🍿97: The Beast
Three fresh trailers & the curious punishments of Quentin Tarantino 🍆
“To deny our own impulses is to deny the very thing that makes us human.”
~ The Matrix, 1999
Sickly sweet…
This week we’ve got three trailers, a fantastic Fact of the Week and a fairly lengthy review to get through, so I’ll keep the intro short and take this opportunity to talk about Sick of Myself, which I finally got around to watching.
It’s an absurd dark comedy written and directed by Kristoffer Borgli starring Kristine Kujath Thorp as Signe and Eirik Sæther as Thomas. The film focuses on an unhealthy competitive couple constantly and relentlessly vying for their peers’ attention. The lengths Signe will go to and the degree of her utter self-absorption create a twisted satire on the social media generation
Set in Oslo, it’s like The Worst Person in the World, only it actually might be about the worst person in the world. And where Worst Person, is quite charming and heartfelt, Sick of Myself is the complete opposite — but it’s very funny.
I laughed out loud many times, it’s one you have to see.
What’s Popping
A film spinoff of the BBC hit drama ‘Peaky Blinders’, starring Cillian Murphy, has gotten the green light from Netflix. Read more.
Speaking of Cillian Murphy, his Oppenehimer follow-up, Small Things Like These, has been picked up by Lionsgate. Read more.
And finally (it’s a slow news week), Elle Fanning is set to star in the next Predator film Badlands. Read more.
Coming Soon
Starve Acre
UK: 6 September // USA: 26 July
This British folk horror is set in 1970s rural Yorkshire, where the seemingly idyllic family life of Juliette (Morfydd Clark) and Richard (Matt Smith) is thrown into turmoil when their young son Owen starts acting out of character.
The Outrun
UK: 27 September // USA: TBC
Based on Amy Liptrot’s memoir of the same name, The Outrun stars Saoirse Ronan as Rona, a young woman who, fresh out of rehab, returns home to the Orkney Islands.
Crossing
UK: 19 July // USA: 19 July
When retired teacher Lia (Mzia Arabuli) learns from her neighbour Achi (Lucas Kankavi), that her long-lost niece has crossed the border into Turkey, the two set off on a journey to find them.
Fact of the Week
Quentin Tarantino is well-known for having strict rules in place on his sets. According to Timothy Oliphant, Tarantino will fire anyone found using a phone on set but the punishment for falling asleep is arguably worse…
Enter ‘Big Jerry’ a very special cast member who’s brought out to pose with anyone found taking a nap. From lowly runners to A-list celebs, Tarantino’s cast and crew have been caught with ‘Big Jerry’ since Jackie Brown.
Who is ‘Big Jerry’? He’s a big purple dildo that’s hidden with the camera equipment and is snapped with offending snoozers. The pictures are then put up on The Wall of Shame, for all to see.
Everyone from Uma Thurman, Tim Roth, Kurt Russell and Tarantino himself have talked about Big Jerry. You can click the links to see a clip of each interview or behold Big Jerry in all his glory in a leaked photo of th Wall of Shame.
Review: The Beast
Star Rating:
3.5 (out of 5)
Where to Watch:
USA: Only in Cinemas
UK: Only in Cinemas
Runtime:
2hr 26m
Director:
Bertrand Bonello
Blurb:
Set in the not-too-distant future, where artificial intelligence controls everything and everyone, human emotions are considered a threat to the status quo — and must be purged.
The Review:
In a world where wild animals roam the streets and the humans that do go outdoors have to wear futuristic face masks, Bertrand Bonello’s latest film paints a dystopian future where people’s lives are controlled by artificial intelligence.
This AI, unlike Skynet, is more passive yet potentially more sinister, taking over almost every job (sound familiar?) due to humans being hindered by emotion. Following an ominous event known as “The Tragedies,” humanity turns to AI, leading to a world where the only way to secure a decent job is to cleanse your DNA.
There’s very little context or explanation surrounding “The Tragedies” that led to this world. Although this isn’t necessarily a bad thing, as such details are often best left unsaid (think The Road), there’s such a lack of information about the details that it becomes a distracting curiosity.
While the focus is on Gabrielle (Léa Seydoux) and the budding romance between her and Louis (George MacKay), I found myself wanting more answers about the cleansing process — and I thought they would come. However, questions of why it involves living experiences in Black Mirror-esque virtual worlds are left unanswered when such details would have made Bonello’s world more immersive.
As the film went on, much of what I felt for the characters in the beginning was lost — despite strong performances from both Seydoux and MacKay. At two and a half hours long, the film demands patience for a payoff that ultimately flatlines in the third act.
It’s a tragic romance disguised as sci-fi, with a great premise. However, in his attempt to focus on the humanity of the characters, Bonello overlooks the more important parts of world-building and creates a two-dimensional setting lacking authenticity.
It’s a shame, as the film shines in its classical score with eerie futuristic notes, set and costume design, and the overall concept. These strengths, however, are overshadowed by a wavering third act, leaving the film with unrealised potential.
For those intrigued by dystopian futures and strong character performances, The Beast offers something unique, but be prepared for a narrative that leaves some questions unanswered.
Scroll down to see what’s in the next issue.
If you liked The Beast…
Foe
2023 | UK: Prime Video // USA: Prime Video
Saoirse Ronan and Paul Mescal star as Hen and Junior, a couple whose quiet life is thrown into turmoil when a stranger shows up at their door with a startling proposal. If you’re looking for another romance set in a somewhat dystopian future with two very talented leads then Foe might be for you.
Next Week:
The Dead Don’t Hurt
UK: 31 May // USA: 31 May | Watch the Trailer
"there’s such a lack of information about the details that it becomes a distracting curiosity" - that's how I felt about Civil War! Also, absolutely loved Keegan's novel, I read it at Christmastime. So excited it will be a film with Cillian Murphy! Also been excited for The Outrun, the trailer looks so good.
It was certainly a good week for news of upcoming releases! I have to say I do love the excitement I feel in the wait for a good film!