June 13th
Tolkien
Wild Rose

Two worthy offerings this week. For those who've wondered where Tolkien came up with some of his amazing writing ideas, the new film may have some answers. For fans of a meaty Glaswegian story of a mother, a daughter, her kids, and her love of country music, Wild Rose will satisfy.  

Tolkien
Director: Dome Karukosi
Length: 112 min

© 20th Century Fox - a lovely period piece with
insight into the mind and traumas of a genius

The director asks, "How do you express the mind of a genius visually?" The answer is with a film like this, which tries to fathom the mind of a genius writer who gave readers The Hobbit and Lord of the Rings. We meet JRR Tolkien (Nicholas Hoult) as a young and already imaginative child. When his beloved mother dies, he is sent to boarding school where he meets a group of supportive and like-minded fellow students. Later, during his university years, war breaks out and Tolkien enrols in the army. During horrific and traumatic trench warfare at the Somme he hallucinates and envisages many of the concepts that he later weaves into his brilliant novels. Meantime he pursues the love of  his life, Edith Bratt (Lily Collins), but must make serious choices when he is forbidden by his stern guardian to see her. There's an old-fashioned sensibility to this film, but not in a bad way - just good solid story-telling that is insightful, moving and entertaining. The feel of the "frightfully British" boys club is reminiscent of Dead Poet's Society, while the war scenes are visceral and disturbing. The love affair is beautifully portrayed with strong chemistry between Collins and Hault. A cameo appearance by Derek Jacobi as a linguistics professor who recognises the young Tolkien's genius in constructing new languages is a welcome surprise. Again, many critics are unkind, but I really enjoyed it.
3.5 - well recommended!

Wild Rose
Director: Tom Harper
Length: 101 min

© Universal - an unlikely friendship for a working

class gal with big aspirations

Rose-Lynn (Jessie Buckley) is a young mother of two. Upon her release from a year in prison she reconnects with her two kids who have been cared for by her mother Marion (Julie Walters). Highly talented, Rose has previously worked successfully as a country singer in a Glasgow venue, but now takes work as a cleaner at the home of wealthy Susannah (an excellent Sophie Okonedo). But her deepest ambition is to go to Nashville and try her fortunes, but at every turn she is beset by the fraught decision of how to balance her life's aspiration with her duties as a mother. This is stirring stuff, feeling a bit like a Ken Loach working class, social commentary crossed with a Hollywood genre like A Star is Born. The plot is meaty and chock full of important themes from personal ambitions, to mother daughter relationships, general parenting and risk-taking in life. Buckley is a major talent who simply soars off the screen with a brilliant voice, and mesmerising screen presence. If you didn't like country music before, this film could convert you.
4 - highly recommended!