be tough to not respond to the pressure points of sexual manipulation, but not impossible. This is why initiatives like the #MeToo movement are so timely and will hopefully engender a seed change across society but it will take time and its essential that men get behind them.
Films like Red Sparrow which deal in exploitative sexualisation (even as part of highlighting a dark chapter of history) can feed dangerous obsessive appetites, but perhaps there is a key learning point from this movie: Be careful who you give your heart to. There are those of both genders who will use sex as a weapon – and the heartbreak and fallout can be devastating.

Rating:

***
3 out of 5 stars
Related Films: La Femme Nikita, Atomic Blonde, Tinker Taylor Soldier Spy

Dir. Guillermo del Toro
Cast: Sally Hawkins, Michael Shannon, Richard Strickland, Richard Jenkins, Doug Jones, Michael Stuhlbargas, Octavia Spencer and Nick Searcy.
Reviewed by Matt Adcock (@Cleric20)

“If I told you about her, what would I say? That they lived happily ever after?”

It’s tough enough falling for someone, at any point in your life. Before you know it, a special spark can arc between you and someone completely unexpected or from so left field that it doesn’t even feel real until you’re in the moment and head-over-heels? But it’s probably a lot harder if you developed feelings for, erm, a fish person?
Meet Elisa Esposito (Sally ‘Mary Brown in Paddington’ Hawkins), a mute janitor working at a top-secret government research institution. Her life is one of simple pleasures such as watching TV with her older neighbour Giles, boiling eggs or taking baths.
Her days are monotonous but Elisa keeps her spirits up, helped by her one friend at work Zelda Fuller (Octavia ‘The Shack’ Spencer). Everything changes when a strange cross between man and fish creature from South-America is captured and brought to the laboratory to be studied. This Amphibian Man (Doug ‘Pan’s Labyrinth’ Jones) seems to be sad so Elisa begins to secretly feed eggs, play him music and the two begin an unlikely friendship …

Of course, the path of interspecies love never does run straight (this isn’t a Beauty & The Beast scenario) but there is certainly a ‘boo-hiss’ baddie. Sadistic security guard Richard Strickland (Michael Shannon) takes pleasure in torturing the creature who bites off two fingers of his fingers in return … Thus making Strickland vow to destroy it.
So the scene is set for a dark otherworldly romance, a tale short through with strangeness and joy, heartbreak, violence and danger. The performances are excellent, the writing, directing and visuals all work together to make a really unique cinematic experience.
Director Guillermo del Toro is great at creating weird and wonderful stories and The Shape of Water certainly deserves all the awards buzz it is getting.
It seems that kindred relationships can come in all shapes, sizes, creeds, genders and even include fish people … The Shape of Water will make you want to fall in love whatever the barriers, costs or danger – and for that reason it’s a great film of choice for Valentine’s Day and beyond.

Thinking Material: Help I’m in love with a fish …

Falling for someone (anyone) can be an unnerving and difficult experience – most of us fortunately won’t have a blood thirsty sadist chasing you and trying to kill the one you love like happens in the film. But it is always a balancing act of making yourself vulnerable and not wanting to get hurt – especially if the one you’ve lost your heart to doesn’t necessarily return the feelings or moves on to someone else.
The Shape of Water is a great film to watch and discuss because of it raises the issues of love being more than skin deep, of loving someone who society says you really shouldn’t and of asking what is worth risking to find your soul mate.
Those with friends who are believers can find it hard to be open about their feelings for fear of being judged. Let’s not be those people who make it tough for others, I think God would want us to try to be understanding of whatever situation those we know find themselves in. Speaking wisdom and guidance is one thing but in affairs of the heart it is easy to become overly preachy, when guys in particular may just want to share how they are feeling without getting a lecture on what they are going through.
There’s definitely something fishy about this romantic dark fantasy – and it’s not just that it doesn’t hold back on any level so there is some nudity, violence and peril to go along with the warm and fuzzy stuff. In that way it’s a lot like life then really!?

