Arts in Thurrock (or, Why We Need The Thameside Theatre)

Yesterday I had the pleasure of attending the awards ceremony for the third annual Thurrock Film Festival. There were 72 shortlisted films, from many different countries, with several nominations in each of the competition categories.

As I sat in the Thameside Theatre, with many of the nominated film makers and their families, I couldn't help but smile at the enthusiasm of everyone attending. It made me wish I had fulfilled the directing ambitions I had as a youngster, but there's no use crying over misplaced youth (I'm pretty happy just watching and writing about movies).

Then it made me think, if we didn't have a local theatre, what would become of some of the groups that use it regularly? It's served the film festival well for the last three years and is home to many amateur dramatic groups. With the Thameside's future in jeopardy, what will happen to this section of the arts in Thurrock?

There are other places within the area that serve the arts; the High House Production Park playing an important part in the creative industry. However the Thameside has the history as well as housing our local museum and the largest library in the borough.

I admit to being lazy in my support of the theatre, only attending film related events and the pantomime. However, having visited the place every day this weekend, it's a lovely venue with so much to offer the local people. Where else would you get a room full of grown ups dressed up as T-Birds and Pink Ladies, singing at the top of their voices with absolute strangers? Where else can I go to watch productions of musicals, dramas and Shakespearean tragedies for the fraction of West End prices? I now plan to show my support and frequent a lot more shows.

The Thurrock Film Festival has renewed my faith in fans of film, whether they be the creative brains or the willing recipients of the work. I pray the festival continues for another year but will our local theatre still around to play host?

Thurrock Film Festival 2014 - Winners

The Thurrock Film Festival 2014 ended this evening with its award ceremony. With 72 shortlisted films and several nominated in each category, this has been a successful third year for organisers Natalie and Ben Scarsbrook.

Here are this year's winners:

Best Animated Film - Villains (Dir: Alex Crowley)

Best Student Film - Glyn (Dir: Yann Gorriz)

Best Fiction - The Three of Us (Dir: James Fox)

Best Documentary - The Drive (Dir: Declan Robert George Cox)

Best Music Video - Duress (Dir: Connor Warren)

Under 18 Category - Harsh Blue (Dir: Toby Elwes)

Best International Film - The Future (Dir: Venetia Taylor)

Best Editing - Frederic Fournier (The Three of Us)

Best Performance - Sally Mortemore (A Cake for Mabel)

Best Direction - Jane McGee (A Cake for Mabel)

Audience Choice - The Last Day (Dir: Oli Game

Best in Festival - The Three of Us (Dir: James Fox)

Retro Review: Psycho

The opening night of the Thurrock Film Festival presented a screening of the Hitchcock classic, Psycho. I haven't seen this film for years so, for myself, this was a real treat.

Spoiler - Although it's one of Hollywood's most famous scenes, stop reading if you have never seen the film and go watch it immediately.

The film is a tale of two halves with that scene as the dividing wall. 

We begin the tale with Marion Crane (Janet Leigh) sprawled over her lover in a hotel room wearing next to nothing. All she wants is to be with her boyfriend, Sam, but he is in debt and doesn't want to drag her into his problems. We then follow Marion back to her job where her boss asks her to deposit $40,000 into the bank. It doesn't take a genius to figure out what happens next and the beautiful Miss Crane is soon driving out of town with the money in her bag. So far it's all very crime drama with a touch of noir.

She eventually ends up at the Bates Motel and we meet Norman (Anthony Perkins). He is handsome and polite, if not socially awkward. It is here that Marion meets her doom in that shower. The iconic scene is not overly gruesome but it's powerful and stays with you after the film has finished.

The second half of the film follows Marion's sister (Vera Miles) and Sam as they try to discover what happened to her. Here the horror elements come to the foreground.

Hitchcock was a master of his trade; Psycho truly showcases his eye for film. Some of the shots convey horror, paranoia and suspense, especially in the scene with the private detective (Martin Balsam) in the Bates' house. His use of shadow and close-ups create a film that conveys a sense of dread that modern directors should take note of.

