Review of Submarine (2011) by Spencer S — 07 Apr 2012
Quirky films come along once in a great while, and good ones are as rare as unicorns. Submarine has many quirks that have been done before, that aren't all that surprising in nature, and aren't extremely dark or funny at times.
Still, it is imaginative, sweet, tender, delicate, and has a tone and structure that you just don't see anymore. So many films are trying to be some outlandish Wes Anderson ripoff nowadays, that when a film really has potential it's hard to fight for amongst the barrage of crap.
Submarine isn't hard to vy for. The story follows around the earnest thoughts of Oliver Tate, who is a pernicious teenager from Wales, far too insightful into the relationship of his parents and not thoughtful enough about his girlfriend, Jordana.
Oliver, though strange in many ways that are almost unbelievable, holds so much truth about the human condition. He's insecure, traverse, and problematic to his family and Jordana. Much of the film is Oliver spying or disengaging from situations by sabotaging the lives of those he loves.
The characters are thoughtfully fleshed out to draw the most realistic situations between them. Beside the character structure being thoughtful, the casting was brilliant. Famous character actors Paddy Considine, Sally Hawkins, and Noah Taylor played the seminal grown ups who weren't grown up at all, and the youth of the film were portrayed by up and comers Craig Roberts and Yasmin Paige, who have each proved themselves before with indie English roles.
The film not only hinged on their performances but also the dark vibe that kept it mysterious and yet oh so lovable. Though Oliver was an unreliable narrator through and through you could see his existential crises and the fact that it wasn't overblown thanks to youth.
It is a love story and one of crisis, and doesn't have to be contextualized as one of juvenile ideas and mockeries of what traditional love is. Really, it's a false mockery, but one that will keep you thinking and wondering.
This review of Submarine (2011) was written by Spencer S on 07 Apr 2012.
Submarine has generally received very positive reviews.
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