Talking Movies: Rise – The Siya Kolisi Story, Off the Rails and Look Both Ways
Spling reviews Rise: The Siya Kolisi Story, Off the Rails and Look Both Ways as broadcast on Talking Movies, Fine Music Radio. Listen to podcast.
TRANSCRIPT
Good morning – welcome to Talking Movies, I’m Spling…
This week, we’re talking about a biographical sports documentary, a comedy drama adventure and a romance comedy drama.
Starting off with a documentary now on Showmax…
RISE: THE SIYA KOLISI STORY
The story of the first black South African rugby captain.
Director: Tebogo Malope
Features: Scarra Ntubeni, Bryan Habana and Jean de Villiers
It’s hard to believe we’re already staring down the next Rugby World Cup in September after our emphatic win over England in 2019. A hard-fought victory, almost as iconic as the 1995 drop-kick final on home soil, this crowning moment turned Siya Kolisi into an international figure and veritable superhero. Through Chasing the Sun and Rassie: The Official Film, the trophy’s glory has been reframed from several perspectives, shifting from the maverick coach to his star captain.
Rise: The Siya Kolisi Story rewinds to before Kolisi was world famous, back to his childhood in the Eastern Cape, to the time of Mandela’s release. Unpacking the sociopolitical climate, this documentary offers an honest chronicle of the challenges Kolisi faced growing up in poverty against the backdrop of a divided country. The filmmakers craft a vivid reflection of Kolisi’s upbringing by way of dramatised cutaways and sequences as talent and a bit of luck helped him secure a rugby scholarship at Grey High School.
Rising through the ranks as a player and honing his leadership skills, this fly-on-the-wall documentary offers a holistic and personal approach, tapping into family, relationships, setbacks and opportunities. A celebration of Kolisi’s achievements, the rose-tinted spectacles are smashed in favour of a self-confessed dirty laundry list that borders on exploitation. From Kolisi’s strained relationship with his father to rockier moments in his marriage, Rise: The Siya Kolisi Story does overshare and regularly.
While open-handed, heartfelt and ultimately a triumph of the human spirit, the tone is a bit tabloid-orientated at times and latches onto the 2019 World Cup run to coast over the finish line on a rousing note with the Siya Kolisi we know and love. Rise is an eye-opening, spirited and deeply personal biographical journey in the vein of I Am Bolt, which while entertaining and well-paced, does seem to work against itself at times.
A satisfactory 6!
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Moving on to a movie now on Showmax…
OFF THE RAILS
Three fifty-something women set out to repeat the European inter-railing adventures of their youth.
Director: Jules Williamson
Stars: Jenny Seagrove, Sally Phillips and the late Kelly Preston
Off the Rails is a breezy comedy drama adventure about three women who reunite to honour a friend’s last wishes and recreate a Eurotrip with her 18-year-old daughter. Set to the hits of Blondie, the soundtrack recalls Mamma Mia in relation to Abba’s music, as spirited adventure and nostalgia intertwine. While no one spontaneously breaks into karaoke, the wanderlust of freewheeling through Europe has its charms and appeal.
The cast are game, allowing Dame Judi Dench to send them packing, but Off the Rails struggles with depth – content to splash around in the shallow end. The characters have their reasons for breaking free, living it up and reconnecting with one another, but seem adrift – simply reacting to a series of events and circumstances. As fun as it tries to be, the Blondie music, intercity shenanigans, whirlwind romances and train trip hijinks are more check boxes than lived experiences.
Off the Rails is not demanding and doesn’t take itself too seriously, which does help keep spirits high but the overall effect is rather underwhelming. Perhaps drawing on flashbacks from each stage of their journey could have added an extra layer of bittersweet nostalgia. It’s not offensively bad, but lacks the texture and substance to amount to more than a lightweight and nostalgic jaunt.
A flat 5!
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And finally a movie now on Netflix…
LOOK BOTH WAYS
Natalie’s life diverges into one reality in which she becomes pregnant and another in which she relocates to pursue her dream career.
Director: Wanuri Kahiu
Stars: Lili Reinhart, Danny Ramirez and Aisha Dee
Look Both Ways is based on the concept behind the Gwyneth Paltrow-led film, Sliding Doors, which splits the narrative into parallel realities after a woman misses her train. Instead of hinging on a train’s doors, this sweet comedy romance drama uses a pregnancy test, splitting the story’s events between Texas and California, offering a view of her attempt to reconnect with her empty-nester parents and finding fulfillment in her dream job.
Reinhart is reminiscent of Reece Witherspoon, cute, charming, naïve and adept enough to navigate both storylines, as the film toys with the idea of fate, timing and soulmates. Look Both Ways is bold in its split narrative approach but pretty comfortable and conventional in most other ways – opting to play within the safe limits of its genre. The offhanded comedy is amusing, Reinhart’s supporting cast reflects her glow and the writing keeps things fun, bubbly and entertaining enough to satisfy audiences. Ultimately, Reinhart’s magnetic star presence and lighthearted “romcom” vibrations add up to easy-going and crowd-pleasing entertainment.
A satisfactory 6!
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So just to wrap up…
RISE: THE SIYA KOLISI STORY… an honest, entertaining, spirited and eye-opening confessional sports documentary chronicle… A satisfactory 6!
OFF THE RAILS… a game cast attempt to ground this promising, breezy yet underwhelming comedy drama adventure and Mamma Mia wannabe… A flat 5!
LOOK BOTH WAYS… a charming lead, curious narrative concept and bubbly writing compel this easy-going romance comedy drama… A satisfactory 6!
For more movie reviews and features visit splingmovies.com.
And remember, Don’t WING it, SPL!NG it!
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