Category: review

REVIEW: TOP BOY SEASON 3 NETFLIX – WAS THIS THE ENDING WE WANTED? (spoilers)

Posted on by P Rose in review

The finale of Top Boy ended on a low note unfortunately after much anticipation. This 6 episode final season of Top Boy felt rushed, not very well thought out and low budgeted. You could tell many of the actors didn’t have much input this season possibly due to new Netflix demands and executive policies. Whilst it was good to see Top Boy back on our TV screens, this wasn’t the outcome many of us hoped for.

Spoilers ahead! If you have not watched the latest season of Top Boy, stop scrolling now, watch it and come back to finish reading.

First of all, what happened to Jamie’s funeral? And the funeral for every other important character that died this season? You’d think that there would be at least a mention of Jamie’s funeral somewhere but nothing. Talking about Jamie, what happened to his little brother Aaron? Now we know Aaron went off to University however wouldn’t the death of your big brother urge to to return home to comfort your little brother Steph? I’m aware the actor who plays Aaron, Hope, mentioned he forfeited the character as he believed the character had no arc however I feel as though the writers could have at least mentioned Aaron’s name somewhere into the script rather then have him ghost the entire season. With that being said, we knew Steph was going to be the brother to step up and avenge his older brother Jamie but instead we got a loving romantic arc between him and his school friend crush, Arin. Now whilst I appreciated the writers touching on the importance of safe sex and exploring more into Steph’s personal life, many of us came to witness Steph’s struggles dealing with the death of Jamie and his journey on getting revenge. And sadly there just wasn’t enough of that. There was a couple points at where Steph saw Sully and other where Sully was mentioned but the whole build up to the end was lacking. So when it came to the final showdown between Steph and Sully, it felt lackluster due to little to no build up.

One thing this season of Top Boy got right was Sully. Sully this season is even more of a savage, sadistic, ruthless psychopath played by the great Kane Robinson known to many as Grime Artist Kano. His acting was the best this season showcases amazing facial expressions, body language and line delivery. You really believed the character and the decisions his character made unlike his best friend, Dushane. Unfortunately Top Boy was littered his poor character decision for example, Dushane leaving a dead body in a kitchen, blood everywhere with his fingerprints all over the scene. Surely this can’t be the same Dushane who ran Summerhouse doing and ordering hits? What could possibly be the reason for such a character switch up? I feel as if it was done for plot purposes only so that Dushane can steal from Sully to escape the country. It’s a shame they hurt the character to serve an unfulfilling plot.

The main villain of this season were killed off extremely early into the season their characters didn’t get fleshed out enough. The Irish gangsters were set out to be the most interesting aspect of this season however their run was short lived.

What a disappointing end it was for Lauren. So much more could have been done with the character but instead she’s used as a ploy to catalyze Jaq’s hatred from drug circulation in the community. This leads to Jaq stealing drugs from Sully which results in getting Kieron killed after defending her. In previous seasons Jaq’s character was written more intelligently so her decision making here was bizarre because what was the plan? Stealing the drugs wouldn’t exactly stop drug dealing in the area and to just give it back makes things so much worse because Kieron was killed in the process.

Throughout the entire season featured a protest in retaliation of Kieron’s immigration. It was one of the most powerful scenes of this season which was let down due to over staying it’s welcome. It honestly did not need to last all season long; 1 or 2 episodes would have been enough as Kieron was released yet riots continued.

I did enjoy the fact that Sully’s killer remains anonymous which invites speculation and fruitful discussions. It also shows that Sully has created countless of enemies over the years that anyone could have take his life which makes it harder to pin point exactly who done it. Many people predict it was either Jaq, Rafe or Kieron’s mum. I’m leaning more towards Jaq as Sully was the reason for the loss of so many of her close ones especially Kieron and Dushane. It’s sad to see Top Boy go out like this as it’s the last season. I was expecting something more grand for the popular British Drama. Something bigger and better than previous seasons but nothing. The plot and characters felt underdeveloped and the budget and time felt reduced. I hope we can see Top Boy again some time in the future whether it’s in the form of a spin off or prequel for a better send off.

Written by P Rose.

REVIEW: DREAMING WHILST BLACK

Posted on by P Rose in review

Which was once a web series now reinvented on BBC, Dreaming whilst Black resurfaces for the mases. Dreaming whilst Black creator and star, Adjani Salmon, doesn’t hold back bringing his infamous web series to BBC. You’d think he would have to strip some features, messages and themes for BBC however the new series tackles the hardships and humor of dreaming as a black person in England.

