5.2 – Review and discuss own choice of British film productions and world film productions

Review of British or World film features (ideally in cinema).

FILM REVIEW _ 'SUBMARINE' By Richard Ayoade.

• Submarine (2010) is a Joe Dunthorne adaptation about a swansea born Teenager, Oliver Tate (Craig Roberts), who struggles to solve both his parents, and his own relationship with his Pyromaniac girlfriend Jordana Bevan (Yasmin Paige). The 60's themed production follows Oliver though his Quirky and Individually blunt thoughts and life, revolving around his school and home. 

• The production uses raw and simple cinematography, that reflects that working-class nature of Swansea, and gives a true vision of Oliver's surroundings and upbringing, emphasizing his uniqueness. 
• Ayoade introduces subtle comedy through Oliver's Narrative, as he wonders about people's reaction to his death. The beautiful and hilarious script displays how Oliver imagines the Welsh Nation grieving his death, complete with full News coverage and rituals of devotion.  

• Ayoade splits Oliver's journey into a prologue and 3 parts, showing how Oliver sees his problems and aims as tasks or duties, which could suggest his unique opinions of life. The use of vintage 60s cameras emphasises the theme, and the viewpoint of Oliver, as he imagines his journey would be filmed. The contrast of songs used( Alex Turner) and distinct soundtrack, further animates the journey Oliver takes. 
• I enjoyed the cinematography used throughout the film, from raw seascapes, to the changing angles when Oliver and Jordana pass in the corridor, and the captured emotions of Oliver when he pushes Zoe into a pond. By also including shots that zoom, Oliver's visions of being filmed are shown, making the filming look amateur and raw which captures these emotions. 

• When we go into Oliver's bedroom, the production designer (Gary Williamson) emphasises Oliver's uniqueness, by using posters of 'Le Samouri', and 'La Passion De Jeanne D'Arc' (1928)  and the poster 'His Death Was Red'. This is also shown through Oliver's unique collection of books and records.
• I also love the use of typewriter letters that Oliver uses to display his emotions, as they have a themed look that suits the aesthetics of the film. These aesthetics are also met through the colouring of the production, by Adam Ingits, who uses a dull palette, that brings forward Jordana's red theme, symbolising her sense of danger. This beautiful use of colouring sets a specific visual theme. This theme is also shown when they are in the fairground, as the fireworks create a red silhouette, also beautifully symbolising themes. This red theme is also shown in Oliver's dream of the hospital, and how Jordana's red theme stands out from a distance against the white walls and floors of the hospital. 

• The use of Parental characters is brilliant, as Dad, Lloyd Tate (Noah Taylor) and Mum, Jill Tate (Sally Hawkins) both work in dead end jobs, and display dull and flattened lives, Occasionally slipping in their desires in their youth. When Graham Purvis (Paddy Considine) he brings excitement to Oliver's mother, which changes the destination of the film, and Oliver's perspective of Love, as he is told by his parents 'Passion rarely lasts'. 
• The use of VFX also emphasises the unique relationship between Oliver and Jordana, as they spend time using fireworks in a run down fairground and burning things. Their uniqueness is also shown through shots of them sitting in silence and in a bath on an industrial estate. The use of silence is a tool in the film, as it bring a raw and real feel to the production, as emphasises emotions when there is or isn't a soundtrack.

• By using archive materials through Oliver's narratives, the film creatively shows the time and place Oliver is surrounded by, and the use of animation and illustration, emphasise Oliver's truth and fantasy, particularly in the animation around his bed, that has a beautifully aged appearance.

• The film also highlights themes that the writers and producers, such as  Mary Burke and Ben Stiller, used, such as teenage social pressures, family relationships, finding confidence and identity, and love, giving the narrative a moral and lesson. Although the narrative displays negative impressions of Oliver's life, comical sketches and scripts are used to introduce Ayoade's much loved humour, such as Oliver's idea that his father would help his mother pack her suitcase when she left. This not only displays Ayoade's subtle hilarity, but also expresses Oliver's emotions throughout the Feature.

• The running theme of the ocean is beautifully adapted, as Oliver's way to explain to himself how to cope with his own life. The forward question 'How deep is the ocean' runs through Oliver's narrative, and is used in the final section as humour to fix his relationship with Jordana. The film symbolises how Oliver 'comes of age' and his journey in discovering types of love, for himself and others.
• Finally, I enjoyed the use of creative arts to design the visuals of settings and storytelling, shown by Art director Sarah Pasquali, setting the time and place, along with Cathy Cosgrove as set decorator.