Rating:

*****
5 out of 5 stars
Related Films: The Creature From The Black Lagoon, Beauty & The Beast, Pan’s Labyrinth

Dir. Martin McDonagh
Cast: Frances McDormand, Woody Harrelson, Sam Rockwell, John Hawkes, Peter Dinklage, Abbie Cornish, Caleb Landry Jones, Kathryn Newton, Lucas Hedges
Reviewed by Matt Adcock (@Cleric20)

“You know, if you hadn’t stopped coming to church, you’d have a little more understanding of people’s feelings …”

Not much can prepare you for this brutally dark comic drama from Academy Award nominee Martin ‘In Bruges’ McDonagh. The harrowing story is set some months after the horrific rape and murder of a young woman called Angela Hayes (Kathryn Newton). The police have made no progress in finding a suspect so Angela’s mother Mildred (Academy Award winner – and surely potentially in line for another for her stunning performance here – Frances McDormand) commissions three billboard signs leading into her town with a controversial message calling out William Willoughby (Woody Harrelson), the town’s revered chief of police.
What follows is a battle of wills between Mildred and Ebbing’s law enforcement, with the townsfolk’s emotions running high. As anger, bigotry and violence come to the surface, the lives of everyone are impacted.
Joining Mildred on her heart-felt quest for justice is a wildly unpredictable ride, one moment you’ll be rocked by the gut churning raw grief and recriminations, the next marvelling at some wonderful laugh-out-loud dialogue. It’s a killer combo of superb acting and incredible cinematography that elevates Three Billboards to a classic status.
McDormand gives a master class in how loss and grief can embitter the human soul, this is an insight into the long uneasy road towards finding any sort of peace. The mix of dark and comedic tones is a tricky balancing act but director McDonagh nails it.
The entire cast are excellent but the stand-out supporting role is Sam Rockwell as Dixon, a flawed, racist cop whose volatile, childish behaviour is a danger to everyone around him. Rockwell takes his unlikable character on a tremendous arc of development, which will challenge you about how everyone should have a chance at redemption. Woody Harrelson, Peter Dinklage, John Hawk and Caleb Landry Jones are also great though.
All the characters are flawed and the painful subject matter doesn’t make it easy watching, but it is rare that a film like this comes along and all the positive / awards buzz around Three Billboards is fully justified.

Thinking Material

This is a film with a strong moral heart but church-going believers don’t come across in a very good light. There is a blistering scene where the local Minister tries to talk Mildred into taking the signs down and her response is something everyone who has ever been part of a church should listen to. Raising the question of culpability by ‘membership’ and just how much we actually care or hold each other accountable – which gives huge pause for thought.
Those who have seen Seven Psychopaths or In Bruges will know that there is very little that is ‘out of bounds’ where McDonagh’s cinematic output but watching these characters wrestle with the anger and consequences of their deep anguish is as emotionally draining as it is thought provoking.
Ultimately though the central message is that even deeply wounded people can find a reason to live, a purpose and to not only transcend themselves, but walk a path to redemption.
Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri is a masterpiece – a film that will scorch your soul and challenge you but also leave you thinking through how you approach those around you and just maybe make you a better person as a result.

Rating:

*****
5 out of 5 stars
Related Films: In Bruges, Nocturnal Animals

Darkest Hour tells the story of Winston Churchill’s first few weeks as Prime Minister in the spring of 1940. Hitler has just invaded France and Belgium, and is heading for an unexpectedly complete and swift victory. All the indications point to what would become the nation’s darkest hour, not only of the time, but in its history.
The Allied army is surrounded at Dunkirk with the British Navy unable to evacuate them. Attempts to persuade the French that the Nazi army could be pushed back, even defeated, are seen as delusional. The consensus, with the exception of Churchill’s assertion, is that the military situation is dire. If, as appears the case, the troops cannot be evacuated over the Channel, the Allies will lose almost its entire army to prisoners of war, at best.
Churchill comes under increasing pressure from his political opponents, as well as allies, to initiate peace discussions with Germany. However, he considers this to be tantamount to surrender, or at the very least, collaboration with the Nazis. Chamberlain and Halifax are arguing in favour of appeasement as being the best outcome they could hope for. They stress that it is simply wishful thinking to hold out for anything better. It is during these heated exchanges that Gary Oldman (playing Churchill) delivers one of my favourite lines in the film; the character is reflecting on his decision to put together a war cabinet of ‘contrasting’ views. In exasperation, he bangs his fist on the table:

“Gentlemen, I purposefully surrounded myself with a range of opinions, it seems I grossly over did it with those that oppose me”.

