![]() ![]() In a dry deadpan, with sentences full of twisting, uproarious asides, Ayoade started reeling off a few thank-yous, which he said was difficult given ‘the awful, egotistical maelstrom of self-doubt and worry’ he was experiencing, while adding ‘also I have a very sarcastic-sounding, insincere voice.’ ‘This reminds me of when we brought ‘Dodgeball’ to Venice,’ Stiller cracked as he first took the podium. With executive producer Ben Stiller making the initial introduction, the premiere also turned out to be one of the festival’s funniest events so far. Regardless, ‘Submarine’ is just the kind of discovery one comes to Toronto for - a moody, melancholy teen film that feels both timeless and up-to-the-minute fresh. Many people are already aware of Ayoade’s skills as a director and performer on British television shows like ‘The IT Crowd’ and his work directing music videos for the likes of Vampire Weekend. Sunday night’s world premiere of ‘Submarine’ - writer-director Richard Ayoade’s enchanting adaptation of the novel by Joe Dunthorne - marked, for me, the first real introduction of a potentially major new talent at this year’s Toronto International Film Festival. It’s what HAROLD & MAUDE would have been if they had met in high school.This article was originally on a blog post platform and may be missing photos, graphics or links. SUBMARINE is a story about growing up all while not wanting to get older. He’s the misfit that shows us how to understand those who are different. Oliver is the guy you wish you would have known in high school, but were too proud to speak to at the time. ![]() Everyone in this film plays their characters well, but it’s Craig Roberts who brings out the awesome in our Oliver. Ayoade takes us into the mind of Oliver, and shows us the truths and consequences of being a rebellious teenager. Dark comedy like this is relatable, at least to me, and makes the movie much more personal. At another point in the film, Oliver discusses with the audience that his parents haven’t had sex in over eight months, and he knows this because he’s been keeping tabs on the way they dim the lights in their bedroom. Cut to fake news specials, candlelight vigils, and interviews with fellow schoolmates talking about how cool he was. ![]() At the beginning, Oliver ponders how people would react to his death. Ayoade knows how to use sarcastic, awkward, and twisted comedy, and he spreads them out perfectly throughout the film. SUBMARINE was written and directed by Richard Ayoade, who’s best known as Moss on The It Crowd. Graham is a motivational speaker of sorts, and has a gnarly mullet and dresses like a ninja. Papa Tate doesn’t talk much and drinks water from the same unwashed glass every day, and Mama Tate starts acting weird when her former flame Graham (Paddy Considine) moves in next door. As Oliver finds love, the Tates are losing it. Oliver’s parents growing-stale-fast marriage frames up the second part of SUBMARINE. They set fires in trashcans and watch the flames. They sit and stare at each other in an isolated bathtub on the beach. Soon after, Oliver and Jordana are going steady, and they embark on a journey throughout the film doing things that people who are too cool for the world do. In high school, a bad reputation is just as bad as death. He types her an apology letter and gives it to her only friend, the lunch lady, but it never gets to the girl - Jordana gets ahold of it and swears to show the school if he doesn’t do a few things for her. While tossing her bag around to one another close to a pond, Oliver accidentally knocks the bullied girl towards the pond, sending her well on her way into the water and him to regret. Our love story is set in motion when Oliver, Jordan, and a small group of people chase around a girl in the woods. Well, and the girl who falls into the pond, she’s pretty important, too. These are the most important people in Oliver’s life for the duration of SUBMARINE. His love interest is Jordana (Yasmin Paige), whom Oliver notices has eczema from staring at her so much, and his parents are Lloyd (Noah Taylor) and (Sally Hawkins), whose love begins to burn out when an old, mulleted flame comes back around. ![]() Oliver Tate (Craig Roberts) wants the simple things in life: love, his parents to be happy together, light arson, and the world to express their sorrow when he dies. Here we go folks, my favorite film of the festival - SUBMARINE. Writers: Richard Ayoade (screenplay), Joe Dunthorne (novel) Director: Richard Ayoade Cast: Craig Roberts, Yasmin Paige, Noah Taylor, Sally Hawkins, Paddy Considine Editor’s note: This review was originally published on Septemas a Toronto International Film Festival review. ![]()
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