Last Night In Soho Film Review (No Spoilers)

'Last Night In Soho' Focus Features and Film4

Edgar Wright, known by many for his film "Baby Driver" provides a completely different story with the same witty energy in this psychological horror film. Two bright actresses, Thomasin McKenzie (Jojo Rabbit, Old, King) and Anya Taylor-Joy (Queen's Gambit, Split, Emma) showcase their range of skill in this nostalgic love letter to cinema.

Synopsis:

"An aspiring fashion designer is mysteriously able to enter the 1960s, where she encounters a dazzling wannabe singer. However, the glamour is not all it appears to be, and the dreams of the past start to crack and splinter into something far darker."

What You See, Feel, and Hear

Today's generation yearns for the opportunity to experience what once was. Whether that's life in the 60's, 70's, or 80's and film is a perfect way to deliver just that. In this film you get the opportunity to experience the reality of life in London. Instead of other films that portray cities such as Las Vegas, Manhattan, Tokyo, or Amsterdam in a dreamy perspective, Last Night In Soho portrays modern day London as it is; busy, dirty, cold, and direct. The color scheme for this film ranged from a cold, blue and gray to the bright lights of a neon red and blue depicting the different era of environments that were taking place.

You feel a sense of unease throughout the entire film which is portrayed beautifully by Thomasin McKenzie. As you jump back and forth between modern day London to London in the 1960's you experience the exact nostalgia that you yearn for. With the psychological plot of the film and tension between the character arcs you feel a bit of angst as the film goes on. As a viewer, we've grown accustomed to the pattern of film; a protagonist experiences a struggle, overcomes that struggle through some type of diligence, and then faces that struggle and overcomes the circumstances. However, with the nature of this film you experience a different kind of pattern, one that feels a bit unsatisfying from time to time due to the lack of resolve with each transition.

Director Edgar Wright does a good job of staying true to language, body movement, and lifestyle as the film switches from modern day to the 1960's. You can easily separate the investment of time and money when it comes to acting and special effects. The acting was well performed in this film while the special effects seemed a bit underwhelming. The score was noticeable with 1960's London and throughout some of the critical moments of the film, however, the score won't be a point of emphasis when viewers leave.

My Take

This film was enjoyable with some noticeable setbacks. I thoroughly enjoyed the acting performances, especially from Thomasin McKenzie, Anya Taylor-Joy and Michael Ajao. The plot was a bit blurred throughout the film. You don't quite comprehend the minor details that build up to the climax until you discuss the story afterwards which took away the excitement and attention of what I was experiencing in present time. The special effects were a bit disappointing especially because they play a major role in affecting the viewer's emotion. I am a fan of nostalgia and I think Edgar Wright allows the audience to live through an era in a city that isn't depicted often enough. Wright's films are building more credibility as his resume continues to unfold and so far I'm pretty impressed with what he's given us and I look forward to what he brings to the table next.

Grade: 6.8/10