Film Review: I, Daniel Blake

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I, Daniel Blake

Directed by Ken Loach

This is an unusual film in that it is filmed in Newcastle but it doesn’t go for the classic bridges background. Nor does it go for the “it’s grim up north” stereotype. It centres its narrative on a dysfunctional welfare system that isn’t fit for purpose.

A great cast shows pride in the face of adversity, and bureaucrats following orders. Dave Johns is the carpenter who has paid into the system his entire working life and, after a heart attack and under doctors orders, he expects some support. His incredulity at being rejected and assessed as being fit for work by a faceless “health care professional” who ignores the advice of his doctors is well placed.

He meets up with Katie (Hayley Squires) who has been forced to relocate to the area in order to access somewhere to live with her young family. She is sanctioned as she did not know the way to the job centre and Daniel offers to help her.

Sharon Percy

Photo: Carliol Photography

Gavin Webster plays a former workmate who still looks out for Daniel and Sharon Percy is the job centre employee, Shiela, who doesn’t appreciate that not everyone has access to the internet.

Digital by default they are told. No, Daniel is human by default. This is an impressive film. Each generation has a film that causes it to wake up and realise there is a need for change. Thought provoking. Highly recommended.

This review was written by Stephen Oliver for Carliol Photography (https://twitter.com/CarliolPhoto). Follow Jo on twitter @jowheretogo, Stephen @panic_c_button or like Carliol Photography on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/carliolphotography.

FIlm Review: Big Hero 6

Big Hero 6

Film on general release

In a week in which most cinemas are full of 50 Shades, it was great to see our local community cinema in Hexham showing a family film.

Disney have produced a half term treat that is poles apart from the princess-fesr that was Frozen. In fact this song has no big soundtrack hits – so there will be no sing-a-long-a-big hero 6. No, this is a film that shows it is canny to be into science and technology – the geeks will inherit the Earth, as it were.

Hiro is our young hero, and he loves his tech. After building robots to battle with, he wants to follow in his older brother’s footsteps and develop robots and other technology. He comes up with microbots as a showpiece in order to win a place at the school’s robotics program. Hiro is successful in getting the place but disaster strikes as a fire breaks out, killing his brother. He is left with his brother’s project – an inflatable nursing robot called Baymax, and a group of his brother’s friendly former colleagues. Hiro needs to get the bottom of why there was a fire and so the adventures unfold.

The bright animation is excellent and the detail of the background often separates this from some recent lesser films. The back alleys felt grimy and the city high rised. The pace of the story bounced along at fair old lick which helped maintain the attention of the younger members of the audience. The film is charming without being patronising, colourful without being sickly. There is also a short at the start of the film about man’s best friend which is well worth arriving on time for and a great little sequence after the titles finish.

A cracking family film for half term.

This review was written by Stephen Oliver for Jowheretogo PR (www.jowheretogo.com). Follow Jo on twitter @jowheretogo, Stephen @panic_c_button or like Jowheretogo on Facebook www.facebook.com/Jowheretogo

News: South Shields Customs House Young Film Makers Initiative

Budding Spielbergs Aim for Top Award

Young film-makers are in with the chance of becoming award-winning directors thanks to a South Shields Customs House initiative.

Custom Reels is a new project hoping to encourage teenagers to explore different aspects of cinema. The work produced by the group’s first ‘film in a day’ event has been entered into the Port of Tyne’s Reflect Competition – one of the country’s biggest photographic and film contests.

Custom Reels intern Alex Whelan said: “We had a great turn-out for the Film in a Day event. We had 10 young people come along but it wasn’t just the numbers, it was the shear enthusiasm that they had.  The young people put their all into their films and the final product showed just that. I hope the judges can see all the hard work and the fantastic results which were created in just a day. We worked closely with the Port of Tyneon this project and those involved on the day were given the opportunity to develop their filmmaking skills, shoot a short movie and have it screened in The Customs House Cinema.”

The Port of Tyne’s annual competition was launched in 2007 to encourage people from the region to showcase their creativity through film and photography.  There’s still time for you to enter the Reflect Awards, visit reflect.portoftyne.co.uk for more details.

Susan Wear, Director of Corporate Affairs at the Port of Tyne, said: “We are delighted that The Customs House has used its Custom Reels workshop to encourage young people to enter Reflect. We used the day to help them think about what the North East means to them and develop their film-making skills. We look forward to seeing their final entries and urge other young people to enter before the deadline on September 19.”

Custom Reels is a long-term initiative which is supported by Film Hub North, led by Showroom Workstation and is proud to be part of the BFI Film Audience Network. It gives young people the opportunity to take a look at how cinema is programmed, make their own films and enjoy free cinema trips.

Free screening run for eight weeks every Tuesday from October 21 until December 9 for 13 to9 19 year-olds. Custom Reels will officially launch on Thursday, October 2 and those interested in taking part can go along to hear more about the project.

To get involved with the Custom Reels project or to find out more contact Alex on 0191 427 8193, Daniel Clifford on 427 8198 or email film@customshouse.co.uk.