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Set Fire to the Stars
An aspiring poet in 1950s New York has his ordered world shaken when he embarks on a week-long retreat to save his hell raising hero, Dylan Thomas.
Release : | 2014 |
Rating : | 5.8 |
Studio : | Masnomis, Mad as Birds, |
Crew : | Supervising Art Director, Director of Photography, |
Cast : | Elijah Wood Celyn Jones Kelly Reilly Steven Mackintosh Shirley Henderson |
Genre : | Drama History |
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You won't be disappointed!
Please don't spend money on this.
The best films of this genre always show a path and provide a takeaway for being a better person.
It’s fine. It's literally the definition of a fine movie. You’ve seen it before, you know every beat and outcome before the characters even do. Only question is how much escapism you’re looking for.
Superb reviews here of a magnificent film.One complaint.Too often the music kills the moment.When no-one is speaking, and also when someone is speaking, the scene would be more intense without musical sounds that intrude.Many years ago, in the 1940s I believe, H.L.Mencken wrote strongly of his irritation when musical sounds were introduced into films for dramatic effect.This is a film largely about the spoken word and human frailties, in brilliantly simple black-ands-white settings that are intimate whether in a field, a forest or a cabin.Of course it's merely personal opinion, but to me the music here merely clutters a classic.
Beautifully shot in black and white, this film offers a unique insight into Dylan Thomas' tortured soul...and more It's a sensitive yet gritty portrayal that keeps you hooked throughout. Celyn Jones and Elijah Wood have a natural chemistry on screen in their respective roles, with top class acting completing this gorgeous work of art. Jones' energy and dynamism in particular is enthralling. Thoroughly recommend viewing. Oh, and the cinematography is stunning. Loved the ethereal appearance of Thomas' wife. Ps For someone that has not taken an interest in Dylan Thomas before, I am now officially inspired to read his work. Could you ask for any more?
If, like me, before watching Set Fire to the Stars, your knowledge of Dylan Thomas was at best passing, don't worry. As an introduction to, or companion piece to, the great man's poetry, it's beautifully made, with sensitive performances from Elijah Wood and Celyn Jones and amazing photography from Chris Seagers.Set in 1950s America (although shot entirely in an unrecognisable Swansea), academic John Brinnin (Wood) ferries Thomas (Jones) from party to public engagement, hoping to learn from him. As the film progresses we see his puppyish adoration fade into an almost parental love and disappointed frustration, as the mercurial Thomas delights and annoys in equal measure. It's a testament to both actors that at no point does the film tip into Odd Couple/Withnail and I territory, despite the game of emotional see-saw that Wood and Jones have to play. Supporting roles from Shirley Henderson, Steven Mackintosh and Kevin Eldon underpin the main performances nicely and is a solid nod to the acting talent available yet so often overlooked in the UK.The technical aspects also hit all the marks. Whilst black and white can sometimes used to give a film more weight than it actually possesses, here it works. During a second-act storytelling scene with Henderson and Eldon, there's an Expressionist feel adding to the atmosphere. Gruff Rhys' soundtrack takes you back to the 50s without resorting to Beat Generation cliché, and the title track will stay with you for days.Set Fire to the Stars is a clear demonstration of what the UK Film industry can achieve when it's not churning out identikit gangster films or saccharine Richard Curtis romcoms - measured, intelligent and with a clear love for its subject matter. Well worth a watch.
Everyone in the cinema was quite struck by the profound and beautiful movie that is "Set Fire To The Stars". You could see it in the faces of the audience, as each person figured out which message had the most resonance.This movie is much more than another biopic of an artist on the fringe of society. And for most audiences, it will be much more meaningful than Dylan Thomas's poetry. It took me a while to process the resonance for me in this movie. I had to filter the welcome enormity of Elijah Wood's screen presence and Celyn Jones' powerful persona. But they gave me enough gentle nudges and artistic clues under Andy Goddard's direction to lead me to the following conclusion: the purpose of this film is to unravel some of the mysteries of male friendship, and to lift the veil on hero worship (which Elijah must experience on the other side, in his real life) and, of course, where Dylan helped, it was on the transformative power of words. With all this colour going on, the superb aesthetic of the black and white film compliments the mood nicely. Tantalisingly the film gives no pithy answers, or sound-bitten sentimentalism. Instead I need to look inside myself, and perhaps within the poetry of Dylan Thomas, to find some of those answers. Or maybe I just need to watch it again.This review also needs to pay justice to the sheer entertainment value that is throughout the movie. I loved it - from start to finish. Elijah's performance is incredible. Celyn's character is jaw- droppingly intriguing (and believable), and the music from Gruff Rhys (of Super Furry Animals fame) is beautiful at all times and crosses a range of genres and styles. Everything is in balance, except Dylan's psyche - and that's what makes it fun! This is a monumental achievement, where intellectualism and pure fun entertainment ride side by side. Perhaps it is the start of a new genre - where intellectual movies have taken their heads out of the clouds and are doing it with a smile. I'm sure that's how Dylan would have wanted it to be.