The Grand Tour

What seems like eons ago - though actually it was five years ago in 2015 - I marked the sad end of an era, specifically the era of the BBC's Top Gear as then we knew it, when Jeremy Clarkson, James May, and Richard Hammond left the show and indeed the BBC, apparently never to be seen again.

Pretty quickly, the BBC attempted to re-brand and relaunch Top Gear (the early efforts of which were met with pretty negative reviews, I was one of them on this blog) to varying effect, but eventually through several more rotations of presenters and styles, after the frankly brutal body blow of losing Clarkson and Co. the BBC institution seems to be once again finding its feet (possibly more detailed analysis of this will hit this here blog at a later date). And that's all well and good, and indeed welcomed - but what about the infamous trio? Were they destined to slink off into the ether, would they go their separate ways, would they ever drive on telly again?

Well, again pretty quickly - they were back too. Thanks to an obscene financial incentive from Amazon, and essentially carte blanche  to bring their tried and tested formula of mucking about, generating laughs and driving insanely lovely cars all over the globe back, and back with a bang.

Now, after finally succumbing to the subscription/streaming service maelstrom and dipping my toe rather retrospectively into the waters of Amazon Prime Video (due in no small part actually to the idea of catching up with several seasons of the Grand Tour) I have watched the series so far to see what all the fuss was about.

As far as I can see, it is pretty much what it always was, just more of the same - on steroids. And that is not necessarily a bad thing. Love them or hate them there is no denying Clarkson Hammond and May entertained legions globally for years with Top Gear, so if you hate them or the way they do things - you didn't and don't need to watch them on Amazon, and if you appreciate what they do - then this will be right up your street.

Yes, from start to finish the rather obscene commercialism and big-budget production values that Amazon brings to the party is a bit akin to a slap around the jaw, especially if you cling to traditional BBC values that made the original "poky motoring show" so charming a little too tightly. And yes, the format of the show took a while to stick and to resonate with viewers it seems - items such as a crazed stereotypical NASCAR driver in series one, and the series initially hopping from country to country per episode for no real reason other than it could and to spread the brand may not have sat well with everyone. 

Regardless, despite the bluster and bravado, despite the very overt and at times over the top commercialisation - The Grand Tour is still quite shrewd and clever at mostly sticking to its core values, and to what audiences have loved to see long before The Grand Tour's inception: three middle aged man driving fast and cocking about.

And do you know what? For me, it still works. It is still watchable, it is still lovable and for an hour or so each episode mostly brings a smile to your face. You still want to watch it. Admittedly it was not lost on me that Clarkson and May are approaching 60 and Hammond (the one time wide-eyed youth of the trio) is 50. The wary side of me says that this is not the time of life for these three men to be involved not only in the vast commercialism and insane marketing schedules that the big hit that is now The Grand Tour demands, let alone the ridiculous stunts and challenges the show dreams up for them. But then I think - sod it of course they can! For one thing they're being paid a rumoured sum of one million pounds per episode each by Amazon, so for that they can at least not act their age and cock about for a bit longer than is seemly, and for another - it is still what legions of fans globally like to see, me amongst them. So much so that by the end of series 3, when the trio stood on stage and declared that it was finally the end for them, i.e the old Top Gear/Grand Tour format of the three of them doing weekly episodes with challenges, reviews, chat and track pieces was finally over - I like many fans and the presenters themselves, felt genuinely wistful and sad; nostalgic for what had gone by and grateful that it had been. Yes we are promised a new format in a series of random specials, starting with the "Seamen" episode and more promised, though who knows when due to the ongoing Covid situation?

However, as an extension of what Top Gear was, and an outlet for showing off what the trio still had to give with an essentially unlimited budget, for me The Grand Tour works, and still just about deserves the hype and success it has achieved and no doubt will go on to garner still.

Mum's List

Another film I discovered by accident, via late night on the BBC a little while ago - but one I am so glad I did.

Based on a true story - this tells the tale of Kate; an upbeat, loving, charming, beautiful and devoted wife and mother (brought stunningly to life by Emilia Fox) who upon learning that she is dying, prepares her husband Singe (Rafe Spall) and her two children for what will come, and decides to help them in adjusting to life and enjoying it to the full, even after she's gone.

It is exceedingly rare that I cry when watching any film or piece of TV, as in actually shed tears - but this is one of those rare occasions. Such a beautiful and heart-wrenching concept, delivered and presented in a totally non-fussy, simple and completely melodrama-free fashion; and the results are broadly brilliant. The fact that it is based on a true story neither detracts or enhances for me, it just is something added. It is a rarely pure and warming story, full stop.

Rafe Spall occasionally (but rarely) doesn't hit the right emotional note, and the many flashback scenes of the two protagonists, whilst necessary are occasionally over-egged, but really in terms of any complaints or things that didn't quite hit home for me: that's it. Wonderfully routed in Somerset in almost every way, stunning cinematography and scenery, a brilliantly used and delightful soundtrack, superb performances almost across the board make for a film that is beautifully tearful, and saddening in it's joy.

