WATCHED & RATED // Fast Girls

It only makes sense that with the Olympics coming to London this year that there is a film that marks the significance of this to London. And Fast Girls is one of the mainstream films that celebrate this. I had the chance to view Fast Girls at the BBC Radio 1 & 1 Xtra Hackney Academy, which was bustling with teenagers at 2pm. Which I find strange, as I’m pretty sure they are meant to be in school or college. The screening was hosted by Trevor Nelson and was followed by a Q&A with some of the cast and director Regan Hall.

Fast Girls lead character Shania Andrews is played by Being Human’s Lenora Crichlow. We see Shania, a feisty girl from the wrong side of town, qualify to be in the GB team to compete in the World Athletic Championships. Although she hasn’t got the support of her family behind her what she does have is Brian, a shopkeeper by day, her coach by night. Brian pushes her to take her chances at winning a gold medal in the Championships. When Shania starts training with the GB relay team she discovers she has an issue with working in a team. During the Q&A session Clarke did emphasise that this is the main theme they tried push out in the film. I would say, ‘isn’t it obvious to anybody that there will be situations where you will have to overcome difference with people you work with for the common gain of the team’. But I did then consider that this is a positive message for the teenage audiences that Fast Girls target.

Shania’s antagonist is not only herself but also rich girl Lisa temple, played by Lilly James (Wrath of the Titans). Lisa and Shania can’t seem to find common ground in the beginning. Firstly they are fiercely competitive over performance, as in who is the faster athlete. But then Shania finds that she has a jealous streak over the friendship Physiotherapist Carl (Bradley James) has with Lisa, because she has developed a crush on him.

Now I have broken it down, doesn’t it sound a bit fluffy? Fast girls has potential, but fails to deliver a strong punch. There are so many plot threads initiated, but never explored too deeply. We know she doesn’t have a mother, the coach can’t commit to helping her further, she has a crush on Carl, she hates working in a team; but what we don’t know is WHY. None of the issues including the rivalry with Lisa are explored beneath the surface, and this only left me feeling detached from the characters. And to add to it, Fast Girls was unquestionably a film that you know from the get-go that the Protagonist will come out on top. It does not leave much room for anticipation and guesswork by the audience.

Filmmaker/ Actor Noel Clarke (Kiddulthood, 54321, Dr Who) was commissioned to co-write this script. So admittedly I was expecting it to be a bit sloppy, conventional, not challenging any themes, only highlighting them, like in his past work. So although I can’t say in Fast Girls he challenged many themes, what Clarke did well was make the themes universal and resonate with people from various socio-economic and ethnic backgrounds. It wasn’t just about the estate kids hustle, but instead about how we all hustle in our own little world.

I think Fast Girls install a sense of pride and anticipation in younger audiences, as they will be less cynical about the validity of the events taking place. During the last scene the screening was roaring with applause for the outcome, which somehow swept me up with it along the way. Maybe even a teardrop tried to rise from my eyes (it was probably a tear to represent my sadness about the second-rate films being pushed out to mainstream audiences).

Despite Fast Girls not being one of the most provocative films I have watched, I do feel that that was never the intention. It is a light-hearted drama, which intends to come across as a feel good film aimed at the youth. So I think it is fine to let it be that. But if you are looking for more thought-provoking films relating to the Olympics don’t miss out on the films being screened within the Fun and Games strand at the East End Film Festival. The festival takes place from 3^rd – 8^th July across various locations in East London, the home of the games. I will be there of course, so come join me in indulging in film after film, after film, and then some.

DS RATED: 6/10

Here are some snapshots of the Q&A Sessions and the trailer.

 

Fast Girls 
Production Year: 2012
Countries: UK
Cert: 12A
Runtime: 91 mins
Director: Regan Hall

CANNES 2012 // Moonrise Kingdom Opens The Festival

Yesterday The Artist star Bérénice Bejo opened the 65th Cannes Film Festival with the screening of Wes Anderson Moonrise Kingdom. Her speech was followed by a rendition of Elton John’s Candle in the Wind by The Gossip lead singer Beth Ditto. This was to pay tribute to Marilyn Monroe (above) which features on this year poster.

Moonrise Kingdom has been selected for the Competition category. Written and directed by Wes Anderson, Moonrise Kingdom is a coming of age tale that will appeal to all generations. It focuses on the love story of two 12 year olds that make a pact to runaway into the wilderness together, as the ultimate expression of their love. This New England town is turned upside down trying to find them during a vicious storm. This quirky tale has had everyone buzzing over the twittersphere, but I suspect people are just excited because it is the opening of Cannes.

With the likes of Edward Norton, Tilda Swindon, Bruce Willis amongst other high profile names featured, I guess there are high expectations for this film.

Wes Anderson’s works include The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou, The Darjeeling Limited, Fantastic Mr Fox and many more. So I have no doubt Anderson will deliver adventure, mystery and a lot of laughs.

Below is the trailer for your viewing pleasure.

FESTIVAL DE CANNES – TRAILER OF THE DAY: Martha Marcy May Marlene

Martha Marcy May Marlene, Martha Marcy May Marlene… tongue twister or what. I’ll be shocked if anybody actually remembers the name of the film, without reciting it 100 times over. Apart from the awkward title another unexpected feature in the film is Elisabeth Olsen, who plays the protagonist Martha. Yes a member of the Olsen clan has decided to take acting seriously and shockingly it is the unknown elder sister of the Olsen twins.

Martha Marcy May Marlene is a powerful psychological thriller featuring Martha who is  rapidly unraveling amidst her attempt to reclaim a normal life after fleeing from a cult and its charismatic leader (John Hawkes). Seeking help from her estranged older sister Lucy (Sarah Paulson) and brother-in-law (Hugh Dancy), Martha is unable and unwilling to reveal the truth about her disappearance. When her memories trigger a chilling paranoia that her former cult could still be pursuing her, the line between Martha’s reality and delusion begins to blur.

I love psycho thrills, and anything that addresses dreams, memory and reality. So hopefully MMMM with be distributed in the UK.

Martha Marcy May Marlene
Production year: 2010
Countries:USA
Cert: TBC
Runtime: 101 mins
Director: Sean Durkin