Before I Go To Sleep.

You can almost guarantee a full house at my local cinema, the Robert Burns Centre Film Theatre, when certain criteria are met. The film must star household names, and its story should be based on a best selling book. At this weeks RBC Film Club the criteria was well and truly met with a complete sell out proving the point. 

Showing was the second film directed and written by Rowan Joffe Before I Go To Sleep (2013). His debut feature film you may remember was Brighton Rock (2010) a remake of the 1947 film of the same name. He has also been responsible for writing the screenplays for other movies including Last Resort (2000) and The American (2010).

The evening was hosted by a very welcoming Rachel Findlay who explained that Joffe’s adaptation was based on the debut novel of English born author Steven “S J” Watson published in the spring of 2011. It soon became a bestseller in many countries, having been translated into over 40 languages. Watson studied Physics at the University of Birmingham before moving to London where he worked at various hospitals and specialized as an audiologist in the diagnosis and treatment of hearing-impaired children. He worked on his book in the evenings and at weekends. It was Ridley Scott that bought the film rights shortly after the book was published and it was Scott that hired Rowan Joffe to direct and write the script.

Rachel explained that because of the plot twists in the movie she would refrain from giving too many details about the film so as not to spoil it for the audience members that had not previously seen the film or read the book. But I think its safe to say that’s it’s a psychological thriller in the vain of say Henri-Georges Clouzot or perhaps Roman Polanski, but to be fair not quite up to their class.

Can you imagine waking up each day not knowing who you are....

Christine Lucas is in her forty’s; she is suffering from anterograde amnesia brought on by a traumatic incident that took place ten years earlier. She wakes each day with no recall; not knowing who she is or who the man is sharing her bed? He tells her he is her husband Ben, her only contact with the outside world, that is until she starts seeing a Dr Mike Nasch a neurologist at the local hospital who gives her a camera to record her thoughts and progress each day, and calls her every morning to remind her to watch the video in the camera hoping that this will lead to her regaining her memory.

....even with a loving husband by your side!

The story is very seductive and the movie is fine until its spoilt by a very cheesy ending that’s not really required and does not increase your understanding or enjoyment of the film. Basically it’s a “three hander” with the always excellent Ms Nicole Kidman playing Christine, RBC heart throb Colin Firth as her husband Ben, with a non villainous Mark Strong portraying Mike Nasch. All play their parts with a believability that is a credit to both the story and the film.  And despite its disappointing ending and the slating it got from some of the critics it still offers a pleasant diversion for those of you that enjoy a good intelligent thriller.

Brighton Rock

The question is of course did Pinkie Brown really grow to love Rose Wilson? Answers to be submitted to The RBC Film Club, I’m joking but you must admit it would make a good discussion.

Pinkie and Rose.

Rowan Joffe adapted for his first feature film Brighton Rock (2010) the 1938 novel of the same name by Graham Greene a story previously adapted by Greene and Terence Rattigan for the 1947 version of the movie directed and produced by the Boulting Brothers and starring Richard Attenbourgh as Pinkie a role he had performed in a West End play three years before. This film version sits at number 15 in the British Film Institute 100 List of great British films. The new Joffe version has changed the original timeline from 1930’s Brighton to the Mod and Rocker era of 1964.

Ida Arnold

Sam Riley (Joy Divisions vocalist Ian Curtis in Control 2007) plays the menacing and moody form that’s Pinkie Brown, a young murderous thug who has designs on the leadership of a low life criminal gang. Andrea Riseborough (Made in Dagenham 2010, Never Let Me Go 2010) is Rose a waitress, touching and vulnerable but with a hint of something harder, who witnesses the first steps in the demise of Mr Fred Hale. A love affair shrouded by a cloak of criminality forms between Rose and our guilt riddled Catholic, Pinkie. Ida Arnold, Fred Hale’s companion on the day of is death, is determined to solve the truth behind his murder and save the young waitress from the clutches of the evil Pinkie. The always-alluring Helen Mirren plays Ida with great panache. Other distinctive members of the cast include Andy Serkis, John Hurt and Phil Davis

This brooding British noir was very entertaining and I especially enjoyed the fact that it had been updated to an era I was familiar with and for me strengthening the narrative. My only grumble was the ending, Joffe, who also wrote The American the 2010 thriller directed by Anton Corbijn and starring George Clooney, bottled out with his sticking gramophone needle, when you see the film your know what I mean!