Film Round Up

 

I freely confess there have been A LOT of great films (and some not so, in my opinion) that have been released since I blogged here. Some potential reviews of mine, for what they are have probably been lost to the ether, and some may still be to come - but to begin to address the situation - here's a quick round up of a few...

ADULT LIFE SKILLS

This film is admittedly a few years old, but I have only just discovered it. It features a pre-Doctor Who Jodie Whittaker (Jodie Whittaker as the Doctor will almost certainly be making a future appearance here, not to worry) as a 30-year old woman in deepest Yorkshire, who lives in her mum's shed at the bottom of the garden. What sounds like an incredibly simplistic premise results in a true gem. Gut-wrenchingly heart-breaking, hilariously comical, gutsy, earthy, very northern, very British barnstormer; that's how I can best describe it.

Gloriously crafted by writer and director Rachel Tunnard - this is one of those rare things in a film that genuinely made me laugh out loud on numerous occasions, and that thoroughly uplifted me by the end. It is just lovely.

The cast, to a man woman and child is perfect. Jodie Whittaker leads effortlessly, Alice Lowe is a genius addition, Lorraine Ashbourne is superb and newcomer the young Ozzy Myers is an extremely gifted child actor who has what I feel to be that rare gift (see an archived column piece to your left featuring why just firing child actors into the mix is often hit and miss) of being fully capable of carrying a cast and a film - he is honest, seems wise beyond his years and his rapport with Jodie Whittaker is strangely beautiful and pure to watch.

Believe me, unearthing this rare jewel of a film will be well worth it.




CHICKEN RUN

OK - this is truly an oldie; I can't believe it's now twenty years old?! But Chicken Run is that rare thing of an animation that can be appreciated on some level by pretty much anyone.

Representing one of the first tentative steps into feature films by the now legendary Aardman Animations, this film was a huge success upon release and has since become something of a cult classic, with an upcoming sequel generating a bit of tentative yet excitable hype.

Following a ragtag gang of farmed chickens and their ludicrous journey to freedom (another niche concept, I know) the resulting 84 minutes is pretty close to genius.

Featuring a brilliant voice cast (some of which do not always get the screen time they deserve sadly) led by Julia Sawalha and Mel Gibson - Chicken Run truly is a barnstorming and hilarious way to while a way an afternoon with some genuinely heartwarming animated loveliness. 





MAN UP

The brash, grating and potentially insensitive title aside, this film I still think has some plus points as a relatively new addition into the never-ending swirling and ever-expanding world of rom-com.

Again the concept is a simple, if rather far-fetched one - a case of mistaken identity on a blind date leads to chaos, laughs and a charming redemption and formation of a man and a woman, all set in 21st century London. OK, grand.

OK, maybe not so in that yes the idea behind this is pushing the limits and yes though Simon Pegg is solid in his leading man turn, he is a tad one-dimensional at times and doesn't seem to know what his character wants at any given time, despite the scripts' assurances to the contrary. And yes it does all seem a bit rushed by the end.

However, yes...the soundtrack and imagery is belting at times, yes there are some great supporting characters given life by the brilliant likes of Ken Stott, Olivia Williams and hilariously Rory Kinnear (though again the latter ventures into the cartoonish and slightly non-believable but good all the same).

Good or bad, hit or miss however, the whole thing in my opinion is held together and often carried by the brilliance of Lake Bell, who I find encapsulates a struggling, depressed dour yet feisty flirty and determined 30-something British lady in 2015 rather well. If any element shines in this one, for me it is her well and truly.

SUICIDE SQUAD

Past reads of this blog will inform you that on balance, I am definitely more of a Marvel man than DC - in terms of comics and their big screen adaptations.

However, in this anti-hero DC extended universe ensemble pic, there were some plus points; enough at least to warrant a few re-watches over the years.

This 2016 flick saw a group of villains formed to combat a common threat whilst dangling tenuous links to various other Superman/Batman pictures of the time and serving as origin stories for some characters too.

There were a quite a few misses to be seen if you look too closely, such as Viola Davis on the one hand giving gravitas and presence to proceedings, but also being far too hammy and cliched as a hard ass administrator, or talents like David Harbour hardly getting a look in.

However there were some plus points -

Will Smith may seem like a poor fit for this sort of film, but he does just about pull it off as Deadshot (although often none too subtly at the expense of others' screen time) and I think Jared Leto didn't do too badly in revamping the iconic Joker, following the Oscar-winning Heath Ledger.

However it is largely agreed that the stand out of this film was Margot Robbie's Harley Quinn. For the actress it helped her go from strength to strength as one of the most coveted and respected talents in Hollywood, and it introduced a zany, ludicrous, dark, damaged, sexy, funny and sparkly character that is just how the comic book creation should be on screen - so much so Robbie has since starred in her own spin-off movie focusing more on Quinn.

As comic book movies go, DC or otherwise - this one ain't bad.

RIP Carl Reiner

1922 - 2020