Submarine Reviews

Oliver Tate: Her new boyfriend has an incredibly long neck. Just thinking about giraffes makes me angry. 

"A comedy that doesn't let principles stand in the way of progress."

Submarine is a great little coming of age story that honestly tells a tale of adolescent love and teenage problems. This is a film that isn't for everyone. It's a slow and contemplative movie that gets its laughs from the awkwardness of the protagonist who is entering his first relationship and doesn't really know how to go about it. The movie is refreshing in how it handles Oliver's life and how it presents him. 

Oliver Tate is a fifteen year old boy living in Wales with his mother and father. At the start of the film, he explains that his parents haven't had sex in 7 months and that he monitors them and just about everything they do. He also does routine room checks of his parents room. Oliver also has another interest, and her name is Jordana. Soon the two start dating and eventually they even take it to the next step. The relationship is handled rather well on screen, and it seems like a legit 15 year old relationship. Oliver's world starts changing when his mother starts spending a lot of time with a guy she had a past with. Now, he needs to save his parents relationship and hopefully his own.

This movie is beautifully made, with wonderful cinematography and fitting music. There's also a wonderfulness to the dialogue. It seems so honest and real. There's no big speeches about how much Oliver loves Jordana; only real words that a real 15 year old would speak. I appreciate the movie on a whole for being one of the few films that truly gets the teenage relationship factor. 

Submarine is a really worthwhile movie, and one that I would recommend as long as you like independent, sort of quirky, and quiet movies. I think I would like the movie much more after another viewing in the future, but as of now, I solidly like it. I haven't fallen in love with it yet, but I can definitely see that happening if I spend some more time with it.

'Submarine' is Richard Ayoade's directorial debut and although unique and interesting, felt overlong and sligtly forced. Quirkiness is a nice aspect in some films, it offers a refreshing change and can leave you smiling, 'Submarine' however decided to go on a one man (movie) mission into the deepest pits of whimsical comedy to emerge drenched in what can only be described as a coating of quirk that completely smothers the film.

When 'Amelie' did it, it felt just right, when 'Submarine' does it it becomes to much. The premise is still intersting and at it's core is executed well (the voiceover works) but overall I can't help but feel like it's an honest story with a load of rubbish on top.

I'm kinda all over the map with how I feel about this one. I like quirk, and I have found that once in a while I will enjoy awkward movies dealing with heartbreak and the awkwardness of adolescence and coming of age, but with this one, it really seemed like a mixed bag.

As I started to watch it, I pictured myself disliking it because it come off as forced, trying too hard, and being way too reminiscent of many other, often far better films. I had heard people say it took heavily from Wes Anderson, specifically Rushmore, and, while I could see that to a small extent, I was primarily reminded of Harold and Maude, mostly because of the overwhelming coldness and morosity of the leads. However, that movie was hilarious, subversive, and ultimately not that bleak at all.

This started to grow on me, and even though the characters aren't really all that likeable, I can't say I was really all that bored, even if I didn't find myself caring too much at times. Maybe the stylistic touches and cinematogrpahy had something to do with it. The film is maybe too obvious with its influences, but it does come around and become its own thing. That, and who says that all protagonists HAVE to be likeable and relatable? Ever see The Mosquito Coast? That's a great example of a terrific film with an absolutely loathsome lead character.

Okay, the plot: it's the classic story of a young kid named Oliver trying to find his place in the world who has his first real experience with love with a girl who is just as out there and awkward as him. I can't really call her the Manic Pixie Dream Girl archetype since she's more cold and not that perky, but she is kinda like WInslet's character from Eternal Sunshine, but as a young Welsh girl. All of this goes on while Oliver's parents's marriage might be ending.

The film is funny at times, but, and while I kinda like that it was downplayed with the laughs, it might be on the other side of quirky and whimsy as far as extremes go, meaning that it might not be light enough. Ultimately I did find myself happy for seeing the film, as I qas expecting it to be a complete ripoff, and it took a left and did the opposite. Yeah, I might not be totally happy with the direction it took, however, I appluad the film for not becoming totally predictable.

Craig Roberts is fine as Oliver, though he didn't blow me out of the water. That award goes to Yasmin Paige as Jordana, Oliver's love interest. She's a fascinating character, and, though I feel awkward about admitting this, she's actually really cute and adorable, and has this magnetic quality about her that makes her really desirable for some reason. If I were younger, she's the type of girl I might try to go for myself. We've also got these youngsters backed by some great odler supporters, namely Noah Taylor as Oliver's withdrawn dad and Paddy Considine as a self help guru and ex of Oliver's mom who starts to re-enter the picture.

