Empire of Light

 In today's exciting episode of "I Could Have Seen It ... But It Wasn't Playing," I look at Sam Mendes's romantic drama Empire of Light. What could have been a heavy contender at this year's Oscars got an apathetic release in December and only got one notice for the twice-awarded Roger Deakins's cinematography. It's ready to stream on HBOMax today. So, is the wait worth it? 

Maybe.

At the dawn of 1981, Hilary Small (Olivia Colman) is the duty manager of the Empire cinema in Margate, England. She lives a monotonous existence, which includes an affair with her married boss, Mr. Ellis (Colin Firth). One day, a new ticket-taker named Stephen (Michael Ward), starts working at the cinema. Stephen's youthfulness charms Hillary and they begin a relationship. 

It isn't easy for the both of them. Stephen, who is black, is subjected to racist mockery from a few locals. Hillary, meanwhile, suffers from bipolar disorder and was previously committed for it. Ellis hangs the threat of a return visit over her head. The Empire is about to host the premiere of Chariots of Fire, and he doesn't want her to ruin it. At least they have a supportive crew at the Empire, including Norman the projectionist (Toby Jones) and Neil (Tom Brooke) & Janine (Hannah Onslow) looking out for them.

 That pretty much sums it up.

What else can we expect from Roger Deakins other than greatness? Of course, you'll get it here. The film's money scene is where Hilary and Stephen wait for the New Year on top of the Empire. The already majestic seaside town at night is made grander when the fireworks start. Deakins brings out the best in the real-life Dreamland Margate Cinema, which production designer Mark Tildesley converted into the Empire. It's a cinema so majestic that its derelict portions look appealing. There's also a grand Reznor and Ross score to set the romantic moods. What else does it have?

I'll work my way up the cast. Mr. Ellis is irredeemably scummy, but it's still amusing to see him storm off in a childish huff when Hilary rebuffs a "meeting" with him. Janine is likable, while Neil is a welcome confidant for Stephen. Norman's an ok character; he gets his best moments when he teaches Stephen how to run the projector, and later obliges Hilary's wish for a private screening - Being There. Stephen's mother Delia (Tanya Moodie) and his friend, Ruby (Crystal Clarke), are warm presences. Let's get to the mains in the next paragraph.

Ward as Stephen is quite charismatic. He's quite affable and he fully endears himself to the audience when he nurses an injured pigeon back to health. He struggles to keep his cool in the face of racism, whether it comes from an obnoxious cinema patron or a trio of skinheads. He gets plenty of levity when he's with Delia and Ruby, though they're not on-screen with him that much. Hilary is sympathetic as we find her trapped by an exploitive boss and her mental health. She shines when she publicly reveals her affair to Mrs. Ellis. Her vulgar Hamlet parody overshadows the equally funny sound of Vangelis's Chariots of Fire theme coming from the auditorium. Hilary and Stephen's chemistry is believable enough, though not incredibly romantic. 

The titular movie palace is Empire of Light's biggest star. It's a marvelous window into the cinema days of old. Learning more about the mechanics of old theater projectors was more compelling than the romance. The overall 113 minutes tell a slow moving, yet surprisingly decent story. It's worth seeing for the illustrious architecture and cinematography. Or you can find something else on HBOMax. Either option's fine.