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7.04 The Power of Ghosts in REBECCA

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Amidst the stunning landscapes of Monte Carlo, a young woman (Lily James) is surprised to find herself caught in the midst of a sweeping romance with eligible bachelor, Maxim DeWinter (Armie Hammer). When the two wed quickly, he brings her home to his elegant manor of Manderley. As the new Mrs. DeWinter settles into their estate, she falls out of favour with housekeeper Mrs. Danvers (Kristin Scott Thomas), who remains devoted to the legacy of Maxim’s first wife, Rebecca. This week, Miriam Ibrahim and Amanda Jane Smith return to talk about the film’s portrayal of the relationship between power and gender and being haunted by toxic memories.

You can stream the episode on podomatic, Alexa (via Stitcher), Spotify or Amazon Podcasts! Or, you can download the ep on Apple Podcasts!

Want to continue to conversation at home?  Click the link below to download ‘Fishing for More’ — some small group questions for you to bring to those in your area.

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Yesterday: Timeless Musical Truth

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Yesterday tells the story of Jack Malik (Himesh Patel), a struggling singer-songwriter who feels like his opportunities at success will never come, despite the devotion of his best friend and manager, Ellie (Lily James). However, after a freak bus accident during a mysterious global blackout, Jack awakens to realize that he is the only person alive that remembers the music of the Beatles. As he begins to play songs that the world has never heard by one of the greatest bands in history, Jack quickly gains notoriety as one of the great song-writers of his generation. Although, as his popularity explodes, soon questions mount as to whether he’s doing the right thing—and if he’s going to be exposed.

Directed by Danny Boyle (Slumdog Millionaire), Yesterday is a charming love song to the magic of the Beatles’ discography. Fun and lighthearted, the film comes in the middle of somewhat of a renaissance for films about classic rock icons. With films like Bohemian Rhapsody, Rocketman and more making their way to the big screen in the last 12 months, Yesterday ran the risk of becoming a forgettable entry in the midst of the overflow. However, thanks to an entertaining script that swerves in another direction than other more traditional biopics, Yesterday manages to sing a different tune. Relative newcomer Himesh Patel (Eastenders) is a joy to watch onscreen as the overwhelmed Jack, playing him with both humility and ambition. With a suitable backup band of supporting players including Kate McKinnon, Lily James and, most notably, a hilarious Ed Sheeran, the film weaves a story that is whimsical and enchanting.

Of course, the real star of the film is the Beatles discography itself and Yesterday showcases the talent of the Fab Four in a way that desperately wants to prove that their relevance in today’s music scene. Though one would hardly think that the Beatles had moved into obscurity, it could be argued that their impact isn’t recognized as much by younger fans. As such, Yesterday seeks—almost to a fault—to remind us of the enduring importance of songs such as ‘A Day in the Life’ or ‘Hey Jude’ (or ‘Hey Dude’, as Sheeran suggests). In fact, the film even uses Sheeran, one of today’s biggest stars, to validate the music by stating that he thinks the songs are the best he’s ever heard. 

As such, Yesterday speaks to the enduring power of music and its importance in a world looking for modern prophets. While using the Beatles as a backdrop, the film shows the impact of words written by those that have come before and how they continue to resonate in our modern culture. Held in high regard for his song-writing ability, Malik is constantly reminded that his own writings cannot compare to the classics that he’s giving to the world. Interestingly, the film also reinforces this when Malik has the opportunity to finally meet one of the Fab Four. In yet another testament to the words of the previous generation, the unexpected ‘cameo’ speaks to Jack about the power of truth and love in a way that leaves him changed and helps him decide on his future. In a poignant scene, yet again the past informs the present. 

The disc release features several notable special features including a surprisingly beautiful alternate ending, featurette on Sheeran’s role and deleted scenes. However, the most fun may be a few performances of Beatles tunes by Patel at Abbey Road Studios in London. By including these simple songs, the disc suitably bookends the sense of reality about the film by moving it beyond the narrative.

Entertaining, engaging and sweet, Yesterday is a feel-good comedy that speaks to the power of love and the value of those that came before. However, in the end, the greatest love song is the film itself, giving the music of the Beatles the power to change the world.

Yesterday is available on iTunes and Blu-Ray beginning Tuesday, September 24, 2019. 

5.22 A Day in the Life of YESTERDAY

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In Danny Boyle’s YESTERDAY, it’s just another day in the life for struggling musician Jack Malik (Himesh Patel)… until he’s suddenly hit by a car. With a little help from his friends, Jack wakes up to discover that he is the only person left alive that remembers the music of the Beatles. Realizing that this music is his ticket to ride, Jack’s fame increases to global proportions… but will this paperback writer be revealed as a fraud? Or will he be able to let it be? This week, Steve, ScreenFish’r Shelley McVea and musician Dave Frazee come together to talk about whether the world really is better off with the music of the Beatles and what Jack really did wrong.