I'm not a fan of horror but Hitchcock is always an exception. His work is visually wonderful and his stories are captivating. A classic that all film makers and film fans should watch.

TV Review - Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D (Season 2 - Episode 1)

Season 2 - Episode 1, Shadows

We kick start the new season by travelling back to pre S.H.I.E.L.D 1945. In one of the biggest geek out moments of TV history, we got to see Peggy Carter AND the Howling Commandos take down a Hydra operation led by Reed Diamond's high ranking officer.

Back in the present and what is left of S.H.I.E.L.D are still in The Playground, still in hiding but still trying to save the day. They are joined by 4 mercenaries led by Isabelle Hartley (Lucy Lawless).

This episode sees the team go after an 084 but not just any 084, the first 084. It's dangerous but exactly what it does is still a mystery.

All the Ward fans rejoice, the traitor is being held in the basement of The Playground complete with bad guy beard. The exchange between him and Skye was razor-sharp, hopefully there will be many more of these to come.

Coulson still has the best comedic moments (and the best speeches) but this season opener is much more action packed than the premiere of the first season; the show has hit the ground running and I hope they don't run out of steam.

The biggest story has to be Fitz's and how he has coped since almost drowning at the end of season one. I won't give anything away but Ian De Caestecker was definitely the best actor of the episode.

TV Review - Sons of Anarchy (Season 7 - Episode 3)

Season 7x3 - Playing with Monsters

Jax's plan, which was only revealed in the last episode, is now in full swing; his hate for Henry Lin knows no bounds. However, a meeting with August Marks at the top of the episode serves to put more hurdles in the way of the club's revenge, not that Jax cares. The vengeful president is now trying to buy the loyalty of the One-Niners gang in their bid to destroy the Triads and hide everything from August... can you say overly complicated?

Like a deadly spider, Jax is spinning a web of lies and deceit. It's hard to keep track of who he is being honest with and who will end the episode with a hole in their head courtesy of the Sons. Charlie Hunnam plays the part so well, it's hard to tell which way the scene will go.

The club finally meet the town's new sheriff. I still don't know what to make of Annabeth Gish in the role but I have a feeling that's Sutter's plan.

The meeting between Chibs and Juice was wrought with emotion. Both actors are superb without going overboard. No long speeches and no large gestures but everything is done with just a few looks. There is no going back for Juice whilst Chibs still has love for his brother despite what he said. It was heartrending when Chibs revealed his true feelings by admitting that Juice needed to leave town; there was no need for further words.

Jimmy Smits is, by far, still my favourite character and it's sad to see his further descent into the gang life. He is too nice to kill off so please Mr. Sutter, let him have a (semi) happy ending.

Facebook Page: Silverscreen Snob

https://www.facebook.com/silverscreensnob1980

This is the address of my Facebook page which I update daily with news and trailers. Latest news about the 'Deadpool' film and what is happening with action sequel 'London Has Fallen'.

Take and look and give it a like.

TV Review: Sons of Anarchy (Season 7 - Episode 2)

Season 7, Episode 2 - Toil and Till

SPOILERS for anyone not following the American broadcast of the show.

After last week's bloody opener we now get THE plan to destroy Lin. Thanks to Gemma, Jax is convinced that the Chinese were behind Tara's murder and he is determined to exact revenge. The club, and the viewer, gets the full lowdown on what Mr Teller plans to do; it's thorough and brutal. The rest of the episode is pretty much a cacophony of gunfire. The end is a glimpse into even bigger problems for Jax and co; is internal conflict about to derail the club's plans?

Meanwhile, Juice is given money, a burner phone and a place to hide but unexplicably still remains in Charming. Theo Rossi is really coming into his own even if it is inevitable that he won't last the season (however, I thought Torric would be in it for the long run and remember how he went out).

