Save the Cinema (2022) User Reviews

Enjoyable bit of nostalgia

[Vindelander · 7/10 · 16 January 2022]

A nice gentle film with a very strong cast telling the old story of a lone voice inspiring others to action.

Based on fact and set in Carmarthen it shows the proud inhabitants standing up for something they really believe in.

I enjoyed it very much.

A pretty cool true story, but

[r96sk · 5/10 · 14 July 2022]

A pretty cool true story, but the film itself? Rather poor.

'Save the Cinema' is simply too on the nose for my liking, it's cringey in a fair few bits and even pretentious in others. It does have a good cast, though that aside it struggles to get away from the fact that it feels like a made-for-television Christmas-esque movie - literally so with the plot.

Samantha Morton, Jonathan Pryce and Tom Felton are as solid as you'd expect, though the Welsh accents kept taking me out of it - Pryce was born in Wales admittedly, yet even his accent sounded off... might just be me though. I didn't overly like any of that trio's, or their co-star's tbh, performances though, I just like Morton/Pryce/Felton from others things more than anything.

I wouldn't say this is a bad film, it's just a really lousy one in my opinion. I could see it finding an audience though.

Pleasant Enough if a bit Dull

[bobetjo · 6/10 · 8 February 2022]

A bit like Finding Your Feet - a cast of great actors given a rather tedious script. Entirely predictable with two dimensional characters. The film actually starts well with a show from the eighties and moves forward to the actors as adults and parents. That part actually works.

After that it gets a little tedious.

Only the allure of the masses can resist the commercialized tide of reformation.

[noshouse · 6/10 · 14 September 2023]

Oh my, the two points I picked up on were quite different from the mainstream. Firstly, the protagonist realizes in the end that what he should compete for is the title of 'number one.' Having this title can make the small town go down in history. It repeatedly tells us that in marketing, you need a unique positioning to be remembered. Secondly, the fact that many people used to perform stage plays caused the theaters to struggle to stay afloat because stage plays require a lot of personnel, meaning they need a lot of audience tickets to cover expenses. However, the protagonist chooses to screen movies, which instantly attracts many audience tickets as long as there's a projector. I can't help but reflect on how even what the human eye sees has transitioned from manual presentation to automated machine projection.

Badly Done. It Makes No Sense.

[drednm · 25 May 2022]

SAVE THE CINEMA is based on a real-life event but the film is not very well made.

A small town in Wales has a downtown theater that was originally a live theater then converted to a cinema in 1935. It's a mostly empty building but for some local stage performances. A dastardly mayor is working behind closed doors with a developer to demolish the theater block and created a mall-type thing (it's 1993). The mayor sneaks it thru an open town meeting, figuring no one will care and blabs about a revitalized downtown, jobs (the usual spiel). But the director of the live theater group fights back to save the cinema.

Samantha Morton plays the gallant lady, Jonathan Pryce plays the old fogy movie fan. Main problem is that the mayor is depicted as a cartoon character. The scenes of the amateur plays are way too long and the actual story is overly simplified, including the phone call from Stephen Spielberg with the OK to show JURASSIC PARK to make money.

Best part of the film is their obtaining a 35 mm print of HOW GREEN WAS MY VALLEY from a local movie fan (he's had it for 50 years) and the local Welsh audience being in awe of the story. But apparently no one in the town has ever seen a VHS movie or seen an old movie on TV. They gape at it like it was a dinosaur bone. The character Morton plays never even heard of the film or of GOODBYE, MR. CHIPS. Small-town life according to the movies. Everyone is a dope.

And of course the 50-year old 35mm nitrate film has no decomposition even though it's been stored in a closet (highly unlikely) and the Liz character has been working in the theater for decades but never knew there was a projection room? And the projectors, unused for decades, are all ready to go and need no cleaning or repairs? Things seem remarkably well preserved in Wales.

Unfortunately the story and the basic facts have been simplified to the point point of stupidity.

Charming and bizarre true story

[bob-the-movie-man · 6/10 · 27 January 2022]

This new Sky Movies offering, "Save the Cinema", is short on finesse but strong on Welsh charm. It's also based on a true story that I only fully dredged from the deep recesses of my brain as the film was running.

