LONDINIUM
UK, 2001, 87 minutes, Colour.
Mike Binder, Colin Firth, Mariel Hemingway, Irene Jacobs, Stephen Fry, Jack Dee, Stephen Marcus, Christopher Lawford.
Directed by Mike Binder.
Londinium will be enjoyed by those who are in a relaxed frame of mind. It may irritate others who are not sympathetic to the central characters and their falling in and out of love.
Mike Binder has written a number of films and directed a number of them. He went from Blankman, a silly comedy with Damon Wayans to such serious films as The Upside of Anger with Kevin Costner and Joan Allen as well as the Adam Sandler comedy, Reign Over Me.
Some commentators have likened this film to a Woody Allen film. The comparison is useful. The film relies on four characters living in London, working on media projects, especially television and theatre, their marriages, their betrayals, their falling in and out of love, their careers. The film also focuses on dialogue, an important factor in interactions as in Woody Allen films. There is the sardonic Allen-like touch.
Colin Firth and Mariel Hemingway portray a married couple working in television. He is a producer, she is an actress. They become friends with the writer, played by Mike Binder, who comes from Los Angeles. He becomes involved with the actress’s makeup artist, played by Irene Jacob. The writer and the makeup artist marry. However, the writer has a roving eye and the actress is unsatisfied in her marriage. He sets up a situation where they spy on the producer and the makeup artist. When the revelation happens, the producer and the makeup artist marry.
The group still remain friends. However, the actress wants to go back to Los Angeles for an opportunity in television and theatre. The makeup artist writes a book about London and is invited to Rome to write another book. She offers her husband an ultimatum. He goes.
In the supporting cast are Jack Dee and Stephen Marcus who also work at the television station and are friends of the producer. Stephen Fry is an industrial mediator who is asked to act as a therapist. Christopher Lawford is a smooth-talking agent.
Why the film is called Londinium seems a touch pretentious. However, there are many scenes of London itself which those who like the city will enjoy.
1.The work of Mike Binder? Writing and directing? Acting?
2.The style of the film, the comparisons with Woody Allen? Woody Allen in London? Characters, situations, relationships? Manner of speaking? Ironies?
3.The London settings, the beauty of the city? The countryside? The studios, flats? Authentic atmosphere? Musical score?
4.The opening, the picnic, the characters? Fiona’s voice-over? The flashbacks to Ben’s arrival in London, the sitcom, the situations, their getting to know each other? The development of the relationships, betrayals, in and out of love? Marriage? Confrontations?
5.The group as a foursome, their time together, interactions, at work, their different jobs, in London, walking around, museums…? In the countryside? At the wedding?
6.Ben, the American background, the writer, arrival in London, his roving eye? With Fiona, the affair? His interest in Carly? The passing of time, his hearing the story about the bed-and-breakfast with thin walls? His setting up Allen and Fiona, Carly and Ben going to the B&B, changing rooms many times, overhearing the couple? The picnic and the telling of the truth? Ben and his cowardice, avoiding the details of truth? His being with Carly, her wanting to be in a play, the theatre, her death scene – and a success? His discussions with Davis about contacts, deals? Carly and her going back to America, his staying in London?
7.Carly, the actress, married to Allen, the brittle marriage? Going to the theatre with Ben, going to sleep, the drink afterwards, the kiss, the relationship? The incident and the bed-and-breakfast? The truth? Her being with Ben? Ambitious, the theatre, wanting a death scene? The incongruous death scene? Her poor acting? The opportunity to star in a sitcom, Ben writing for her, her going back to America?
8.Allen, the Colin Firth character? His description of himself as cold? The relationship with Carly? TV producer? Drinking with his mates, taking it out on them by the punch-up? His friendship with Glen and Davey? The marriage, his roving eye, the attraction towards Fiona, going out with her, the set-up for them to go to the B&B? The truth? The marriage? The difficulties of the marriage, the arguments? Fiona and her success? The invitation to Rome, his having to face a decision, liking to live in London rather than Rome? Their going to Nigel, the therapy, the humorous touches? The ultimatum, his going to the station, going to Rome? The final punch-ups?
9.Fiona, French, makeup artist? The relationship with Ben? The attraction to Allen, being with him, at the B&B? The marriage? Her success? Going to Rome, the therapy, the final decision, the station?
10.Glen and Davey, at work, Glen and his interview and talk to camera? At the pub, the fights?
11.Davis, smooth-talking agent, the deals?
12.The overall effect? Interest in insight into these characters and their difficulties, the resolution of their problems?
