10s Movie Review - God's Own Country

Director: Francis Lee
Genre: Drama/ Romance
Runtime: 104 minutes
Year: 2017
Starring: Josh O’Connor, Alex Secareanu, Gemma Jones, Ian Hart

Description: Spring. Yorkshire. Young farmer Johnny Saxby (Josh O’Connor) numbs his daily frustrations with binge drinking and casual sex, until the arrival of a Romanian migrant (Alex Secareanu) for lambing season ignites an intense relationship that sets Johnny on a new path.

I WATCHED THIS MOVIE FOR MY 2023 MOVIE CHALLENGE.
WEEK 1: A MOVIE WITH LGBTQ+ REPRESENTATION
 
Review: With his dad had a stroke, the care of the unprofitable family farm falls entirely on the shoulders of John. To escape daily reality, John flees to excessive drinking and anonymous sex. When a seasonal worker from Romania arrives to help out with the lambing of the sheep, he initially lashes out at the stranger. But Gheorge and John develop a beautiful relationship, making John feel new things.

The comparison to Ang Lee’s “Brokeback Mountain” comes to mind; a secretly blossoming male love in a world that is homophobic and averse to displaying any feeling whatsoever. “God’s Own Country” us not as tragic, but definitely just as good. It’s a powerful, sendory film with wonderful acting. A film that enchants.

Rating: 4, 5/ 5

Movie Reviews - Rocketman

Director: Dexter Fletcher
Genre: Drama/ Music
Runtime: 121 minutes
Year: 2019
Starring: Taron Edgerton, Jamie Bell, Richard Madden, Bryce Dallas Howard, Gemma Jones, Tate Donovan, Stephen Graham

Description: A musical fantasy about the fantastical human story of Elton John’s (Taron Edgerton) breakthrough years.

Review: In almost every article about this Elton John biopic “Rocketman”, it’s being comaired to “Bohemian Rhapsody”, which came out in 2018. This isn’t strange, since both films focus on a British singer of the same generation that are outstanding musicians, struggle with alcohol, drugs and homosexuality, who take on a stage name and have a flamboyant trademark. Both movies are named after their biggest hit. And Bryan Singer directed “Bohemian Rhapsody”, but initially was meant to be directed by Dexter Fletcher, now director of “Rocketman”.
Both movies are very different when it comes to style. “Bohemian Rhapsody” was a more conventional biopic, but “Rocketman” is a musical. Where Elton John tells his life story through song. It’s a logical choice, but not for a biopic about the titular musician. But it works really well. All songs were re-recorded for this film and everything was sung by leading man Taron Edgerton himself. Especially the first hour of the film is very strong, when eventually the story will follow a more conventional path as well. We see Elton in a toxic relationship with John Reid and he eventually can’t resist the alcohol, drugs and other men. His career isn’t only in danger, but also strong bonds he has with certain people. It’s the cliché part of a musical biopic.
Taron Edgerton is a good choice for Elton John. The young actor proofs that he is a capable singer and he can carry a movie. He doesn’t always sound like Elton John, but that’s not an issue. He did his own singing, which makes it more authentic and his acting is tremendous.
I was surprised by some heavy themes in the story. I didn’t know Elton John’s story at all and I was quite shocked about his past and everything he had to deal with in his life.

Rating: 3,5/ 5