Empire of Light [Includes Digital Copy] [Blu-ray]

Director: Sam Mendes Sam Mendes

Overview

In the early 1980s, an old-fashioned cinema serves as a gathering place for the lonely hearts of a quiet English seaside village. Despite their disparate lifestyles, the townsfolk come together, their lives intertwining in several poignant, heartfelt ways under the lights of the matinee. Sam Mendes writes and directs the romantic drama. Co-starring Olivia Colman, Ron Cook, Colin Firth, and Toby Jones.

Product Details

Release Date:	02/21/2023
UPC:	0786936895186
Original Release:	2022
Rating:	R
Source:	Searchlight
Language:	English
Sales rank:	4,371

Cast & Crew

Performance Credits

Olivia Colman	Hilary
Micheal Ward	Stephen
Colin Firth	Donald Ellis
Toby Jones	Norman
Tom Brooke	Neil
Tanya Moodie	Delia
Hannah Onslow	Janine
Crystal Clarke	Ruby
Monica Dolan	Rosemary Bates
Ron Cook	Mr. Cooper
Sara Stewart	Brenda Ellis
Justin Edwards	Jim Booth
Roman Hayeck-Green	Frankie
Brian Fletcher	Brian
Dougie Boyall	Finn
William Chubb	Doctor Laird
Spike Leighton	Mikey
Jacob Avery	Colin
Jamie Whitelaw	Sean
Dylan Blore	Pogo
Adrian McLoughlin	Bill
D.J. Bailey	Mr. Podd
Tom Colley	Paramedic
Mark Goldthorp	Ballroom Instructor
Rod Arthur	Mayor
Mark Field	Constable Bramah
Tim Samuels	Receiving Doctor
Ashleigh Reynolds	Trevor
Dawn Murphy	Nurse
George Whitehead	Martin
Sam Boskovic	Chas

Technical Credits

Sam Mendes

Michael Lerman	Executive Producer
Julie Pastor	Executive Producer
Pippa Harris	Producer
Sam Mendes	Director,Screenwriter,Producer
Stuart Wilson	Sound Mixer

Editorial Reviews

Written and directed by Sam Mendes (Spectre) and set in Britain in the 1980s, Empire of Light takes place in a movie theater called the Empire. The Empire is failing, half of the movie theater has gone dark, and squawking pigeons occupy the other half. In the small seaside town, people still come to buy snacks and to see movies, but it is no longer the experience of grand cinema. Everyone and everything in the Empire looks tired. As the film opens, Hilary (Olivia Colman), the Empire's manager, dutifully lives her lonely life, eats dinner alone and has an unfulfilling affair with her boss, Mr. Ellis, played disturbingly well by Colin Firth (The King's Speech). Hilary is on an upswing as she has just returned to work after a mental breakdown. A young man named Stephen arrives and is hired at the Empire. He breathes new life into the theater's dreary corners while striking up a friendship with Hilary that exhilarates her. They are kindred spirits and outsiders in their small town. She is dealing with mental health struggles, and he is black in a racist town. They fall in love, and their love intermingles with the movie's themes. Racism, sexism, mental illness, and the daily struggle to accept oneself are prevalent in the film, marking the protagonist's struggles. All these themes delivered at once could seem muddy in less capable hands, but casting director Nina Gold (The Power of the Dog) has delivered Sam Mendes Olivia Colman (The Favourite) as Hilary and Micheal Ward (Top Boy) as Stephen. Ward is magnetic, sharp, and vibrant in this role. It is a showcase for any young actor, and he makes the most of each emotional twist and turn. He stands out in the role of Stephen. Here, Colman is given a role with substance, and the audience is in for a theatrical treat; she is outstanding as Hilary. Where the script falters, she can wring pathos out of each moment, and her ability to tell a story with just a look makes her a valuable asset to any film. Together, the two are well-matched. Cinematically, Mendes is paired with his longtime cinematographer Roger Deakins (Revolutionary Road), who captures the movie's grandeur and intimate moments with a skillful hand. Coupled with music by Trent Reznor, the audience is transported to the 1980s. For an audience who loves the 80s, powerhouse performances, and an emotional challenge, Empire of Light might be the right choice. 119 minutes, rated R.