Last night saw my first Cineworld Unlimited screening of 2023 and had a chance to see Olivia Colman in the new movie from Sam Medes, Empire of Light an intimate and rather moving story about love, friendship and connection.
Academy Award®-winning director and writer Sam Mendes’ Empire of Light is set in a coastal town in Southern England against the social turmoil of the early 1980s. Hilary (Olivia Colman), a woman with a complicated past and an uneasy present, is part of a makeshift family at the old Empire Cinema on the seafront. When Stephen (Micheal Ward) is hired to work in the cinema, the two find an unlikely attraction and discover the healing power of movies, music and community.
Hilary is a middle-aged woman who lives alone on the coast and has worked in the cinema for a few years,” Mendes explains. “She has a complicated past and some demons of her own but, in the way that ad hoc families can support each other, she has been embraced by this eccentric bunch that work in the cinema. She’s struggling to find a meaningful relationship in her life, when Stephen, who is open-hearted and gentle but still very young, also comes to work there.
Empire of Light is a film that I’ve been looking forward to seeing since I heard about it some time ago, not only is written and directed by Sam Mendes who has brought us Skyfall and the amazing 1917, but the film also features one of my favourite actors Olivia Colman who is always a delight to watch on the big screen.
I’d kept away from the trailers etc for this release and I’m glad I did, Empire of Light is a wonderful film to watch and somewhat emotional in parts and not just for the journey of the key characters, but also if you are someone like me that has a passion for cinema and the buildings that house the old theatre style venues that I used to go to in the early 80s.
The Empire Cinema in the film looks amazing with its decor from the foyer to the style of the cinema screens themselves, the old-style projector rooms with films on reels are a delight to see and it took me back to the days when I was lucky enough to see a similar projection room in my younger days.
I had a lump in my throat when Helen (Colman) takes Stephen (Ward) on a tour of the building and to the old restaurant now frequented by pigeons rather than customers and that the building once had four screens but now only two are used. It’s always sad to see buildings go like that and over the years I have visited many like this before they are either torn down or revamped, but I digress!
Olivia Colman brings us a powerful performance as Helen and you know from the start that something just night right in the way she is acting, but it’s not until later in the film that we learn why she is the way she is and this brings in such a powerful emotional moment as her emotions explode in various scenes.
Colin Firth is great as the manager of the Empire and without going into details, there is a moment early on in the film that did shock the majority of us in the screening, but that’s all I’m saying about that so as to not spoil it for you.
It’s always great to see Toby Jones in something and after his recent return for the Christmas Special of The Detectorists, it was lovely to see him on the big screen as the projectionist that really has a passion for the films he shows and the appreciation of how a film should be displayed.
Michael Ward is also great to watch as Stephen as he brings life to Helen and to others in the Empire, he’s a joy to watch and the scenes with him and Colman are nicely written and shot.
Talking of how the film looks, Roger Deakins (Blade Runner 2049, 1917) is the cinematographer on Empire of Light and the film looks great on the big screen, the 2.39:1 ratio takes you into the film perfectly.
If you are looking for a nice calm and somewhat funny in-parts film to see on the big screen then check out Empire of Light when it opens in UK cinemas on the 9th of January.
Searchlight Pictures presents Empire of Light written and directed by Sam Mendes. The film features a stellar cast led by Olivia Colman, Micheal Ward, Tom Brooke, Tanya Moodie, Hannah Onslow, Crystal Clarke, with Toby Jones, and Colin Firth.
Am Emotional and Wonderful Movie from Sam Mendes
Movie title: Empire of Light
Movie description: A drama about the power of human connection during turbulent times, set in an English coastal town in the early 1980s.
Date published: January 4, 2023
Country: UK
Duration: 1h 55m
Author: Sam Mendes
Director(s): Sam Mendes
Actor(s): Olivia Colman, Micheal Ward, Colin Firth
Genre: Drama, Romance
Summary
Empire of Light is an emotional and funny film that will take you back to the 80s.
Karen Woodham is the founder and owner of the Blazing Minds. She is also a Cinema reviewer and works with RealD 3D reviewing the latest 3D releases and IMAX, she has also had several articles published in various publications including the first edition of SFW Magazine. In 2015 she became an Award Winning Blogger and also has her website listed as one of the UK’s Top 10 Film Blogs.
