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2007
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SON
OF RAMBOW
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STARRING:BILL
MILNER,WILL POULTER,NEIL DUDGEON,JESSICA HYNES, JULES SITURK,ERIC
SYKES,CHARLIE THRIFT,ED WESTWICK
WRITTEN
BY GARTH JENNINGS
PRODUCED
BY NICK GOLDSMITH
DIRECTED
BY GARTH JENNINGS
GENRE:COMEDY/DRAMA
RATED:AUSTRALIA:PG/UK:12A/USA:PG-13
RUNNING
TIME:96 MIN
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As
a fan of Sylvester Stallone, I share in the enthusiasm thrown towards
Garth Jennings loving tribute towards his attempt at re-creating First
Blood with the family camcorder during his childhood, as loosely
depicted in the warm and highly entertaining Son of Rambow.
Set during 1982, the film focuses on the exploits of William (Bill
Milner), a highly imaginative child whose family are apart of The
Brethren, a religious sect who opt for a simple lifestyle which forbids
television and radio, amongst other things. One day he meets Lee (Will
Poulter), a social delinquent taken care of by his scumbag older brother
Lawrence (Ed Westwick) while their mother travels around Spain with
her new rich boyfriend.
Lee has bootlegged the new Sylvester Stallone movie First Blood,
and after William watches the film he becomes invigorated and enamoured
with the power of cinema. Together, Lee and William join forces to
create an action film in order to win a young filmmaker competition:
Son of Rambow. In the process Jennings applauds the power and magic
of the imagination and the creativity which it conjures (especially
during our youth).
Whilst watching Son of Rambow, I could not help but feel a
nostalgic pull back to the days of my childhood, which was spent play
acting and creating adventurous escapades whilst constructing forts
and mimicking cinematic (or otherwise) heroes (John J. Rambo being
one of them.) Also undeniable is the fact that there is no way this
film would have worked if it were set in the present, since the venturous
shenanigans of generations passed have been replaced with helicopter
parenting and enough red tape within parks (and other public places)
that a blister in the thumb can warrant legal action.
Surprisingly, this film also works as a loose satire and commentary
on Hollywood, especially how fame can derail the creative process.
A scene lampooning the excesses of celebrity that depicts sixth graders
with stick on tattoos riskily mixing their crackle pop with Cocoa
Cola, as others throw up from excess sugar, is very funny.
The performances by child actors Bill Milner and Will Poulter are
extraordinary, especially from Milner who reminds me of Freddie Highmore.
Let's hope his career follows in the same direction.
So as its stands, Son of Rambow is a superb feel good / coming
of age movie, and a fitting tribute to First Blood (which,
coincidentally, received Stallone's blessing). |
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