Little did I know, when swinging my limbs on the dance floor to Melodies of Love, in March 2022 – complete with 80s attire, shades and a cigarette in hand – I’d be on the film set for a groundbreaking piece of cinema.
Almost a year later, this week, I was honoured to attend the prescreening for Georgia Oakley’s, Blue Jean. Given that the feature takes place during the dreaded enforcement of Section 28, what better time to watch than LGBT+ month? And given its North East setting, what better place, than Tyneside Cinema?
Straight away, everything down to the last detail stinks of effort, from the shell suits to the splendid sounds of 80s music. We follow the story of Jean (Rosy McEwen), a lesbian PE teacher from 1988’s Tyneside who draws a very forceful line between her work and social life – during a part of Britain’s history that is severely under-told.
However, although it takes place during a time when homosexuality was discouraged, that isn’t necessarily the only story being told here. More so that we have this person that doesn’t feel content with who they are and because of this the movie has such a wide appeal, reaching out to those who have felt like an outcast or haven’t been sure of their station in life at one point or another.
It communicates the struggles subtly, giving a rich sense of authenticity as we see an individual trying to blend in with society, even if it means suppressing who they truly are.
If mass rebellion in the third act is what you’re after, this isn’t the flick for you, as it’s a semi-fictional tale and that’s not how things actually transpired. Instead, it communicates the struggles subtly, giving a rich sense of authenticity as we see an individual trying to blend in with society, even if it means suppressing who they truly are.
Tremendous performances from the three leads (McEwen, Kerrie Hayes & Lucy Halliday) each playing lesbians at very different stages of “out”. But, from this Novocastrian film fanatic, a respectful tip of the hat to McEwen who nails one of the hardest accents to pull off in the U.K.
Hopefully, this opens more doors for those under-told stories and strong narratives set in the North East of England.
Jacked In Reviews ‘Bird Drone’ (2023)
Radheya Jegatheva brings us a captivating story of a lonely seagull who befriends a drone.
Jacked In Reviews ‘Red Fox’ (2023)
Red Fox tells a powerful tale of blurred “justice” and despair, as a bunch of deluded folk of faith hunt a homeless […]
Jacked In Reviews ‘Joker: Folie à Deux’ (2024)
The much-anticipated sequel to Todd Phillip’s groundbreakingly, grounded comic book movie is finally upon us. Now, […]
Jacked In Reviews ‘The Suicide Squad’ (2021)
With the same premise as the previous movie (and obviously its literary inspiration) The Suicide Squad follows a […]
Jacked In Reviews ‘Natura’ (2023)
From the opening shot, you’re immediately captured by an open woodland which truly readies you for being emersed in […]
Jacked In Reviews ‘Die Hard’ (1988)
To solve the ongoing debate for whether or not Die Hard is in fact a Christmas movie, Jacked In’s Jack, […]
Jacked In Recommends ‘Drive’ (2011)
Drive follows the story of a Hollywood stuntman/mechanic (Ryan Gosling) who also happens to moonlight as a getaway […]
Jacked In Recommends ‘I Don’t Feel at Home in This World Anymore’ (2017)
Putting up with all the unfairness the world has dealt her, the last straw is finally reached for Ruth (Melanie […]
Vampire Movies You Can Really Sink Your Teeth Into
Vampires have been around for centuries, vampire movies, on the other hand, it wasn’t until the early 1900s that […]
Jacked In Recommends ‘The Pagemaster’ (1994)
The Pagemaster follows the life of an over-cautious boy, Richard Tyler (Macaulay Culkin), who buries himself in […]
Behind The Scenes of Sam Raimi’s ‘The Evil Dead’
Back in the early 80’s audiences were met with a truly terrifying film that is renowned in the world of horror, Sam […]
Jacked In Reviews ‘Renfield’ (2023)
Today’s setting is the classic screen found at Newcastle’s Tyneside Cinema, with very apt red velvet seats in […]