In 2016, I saw three films at the cinema. Somehow, I’ve seen the same number in the past week – all of which have been great, albeit very different. Here is a quick round up, in the order I saw them…
Dunkirk
Probably the one that’s going to get the most accolades, but maybe my least favourite of these three – even though I still really liked it. I wasn’t sure I would. War films bore me, and Christopher Nolan is a very bombastic director – but somehow I was swept away. On paper, it shouldn’t work for the discerning cinema-goer: there’s no character development, no plot, and basically the whole thing is “people escape Dunkirk”. Which obviously is what happened, but there’s nothing more in the way of development. But it’s somehow great nonetheless. Harry Styles is much better than we had any right to expect, and it’s got the most shameless use of Elgar ever.
Kedi
Guys, this film is about CATS. It’s a documentary in Turkish (yes, I watched subtitles) about the stray cats in Istanbul. I went because I love cats so much, but it’s also a gentle, interesting story about the people who feed the stray cats – looking at those who find it restorative, or grudgingly enjoyable, or simply something that just seemed to happen to them. It’s also, in the background, about the changing landscape and lifestyle of Istanbul, as markets are torn down for tower blocks. But mostly it’s cats being their beautiful, characterful selves; I saw it in an independent cinema full of Cat People, and we awwwed and ahhhed together.
The Big Sick
A truly awful title – particularly for British audiences – but a really excellent film; my favourite of the three. It stars Kumail Nanjiani in a loosely altered version of himself (called, yes, Kumail) – he wrote it with his wife Emily Gordon, and it’s about their relationship. Kumail (both character and actor) is a Pakistani stand-up comedian, born in Pakistan and now living in America. He falls in love with Emily, a white American, while his parents continue to try to find a suitable Pakistani Muslim girl to be his arranged bride. Everything changes when Emily gets sick, and Kumail must convince her parents that he should stay in the picture. The film is very funny, very moving, and entirely successful at combining the two. Romcoms have a bad name now, and hardly any seem to be released anymore, but this is one not to miss.
I was put off Dunkirk by the picture used to promote the film via a magazine article. All the soldiers were clean as were their uniforms . totally unrealistic
The Big Sick is a terrible title for American audiences as well…what were they thinking? I have seen the trailers on youtube and it does look cute.
I don’t think I’ll see Dunkirk but I have seen the other two. They are wonderful films. The thing that was so amazing about The Big Sick is how unexpected it was to get so many deep truths- and from a RomCom! I cried at the end…
A reviewer said on the (Aus.) ABC radio the Big Sick is best rom com for several years. We saw Kedi. Of course owning three housecats we laughed at some of them. I remember when we were in Istanbul and ate outside a lot;we would end up giving half our meals to cats near our table when the waiters turned their backs.
The Big Sick is the most off-putting title, I agree; I thought it was far too long and I was getting kind of bored by the end. Possibly I am getting too old for rom-com! I love war films so Dunkirk ticked all the right boxes for me, though I don’t think that it’s ultimately a very memorable film. Shameless use of Elgar/Branagh/twinkly Rylance eyes! I’m afraid I shudder at the thought of a cat movie … I simply couldn’t! Hope you’ll keep up the movie habit, Simon!
I’ve seen Dunkirk and The Big Sick and loved both of them. I could relate quite well to The Big Sick as I’m married to someone outside my own culture and it can be challenging.
I didn’t expect to like Dunkirk as I don’t care much for war movies but we don’t get many movies here in the military base (except blockbusters) so I nearly always try to watch everything with decent reviews. I was really impressed, it was nothing like I expected and I want to see it again in the big screen when it comes back for the second run.
Oh the cat one! With other Cat People! What could be better.
I was with you in spirit. Merenia x