Film Review: Submarine (2010)

"Literature made me forget about my own troubles, like a submarine and the sea, they submerged me so perfectly"

"Submarine" is the story of  Oliver Tate's transition from a lonely and confused child who submerges himself into literature to escape from his troubles into an adult as he struggles to make his parents' marriage work and sustain his own relationship with Jordana Bevans, his first crush.
It is based on a novel of the same name by Joe Dunthorne. I haven't read the novel but while watching the movie i could easily relate as the screenplay is very powerful. Moreover the names of the characters- "Oliver Tate" , "Jordana Bevans" are typical British names and the happy ending(Spoiler Alert).All these were obvious hints.

Key Ingredients:

1. One of the most laudable ingredients of "submarine" is the use of  satirical comedy! There is too much to mention but one of the scenes which made me laugh insanely was when Oliver says-"Mom you look good, i mean, you look good for a 40 year old".                                                                               
2. Another ingredient which i appreciate is Over-dramatisation of some of the scenes which were very appropriate to avoid dullness and clicheness. For instance what could have been a simple kiss was shown very appealingly! The first kiss between Jordana and Oliver was over-dramatised, accompanied by suitable camera movements,cuts and very appropriate sound(A train moving over a bridge).Even the location suited the mood of the scene. It really makes you feel what it is like to get kissed by your only crush. Jordana, smiling, holding the cigarette in style and directing Oliver to close his eyes and kneel down after she almost bullies him to hand-over the camera and then the warm feeling over his lips!click!click!click! Just look at the kiss scene between Aliya Bhatt and Arjun Kapoor in "two states" trailer, this is what i call a total failure in contrast to this scene!                                                         
3. The third key ingredient is very distinct and inventive style of direction.For a director, a debut like "Submarine" is very propitious.Some of the cuts are though are very random but the sounds have beautifully pulled off such cuts which itself has filled the movie with life!                                                                                                                          Some of my favourite cuts:                                                                                                                                   i."Why don't you go fuck yourself, fucking big gay?" 17:59 sound- crow caws                                                     ii.44:24-The camera angle slightly shifts forward and expression of a much later stage shows that the mother has been there for a while and she has been thinking about the conversation she just had with Oliver.                                                                                                                                                                                                            iii.The cut in the dream sequence from the hospital to the bridge.                                                                        iv.01:05 The very abrupt cut has been excellently pulled of by the soundtrack(ticking of a watch).The soundtrack starts just after Oliver Tate introduces himself .This cut doesn't only set the mood for the rest of the movie but also introduces Oliver Tate more than just his name.                                                                 
4. The fourth ingredient is Alex Turner's soundtrack. The light-indie-rock music perfectly suits the character of Oliver Tate as well as the mood of the movie. You may wonder that the songs were already the part of the screenplay! Just complete watching the movie. You will automatically fall in love with this character and won't stop humming these songs!

Legends: 

1. Oliver Tate: He still has to figure out who he is! The writer very beautifully conveys the message with these lovely dialogues - "I tried smoking a pipe, flipping a coin, listening exclusively to french crooners, i have even had a brief hat phase but nothing stuck".He fantasises about Jordana and is willing to give up his principles in order to get closer to her which works fine for him.                                                   
2. Dad(Lyod): An ocean biologist, he is emotionless, boring, under-expressive and looks weary.He behaves in a deadpan manner- even his happiest moment in weeks (when oliver gets a girl) is actually so usual.He is not at all romantic and so lost that he doesn't try to save his own marriage even after Oliver pushes him to.                                                                                                                          
3. Jordana bevans: A pyromaniac, having dumped by his boyfriend she wants to use Oliver to take her revenge but ultimately falls prey to his innocence, his truthfulness and his very silly attempts to woo her.                                                                                                                                                      
4. Mom: She is smart, but worried about his son a lot as she feels he is having those teenage delusions ( mental disorders). It is pretty obvious that Oliver has got those spying mannerisms as a genetic gift from his mother.Sick of her husband's sick behaviour and her monotonic life, she finds solace in Graham, her first love.                                                                                                                         
5. Graham: He is professionally a mystic but actually a total pervert who does weird things to woo women.He is over-expressive, a womaniser in a mysterious ways as he handles a single victim at a time.His seducing techniques are those of a "Rake" where he portrays himself as a victim seeking help from his victims.

 The acting is flawless, the direction inventive, the screenplay powerful and the soundtrack delusional, makes me rate this movie 8 on 10.