Positives:

• Notwithstanding my reservations about this one (as below), this was a heart-warming tale of Welsh grit and determination. It really has a lot in common with last year's "Dream Horse" in this regard. It's also (bizarrely) based on a true story.

• Note: I have deliberately NOT described the "bizarre" aspect of the story here, since I hadn't had that spoiled and it made the film far better for me. Although the facts hovered on the edge of my memory, I only progressively recalled them as the film went on!

• Aside from the leads, a wide array of Welsh acting talent is given the chance to perform including comedian Rhod Gilbert, Owain Yeoman, Owen Teale and the very attractive Erin Richards, as the mayor's assistant and love interest Susan. It also pins its Britishness to its sleeve (probably making it a tough sell outside the UK) by featuring Wynne Evans, the "Go Compare" man. It emerges that he has a genuinely interesting link to the film.

• It's also great to see Tom Felton on the big screen and NOT playing a villain for once! After roles as Draco Malfoy and the zookeeper in "Rise of the Planet of the Apes" (a brilliant and under-rated performance in my book) I thought he might end up as the dodgy property developer. But no!

Negatives:

• I thought the script was really pretty ropey:
• - The film clunks along with many lines that you really wouldn't imagine anyone saying in reality. At times Liz muses to herself out-loud as a device to move the plot along, when a "show-don't-tell" approach would have been perfectly sufficient.

-- There's a conflict injected between Liz and her husband David that seems false and purely added for dramatic effect.

-- At times the film overly signposts where its heading, killing any sort of suspense in the story (a 'goodnight' scene with Jonathan Pryce being a prime example).

Summary Thoughts on "Save The Cinema": This movie was clunking along, in my opinion, at around the 5/10 level for most of its running time. As Douglas Adams would have put it, it was "mostly harmless". Its ace-in-the-hole was the bizarre historical event that comprises the finale of the movie: an event that caused something irritating to get in my eye and an unexplained lump develop in my throat. For this reason alone, I added on the extra point.

"Save the Cinema" is available on Sky / NowTV Cinema (at least, it is in the UK)

(For the full graphical review, please check out #onemannsmovies online. Thanks).

Join the Cinema theatres Association to help save cinemas like the Lyric

[malcolmgsw · 6/10 · 19 June 2022]

I write as someone who tried qnd fqiled to save a local cinema.

So the story of Liz Evans triumphant effort is really uplifting. However it is badly let down by the script and the pantomime villain of Tom the Mayor.

Furthermore as has been noted elsewhere the showing of a nitrate print of How Green Was My Valley is courting disaster. Nitrate prints are only shown under controlled conditions as they are highly combustible and the fire can not be extinguished by water. So this could have demolished the buiding and its audience in a very quick time.

Heart warming

[chris_rowe-881-168820 · 10/10 · 16 January 2022]

I just wanted to note the other review for criticising a true story for being predictable, unremarkable and having not enough funny characters.... In a TRUE STORY, I mean imagine being that daft wanting the chuckle brothers involved just for some banter.

It's a heartwarming film about someone who cared about something which is alien in 2022, I mean care, not sit on the internet typing good words to look like you're a good person. It's just a feel good, honest film that shows you the hood in people.

Whilst letting governments tax people to near poverty we risk losing the traditions and charm that made this country great, at some point it'll become uninhabitable in the uk as it can't be cost effective unless you're in the one percent.

I miss how the uk used to be, community spirit, charm and togetherness, real togetherness not cheap clapping ploys for photos, but a real big hearted safe community.

Save the Cinema

[henry8-3 · 4/10 · 15 January 2022]

The true story of the Lyric, a much loved and used cinema / theatre in the Welsh town on Carmarthen is destined for demolition to make way for a new supermarket. Local theatre producer and mum Liz Evans (Samantha Morton) decides to stop at nothing to keep the Lyric going.

Sub Ealing type comedy, which, whilst pleasant enough and well lead by Morton, needs more fun characters and indeed laughs. Sweet to be sure, but unremarkable and predictable.

