Film Shapes

This is such a fine film and going in blind might just be the best way to see it. It's not that it's a twisty, spoilery mystery, just that sometimes knowing nowt about a film is the best way to appreciate it. Zero expectations and all. So if you want the same groundwork that I had, read no more. . . . . Ok. If you're still reading, let's kick off. This is Andrea Arnold's sixth feature and I really have to see more of her work. It's set in the Kent town of Gravesend, and boy, is that a suitable name for this place. Not far from London, on the river Thames, seems like it's wall to wall chavs out there.  Bailey (Nykiya Adams) lives with her dad, Bug (Barry Keoghan), and half-brother, Hunter (Jason Buda) in a graffiti covered squat. Pissed off that Bug wants to get married to newish girlfriend, Kayleigh (Frankie Box), Bailey rebels and follows her brother and his mates on a small-time vigilante mission. Things get messy, she does a runner and ends up sleeping in...

Full disclosure - I know bugger all about the game on which this film is based, except that it's loved by nerds all over the world. Well, nerds rejoice, because this is the start of a franchise that will likely peak around film number three and peter out slowly until the money dries up. But let's not think about the future, this first one is a great lark. Plot contrivances aside, it's a breezy little number that didn't outstay it welcome (it's just over 2 hours) and it doesn't try to be anything more than a jokey, charming action fantasy. There are numerous rip-offs or homages - Lord of the Rings , The Princess Bride , even Serenity , at a pinch, and it's all held together by Chris Pine's endearingly failure-laden chancer, Edgin. The opening hammers through the backstory, introduces the main characters and antagonists, and positions the heroes' journey, all in a functional, albeit slightly muddled manner (I didn't quite catch the reasoning for th...