Displaying items by tag: Alexandra Shipp

GLENROTHAN

UK, 2025, 97 minutes, Colour.

Alan Cumming, Brian Cox, Shirley Henderson, Alexandra Shipp, Alexandra Wilkie.

Directed by Brian Cox.

Have you ever been to Scotland? Have you wanted to go to Scotland? In the meantime, the scenery in Glenrothan, beautiful all throughout this film, will have to be some compensation!

The setting is a country home and a distillery, run by a family for 200 years. The present manager is Sandy, the welcome presence of actor Brian Cox (who is also directed the film). Cox has portrayed some harsh characters on the big screen and the small screen, Hannibal Lecter in Manhunter, Logan Roy in Succession. But, this film gives him an opportunity to be more benign. He is getting old, unwell, and very conscious that his younger brother left Scotland for America 40 years earlier and has never been back. He wants a reconciliation.

The plotline can be considered fairly predictable, going back over the past, harsh experiences, alienation, but a longing for reconciliation. (Interestingly, a number of reviewers, expecting a tough Brian Cox have been rather dismissive of the plot, some calling it “cosy” at best.) But, most audiences watching Glenrothan and will have hopes for that reconciliation.

The younger brother, Donal, is played by noted Scottish actor, Alan Cumming, who also has the opportunity to sing. There are flashbacks which explain Donal’s leaving, their harsh and demanding father, severe on his son. But, in Chicago, Donal has married, has a daughter and granddaughter, runs a blues jazz club where he is happy – but then, disaster, it burns down.

With a letter from his brother, Donal finally decides to go back, encountering old acquaintances, meeting Jess (a rather fiery Shirley Henderson) who is now managing the distillery, but she was the girl he left behind.

We know that there are programs for family reconciliations, for going back into the past, retreats called. Life’s Healing Journey. And, this is what happens here, an acknowledgement of wrongs, on all sides, the surfacing of intense feelings, continued experiences of uncertainty, and the challenges of age, illness, and the inheritance of the distillery.

Alexandra Shipp plays Donal’s daughter and Alexandra Wilkie is striking as his cheerful young granddaughter.

Yes, a familiar plot, an appeal to our deeper emotions and hopes. And, after some dramatic moments, some joy and relaxation as we are immersed in the Scottish landscapes.

1. The title, Scotland, the mansion, the distillery, the family, family problems, reconciliation?
2. The Scottish scenery, the beauty, inserting scenery sequences throughout the film? The musical score, the songs?
3. Sandy, Brian Cox’s screen presence, directing the film? Age, health, running the distillery? Reliance on Jess? His status, the family and 200 years with the distillery? The past, the influence of his father, the death of his mother, her graveside? His relationship with Donal, age difference, together, differences, observing his father’s treatment of Donal? Donal leaving, absent for 40 years, not returning?
4. Donal, 40 years in Chicago, from his 20s to his 60s, marriage, his wife leaving him, the relationship with his daughter, love for the granddaughter, the bar, the music, Amy singing? A life in America? Not remembering his father? Not wanting to return? No bond with Sandy?
5. The bar burning down, the insurance not paid up, the letter from his brother? The decision to go to Scotland? The fact that his daughter and granddaughter often went and knew Sandy will? The flight, the experience, arrival, the town, sense of alienation, sense of being at home?
6. The interactions between the two brothers, the memories, the flashbacks to their father, the treatment of Donal? His skills with whiskey, his father downplaying them? The relationship with Jess, together, riding together, his leaving, failing to communicate with her?
7. Donal, in the house, the memories, the tour of the distillery, some of the old characters from the past, George and his reaction? Interactions with Jess, the buildup to the flashbacks of his leaving, her marriage, daughter, her place with the distillery? The treatment of Donal? His finding the motorbike restored?
8. Donal, having time, to walk, to think, remember, his mother’s grave, in the woods?
9. The situation, finance, Sandy resigning, the sale of the distillery? The speeches, the announcement?
10. Donal, change of heart, not selling the distillery, Jess being in charge?
11. The financial situation, Chicago, the treasured whiskies, their value, the auction, the high price? Financial difficulties solved?
12. Life’s healing journey, the two brothers, the healing of the past, the reconciliation, the future?

