Movie Review: Empire Of Light (2022)

Genre: Romantic Drama  

Director: Sam Mendes  

Starring: Olivia Colman, Micheal Ward, Colin Firth, Toby Jones  

Running Time: 115 minutes  

Synopsis: It's the early 1980s in a small south coast town in England. Hilary (Olivia Colman) is the frumpy middle-aged manager at the Empire Cinema, a local landmark now a bit worse for wear. Norman (Toby Jones) runs the projection room, while the cinema is owned by the sleazy Donald Ellis (Colin Firth), who demands and receives sexual favours from Hilary. Aspiring architecture student Stephen (Micheal Ward) is the latest addition to the staff team, and the young black man establishes a friendship then a romance with Hilary despite the age difference between them.

What Works Well: Writer and director Sam Mendes embarks on a nostalgic journey back to the era of big movie theatres with lavish reception areas and grand staircases. Lovingly photographed by Roger Deakins, the Empire stands along the main boulevard as part of the community's fabric, although both the patrons and the building have experienced better days. Hilary is joined by Stephen at the heart of the tender drama, but the surrounding supporting characters are all treated with care and add welcome texture. Olivia Colman excels as a woman on the edge, culminating in a spectacular meltdown during a premier gala event.

What Does Not Work As Well: Too many themes are loaded upon two souls in pain finding each other. Mental illness, misogyny, racism, loneliness, infidelity, the hazards of a bi-racial romance with a big age difference, and social upheaval in Thatcher's England all compete for space. The "magic of the movies" thread that is supposed to stitch them all together is stretched well beyond its limits.

Conclusion: One simple romance, numerous weighty complications.



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