The drama continues and, as we now know, despite massive opposition, Churchill’s passionate advocacy won over Parliament and the King as well as the people. His daring decision to evacuate the surrounded armies from Dunkirk by expropriating hundreds of privately owned civilian sailing vessels changed the course of history.

For me, Darkest Hour was an entertaining piece of political drama, more than an epic movie about WWII. As with many films recounting a true story, facts are often punctuated by fiction; the ‘amusing’ scene on the underground stands out, but is heart-warming in our current political climate. And that is surely where we are being encouraged to draw parallels?
The film avoids portraying the gravity of the situation on the ground, the threat to British civilization and its people, in favour of political debate on the options to deal with it. Perhaps the film would have been stronger were we to have ‘felt’ the weight on Churchill’s shoulders, not just been told about it? It also misses the opportunity to recount the King’s call for a Day of Prayer and Repentance throughout the British Empire during the height of the crisis. It is recorded that this led to some miraculous weather that grounded the German air force and enabled Britain to rescue its troops (ref: Dr Peter Hammond).
However, many are predicting an Oscar for Gary Oldman’s rousing and poignant portrayal of this great statesman – an honour he will surely receive. Alongside a strong, but mostly underutilised cast, he delivers patriotism, humour and pathos and, in his character, no shortage of what we would refer to today as ‘spin’ to achieve his objectives. It is a film well worth seeing and a great illustration of the importance of perseverance and standing up to and defeating evil.

Damaris Media have partnered up with SSAFA to produce a companion booklet for the Darkest Hour film, find out more about it here and download it for free!

Find out where the film is being shown near you at darkesthour.co.uk

Dir. Rian Johnson
Cast: Mark Hamill, Daisy Ridley, Carrie Fisher, Benicio Del Toro, Anthony Daniels, Laura Dern, Domhnall Gleeson, Oscar Isaac, John Boyega, Adam Driver, Andy Serkis
Reviewed by Matt Adcock (@Cleric20)

“We are the spark, that will light the fire that’ll burn the First Order down …”

The cinematic galaxy far, far away is calling you once again. Young wannabe Jedi Rey (Daisy Ridley) is trying to convince the legendary Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill) to come out of self-imposed retirement. It’s a desperate time for what’s left of the Resistance led by General Leia (Carrie Fisher) who are being ruthlessly exterminated by the evil First Order under the command of Supreme Leader Snoke aided by the twisted Kylo Ren (Adam Driver).
Can one old Jedi make the difference? Does Luke even care anymore? Can Rey resist the compulsive lure of the Dark Side of the Force? And will there be any redemption for Kylo after committing awful crimes? So many questions …
The Last Jedi picks up the story shortly after where The Force Awakens finished and sees Rey and Kylo take centre stage – they are somehow psychically linked and they tussle to try and get the other to join their side, plus we get to see them both kicking ass with lightsabers, although it’s certainly not a rerun of the last film’s duel.
Also instrumental in the plot is the long serving fan favourite Millennium Falcon along with Chewbacca who makes some new cute Porg friends, hotshot – and hot-headed – X-wing pilot Poe Dameron (Oscar Isaac) still isn’t good at taking orders and one time Stormtrooper Finn (John Boyega) still burns with vengeance against his former employers. Rolling droid BB8 is also back and manages to steal many scenes proving to be a real crowd pleaser and both Carrie Fisher and Mark Hamill bring excellent gravitas to their roles.
Speaking of the baddies, the First Order, has bumbling ‘how does he even have a job?’ General Hux (Domhnall Gleeson) and the shiny suited enforcer Captain Phasma (Gwendoline Christie) plus some new additions.
The good news is that The Last Jedi is jammed packed both with incredible cinematic spectacle and personal drama. This is a new sort of Star Wars that mixes some very funny comic lines with many powerful dark desperate situations.
Director Rian Johnson who made the excellent alternative gangster thriller Brick and the time jumping Looper feels right at home building the mythos around the Force and the Jedi, crafting a take on the Star Wars universe which is unlike any that has gone before.
This a bold and brilliant addition to the intergalactic franchise which should be witnessed on the biggest screen you can find. There is life in the Force yet …