I was lucky enough to watch the first three episodes at one of the premieres at the Ritzy Cinema in Brixton. The audience including myself could not stop laughing and keep our eyes off the screen. The way the performances and direction commands your attention is like no other.

This six part series follows Jamaican filmmaker, Kwabena, as he tries to pursue his filmmaker passion whilst working a regular 9 to 5 job. He struggles to juggle both lifestyles and realises he has to compromise in one area to elevate in the other. Adjani does a great job conveying this as a fellow filmmaker I could relate to a lot of his struggles that many independent creatives and entrepreneurs how to experience. Sometimes Adjani would take a serious situation and make light of it. For example, there’s one scene towards the end of episode 3 where Kwabena script is plagiarized by a top director in the industry. Kwabena and his friends come together one night to orchestrate an email criticizing the fraudulent director that stole his script. Adjani tells us Kwabena makes light of bad situations to stay motivated and not let the negativity get to him. Something that many creatives experience especially being black.

Dreaming whilst Black walks the line of dreaming and living as a black dream chaser in London. It expresses the life adversities and the dream chasing struggles Kwabena has to juggle which creates memorable moments that keep you on the edge of your seat. It is often hilarious as it contains relatable scenes people experience such as deciding whether to pay for dinner or working in a majority white industry as a black woman. Despite what we go through as creative minorities, we still have to remain positive on our journey and hustle to the top. Our personality, good electric energy and vibes is unmatched and will take us to the end. In an industry built to make you fail, utilize that superpower because it’s one thing they can’t take away from you.

Dream whilst Black is now available to watch on BBC iPlayer

Written by P Rose

CHRISTOPHER NOLAN’S BEST FILM? OPPENHEIMER REVIEW

Posted on by P Rose in review

Christopher Nolan has done it again adding another spectacle to his catalogue. Oppenheimer is masterfully crafted from beginning to end. You can tell it was put together with a lot of blood, sweat and tears.

The film follows Oppenheimer’s life and his journey to invented the Atomic bomb which was used in Japan which resulted in the death of hundreds of thousands of innocent people. Japan are still suffering with the effects of it today. The film questions the morality of the bomb, the arms race, war, Oppenheimer’s choices and more.

The most impressive feature in the whole film is the editing and sound design which complements the well told story of the father of the atomic bomb. Oppenheimer is edited like a 3 hour trailer containing various sound effects, cutaways with visual effect imagery of a bomb exploding and black and white scenes. Due to the engaging and fast paced editing, the 3 hours seemingly flies by. It creates more drama and tension. One scene in particular which stood out to me was Oppenheimer’s speech in the gymnasium after the atomic bomb was dropped in Japan. The attendees would applaud and stamp their feet on Oppenheimer’s arrival. Those same sounds were used throughout the film before that scene to build dramatic tension; even a close up of the audience stamping their feet was used during one scene.

As the film was shot using IMAX camera, to say the film looks stunning is an understatement. The beautiful visuals captures the vast landscapes of New Mexico and more, the fantastic performances of the cast especially of Cillian Murphy who portrays Oppenheimer and Robert Downey Jr. who plays Lewis Strauss. But the biggest achievement was capturing the atomic bomb explosive which was recreated with practical effects rather than visual effects.

OPPENHEIMER, written and directed by Christopher Nolan

I really appreciate the final hour of the film as it digs into the aftermath of the atomic bomb being dropped and how Oppenheimer life changed after that.

I do believe this is one of Nolan’s finest in storytelling and direction. It makes us question the morality of Oppenheimer’s decision to invent a creation that changed the world forever inviting severe consequences in life and death that generations after us will suffer from.

10/10

Written by P Rose

REVIEW: CREED 3

Posted on by P Rose in review

The one thing I’d like to praise Creed 3 for is the fact that there isn’t a moment where you ask “where’s Rocky?”. Before watching the film, I knew Rocky wasn’t going to appear on screen despite Sylvester Stallone being a producer on the film.

Creed 3 out now in cinemas is an excellent director debut from Michael B. Jordan that makes Creed a wholesome trilogy. I loved the themes this film touched on including abandonment, love, family, underdog story and more.

Creed’s childhood friend re-enters his life after being put behind bars for 18 years in a crime Creed witnessed. His friend, Dam, always dreamt of becoming champion and Dam going prison didn’t end that dream. Due to Creed feeling guilty of the incident, he invites Dam to his gym and takes him under his wing. Throughout the film Creed has to ask himself how much does he owe Dam and is Dam just using him for his success?

