I watched "Submarine" the other night on Netflix with the Mister and I have to say it's one of my new favorite movies. The film is written and directed by Richard Ayoade and stars Craig Roberts and Yasmin Paige, as well as Sally Hawkins, Noah Taylor (awesome) and Paddy Considine. The movie is based off the novel "Submarine" by Joe Dunthorn.
I can't get enough of "coming-of-age" stories. I love teenage angst and internal struggle. To the feel the pain and suffering of a little school boy with a broken heart. Awkward moments are the best. Warning! Spoiler Alert! Oliver Tate (Craig Roberts) plays a teenage school boy hopelessly in love with his class mate Jordana (Yasmin Paige) who is as equally unpopular as Oliver. Oliver proves his love to Jordana by bullying an overweight class mate in order to win her heart. They kiss...photos are taken. Comments are made and Oliver defends his Jordana, sparks fly and they become a couple.... sorta.
The Kiss
The pictures
The couple
I found this Review by Steve Calhoun with "Time Out London". I love this bit:
The storytelling style which Ayoade lunges for with uncynical reverence and a cinephile’s passion (and maybe a little over randily at times – how many times can you evoke the final shot on the beach in ‘The 400 Blows’?) is a holy trinity of the French new wave, mannered American indies of the late ’90s and superior British domestic comedy. It’s a winning combination which sees sparks of imagination flying from most scenes. The shadow of 1960s French cinema falls most heavily over the film. Even the colour and type of the opening credits scream ‘Godard!’. It’s a fast-moving film and very much a director’s piece. There are jump cuts, flashes back and forwards, imaginary episodes and chapter headings. Nothing stays still for long and actors are often seen in silence.
Meanwhile, Oliver has noticed that his parents love life is diminishing and his Mother (Sally Hawkins) has taken an interest in her ex boyfriend and new neighbor who is a mystic/motivational speaker (Paddy Considine). Oliver's Dad (Noah Taylor) is a Marine Biologist that seems to a naturally depressed personality type. As Oliver and Jordana become more emotionally involved he discovers that her Mom has a brain tumour.
Oliver joins Jordana and her parents for an early New Years dinner because it may be the last her Mother may have. Oliver gets scared and panics. He pushes Jordana away and doesn't show up to the hospital for her Mothers surgery. Instead he follows his Mother to spy on her and the mystic neighbor. He is sure they're having an affair. He confronts his Parents about his suspicions. Jordana is hurt and writes him a letter expressing to him that "it's over."
Oliver falls into a pit of despair. He misses Jordana and knows he blew it. He tries to convince his Father to sweep his Mother off her feet again as he also tries to win Jordana back. No such luck. Oliver remembers the good times Jordana and him had together (in a film montage). After following his mother, Olivers sees her go into the Mystic/neighbors van and drive off. In a fit of rage he breaks into his neighbors house, takes pills, drinks whisky and pisses all over his motivational speaking DVD's.
Oliver wakes up in his bed to the site of his parents. They have joined forces to care for their son and have decided to give their relationship another go.
Oliver still has Jordana on his mind. He takes a walk only to find her at the shore with her dog. They talk and he apologizes for being a dick. He comes to find that her mother has survived the brain surgery. The waves crash against them. Everything is calm.
XOXO
