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Reviews
The Party's Just Beginning (2018)
An assured debut from Karen Gillan
I'm not going to spoil anything here, but I will say that Karen Gillan's "The Party's Just Beginning" isn't a perfect film. There's a lot of stuff going on and not all of it gets a resolution. But it's still very well acted (Gillan's best performance yet), well written, and beautifully directed. It's a very confident debut and Gillan's voice really shines through.
I've seen reviews angry at the film, saying that it "exploits" people who identify as transgender or that she "exploits" suicide, which I think is just ridiculous. I really believe that all of that is just down to the fact that Gillan tried to include a lot of different topics and themes in this film. Some are included unsuccessfully, and the film can feel a bit overstuffed, but in my opinion, most of the themes have a good pay off.
Without spoiling anything, I can say that The Party's Just Beginning is an incredibly assured debut. It's got a strong cast, a socially relevant, poignant, and funny script, and even when it doesn't land every punch, The Party's Just Beginning is still an admirable, emotional, and immensely enjoyable directorial debut that marks Karen Gillan as an actor and a director to watch. 9 out of 10.
Journeyman (2017)
Beautiful
I don't have much to criticize when talking about Journeyman. Actually, aside from the fact that Jodie Whittaker wasn't in it enough, I don't have anything to criticize at all. Journeyman offers a new perspective on boxing movies- one that focuses on life outside of the ring and the importance of the sport- and on the loss of self, portrayed by Considine in what is one of the best performances I have ever seen
I'm surprised that Paddy Considine wasn't nominated for anything more than a BIFA for Best Actor. His performance is meticulous, engrossing, and heart-wrenching, easily among the best performances that I have *ever* seen by an actor. The role of Matty is one that any other actor would overplay, but Considine's measured portrayal proves just how great of an actor he is without ever feeling vain. He fully embodies the character in every way imaginable, leading to one of the most captivating and honest performances I have ever seen.
The supporting performances are also uniformly strong, but it's Paddy Considine's show and he's transcendent. I do wish that Jodie Whittaker had more to do- but she leaves a big impact in the little she has. And Considine's acting during that phone call scene...
Overall, Journeyman is a very strong film because of it's powerful performances and good direction. It's heart-wrenching and well thought out, and it's a film that's worth a watch just to see how good Considine's performance is.