Thinking Material

The Last Jedi deals heavily in the themes of why people are motivated to either heroic acts of sacrifice and bravery, or negative impulses such as betrayal, greed and personal power. There is also a fascinating exchange about an arms dealer who the heroes condemn until a scroll through the virtual catalogue shows that this person was providing X-wings to the resistance as well as Tie Fighters to the First Order.
There are some great ‘what would you do’ situations what will make you ponder how you’re living your life. One character explains their actions by saying: “We’re going to win not by fighting what we hate, but by saving what we love.”
The fascinating mythos around The Force is interesting too for those who have beliefs. Luke who has become disillusioned with the Jedi is on the brink of destroying their hallowed tomes and letting all trace of their ‘religion’ fade away whilst Kylo Ren tells Rey to “Let the past die. Kill it, if you have to. That’s the only way to become what you are meant to be” in an attempt to show her that her destiny is being held back by her attachment to the past and those she cares for.
We live in a world where virtually every decision we make will have repercussions for positive or negative – walking a karma neutral line isn’t often an option. Alas we don’t have the chance to ‘use the Force’ either – but maybe given the lure of the Dark Side that might not actually be a bad thing …

CVM Rating:

****1/2
4.5 out of 5 stars
Related Films: Star Wars: The Force Awakens

Released in April 2017 ‘Feel: My Story’ is the long awaited autobiography of the American motorcycle World Champion ‘Fast Freddie’ Spencer. Freddie’s story is both one of incredible success and struggle. Having burst onto the world stage in the early 1980s Spencer instantly proved to be on, or beyond, the level of Kenny Roberts and Barry Sheene! In 1983, at just 21 years of age, he became the youngest ever to win the 500cc world title (a record only beaten in 2013 by Marc Marquez at 20). Again riding for Honda in 1985, he claimed a further 500cc title. That season he also became the only rider in history to take the 250cc/500cc world titles in the same year – an extraordinary feat that would see him racing in back-to-back events on quite different machines.
‘Feel’ is an engaging, intelligent and well written book. It’s an easy read that gives insight into the mind of a true champion across time. Freddie is open and honest about his childhood, his incredible success on both dirt tracks and road circuits, and about the path his life has taken since. It’s a neatly structured work that swings to-and-from the glory days of the past, the struggles of bodily pain from crashes and the present day as he finds himself reimagining life after a painful divorce and the closure of his business.
Back in the 80s I remember ‘Fast Freddie’ being hailed by Christian journalists as a hero of the faith and Church and yet unsurprisingly he says the press added much. Freddie certainly states that he “always had faith”, and it’s clear that by ‘faith’ he means a real Christian faith, not a cultural faith (he’s from Louisiana). He says that he never went to church as a kid and it becomes evident that it’s his friend Mr Williams, a church-going Baptist who accompanied him to many races, who is the important voice, mentor and friend for Freddie, and his faith. In fact the book is dedicated to Mr Williams as being a man who helped him to know his “purpose in life”. Freddie also talks of reading his Bible regularly too.
While initially the faith element of the book seems infrequent and unintentional (and faith is deeply personal to Spencer), sovereignty and divine guidance slowly unfold as being totally intrinsic to his story. The book revolves around the idea that life can be compared to controlling a race bike. Freddie rode by ‘feel’ (God-given talent, intuition and sensory ability), not by using braking markers and pointers, and so similarly, the message is that we need to exhibit ‘feel’ in life for spiritual guidance.
For Freddie, ‘everything happens for a reason’ (not by chance or fate), and this makes sense of our own journeys through life. He is effectively suggesting that we’ll know which way to turn if we are attuned to the signs – the moments, things and people that happen across our path as we travel (feel). Spencer demonstrates in practical terms by example that divine guidance is available if we respond to these ‘coincidences’ and if we care about who is around us, and why. In addition to this, it is not too strong to say that Freddie embraces and exhibits a repentant turning from the times he has missed those spiritual signals – through being too absorbed in racing, business and ambition. By ‘feel’, rebirth is indeed possible. An inspiring read. Perhaps ‘feel’ equals faith – the certain knowledge of things unseen…
Alvin Davies,
CVM Motorsport

