Submarine (www.the-usher.com)

"This is the moment where you leave him and come with me."

Been fifteen years old is that time in your life were you start leaving childish things behind and prepare yourself for adulthood. For Oliver Tate (Roberts) this was his time to become a man and start thinking as a grown up. His first plan of action was to woo Jordana Beven (Paige), an intriguing girl who was a little kooky but might actually like him. This second plan could change his life however because he has started to realise that his mother (Hawkins) and father (Taylor) have been growing apart and he mother’s first love Graham T. Purvis (Considine) is back on the scene. Keeping his parents together could be a huge challenge and could definitely affect his growing relationship with Jordana.

The British Film Industry is filled with kooky, off the wall comedies but very few of them have the warmth and feeling to really make you care about the characters until you watch ‘Submarine’.

One of British comedy’s up and coming stars, Richard Ayoade is best know for his roles as Saboo in the cult series ‘The Mighty Boosh’ and most famously playing the nerdy Moss in ‘The IT Crowd’ but he is set to be one of Britain’s bright young filmmakers. Honing his craft directing music videos for the Indie band the Arctic Monkey’s and writing for shows like ‘Garth Marenghi’s Darkplace’, ‘Smack the Pony’ and ‘The Mighty Boosh’, ‘Submarine’ is his motion picture debut and it is a gem.

Based on the novel by Joe Dunthorne, ‘Submarine’ is a coming of age movie that is itching to become a cult classic. It tells the story of Oliver, a slightly oddball fifteen year old who sees the world a little differently to everyone else. Plagued by paranoia, uncertainty and a belief that his world could collapse at any moment, Oliver is a boy who desperately wants to become a man and he can think of no better way than losing his virginity. Now the problem is that he has no real friends and his parents are a little bit on the embarrassing side but that does not stop he pursuing Jordana Beven. Jordana is very similar to him, so he thinks he might actually have a chance. While things might be looking up in his own relationships, his parents, on the other hand, is heading on a rocky road. Through his usual surveillance and random searches of his parents room, he discovers that everything is not as good as he thought it was and with psychic Graham T. Purvis back on the scene, Oliver is torn between his own possible romance and keeping his parents together. This makes for a coming of age tale that is unlike most other teenage dramas.

Key to the film’s success is the cast. Richard Ayoade has gathered together a fine cast of British talent. Noah Taylor and Sally Hawkins are perfectly cast as Oliver’s overbearing, slightly strange and very kooky parents. Each of their performances make you understand why Oliver is how he is and each of them create characters that you would want to fight to keep together. Paddy Considine has some real fun as Graham T. Purvis, the man who comes between Oliver’s parents. His Colour System of living is hilarious but Considine’s approach to the character makes you believe in his self-proclaimed guru status and the fact that he is a bit of a dick. He also sports one of the best movie mullets you will ever see. The film is all about the performances of Craig Roberts and Yasmin Paige as Oliver and Jordana. Oliver’s love and his muse, Yasmin Paige’s Jordana Beven is the girl all boys secretly fancied at school. A little strange, weird and a bit dangerous, Jordana is a girl that you know that Oliver would be interested in. It is Craig Robert’s Oliver who drives the film however. He is in ever shot and narrates the entire film of his early life. This is an outstanding performance from Roberts and he is a star in the making as Oliver is set to become a cult character for the 10s teenage generation.

As a debut feature, ‘Submarine’ sets a high standard for Richard Ayoade to follow. Visually inventive, perfectly balanced and with a score and soundtrack that really compliments the film, ‘Submarine’ could be the British teen movie of 10s.

Audio Commentary with Director Richard Ayoade, Author of the original novel Joe Dunthorne and Director of Photography Erik Wilson
Cast and Crew Q&A's
Alex Turner's Piledriver Waltz Music Video
Through The Prism with Graham T. Purvis
Cast and Crew Interviews
Ben Stiller Message
Deleted Scenes
Extended Scenes
Test Shoot
Trailer

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2011