This page contains a Flash digital edition of a book.
07


the future of British comedy talent behind the screen.


In many obvious cases, certain films had stronger funding and included the talent of already well-known British talent (Brian Blessed and Nathan-Stewart Jarret spring to mind);


Films ranged between stylistic shorts, such as the dark, dramatic comedy thriller, Painkiller, (dir. Mustapha Kseibati) about a young man who gets more than he bargained for when he tries to rob a convenience store; to the simplistic 2-minute Doing It sketches (dir. Peter Snelling) that used teenage voices and goggle-eyed puppets to provide sharp bursts of funny about love in the average playground.


In many obvious cases, certain films had stronger funding and included the talent of already well-known British actors (Brian Blessed and Nathan-Stewart Jarret spring to mind); some focused on well developed characters and aimed to share thought provoking comedy that wouldn’t go amiss on the BBC today; others were all about the display of awkward exchanges between people and used witty dialogue and slapstick with the sole purpose of getting a laugh out of the audience.


Of the thirteen films shown, only three could be shortlisted:


Painkiller, Womble (dir. Robert Pirouet) – a film observing the embarrassing and hapless revenge antics of a man still haunted by his childhood; Tooty’s Wedding (dir. Frederic Casella) which was a superbly written and acted film about a husband still harbouring feelings for his soon to be married university friend and one time lover, and the humiliation his disparaging wife has to endure while he pursues some semblance of his passed time youth.


If this is was what the future of British comedy has to offer, then I think its safe to say, I’m not worried.


Robot & Frank explores our increasing dependency on technology and our decreasing relationship with the older community.


Frank (Frank Langella) is an old timer con–artist. Long since hanging up his burglar gloves he now lives alone, with only the weekly visit of his well meaning if not slightly patronising son (James Marsden) and sporadic video calls from his patronising and over-zealous daughter (Liv Tyler).


When Frank’s son insists on bringing in some ‘help’ to take care of the domestics, he gives him Robot (voiced by Peter Sarsgaard). Unsurprisingly Frank is loathed to show any liking to it, but soon enough discovers there are some advantages to having a multi- skilled machine by your side.


There is of course a darker prominent theme regarding


the state of Frank’s mind, but this film doesn’t shove it down our throats, the dialogue is poignant and creates a display of interaction that is very honest and logical – because how can a Robot understand anything else?


Frank is charming, smart and very, very cunning and it is through him that our feelings towards Robot are shaped very early on and throughout the movie. There’s an M. Night Shymalan style twist at the end, but if anything it’s a plausible one. Robot & Frank is so heartfelt, funny and genuinely pleasing to just sit back and watch.


LOCO London was an experience I won’t be missing out on again. With films such as KLOWN (check out my online review of KLOWN here: http://www.hotminutemag. co.uk/2013/01/hms-alex- klowns-around/) and Robot & Frank there is a real sense of variation and representation in comedy out there. What is even more exciting is the fantastic pool of talent coming from the UK, displayed during the LOCO short comedy showcase. Sharing our countries long-held tradition of self-deprecating humour and slapstick comedy, its nice to see that there is a new if not promising slate of talent waiting to produce quality comedy for our screens and that their voices are so different, everyone will find something to laugh about at least once in the many LOCO January’s to come.


www.locofilmfestival.com • Words: Alex K Image: LOCO London


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28