It's not all doom and gloom; we are given two quality double acts. First, Rat Boy proves he is almost as vulgar as Tig as the two spend time on stakeout duty. We also get to watch the dynamic between Wendy and Nero. There's a definite spark but I imagine it will lead only to respect and nothing further; Wendy dare not risk Gemma's wrath.

We are finally introduced to the town's new sheriff played by Annabeth Gish. Her role in the final season is still yet to be determined but as she herself points out, look what happened to the last person who had her job.

This season is bound to be shrouded in violence and chaos, I believe things are going to get much, much worse.

New Radio Show: Mid-Week Film Review

I have been volunteering at Basildon Hospital Radio for 2 months now and I have just been given my own show.

The Mid-Week Film Review will be an hour and a half of reviews, recommendations, trivia and lots of music from films.

My first show is tomorrow (Wednesday, 17th September), 8.30pm - 10pm. You can listen online by visiting www.bhr1287.net or by using the TuneIn app.

TV Review: Sons of Anarchy (Season 7 - Episode 1)

Season 7, Episode 1 - Black Widower

SPOILER ALERT for anyone who has not watched all of season 6.

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 Sons of Anarchy is back for its seventh and final season and Kurt Sutter delivers another stunning, if not ultra bloody, opener.

The episode begins with a recap of the previous season including that murder scene. Then we move onto a brutal prison beat down to really welcome us back.

The usual players are all back and dealing with the aftermath of Tara's death. Without giving too much away, cracks are already beginning to show but it'll be a while before anything comes to light... that would be too easy. Instead we get two serious monologues; one from a broken Jax to his club and the other from Gemma seemingly trying to convince Juice, and probably herself, that she is the only one holding her son together... yes, she does appear to be justifying that fork to the head.

Revenge is the theme for this episode. Not only is Jax seeking his wife's murderer but there is also a sub plot involving the Grim Bastards and some randy pastors (you just know that isn't going away any time soon).

We catch a glimpse of Marilyn Manson's white supremacist leader but his cameo is short and understated. We'll have to wait and see just how deep his role goes.

The episode ends as it begins, with blood drenched violence but I won't say any more... you have to see it to believe it.

This season promises so much; it's hard to see how anyone deserves to make it out alive. I know I will certainly be on the edge of my seat each week wondering just who will survive each episode.

Also it was nice to see  Niko Nicotera (Rat Boy) and David Labrava (Happy) finally make it to the opening credit sequence.

Review: Pride

When you think of the miners' strike of the 1980s your first thoughts are probably not of Gay Pride, flamboyant disco and pink dildos. However these are just some of the elements you will find in Matthew Warchus' new British film, Pride.

It's the little known true story of a group of gay and lesbian activists that decide to support the miners and their families by raising funds for their cause. Their generosity is not fully embraced by the unions but a random phone call soon sets in motion a series of events that changed attitudes and lives.

The cast is a veritable who's who of British actors, with every role performed to perfection.
Dominic West, most recognisable from his role in American detective drama, The Wire, is a hoot as former actor Jonathan whose 80s perm and snake hips manage to win over a social club full of repressed women and overly macho miners.
However it's the lesser known members of the cast that are the true heart of the film. George MacKay plays Joe (one of the film's fictional characters), a young man thrust into the unknown as he explores his sexuality and finds out who he really is.

Then there is Ben Schnetzer as activist leader Mark, a strong willed young man who stands up for what he believes and everyone, including the audience, loves him for it.

The film doesn't pull any punches. Bigotry, family feuds and the AIDS epidemic are all dealt with. Tony Award winning director Warchus and writer Stephen Beresford have given us a film that is funny and emotional, yet never tips over the edge into being overly sentimental. The script is full of witty banter and hilarious one liners.

This is one of the best British films produced in recent years. It reminds us of the harsh times we have faced but it also delights. The final piece of the movie is truly uplifting and will guarantee a smile on even the most miserable of faces.