2011
15
Starring Noah Taylor, Craig Roberts and Yasmin Paige
Directed by Richard Ayoade
Oliver Tate is a 15-year-old boy who makes his fiery
classmate Jordana his conquest. While he
struggles with the trials and tribulations of his first real relationship he
also has to contend with the fact his parents marriage is on the brink after
the emergence of one of his Mum’s old flames moving in next door.
Now this film was shopped as a comedy, and while there are
some, no doubt, humorous moments, Submarine seems to be more of a warm drama
first and foremost. The casting is magic as Roberts and Paige are literally
polar opposites while still managing to be a plausible couple. His sweet and
timid advances are, more often than not, rebuked by his extroverted counterpart.
And while Oliver seems to be the more sensitive one at first, we soon find out
that maybe Jordana isn’t so brash after all.
But what really excells in this movie is the directorial
flair of Ayoade. For a debut, this is wholly promising stuff. Set in Wales,
Ayoade manages to make bleak beaches and Oliver’s ‘favourite industrial estate’
look utterly picturesque. The grainy montages encapsulate the whimsical nature
of youth and the moments of arson that are captured are really unique and
distinctive. Ayoade is creative with his shots too, there’s some artful
breaking of the fourth wall which is all too often hammed up in movies. As well
as this, his real love of the craft is illustrated through some of Oliver’s
gags about zooms and crane shots in a biopic of his life and cliché moments in
romantic comedies. It's inconically stylised, without being heavy handed, from the trademark duffle coats to the opening and closing credits, it's all indie and lovely.
And on a side note, Alex Turner’s original soundtrack is
marvellous. Submarine is heart warming and nostalgic because the film is not
too removed from youth and is from a novel perspective of future leading man
material.
Rating: 6
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