A heartwarming true story.

[magormarc · 10/10 · 15 January 2022]

With an excellent central performance of Samantha Morton, Save the Cinema will have you laughing out loud one minute and wiping a tear away a moment later. Morton plays 'Liz the Lyric' beautifully, and although she makes the part her own, it is obvious that Morton and the production team have had access to archive documentary footage with snippets of real life dialogue faithfully and skillfully re-enacted.

A stellar supporting cast (a who's who of Welsh talent) topped by Tom Felton as a town councillor and Johnathon Pryce as her inspirational retired school teacher are swept up in Liz's quest to save the condemned cinema of the title.

The fictional elements woven into the historical facts pluck at the heartstrings, particularly with Pryce's reminiscences of watching Goodnight Mr Chips, which led him to becoming a teacher. The film is a wonderful testament to the efforts of a women and the legions of helpers and children she inspired.

The accompanying documentary Save the Cinema: Behind the Curtain on SKY is a recommended watch, presented by two of Liz's real life sons, Mark and Wynne (of Go Compare infamy!)

Trash!

[dave-celia · 1/10 · 20 February 2022]

A poor attempt at a comedic approach to a true story with some Welsh caricatures which insult us - in particular the over-the-top comedic acting of the mayor.

Great little film

[stevestaxis · 10/10 · 15 January 2022]

Fun movie based on the true facts about how passionate people can do inspirational things , a great tribute to a woman who did more for the town than any politician and the people who knew her and the lives she touched.

More pantomime than history.

[bob-1135 · 5/10 · 16 January 2022]

Living just outside Carmarthen, I was interested in this film to see how it treated the story. Although based on fact, I found the treatment to be more pantomime than reality. We have the principal boy. Samantha Morton, being wooed by Prince Charming, Owain Yeoman (leaving his role as Rigsby in the Mentalist behind) fighting off the machinations of the evil and corrupt Prince, the Mayor, and of course not forgetting the bumbling police officers. The problem is these are real, identifiable people and how they will react to being portrayed in such an unflattering way is best left to the imagination, however if a number of lawsuits arise I won't be surprised.

The problem with filming in real locations is they always get it wrong, one minute you are passing Dryslwyn Castle, the next you are in King Street. Undoubtedly the highlight is the audience singing along with the film 'How Green Was My Valley'. Interesting but ultimately left me with a slightly bad taste in my mouth.

Enjoyable Movie

[jgold-88402 · 9/10 · 15 January 2022]

We really enjoyed this movie based on a true story saving a cinema in Wales from being pulled down. A real feel good movie and an easy watch with friends. Just the sort of film that you need to escape to after such a disappointing year with this virus.

excruciating

[charliegalloway · 2/10 · 21 February 2022]

Yet another godawful ,predictable and dreary British film rehashing the plucky underdog vs big business storyline .

This features a performance from Adeel Akhtar that is so bad it is like something out of Mind Your language ( I would imagine that wasn't their intention ) Ticks every pc box and has taken a gigantic $58,000 at the box office , tommy gofigure .

Will BBC films / Sky cinema /C4 ever make a good film again.

A Delightful nostalgic homage to Community action

[tm-sheehan · 10/10 · 28 May 2022]

Save The Cinema-

My Rating 10/10

Every now and then a movie comes along that totally enchants me and I think thank goodness for Independent movies like Maudie (2016) and Minari (2020) I was lucky enough to get a preview of this new 2022 movie based on true events and I hope it's shown in Australia very soon.

Save the Cinema "is a British drama film written by Piers Ashworth and directed by Sara Sugarman, based on the true story of Liz Evans, a hairdresser and leader of a youth theatre in Carmarthen, Wales, who began a campaign in 1993 to save the "Lyric" theatre from closure.

Almost 30 years have passed since one of the biggest films in history remarkably had its UK premiere in the Welsh town of Carmarthen . It was back in the summer of 1993 when Jurassic Park, one of the highest grossing films of all time, had its UK release. When Liz Evans contacted Steven Spielberg in a last ditch attempt to save the Art Deco "Lyric Cinema "from the wrecking balls of greedy developers.