You can also stream the episode above on podomatic, Alexa (via Stitcher), Spotify or Soundcloud! Or, you can download the ep on Apple Podcasts or Google Play!

Want to continue to conversation at home?  Click the link below to download ‘Fishing for More’ — some small group questions for you to bring to those in your area.

5.22 YesterdayDownload

Darkest Hour – The Birth of a Legend

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“He mobilized the English language and sent it into battle.”

Winston Churchill is an icon. He is most certainly counted among the greatest (if not the greatest) statesmen of the twentieth century. His voice and inspiring speeches are well known. He led Britain when they stood almost alone against Nazi Germany. And yet, no one really wanted him as Prime Minister. Darkest Hour shows us the early crisis that he faced on becoming Prime Minister, and how close to failure he came.

Gary Oldman stars as Winston Churchill in director Joe Wright’s DARKEST HOUR, a Focus Features release.

The film opens on May 9, 1940, just as Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain (Ronald Pickup) is being forced to resign because of his handling of the situation in Europe. While others in the party would like the Viscount Halifax (Stephen Dillane) to assume the leadership, he prefers to wait until “his time”. The only person who would be able to have the needed support of the opposition is Churchill (Gary Oldman), whom everyone loathes. He is seen as a failure, a drunk, too old (65), an inept bumbler who is too war hungry. Others would seek a diplomatic solution, especially since the entire British army is stranded at Dunkirk. (It is a happy coincidence that Dunkirk played this summer so we can have a better understanding of just how dire that situation was.) Even King George VI is upset that he must ask Churchill to become Prime Minister.

Over the next few days (the film only covers less than three weeks) Churchill must simultaneously try to save the stranded army, prepare the nation for war, and keep his government together even as members of his own party try to undermine him. At times it seems his only allies are his wife Clemmie (Kristin Scott Thomas) and new typist Elizabeth Layton (Lily James).

Lily James stars as Elizabeth Layton and Gary Oldman as Winston Churchill in director Joe Wright’s DARKEST HOUR, a Focus Features release.Credit: Jack English / Focus Features

The Winston Churchill we see in this film is not yet the legend he is to become. He is surely bigger than life. He is loud, rude, and self-absorbed. But essentially he is determined. While others are willing to seek peace with Hitler at any cost, Churchill seems almost alone in understanding that this is a battle against evil that must be fought. He will not allow the underhanded politics to stop him as he sets the British nation on a path to stand firm against Germany.

Much of the film deals with the question of peace. Is Churchill wrong to discount the possibility of peace talks to avoid the war? When Halifax makes his case, it is not unlike the arguments made before any war—arguments that many in the US made before the Iraq War, for example. And there are many who find those arguments persuasive. Looking back at history, we understand why Churchill felt he must stand firm against Hitler. But in the few days that this film covers, that sentiment was far from obvious. It meant that Britain would be standing alone against a powerful adversary.

Gary Oldman stars as Winston Churchill in director Joe Wright’s DARKEST HOUR, a Focus Features release.
Credit: Jack English / Focus Features

This is not just a story of legend coming to be. It shows us his very human, at times even eccentric nature. While we generally think that Churchill was the obvious person to lead Britain at that critical time, in this film we see that it was a job he grew into—and had to do so very quickly. We also get to hear bits of his early speeches—speeches that won the support of the British people in what would be a very trying battle for the nation’s very life. There are reasons that we view Churchill as an icon. We see the beginnings of that in this film.

 

The Exception: Will Love or Duty Win the Day?

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Christopher Plummer is quite dapper as exiled Kaiser Wilhelm II, under investigation by the Nazi Reich’s Stefan Brandt (Jai Courtney). Brandt has his own disgraces to deal with – having been forced into this ‘undercover’ assignment. But instead of uncovering who the British spy is in the Wihelm estate, he falls for a maid, Mieke (Lily James), which is doubly problematic because she is Jewish. Will love or duty win the day?

While much of the world would openly agree that Nazi Germany was filled with problems, evils, and atrocities, we’re moved to see Brandt’s dilemma sympathetically. He’s been charged to a duty – even threatened, and his lack of abject loyalty puts him in clear danger. Based on Alan Judd’s The Kaiser’s Last Kiss (2003), the story is fictional, but the dynamics are legitimately worthy of our attention.

What happens when the world we think we know suddenly becomes unworthy of our respect? What do we do when we realize that our expected list of priorities is morally off? Too often, we move along with the flow, assuming it will all somehow ‘get better’ without our action, without change. But if we’re honest, we realize that the truth requires us to be invested; when we see wrong, we have to ask. For most of us, like Brandt, it requires love to break through the chokehold of our patterns of behavior and expectation. We won’t change until we’re forced to care.

Lionsgate’s special features on the Blu-ray/Digital HD combo pack include a “Behind the Scenes of The Exception” featurette as well as audio commentary from director David Leveaux.