Cast: Dave Johns, Hayley Squires
Writer: Paul Laverty
Director: Ken Loach
100 mins
The wonderful Ken Loach was coaxed out of self-imposed retirement to return to helming duties for what he claims will be his final outing with I, Daniel Blake. This immensely moving film is set in modern-day Newcastle where the local dialect brims over with warmth, as the well-intentioned protagonist Blake (perfectly portrayed by real-life standup comic Dave Johns) utters ‘nee bother’ when faced with any lightweight domestic task. Dan is a 59-year-old widower who, after a heart attack, is strongly advised by his doctors not to continue working full time (he is a carpenter to trade) until they feel he is fit enough. This in turn leads him into a protracted and horrendous web of appalling bureaucracy put in place to destroy the morale of the working class by the UK Conservative government – despite shallow claims that they are actually helping the needy. This is human incompassionate obscenity of the most enraging kind. However, government welfare is the last thing that the proud, independent, self-reliant Daniel wants, but as he in possession of no other source of income, he swallows his pride and applies for an appropriate benefit payment. Despite his decency and integrity he faces the brutality of a clinical “assessment,” as the welfare officers force him to seek Jobseekers allowance instead with all its attendant physical and time-consuming requirements.
Despite at times resembling a black comedy-farce these circumstances push Daniel towards an horrifically tedious process, demanding he wades through the endlessly frustrating trauma of unavailable call-centres which subject callers to 'on-hold' mind-numbingly relentless muzak torture for hours on end. Thereafter comes the interminable wait for a letter or phone call to be delivered/received in a specific order before he may proceed with his application. Single mum Katie (Hayley Squires) shows up a mere five minutes late for her benefits appointment, having recently relocated from London with her two young children. After a volatile discussion with the utterly vile and uncaring staff, Daniel comes to her aid, with the result that both are asked to leave by insidious jobsworths - and an unlikely friendship is formed.
Johns and Squires’ onscreen chemistry is nothing short of outstanding. They both play hardened individuals, whilst successfully managing to demonstrate many levels of nuanced vulnerability. One particularly distressing scene which completely floored me, creeps up out of nowhere when a starving Katie breaks down at a local foodbank, as, in the despair of hunger, she opens and downs half the contents of a tin of baked beans in front of her children. Humiliated, lost and ashamed, Daniel comes to help and talk to her. This is a rare moment in cinema that is so pure in its essence that it will assuredly bring tears to your eyes, as it did to mine. In the final section of the film we are shown the full effect of abandonment inflicted upon the financially burdened in our society by this hideously uncaring government, as Daniel, who until now has maintained his self-respect and patience in following the absurd guidelines, finally snaps and engages in an aggressive protest, spurred on with roaring approval by passers-by. Katie, in order to put shoes on her kids feet, sacrifices her dignity by resorting to escort work. It is here where Loach emits the greatest sympathy, not just for Katie but for everyone who has been turned upon by the heartless Tory government.
I, Daniel Blake is beautifully written, performed, shot and directed by a marvellous team, led by the peerless Ken Loach, and manages to be a touchingly funny film about contemporary issues without coming across as political propaganda. If indeed it is to become Ken’s final work then we should stand and salute this fine, fine man of contemporary cinema – and offer him our heartfelt thanks for a life and career of great worth.
Cast: Eva Green, Asa
Butterfield,
Chris O’Dowd, Ella Purnell,
Terence Stamp, Samuel L. Jackson
Director: Tim Burton
126 mins
Director Tim Burton is back with "Miss Peregrine’s Home For Peculiar Children", adapted from Ransom Riggs’ ‘young adults’ book, featuring a winning screenplay from the prodigious Jane Goldman. They introduce us to a world where a select few youngsters live in a time loop set over one particular day in 1943, where they’re looked after by the aforesaid Miss P. They are part of a rare breed named 'Peculiars' who between them can freeze things, set alight whatever they choose, transform themselves into birds and bend time. A young man (Asa Butterfield) plays a youngster who discovers this strange world of odd children, all of whom have their own respective and extraordinarily special abilities. The group is supervised by Miss Peregrine (Eva Green) – who also attempts to keep at bay the dastardly Minions of an evil scientist, played with gusto by shark-toothed, white fright-wigged Samuel L. Jackson.
Butterfield plays a modern-ish teenager whose grandpa, superbly played by Terence Stamp, was a Peculiar and who split to hook up with the Nazis in WW2, never returning. Having grown up idolising the old man and largely ignored by his recalcitrant father (Chris O’Dowd – seriously miscast here) he is horrified to find his grandpa has been murdered. So the lad sets off for Wales, as you do, where he finds the loop only to discover that he possesses a rare gift where he is one of the very few who can actually see the monsters that hunt the children. He also takes a fancy to Emma (Ella Purnell), who’s so lightweight that she has to wear clunky lead boots to prevent her from floating away.
Butterfield is quite an appealing hero, but the film is the sole property of Green, who camps it up to huge effect as Miss Peregrine and for this Burton showcases her wonderfully. The film is slightly below-par Burton, but no one could argue about how proficiently it’s been put together with loads of imagination and delights throughout.
