Cineroom
  • Reviews.
  • Features.
  • Let's chat.
  • Reviews.
  • Features.
  • Let's chat.

5/3/2020

0 Comments

GFF'20: Olympic Dreams film review.

 
Picture
By Adam Ray Palmer
 
This is Jeremy Teicher’s (director) third feature-length film following his 2012 movie, Tall as the Baobab Tree, and his 2016 effort, Tracktown – also based on ‘Olympic dreams’ so to speak.
 
Set at the PyeongChang Winter Olympics, a young cross-country skier bonds with a volunteer doctor after her competition ends in the Athlete Village.
Joining Jeremy on the writing credits are the two main stars, Nick Kroll and Alexi Pappas. Kroll plays a dentist named Ezra, or Dr. E as he likes to be known by. Ezra is a smart, well-rounded individual who is searching for a ‘constant’ in his life. He enjoys watching the Olympics hence why he volunteered, but he longs for something ‘normal’ as a 37-year-old man heading in a direction that he isn’t completely set on.
 
Opposite Nick Kroll is Alexi Pappas who plays Penelope, a shy, introverted athlete who dreams of the sporting heights. In reality, she is quite the lonesome figure, with minimal friends, whether that be colleagues or actual mates. Her bunking buddy in the Athlete Village is the only person she slowly begins to let in, until she meets Ezra and begins to open up.
 
The chemistry between the pair is in abundance, but also paramount to getting the best out of the movie. The whole narrative is built around the them. The plot is by no means original, but what is interesting is how Jeremy Teicher structures the story telling. He takes numerous, specific scenes and splices them together. This is not a criticism, but an intelligent, snapshot look at how a blossoming relationship can have its ups and downs.
Picture
Picture
As a tender, delicate film largely portraying a mix-match relationship, the camerawork is a pivotal component in ensuring the delicacy. The movie is made up of at 80% close up and point of view shots. It’s like we are in the room with them, creating an intense look-in. It’s sensitively romantic rather than being over-the-top claustrophobia.
 
For example, there are multiple sequences where this technique really works. It is usually in one of two places – the dining hall or Ezra’s dentist chair. The film feels so authentic when it comes to relationships. There’s small talk, sarcasm, talking rubbish and those moments of nothingness. Those moments where two people can just be with each other and no words need to be said. Olympic Dreams get these scenes right.
 
It’s an enjoyable film, with a focus on how relationships can make or break your dreams. We of course know the title, but in reality, the Olympics is just simply the setting. It’s a lot profounder than first impressions. Yes, there’s comedic scenes, yes, there’s some safe, romantic sequences but it does go a little deeper than that at times. The unoriginality of the movie does constantly creep in throughout the runtime and it is hard to let that go. Thankfully, the performances from the protagonists are everything here – and certainly worth 80 minutes of your time.
 
Cineroom’s rating: 3 stars
 
Olympic Dreams screened at the 2020 Glasgow Film Festival as part of the ‘Window on the World’ strand
0 Comments



Leave a Reply.



    Picture

    Previous
    ​scribbles

    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    February 2019
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015


    Photos from
    our travels...
All Rights Reserved  ©Copyright 2020  Cineroom