REVIEW: BLITZ

4/5

London's Burning 

120 Mins. Starring: Saoirse Ronan, Elliott Heffernan, Harris Dickinson, Benjamin Clementine, Kathy Burke, Paul Weller & Stephen Graham. Screenwriter: Steve McQueen. Director: Steve McQueen. On: Apple TV+.

Thank you, Mandy. My dear friend, for telling me. Apple TV+ was available for free on the first weekend of the New Year, as a late Christmas treat. There, I think subscribing to streaming services like Netflix and Disney + is enough (and don't get me started on my Amazon Prime service deal), I could finally watch Brad Pitt and George Clooney on fine form together in last year's 'Wolfs'. Not to mention, Denzel Washington's Academy Award nominated turn (if you thought he was 'Training Day' so good at being bad in 'Gladiator II'...wait until you see THIS!) in Joel Cohen's COVID crucified adaptation of Shakespeare's 'The Tragedy Of Macbeth', alongside multiple best Oscar winner, Frances McDormand as the scheming and plotting Lady Macbeth. And you could have (and probably did) too. Binging successful shows, like you did pigs and blankets at Christmas, like 'Ted Lasso' and 'Severance', before it all went down like decorations on twelfth night.

One not to miss was also 'Blitz'. The '12 Years A Slave' director Steve McQueen's ('Hunger', 'Shame', both with Michael Fassbender) historial war drama starring one of the best thespians of today, Irish actress Saoirse Ronan ('Little Women', 'Lady Bird' (both with Greta Gerwig), and 'Brooklyn'). Making its world premiere as the opening film of the BFI London Film Festival back in October, before making its cinematic debut in the United Kingdom and United States on the 1st of November. A couple of weeks of theatrical running, and this drama about escaping the blitz of World War II, made its permanent home on Apple TV, but that doesn't mean you shouldn't sign up and take a bite out of it. Believe 'Blitz' is one of the better films of last year, that deserves at least some nomination love from the Oscars for Academy favourites McQueen (his first feature film since 'Widows' in 2018, see 'Grenfell' in 2023 with this) and Ronan, even if it didn't have a table at the Golden Globes like 'Joker: Folie à Deux'. Sobering and moving to a haunting and scorching score by the one and only maestro, Hans Zimmer.

Written and produced by the man who shares his name with the guy who rode the motorcycle out of 'The Great Escape', this film is about a mother who tries to keep her son safe from the Nazi bombing of London. An opening scene where a fire house whips around frantically like a snake, showering everything and everyone, but the flames that can't be contained, shows how much we were ill-equipped to deal with the blitz. A raging and towering inferno which will make you see what people are going through in California right now with wildfires destroying many people's and Hollywood homes too. It affects everybody, and Saorise's character searches for a way that could take her young son away from all this madness. Whether running and hiding in London's Underground station tube lines, or putting him on a train she can't catch, as she chases after his carriage like the tears running down her cheeks. Ronan's raw and revelatory performance is one of subtle grace notes, like the daisies that form a chain down her dress on the beautiful 'Blitz' billboard poster, that punch you in the gut with an aftertaste that hits you like the kick of drinking ginger.

Introducing Elliott Heffernan, a star for the future in his first role, as Saorise's son on-screen. A profound performance of not only the wonder of youthful innocence, but a coming of age and stage maturity that makes this new kid on the block seem like someone you've seen before. What a first film, for the young British actor who has decades to make his name, like the actress that came out of the gates with the likes of 'The Lovely Bones' and 'Hanna'. Also on hand, no pun intended, if you've seen Nicole Kidman in 'Baby Girl' is 'The King's Man' and 'The Iron Claw' standout Harris Dickinson, who may just be the next John Lennon in the forthcoming biopic of The Beatles. Not to mention an almost unrecognizable, but absolutely fabulous Kathy Burke ('Kevin & Perry Go Large', 'Gimme Gimme Gimme', 'Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy') in a den of vagrant, corpse robbing thieves led by the chameleonic character acting of the great Stephen Graham. Yet it's the moving, scene staling turn from composer and musician Benjamin Clementine ('Dune') that really provides comfort. Just like legendary rocker Paul Weller giving it some welly as a great grandad in his debut. Don't blitz your way through this one. This slow burner through the Big Smoke is a real history lesson to learn and take from. TIM DAVID HARVEY.

Further Filming: 'The Brutalist', 'Little Women', '12 Years A Slave'.