SPACE ODDITY

US, 2022, 95 minutes, Colour.

Kyle Allen, Alexandra Shipp, Madeleine Brewer, Simon Helberg, Carrie Preston, Kevin Bacon, Alfre Woodard.

Directed by Kyra Sedgwick.

Perhaps a bit dangerous to use the word “oddity” in the title. And this film is something of an oddity, but a more thoughtful oddity. It has been directed by actress and director, Kyra Sedgwick, and features her husband, Kevin Bacon, as the father of the odd family.

The focus is on the son and the family, Alex, an interesting sometimes laid-back, sometimes aggressive, performance by Kyle Allen. We learn that there is grief in the family, the death in an accident of the older brother, Alex in the car. This weighs heavily on the grieving mother, Carrie Preston, on the professional gardener father and on the very businesslike daughter, Liz, played by Madeleine Brewer.

All might have been well if Alex were not brooding, wanting out of this world, caught up with a group who are planning an expedition to Mars, a one-way trip, an opportunity to make a better world. His mother goes along with it. His father, wanting to hand on the garden to his son, is patient, impatient. And his pragmatic sister cannot understand it at all. A visit to the sympathetic therapist, Alfre Woodard, conversations with the Russian assistant in the garden work, Simon Helberg.

The main interaction is with Daisy, Alexandra Shipp, who had wanted to be a successful swimmer, now works in her uncle’s insurance firm, has to deal with Alex and the legal consequences of insurance for his journey. She becomes the catalyst for his emotions, for testing his strength of intentions on Mars, for, so to speak, helping bring him down-to-earth.

This is a film of many details, in the garden, Alex contemplating himself and his physical preparations for his journey, difficult interactions with Daisy.

1. The title, offputting? Yet accurate concerning Alex?
2. The ordinary American town, home, the extensive gardens and greenhouse, the streets, children playing, offices, atmosphere? The musical score?
3. A film about identity, about grief and its consequences, about mental conditions, mental illness, obsessions and delusions?
4. Alex’s story, his room, the background of Mars, looking in the mirror, assessing himself? Explaining his ambition, to go to Mars, one way ticket, ready to leave Earth, ready to leave his family? His preparations, exercise, jogging, plants and seeds and fostering them…? The contact with the agency and the enthusiasm of the controller?
5. Alex and his family, his father, running the garden, getting older, thinking of selling, offering it to Alex and his refusal, his relationship with Liz, her absence, return, PR expertise, wanting to control him? His mother, her devotion to him? The background of his dead brother, the revelation of the car crash? The effect of the dead brother, favourite, his absence, grief?
6. Alex, dissatisfaction with Earth, wanting a new start, pioneering? The challenges with space? Its mystery? Its challenge? His explanations of himself?
7. His visit to the doctor, her questions, conversations, affirming him, challenging him? Certificating him? The families later visit to her, confidentiality, her explanations?
8. Financial issues, insurance, the encounter with Daisy, in the street, going to the office, her interviewing him, her scepticism? The initial attraction? Accompanying him to the gym, to the first-aid sessions? Talking, her story, wanting to be a swimmer, failing, coming to her home town, working in the insurance office, the meetings with Alex and the discussions about insurance? Going out, social, drinking, the sexual encounter and the consequences? Her accompanying him on jogging? Going with him to the mission control, her disillusionment? Her explanation of her cheating and taking the drugs, Alex turning it against her, her being upset?
9. The children, the games, the marshmallows, space? Building the space ship and the enjoyment of the takeoff?
10. Alex and his discussions with his father, refusing to inherit the garden, his friendship with Dimitri, the discussions, Dimitri at the family table? Daisy coming to meet the family? His father confronting him? Alex’s reaction, tearing up all the flowers? His father telling him to replant and his obeying?
11. The visit to the mission control, the truth about being an obsession and hobby? The consequences?
12. Daisy, suggestions to work for NASA, his inventions, the discussions with Dimitri and encouragement?
13. His change of heart, meeting Daisy, the apology?
14. Reconciling reconciliation within the family, his father’s future, Liz and her PR job, being at home, with the flowers, taking over? Calming his emotional mother?