I had the honor of watching Creed 3 on an IMAX screen which really showcased the sharp and stunning visuals which kept your eyes glued on the display. You could witness the water in people’s eyes and the deepness of the cuts suffered from the boxers. As well as the amazing visuals, the sound was clear too from the roars and boos from the crowd and the scathing punches inside the ring. The film is well paced and takes you on a rollercoaster of emotions which makes the 2 hour run time fly by. I was thoroughly entertained by the compelling narrative and gripping direction which kept me on the edge of my seat.

Written by P Rose

TILL REVIEW (2023)

Posted on by P Rose in review

Till is one of the most heart breaking, emotional and profound films I’ve ever since and is the most hard to view film I’ve seen at a cinema (in a good way).

In October, I was invited to see director, Chinoye Chukwu‘s take on the infamous Emmett Till story following him and his mother’s life from before the murder to the aftermath.

Just to give you some context to the story of Emmett Till. Emmett Louis Till was a 14-year-old black boy from Chicago who was abducted, tortured, and lynched in Mississippi in 1955 when visiting family, after being accused of offending a white woman, Carolyn Bryant, in her family’s grocery store. The murder case was taken to trial however the Till family did not win the case due to racial tensions and bias in America at the time. Soon after the trial, Emmett Till’s killers confessed to murdering Emmett however they were not charged and lived the rest of their life as free men. Liar, Carolyn Bryant, is still alive today and has also not been charged.

Chinoye did a fantastic job expressing the hit hitting emotions that everyone who loved Emmett Till had to endure hearing about his gruesome killing. Without spoiling, there were two moments where it was difficult to witness as a viewer in a cinema let alone being there in real life. The first moment is where they revealed his corpse for the first time to his mother Mamie Till and second where his corpse was revealed at his funeral with an open casket. These moments were very powerful for a couple of reasons. One being the way Emmett Till was beaten, tortured and lynched reflected on his corpse was horrific to embrace. Second being the way Chinoye pinned the camera on the funeral attendees as they saw Emmett’s corpse for the first time; Emmett looking almost unrecognizable.

Danielle Deadwlyer delivered an incredible Oscar winning performance portraying the fearless, daring, strong, independent and intelligent, Mamie Till. It was a mind-blowing display of excellence on screen and I couldn’t take my eyes off her. She stole every scene she was in and represented Mamie Till authentically, honestly and respectfully in her journey to avenge and bring justice to her son’s murder.

Till is a brilliantly well made film which was essential after experiencing it as it highlights the racial tensions and bias in America. It also illustrates the brutality and futility of a racists actions of which is still present to this day. It also shows that no matter your age or innocence, as long as you’re black, you’re viewed as an enemy to them.

This great film conveyed a side of Emmett and Mamie we’ve never since before. Despite the heartache, It was a pleasure to behold Jayln Hall‘s presentation of Emmett’s caring and lovable personality and Mamie’s unconditional love for her son alongside her courage to stand up and fight for him. The sound, visuals, costume design and props were also impressive and immersive.

Although it’s an emotionally challenging film to digest, it’s an imperative pillar in American history that is still prominent in today’s society.

9/10

Till is out 6th of January 2023 in the UK.

Written by P Rose

REVIEW: THE WOMAN KING

Posted on by P Rose in review

I was kindly invited to see an early preview of The Woman King at BFI IMAX almost a week before release. It was definitely one of the best invites I’ve had all year.

I can’t remember the last time I went to BFI IMAX but what a film to experience on the biggest screen in the UK with 3D surround sound. The Woman King is epic, immersive and grand; it’s a true spectacle. Viola Davis takes charge to become to The Woman King by training young African women to fight the war in West Africa. We also see John Boyega in one of his finest roles delivering a fantastic performance. The chemistry between Lashana Lynch’s character and Thuso Mbedu’ character is chilling, witty and unmatched. They were inseparable the entire film and bought many laughs and cheers to all those in the cinema. Just like the chemistry between Viola Davis’ and Shelia Atim’s character who seem more like sisters rather than best friends. They share everything with each other from jokes and serious conversations. Nawi played by Thuso Mbedu does such a great job as the leader and champion of the competition; she really holds her own among the rest of her competitors.

The Woman King does a great job capturing African culture from the visual designs, language, costume, music, lifestyle and more. It was a joy to watch and hope to see many films with this level of care and attention to this incredible culture which deserves so much more.

The Woman King releases 4th October in the UK. Make sure you go see it in IMAX.

9/10

Written by P Rose