Thursday, September 24, 2009

"Son of Rambow" (2007) - Movie Review


“First Blood” is a mark in the era of the childhood of mine morphed by the action violence hiding the realistic horror of Sylvester Stallone’s disturbed and lethal character. It produced a super hero out of that individual and the franchise which took off eliminated the psychological trouble the man went through and absorbed the mindless action like a sponge. As a kid, like Will Proudfoot (Bill Milner) the action fantasized the notion of doing extraordinary and powerful. The mind did not consume or tried to digest the bloodshed in it, no kid does. But more than “First Blood” it was Jackie Chan’s “Revenge” which made quite an impression. Anyway “Son of Rambow” took me to the flag I marked in the lanes of memories.

Directed by Garth Jennings, it is innovative on uniting two kids, the aforementioned Will and the troublesome Lee Carter (Will Poulter) to do something I drooled for in the childhood days. They film the sequel to the Stallone’s career maker only not the “Rambo II” but a love to the material and the joy they seem to achieve out of this deadly stunts. Will belongs to a family been in the religious sect of Plymouth Brethren of whom I was not aware of (thankfully). Her widow mother Mary (Jessica Hynes) follows with the reason of belonging and to get a support for the role of man of the family Joshua (Neil Dudgeon) in this sect resembling the Amish practices. Will is asked to step outside in a class not as punishment but his religion does not permit to be affected by these creative culprits as they would say.

On one such occasion he meets the dangerous, mischievous and outrageous Lee Carter. Lee Carter is a kid attracting trouble and gnashing in the exuberance of being the causer. And with the naivety of Will, there is no trouble for Lee to make this poor little boy as his chores boy. Lee bootlegs (which is how we are introduced as he shoots “First Blood”), shoplifts, bullies and anything which results in chaos. But he is a softie when he sees his elder brother Lawrence (Ed Westwick). Lawrence and Lee live in a big house behind an elderly run by their absent parents. Will sees the film Stallone’s film when Lee is making copies of it and is pumped. He runs across the field and gets attacked by a scarecrow. With a natural talent for art and drawing, Will soon formulates the story which brings Lee closer. Thus forms a movie making experience like no other but, yes, but it falters with a lose grip.

And what a curious little actor we find in the young Will Poulter. He is rambunctious and melts without a drop of cheesy or corny expression. While his talented counterpart Bill Milner as Will flutter with the cuteness and the loyalty and kind hearted nature towards the lovable ruffian, Poulter comes with a maturity in the acting even the seasoned veterans tend to forget and lose balance. He is some one to watch out for and hope the age adds to a promising potential talent.

So I said that the story stumbles as it ends and I say so because the established care for this friendship does not last long enough to have fun with their little ventures. The knowing and bonding lies there waiting for the third act to finish it rightfully, the disciplined screenplay becomes a predictable foiled plan. It will be untrue of me to say that the whole film is something new but it worked with the formula in its own inventive talents. And the French exchange student (or stud) Didier Ravol (Jules Sitruk) does add the popular foreign kid every one wants to be friends with in a nice angle but becomes a regular display of jealousy, envy, fight and a known end. Given that “Son of Rambow” plays the short film in the big screen with the pure entertainment they had fun during the making. Just a little more extra mile Garth Jennings, but I thank you for the nostalgia.

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

Waiting for your UPO review:-)

Anonymous said...

The previous comment was mine.

-Vani