Cinema UK

Cinema UK

A coincidence indeed that just as punters are being enticed back to the cinema (with an incredible 50.8 million people going in the heavily-hyped "summer of cinema" - 27%% up from summer 2006), the quality goes down the pan. Last year was also known as the "summer of the 'threequel'" - generally, studios were short on ideas, and big on budgets. This ego-centric load of fluff resulted sent cinema in pointless circles, and it still hasn't stopped, with Rambo having slumped lazily onto half our screens and the unwanted spirit of Indiana Jones looming dangerously. I'm probably going a bit far. Perhaps the latter is a bit more promising than Stallone's nonsensical mumblings. Maybe the Bourne Identity's "threequel" last summer represented a relatively new idea blowing away the cobwebs, and above all, a good film. But even then I'm clutching at straws, grasping at straws, whichever cliche you choose to use - cinema right now is just mediocre. What about the cinemas, too? Although asking that they take risks is probably useless (disregarding the issue of cinema food prices), surely cinemas based in the UK scaling back their utterly implausible emphasis on Hollywood isn't too much to ask. Brit directors repeating their endless loop of "lovably British" crime films and rom-coms would no doubt help. A little more like Shane Meadows's brilliant This Is England from a couple of years ago, please. British without the rancid mediocrity. The responsibility, therefore, lies with British film students, British Filmmakers - even filmmakers as a whole. Because all cinema needs now is some new ideas, some genuine quality invention, to breathe some life into cinema over here, and maybe make those in Hollywood go back to the drawing board. But don't count on it. Film students have a hell of a lot of power in the matter. It's a well known fact - recently something was passed around (I study film and media myself, by the way) about a Tetley Tea competition. The premise: Make us an advert, film students! The prize, best I can gather, was the satisfaction of seeing said advert being milked for all it's worth on the telly and the net. The prize is meaningless, but then again, it says much for what film students should really be doing. Rather than raising awareness of Tetley Tea, put your imagination into your own projects. You'll be helping everyone.

Dom Liddle

What do you think? I am interested.jobber316@gmail.com