Steve, Hollywood Film Review, Picks And Piques, Johnson Thomas
Hollywood Film Review
Johnson Thomas
Emotionally compelling drama
Film: Steve
Cast: Cillian Murphy, Tracey Ullman, Jay Lycurgo, Youssef Kerkour, Emily Watson
Director: Tim Mielants
Rating: * * * 1/2
Runtime: 93 m
#Netflix
An emotionally poignant character driven drama set in 1990s, adapted from the book Shy by Max Porter, Steve follows headteacher Steve (Cillian Murphy) as he battles the looming closure of the institution and struggles with his own mental health issues. Parallel to this Shy (Jay Lycurgo), a volatile student is shown wrestling with his past and uncertain future.
The narrative focuses on 24 hrs in the life of Steve. The focus here is on Steve and not on Shy like in the book. He is the head of a boarding school for troubled young men called Stanton Wood. Steve loves his job, is devoted and has great compassion for the inmates there. But it is clearly taking a heavy toll on him. He is stressed out and beleaguered to the point of exhaustion.
The residential reform school for delinquent teenagers also has a headmaster's assistant (Tracey Ullman), the therapist-counselor (Emily Watson), and a new teacher (Little Simz)— who together with Steve must somehow maintain order in a chaotic setup.
Steve is very very tired - that’s how he describes himself when someone asks him. He wants to do good but finds roadblocks at every turn. We see Steve descend into frustrated alcohol and substance abuse. This is also the day when a documentary/news crew has come to chronicle life at Stanton Wood for a social media segment. It also happens to be a day when the pompous local MP (Roger Allam) decides to visit. On that day Steve also receives news from the hospital trust that the school buildings will be sold and the school itself will be closed without consulting the staff.
The students respond to their presence with bizarre behaviour bordering on dark humor. Shy, who Steve is particularly fond of, has run out of chances with his mother and has nowhere to turn to when Stanton Wood gets shut down in 6 months.
Mielants narrative draws you in and makes you feel their pain. We might not get much information about the other students but the battles raging within Steve and Shy are enough to make you feel strongly for them. This drama makes emotion its trump card. Oscar winner Cillian Murphy, in another collaboration with this Belgian director after “Small Things Like These”, shines with an emotively beckoning performance that subtly draws you into it’s soaking embrace.
Both Cillian Murphy and Jay Lycurgo are outstanding in conveying the trauma that Steve and Shy experience. They brilliantly capture the emotional seesaw that they experience in one chaotic day.
This is a deeply moving film that showcases the deteriorating mental health of it’s main characters. We become privy to a deeply moving portrait because of authentic heartfelt performances and fairly good character writing. The audience is sure to be affected by this strong display of emotion.
Johnsont307@gmail.com
Johnson Thomas
Emotionally compelling drama
Film: Steve
Cast: Cillian Murphy, Tracey Ullman, Jay Lycurgo, Youssef Kerkour, Emily Watson
Director: Tim Mielants
Rating: * * * 1/2
Runtime: 93 m
#Netflix
An emotionally poignant character driven drama set in 1990s, adapted from the book Shy by Max Porter, Steve follows headteacher Steve (Cillian Murphy) as he battles the looming closure of the institution and struggles with his own mental health issues. Parallel to this Shy (Jay Lycurgo), a volatile student is shown wrestling with his past and uncertain future.
The narrative focuses on 24 hrs in the life of Steve. The focus here is on Steve and not on Shy like in the book. He is the head of a boarding school for troubled young men called Stanton Wood. Steve loves his job, is devoted and has great compassion for the inmates there. But it is clearly taking a heavy toll on him. He is stressed out and beleaguered to the point of exhaustion.
The residential reform school for delinquent teenagers also has a headmaster's assistant (Tracey Ullman), the therapist-counselor (Emily Watson), and a new teacher (Little Simz)— who together with Steve must somehow maintain order in a chaotic setup.
Steve is very very tired - that’s how he describes himself when someone asks him. He wants to do good but finds roadblocks at every turn. We see Steve descend into frustrated alcohol and substance abuse. This is also the day when a documentary/news crew has come to chronicle life at Stanton Wood for a social media segment. It also happens to be a day when the pompous local MP (Roger Allam) decides to visit. On that day Steve also receives news from the hospital trust that the school buildings will be sold and the school itself will be closed without consulting the staff.
The students respond to their presence with bizarre behaviour bordering on dark humor. Shy, who Steve is particularly fond of, has run out of chances with his mother and has nowhere to turn to when Stanton Wood gets shut down in 6 months.
Mielants narrative draws you in and makes you feel their pain. We might not get much information about the other students but the battles raging within Steve and Shy are enough to make you feel strongly for them. This drama makes emotion its trump card. Oscar winner Cillian Murphy, in another collaboration with this Belgian director after “Small Things Like These”, shines with an emotively beckoning performance that subtly draws you into it’s soaking embrace.
Both Cillian Murphy and Jay Lycurgo are outstanding in conveying the trauma that Steve and Shy experience. They brilliantly capture the emotional seesaw that they experience in one chaotic day.
This is a deeply moving film that showcases the deteriorating mental health of it’s main characters. We become privy to a deeply moving portrait because of authentic heartfelt performances and fairly good character writing. The audience is sure to be affected by this strong display of emotion.
Johnsont307@gmail.com
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