BELLE

Belle (12A) is the heartwarming true story of Dido Elizabeth Belle (Gugu Mbatha-Raw), the illegitimate mixed race daughter of a Royal Navy Admiral who was raised by her aristocratic great-uncle, Lord Mansfield (Tom Wilkinson) and his wife (Emily Watson).

At a time when slavery was rife, Belle's aristocratic father enabled her to have a privileged upbringing, however, the colour of her skin prevented her from ever fitting in fully and she was not even permitted to dine with her family when they had guests over and still found herself victim of racial abuse despite her high social standing.

When Belle discovers that Lord Mansfield, a top judge at the time, is involved in a court case to do with human cargo and the awful treatment of black slaves, she enlists the help of an idealistic law student John Davinier (Sam Reid) and does everything that she can to ensure that her uncle makes the right decision.

Mbatha-Raw is beautiful as Belle, but that is not enough

The truth behind Belle's story is fascinating and it is only a wonder why it hasn't been adapted for the big screen sooner. The concept of a mixed race child being raised among aristocracy during a time where slavery was so normalized is incredible poignant and the differences between Belle and her white cousin of the same age, Elizabeth (Sarah Gadon), are striking from the start. The girls immediate friendship and love for one another paves the way for a touching subplot, with their relationship being one of the most heartfelt aspects of the film, if slightly under-used.

The real let-down of this film is Mbatha-Raw's performance. Despite looking absolutely beautiful she is incredibly two-dimensional throughout and Belle's character seems to be lacking in depth; turning her from a strong-willed and determined young woman to a stunning yet vacant china doll. Dependent mostly on one-look, Mbatha-Raw's doe-eyed melancholy is initially endearing but becomes increasingly frustrating as time goes on and she remains unable to deliver anything new or refreshing. 

The lack of depth to Belle's character makes the entire film feel slow, boring and almost like it misses the point. Director Amma Asante is entrusted with taking this great, hidden story to the forefront of the public's attention and instead of creating a show-stopping period piece that does the story justice, she created a bland, disappointing and emotionless drama that doesn't even scratch the surface of Belle's true character, least of all do her justice.

The supporting cast are strong, bar a conventional and over-the-top villainous performance from Harry Potter's  Tom Felton, but none of them are enough to detract attention away from the lifeless protagonist and her inability to give anything more or less than pure apathy. 

Painting  of the real life Belle and Elizabeth

Whilst the core story is interesting, its cinematic execution is not and although Mbatha-Raw is visually stunning to watch, her beauty is not enough to excuse the lack of depth to her portrayal of Dido Elizabeth Belle. The most exciting part of the entire film was the inclusion of a painting of the real-life Belle and Elizabeth that appeared just before the credits rolled, and given that this painting is accesible via a quick google search, that is not enough to make the film worth seeing. 

★★☆☆☆

Belle is in UK cinemas from Friday 13th June!

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LONE SURVIVOR

My review from flicksandthecity.com

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Mark Wahlberg stars in this tragically true story of heroism and courage. Lone Survivor recounts the failed 2005 mission when four members of SEAL Team 10 attempted to capture notorious Taliban leader Ahmad Shahd. However, isolated from help the group faces an impossible moral decision – the outcome of which triggers a brutal attack from the Taliban. Heavily outnumbered the four men must fight against the odds but, as the film’s title suggests, there are tragic consequences.

The real heroes behind SEAL Team 10

The film opens in the midst of a busy army base in Afghanistan and a wide mix of characters are introduced to the audience sporadically. The conversation is disjointed and focuses on the men as a whole rather than the four main characters but it does make them  instantly relatable as they discuss menial, everyday topics whilst preparing for a life-threatening mission.

The characters are split into groups and the upcoming mission is detailed, which is when the story picks up pace. The various characters are much easier to follow once you know who  the four central ones are, and when they’re in the mountains, away from the hustle and bustle of the main base, you’re given the opportunity to focus on the story at hand without any confusion or distractions.

The 15 minutes or so that follow are perhaps the most crucial in building a connection between the characters and the audience. They precede a 45-minute epic action sequence, and during this time we get to know each character’s distinctive personality traits and we share their threat of impending doom when it becomes apparent they’ve lost contact with the base. However, before we have a chance to fully invest ourselves into these characters and their plight, the Taliban attack and from then on it’s non-stop action.

For 45 minutes there are guns, blood and a lot of death. Undeniably there are the occasional moments of tenderness between our four leads, times where they risk their lives in order to save each other and make huge sacrifices in order to ensure that no man gets left behind. Unfortunately you can’t help but feel that moments such as these would have been more effective if more time been devoted to getting to know the characters. Yes, these scenes have impressive cinematography and great performances but a stronger audience connection to the characters is missing.

Mark Wahlberg is the Lone Survivor

The fighting ceases just as it starts to exhaust itself, and it’s a refreshing and welcome change to be focused on the lone survivor Marcus (Mark Wahlberg) as he fights his way to survival. Having lost all of his ‘brothers’ in the battle and with no way of contacting the base he’s given sanctuary by some kind-hearted villagers. However, after a few all-too-brief tender moments of interaction between Marcus and the father and son who saved him, more bloodshed and violence ensues.

Despite the abundance of violence and lack of dialogue throughout the film it remains impossible to not be moved, particularly during the final scenes. Before the credits roll, photographs of the real soldiers behind the characters fill the screen in a touching and thought-provoking tribute, bringing home the brutal reality of war. Detailed and informative captions follow, which help to answer any questions that the film left unanswered. Both the photographs and the captions are a heartfelt and emotional addition to the film, reinforcing to the audience just how real it all is.

All in all, the entire cast shines in this adrenaline-pumped action fest that provides a brutally honest and moving tribute to those risking their lives on the front line. Extra character development before the action kicked off would have helped to connect the audience with the characters and create an even stronger emotional impact.

★★★☆☆

Lone Survivor is released nationwide on 31 January 2014!

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Love,