Blitz

Blitz is Steve McQueen’s homage to wartime Black culture and he has produced a meticulously recreated WW2 nightmare of a simple Lassie Come Home ish boytime adventure piece, crossed with something that wouldn’t feel out of place in a Dickens novel .


The story isn’t complicated.
Saoirse Ronan is Rita, a warm hearted mum of mixed race eight year old George ( a plucky Eliot Heffernan) They live in London’s east end with grandad ( Paul Weller) until George is evacuated . 
and it is here that the boy’s own adventure story starts when the boy jumps his train and in an effort to find his way home, fights his way through one of the worst blitz raids of the war.

Even in let’s-pull-together wartime Britain McQueen shows London as a racist melting pot, where white officialdom and villainy conspire to prevent George’s reunion with his family. And where the main hero is  kindly Nigerian Ife ( Benjamin Clementine ) who suddenly becomes George’s surrogate air warden father figure. He has the heart of McQueen’s drama, and shines in one pivotal scene when , in front of the admiring George he sorts out a nasty racist incident in a crowded shelter with incredible emotional dignity.
 
In a matter of a day or two George is kidnapped by  a looting gang headed by a grotesque looking Kathy Burke. Is trapped, 1970s disaster film style , in a flooded underground station and is nearly killed in the flaming dockyards near Tower Bridge as his poor mother waits at home with bated breath .


The amazing Kathy Burke




Like I said it a simple tale, told well. I loved it


26 comments:

  1. Barbara Anne9:46 pm

    Blitz might be too tense for me but am glad you loved it.

    Hugs!

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    1. Of course, this must be a different Steve McQueen as the one in The Great Escape and other wonderful movies of long ago.

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  2. Anonymous10:29 pm

    Sounds like a fable

    Keith
    Xx

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  3. Alexander McQueen always brings fresh eyes to any movie he makes. Sounds like another winner for him!

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  4. I didn't recognise Kathy Burke from your photo.

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  5. I would like to watch it. Sounds really good!

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  6. Wow! That sounds like a very powerful movie. And I didn't recognise Kathy Burke, either.
    Sadly, did you hear that Timothy West died yesterday? A fine actor. xx

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  7. Oh I love your review of this, I'm looking forward to this now.

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  8. Good grief - I hope that was all make-up on Kathy Burke! Although I like the idea of the film - it would probably make me cry so I won't be watching - I can't do crying anymore.

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  9. It doesn't sound the most relaxing of films to watch, but it does sound good.

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  10. Hope it comes to Netflix some day so I can watch it!

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    1. Anonymous2:14 pm

      It's on Apple TV+ from next Friday, November 22 - Bel Ami

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    2. Don't have that. Oh well...

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    3. I've just signed up for a free months trial subscription of Apple TV+ just to watch this film and Bad Sisters. Considering it would have cost me £34 to watch the film at the cinema (me and hubby ... I couldn't leave him at home, he sulks), I think even if I pay for a couple of months afterwards it will be money well spent.

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  11. Great aunt Edith, cousin Bob, and cousin Sally came to the USA as wartime evacuees and never returned home to England. Edith was a real sweetie.

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  12. Anonymous1:47 pm

    Plagiarism. Read that review already almost word for word.

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    Replies
    1. Anonymous5:33 pm

      Did you sit in the cinema with your notebook frantically scribbling down all the credits?
      Please acknowledge where you got your information from, credit where it's due.

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    2. The review is mine plain and simple and the fact you cannot refer to where I “copied” my review proves that .
      To check who plays who is easy just put the film In
      https://www.imdb.com/ for any factual details
      This constant criticism isn’t hurtful it’s ridiculous and a waste of your time.

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    3. Anonymous9:07 pm

      I'm aware that imdb is available for ratings and reviews.
      Thanks for the verification that you copied your review from the film review site imdb.

      Delete
    4. Oh do get some sort of grasp on reality , show me the review I copied, or fuck off,

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    5. Anonymous10:16 pm

      Jesus John don’t explain yourself to this silly bitch

      Lee xx

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    6. I think little Miss Anon needs to remember that this blog started off as a film review blog many, many years ago. John has a brilliant memory for the details and minutia of films and books.

      Delete
    7. Anonymous2:44 pm

      Sue it's Mr. not Miss. MR. Not that it's remotely anything to do with you.

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    8. To my mind you are a petulant little girl, picking fault at anything and everything ... therefore you will always be Little Miss Anon to me. And John is a friend, so it's got a little bit to do with me when someone is so downright petty all the time towards him.

      Delete

I love all comments Except abusive ones from arseholes