I put "Save the Cinema ." right up there with other great British movies like Brassed Off , Calendar Girls, Pride, and Made in Dagenham to mention a few.

This movie is a great example of Community action to put heritage and art ahead of the tricky manipulative and corrupt actions of the greedy so called custodians of power and development.

The cast of the movie is delightful Liz Evans who at first single-handedly tries to save the village Cinema before getting the community of Carmarthen on side is played with humour and passion by Samantha Morton.

It was delightful to see Tom Felton who plays Draco Malfoy in Harry Potter give a beautiful adult performance as local postman Richard Goodridge.

Every member of the ensemble cast is wonderful in Save The Cinema including Jonathan Pryce as Mr Morgan the village elder, Erin Richard's as Susan the romantic interest of Richard Goodridge the Postman. Also a stand out performance from Susan Wokoma as the zany but sweet assistant hairdresser she adds plenty of humour to the film.

I read that the musical excerpts from the children of Carmarthen who Liz Evans coaches takes place on the stage of the actual Lyric Theatre as well as some exterior and interior shots .

There's a delightful scene where the villagers watch an old movie played on the original projectors which had been unused for decades but worked perfectly without so much as a cleaning.

A 35mm copy of the 1941 classic movie set in a Welsh Village had to be located to add the rousing Welsh Anthem scene . 35 mm film that vintage deteriorates rapidly if not stored professionally but the elderly projectionist they obtained it from had luckily taken care of it and it provided a perfect print for this beautiful scene.

Top marks to Director Sara Sugarman and Screenplay writer Piers Ashworth for producing one of the most entertaining and enjoyable movies I've seen in years.

I can't wait to see this on a Cinema Screen as it seems an insult to watch it on a television screen but at least I've seen it.

Family friendly film for very good cinema

[nige-lluest · 8/10 · 27 January 2022]

I actually saw this at the Lyric which surprised me with both the quality of the screen and also the audio which was excellent and (minor spoiler) obviously well worth the saving.

The Welsh accents were of variable quality and like many 'based on' stories many liberties were taken with both story and geography but the cast threw themselves at it and it raised both emotion and laughter.

The film won't win any awards but was excellent family fare that my whole family and as far as I could tell the whole audience enjoyed.

An wonderful experience all round and easily worth an 8.

Very moving and touching story.

[Filmfan68uk · 9/10 · 23 June 2022]

Reading some of the lower score reviews made me almost not watch this movie. In the end I thought I would try it anyway and I was so glad I did. It's just a simply great story and very well told. I knew nothing about the history, so it unfolded before my eyes. It held my interest to the last frame and even brought tears to my eyes. Highly recommended if you like British movies with a heart.

Lovely heartfelt movie about the love of cinema

[Ihaasakker-951-404859 · 9/10 · 14 January 2022]

A great film for the whole family to enjoy. Based on a true story. Had me smiling the whole way through. A piece of local Welsh history I never knew. It shows how the local community can fight against the bureaucracy successfully. Uplifting feel good movie.

Love a true story

[helenderbyshire · 10/10 · 3 August 2022]

Perfect to watch anytime as it's a lovely story and also true. Can't beat a good feel good. Get your popcorn and feet up and relax to this and anything with Samantha Morton in is always a winner for me.

The feel-good film of the year so far.

[patcal · 10/10 · 30 January 2022]

Nowadays, I like my films to be as far away from Hollywood as possible and this fits the bill perfectly.

The Welsh are endearing as is their accent and being around them for 109 minutes was just the tonic needed in these times. I was completely absorbed by the story and with the characters and there wasn't a dull moment. One of those rare films where you'd love to be part of a community of such people.

Despite the welcome and enjoyable presence of a couple of high profile and much-loved faces it was the wonderful Samantha Morton who took the honours with the lovable ensemble cast close behind - every single one of them.

Even the on-screen notes at the end were heartwarming (and revealing) so I'm voting this film as the feel-good film of the year so far. It will take a really good one to take that crown away.