🎬 #109 Living Inside Someone's Head.
This week, I'm diving into the realms of the epic and the eerily ordinary, exploring two films that, at first glance, couldn't seem more different. Yet, they share a common thread: an immersive exploration of their protagonists' complex worlds. The world as they see it and experience it. Whether it's the vast landscapes of history or the corners of the human psyche, these films invite us into an experience. Plus, both their titles are names.
Happy choosing, happy viewing
Bry
FILM ONE: ALEXANDER
2004 Dir Oliver Stone
[2hrs 55 mins]
This film got a lot of hatred when it was first released but, even on first watch, I was a fan. It’s grandiose, ambitious, wild, crazy - over the top. But that’s perfect for a central character who conquered most of the known world in his 20’s. And Vangelis did the score.
In Oliver’s epic we step back in time, not just as an observer but as a participant in the the history. Oliver Stone's Alexander is a cinematic odyssey that transcends the conventional biopic to offer a visceral journey through the life of Alexander the Great. With Colin Farrell leading an insane cast, the film paints a portrait of a man driven by an insatiable thirst for conquest and the horrific solitude that accompanies the search for greatness.
Stone crafts each frame with the meticulous care of a historian but the passion and flair of an artist. The battle scenes are grandiose, yet it's the moments of introspection, the quiet, that give us a feel for the character’s inner world. The film is less about the battles won and more about the internal conflicts within Alexander. It’s a study in contrast - the glory of an empire against the backdrop of internal torment.
Like a mosaic, the colours of Alexander's world are both vibrant and somber, reflecting the two halves of his persona. The film, with its rich narrative and stunning visuals, acts as a window into a past that feels both alien and familiar. The stunning show piece for me is the sequence shot entirely on infrared film. Rendering the battle and locations with the vividness of a wild fever dream - Alexander is high on pure ambition and we see it through his own distorted vision of greatness.
TL;DR Alexander is a wild ride in the shoes of the one of the world’s more ambitious and tormented conquerers.
*Available for a small rental fee on Amazon, Apple, Google and YouTube in the US and to buy on the same platforms in the UK.
Fact: The film was considered a box office misfire when it came out, but performed incredibly well in the US DVD market. So well, that Warner Brothers asked Stone to do an ‘Ultimate’ edition - this version sold over 1 million copies in the US alone.
FILM TWO: TONY
2009 Dir Gerard Johnson
[1hr 16 mins]
From the grand to the grit. Tony is a deep dive into the mind of an unassuming Londoner who conceals a hidden life. This film strips away the surface of a normalcy to reveal the layers hidden behind the mundane. Gerard Johnson delivers a character study that is as compelling as it is disturbing, crafting a narrative that is both a psychological thriller and a poignant exploration of loneliness. The emptiness and sheer bleakness on display here is all the reminder anyone needs to stay connected to the people you care about.
Tony's world is one of shadowed streets and empty, brief connections, a stark landscape that mirrors his internal isolation. The film’s power lies in its ability to make the ordinary feel otherworldly, turning the simple act of walking down a street into a journey through the recesses of a troubled mind. Like Alexander, Tony offers a portrait of its protagonist that invites introspection, challenging viewers to look beyond an initial impression. You can’t help but feel for Tony’s awkward, ill-fated attempts to forge a connection with anyone who’ll give him the time of day.
The minimalist approach to storytelling, where silence and the cringe inducing reality of the moments makes Tony an experience that lingers long after the screen goes dark. I felt like I needed a shower and a nice tea after seeing it - anything wholesome and warm. It's a reminder of the power of cinema to explore the depths of human experience, to find the extraordinary within the ordinary. To be present in someone else’s blood-soaked shoes.
TL;DR Tony is a down and dirty portrait of a man on the edges of society, who can’t quite feel part of it or gain any meaning from it in a traditional sense.
*Available for a small rental fee on Apple, Google and YouTube in the US
and Apple, Amazon, Google and YouTube in the UK.
Fact: Peter Ferdinando, who plays Tony, lived in the character’s flat for the duration of the shoot.