REVIEW: EMPIRE OF LIGHT

3.5/5

Blinded By The Light. 

113 Mins. Starring: Olivia Colman, Micheal Ward, Monica Dolan, Tom Brooke, Tanya Moodie, Crystal Clarke, Toby Jones & Colin Firth. Director: Sam Mendes. 

Under this empire of the sun, '1917' and Bond ('Skyfall' and 'Spectre') director Sam Mendes gives us a ticket stub love letter to cinema on the coast of a sleepy seaside town. 'Empire Of Light' illuminates England in the 1980s through the life and times of those who worked behind the screens. Classic cinematography from Mendes who mesmerized us with his one-shot at war gets you in the seats. The sober and stirring story keeps you on the edge throughout. Many of those iconic red pews to the congregation of the church that is cinema have been tipping up for the last time since corona. But with this subtle beauty, Sam gently fights back like only he can. The bright lights that spell out Hollywood like classic theatre red letters also reveal more above the auditorium and through the light that leads to the wonderful workspace that is the perfectionist projectionists room. Setting off fireworks at night like New Year that illuminated all this inspiration and the influence of the big city beyond the sea like a 'Banshee'. 

In this 'Empire' of touching testaments in troubled times, it's 'The Crown' of 'The Favorite' Oscar winner Olivia Colman that compels. Her star power even greater than the wattage that draws you to premieres of 'Chariots Of Fire' like the promise of Laurence Olivier and even Paul McCartney. Shades of 'The Lost Daughter' which she was also astonishingly Oscar overlooked for shadow the 'Light'. Searing in its substance that soars past the slick style scored by Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross. Forging a formidable filmography, Colman is classic in a chapter of her career that is running towards being the Great British equivalent to the great American film-book of Meryl Streep. She evokes every emotion with nuance and no hint of forced feeling. She's as true as the character's sleeve adorned heart that can't be hidden. You can only adore something and someone of this magnificent magnitude. 

May to December, it's the love she shares with her leading man co-star that really strikes a chord in top billing though. 2020 BAFTA Rising Star Award-winner Micheal Ward has the look of a young Tyrese Gibson when the actor/singer got on a bus and sang about how much he'd always love Coca-Cola. Yet Ward is his own man with his own plan. Get ready to tip your hat to the 'The Old Guard', 'Blue Story' and 'Top Boy' actor who holds his own alongside Olivia and makes you genuinely believe in the beauty of their connection. We can't tell who's the lucky one. Perhaps it's us as cinema goers. From the first time they enter into their new love in this old world you really feel it. For everything it's worth. Micheal and his healing power also helps you through the hurt, as you see the power of perseverance through raw racism and hollow hate from cowards hiding behind the skin of their heads or gang of mods. Not to mention old, entitled customers wanting to eat their fish and chips in a place that's not their business. Yesterday's news like the ignorant opinions of those who believe that because they're white, they're right. That couldn't be further from the truth. But Ward's wonderful role is the real deal. Signed and sealed. 

Lighting up more talent, 'Appropriate Adult' Monica Dolan has a small, but significant role. Whilst 'Sherlock', 'Bodyguard' and 'The Boat That Rocked' actor Tom Brooke feels like the one friend that always has your back in the stabbing pain world of broken hearts and bonds of trust. 'Motherland' Tanya Moodie sets the tone with the moving mothering that defines the "best" that we all say and know to be true when it comes to our own. But from Jane Austen's 'Sanditon', Crystal Clarke's old friend adds even more feeling to this epic empire of emotion. If only the legendary Colin Firth's character wasn't so filthy and abhorrent, but signs of a great actor and all that. Thank the Gods of cinema for 'Detectorist' Toby Jones as the projectionist though. Always a favourite. From 'High Windows' in poetry, to pigeons with broken wings that take flight, it's time to look into the light. Even if Empire missed its illumination at the Kodak Theatre of The Academy Awards (it did rightfully get a cinematography nomination nod mind you), it's time to take your time and get requainted with how we really watch film. Shedding tears at the projection shutters in front of you, it's all about being there. The reason we go to movies. To be moved. To feel something. To know that even when it fades to black it will open up again tomorrow like the seeds of every spring. With high hopes that we'll always have a seat. Week after week. TIM DAVID HARVEY. 

Further Filming: 'The Lost Daughter', 'Film Stars Don't Die In Liverpool', 'The Reader'.