Dir: Danny Boyle
Reviewed by Matt Adcock (@Cleric20)

“You’re a tourist in your own youth …”

Choose life.  Choose Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and hope that someone, somewhere cares. Choose looking up old flames, wishing you’d done it all differently and choose watching history repeat itself … Choose being challenged and engaged by an incredible sequel to one of the coolest films of all time.
Here we are then, after 20 years Director Danny ‘Steve Jobs’ Boyle brings Irvine Welsh’s druggie scallywags back to the big screen in this powerful sequel based loosely on the novel Porno. Much has changed – Mark ‘Rent-boy’ Renton (Ewan McGregor) has escaped the drugs ironically living in Amsterdam – but nagging regrets about ripping off his friends sees him return to the only place he can ever really call home.
Waiting for him are his old ‘pals’ – lifetime loser Spud (Ewen Bremner), Simon / ‘Sick Boy’ (Jonny Lee Miller), and furious psycho Begbie (Robert Carlyle). Also there is Diane (Kelly Macdonald) Renton’s ‘one that got away’ and a host of sorrow, loss, joy, vengeance, hatred, friendship, love, longing, fear, regret, heroin, self-destruction, oh, and mortal danger …
New to the troubled goings on is Veronika (the excellent Anjela Nedyalkova), she’s Simon’s girlfriend / partner in a criminal activity but she immediately catches Renton’s eye which could put strain on their already fraught relationship. Cue violence, sex, swearing (so much swearing) and all sorts of negative behaviour that is liable to offend so approach with caution.
While T2 can’t hope to match the iconic freshness of the original, it certainly brings a fascinating take on a full on cinematic mid-life nostalgia. Perhaps it’s because I’m the same age as Renton but his seeking for meaning and redemption is one that I can see resonating with many who pause to take stock of their lives. Just what have you achieved? Who really loves you and who do you really care about? What is there left for you going forward?
Boyle does a great job of delivering both a reality check for sentimental fans of the original and a cool account of the further chaos that follows these characters around like restless malevolent shadows. The cinematography is excellent, there’s a pumping new soundtrack which includes the awesome ‘Silk’ by Wolf Alice and some great vibrant jumbled visuals that keep this very much in the vein of the first film.

Thinking Material

Life – what’s it all about eh? T2 really hits home with the self-analysis of its leading male characters which is refreshing as this isn’t something tackled enough by mainstream movies. When Spud decides to end it all – his farewell note to his long suffering wife is one of the most tragic things you’ll ever witness (it’s also on the excellent soundtrack set to sounds of Underworld – which is really worth a listen even if you’re not planning to see the film).
The nostalgic memories of childhood, teenage antics, student days and working life can be viewed through overly fond ‘rosy glasses’ and the disappointment of reality can be a crushing blow. Who doesn’t have a dream, a girl, a project, a friend or aspiration that never worked out and now seems beyond reach. The truth is you can’t always rekindle the energy, joy or excitement of youth but rather the key is surely to find satisfaction in where you are and who you are now. Having a faith is not a glib ‘cover all’ which will protect you from disappointment or regret but it can be a positive way of accepting life as it is and looking forward with renewed hope. It’s also a lot better than trying to find a coping mechanism in drugs which is one of the pitfalls highlighted by Trainspotting.
We’re all addicts of some sort, so be addicted – just be addicted to something better. Choose the ones you love. Choose your future. Choose life. Choose T2 Trainspotting.

Rating:
*****

4 out of 5 stars
Related Films: Trainspotting, Human Traffic, The Acid House