STACK #184 Feb 2020

FILM REVIEWS

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For everyone who has ever wanted to dream. BLINDED BY THE LIGHT

It's a wonderful life. LAST CHRISTMAS

Release Date: 12/02/20

Format:

Release Date: 12/02/20

Format:

Based on a memoir by journalist Sarfraz Manzoor and infused with the music of The Boss, Blinded by the Light is an earnest and entertaining coming- of-age story about one kid’s attempt to fit in. Javed (Viveik Kalra) is a teenage British Pakistani whose working class family struggles to integrate in Luton, England, during the late 1980s. Torn between two cultures, he finds solace in the music of Bruce Springsteen, whose lyrics relate to his own personal woes. With an energetic ‘80s flavour and

Emilia Clarke plays a luckless worker in a Christmas- themed store, whose life changes when she meets a handsome stranger (Henry Golding). Director Paul Feig ( Bridesmaids ) brings a British sensibility – and a twist – to a classic rom-com premise that will delight fans of Bridget Jones’s Diary and Love Actually . The titular George Michael song has become an institution of its own, and unlike recent artist-focused films like Blinded by the Light and Yesterday , Last Christmas simply uses his music as its soundtrack – to great effect.

Springsteen’s music woven throughout, Blinded by the Light delivers a nostalgic reflection of a not-too-distant past, and positive messages about generational diversity and the importance of family. GC

And the palpable chemistry between Clarke and Golding propels the story along nicely. Hitting most of its marks with precision, this is poised to become an annual festive favourite. GC (See page 18)

Strong themes and violence

High impact violence

Horror themes and violence