Steven McQueen’s “Blitz” is one of the last remaining Oscar contenders left to be screened this fall. The others are “Gladiator II,” “A Complete Unknown,” “Here,” “Juror No. 2,” and “Nosferatu.”
Based on the buzz I’ve been hearing, it does sound as though if there’s one film that’ll crash the Oscar race then it’s “Gladiator II,” and none of the other ones —although I just heard from someone who saw Eastwood’s film and was really impressed by it.
With that said, “Blitz” is supposed to screen this week for NYFF press and premiere at the BFI London Film Festival. Last night, a cast and crew screening, open for the general public, occurred, and first reactions are not that positive. You’d expect a cast/crew screening to generate much more excitement than this, but that doesn’t seem to be the case.
Here are some of the reactions leaking online …
I think the film does a good job of showing an overview of the Blitz through a series of often powerful and moving moments. I don’t know necessarily if it ever breaks out of feeling like a series of moments. It’s a new enough slant on a familiar story.
It breaks my heart to type this review. I wanted to love this movie, being Ronan and McQueen. So clunky. Generic dare I say. It was one of my most anticipated movies of the year, but sadly this is such a let down. It looked amazing but I was not impressed with much else about this film. Ronan was good (when is she not?) But far from her best work. I will rewatch but right now I have to give a mid to poor rating. I will write more soon after a rewatch and thinking over some more.
Well, that was disappointing. It’s not an awful movie, or a Joker type of disaster, considering the current discourse. It’s just that expectations for Steve McQueen films are high for me. And despite the compelling and touching story, it didn’t stick with me, and just left a forgettable imprint […] Probably his first stain in what is an immaculate filmography for Steve.
There are a few more underwhelming reviews on Letterboxd. Suffice to say, things are starting to not look good for this film.
“Blitz” is said to be “pretty straightforward”. It’s a “hero’s journey” of a 9-year-old boy (Elliott Heffernan) trying to get back home to his mother (Saoirse Ronan), while exploring Britain during WWII. The film is intercut with sequences of the mother, named Rita, searching for her son.
The film’s PG-13 rating also impact’s McQueen’s intentions to show the full-fledged realities of the WWII. In that regard, it’s McQueen’s “most accessible” film, war seen through the eyes of a child.
“Blitz” skipped Telluride, Venice and Toronto. Instead, it’s set to have its world premiere at the 68th BFI London Film Festival on October 9. The film will release in select cinemas on November 1. It’s going to be streaming, on Apple TV+, starting November 22, just three weeks after its theatrical launch.
Of course, we all know the rule: take these reactions with a grain of salt rather than treating them as gospel. Still, I will say that the film tested like gangbusters earlier this year, and Lionsgate clearly has confidence.