Son of Rambow

Last week I was able to attend a screening of Son of Rambow, starring two young actors, Bill Milner & Will Poulter.

Set in the 1980's, this film is about their fascination with a pirated copy of First Blood, which prompts the start of their own homemade sequel, against the wishes of their school and their families.

Rambow is fun and entertaining, but I didn't feel that it was anything extraordinary.  I'm not saying that Rambow was bad, but maybe I expected something a little different because of some preconceived notions.

Nick Goldsmith and Garth Jennings make up the team Hammer & Tongs, who started work on Rambow more than 8 years ago.  That's not to say they were constantly working on it, because they weren't.  They were in fact working on a studio picture for much of the time, known as Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy.

Perhaps some of you have heard of it?

Hammer & Tongs paid a visit to Flashpoint the day after the screening, and we were able to ask a few questions about the process of filmmaking, and how Rambow became what it was.  They talked about their lives during the process of making a film, and working with child actors (since there were plenty in this film) and what it's like coming off of a studio film and doing something on a smaller scale.

All in all, Rambow was entertaining, warm, and heartfelt.  Unfortunately it suffers from the cliche story line at times, and one of the side stories could have been done without.  I won't spoil it for you though, in case you plan on a viewing.

Later this week I'll have a report on the feature Formosa Betrayed, which I am currently interning on.

DM