All in all, I'm still mixed on the film. I do give it a small recommendation if you're in the mood for something different and want to see a colder take on this tried and true formula, but as far as specific grades go, I'd say strong 3 to no more than a very slight 3.5.

Submarine has it all - humor and heartbreak and awkward, awkward adolescence.

A comedy that doesn't let principles stand in the way of progress.

Great Film! Submarine is a film that borrows the spirit but not the meat of ideas from other films. Along with being very funny, It genuinely understands and insight-fully explores, teen anxiety and communication/perception troubles. The casting is perfect as well, each actor makes their character ring with an authentic and lively human truth. I'm not sure how much this movie adds to the canon of coming of age stories, but its gentle humor and sympathetic characters made it enjoyable for me and I hope it works out for you too.

Precocious Oliver struggles with being popular in school but when a dark-haired beauty takes interest in him, he's determined to become the best boyfriend in the world. Meanwhile, his parents' already rocky relationship is threatened when his mother's ex-boyfriend moves in next door. Oliver makes some unorthodox plans to ensure that his parents stay together and that Jordana still likes him.

Cast: Craig Roberts, Yasmin Paige, Noah Taylor, Paddy Considine, Steffan Rhodri, Sally Hawkins, Gemma Chan, Elinor Crawley

Director: Richard Ayoade

Summary: In this captivating coming-of-age story with an offbeat edge, 15-year-old Oliver Tate has two big ambitions: to save his parents' marriage via carefully plotted intervention and to lose his virginity before his next birthday.

My Thoughts: "This film is a perfect example of why I love Indie films. The characters and the story. They are always unique and like nothing else you have seen. Craig Roberts plays a quirky character named Oliver, who has an odd routine of checking the lighting in his parents bedroom that will tell him if they have been intimate or not. Oliver is concerned for his parents mariage and is convinced his mother is cheating on his father with her ex-boyfriend, who happens to be their new neighbor. Oliver takes it upon himself to try and save his parents mariage. As he's trying to save his parents and himself from the world of divorce, he ends up falling in love himslef with an equally quirky character Jordana, who is a bit dark but very vulnerable. They seem to be a perfect match and both have a lot in common it seems. But things seem to fall apart soon when Oliver finds he must choose being there for Jordana when she desperately needs him or being there for his parents when things take a turn for the worse. I really enjoyed the movie and found the script to be funny and smart. A great watch."

Heavily informed by "The Graduate" and "The Catcher in the Rye", this Welch tale charts the yearnings of the heart of a young soul not quite in synch with his callous peers ... except for the young girl who understands him. Inventively told with a smart script and nuanced performances.

Quirky films come along once in a great while, and good ones are as rare as unicorns. Submarine has many quirks that have been done before, that aren't all that surprising in nature, and aren't extremely dark or funny at times. Still, it is imaginative, sweet, tender, delicate, and has a tone and structure that you just don't see anymore. So many films are trying to be some outlandish Wes Anderson ripoff nowadays, that when a film really has potential it's hard to fight for amongst the barrage of crap. Submarine isn't hard to vy for. The story follows around the earnest thoughts of Oliver Tate, who is a pernicious teenager from Wales, far too insightful into the relationship of his parents and not thoughtful enough about his girlfriend, Jordana. Oliver, though strange in many ways that are almost unbelievable, holds so much truth about the human condition. He's insecure, traverse, and problematic to his family and Jordana. Much of the film is Oliver spying or disengaging from situations by sabotaging the lives of those he loves. The characters are thoughtfully fleshed out to draw the most realistic situations between them. Beside the character structure being thoughtful, the casting was brilliant. Famous character actors Paddy Considine, Sally Hawkins, and Noah Taylor played the seminal grown ups who weren't grown up at all, and the youth of the film were portrayed by up and comers Craig Roberts and Yasmin Paige, who have each proved themselves before with indie English roles. The film not only hinged on their performances but also the dark vibe that kept it mysterious and yet oh so lovable. Though Oliver was an unreliable narrator through and through you could see his existential crises and the fact that it wasn't overblown thanks to youth. It is a love story and one of crisis, and doesn't have to be contextualized as one of juvenile ideas and mockeries of what traditional love is. Really, it's a false mockery, but one that will keep you thinking and wondering.

Very little in this film feels like it hasn't been done before, and yet, it's absolutely engrossing. The optimism that ought to accompany one's coming of age contends, in Submarine, with 15-year-old Oliver Tate's parents' marital problems. Oliver is introverted, to say the least, but the turmoil throws him straight into the arms of Jordana, an equally tormented bully of a girlfriend, and their unconventional courtship is a consuming, beautiful story of lovers in a truly dangerous time: high school. Some will contend that this one's on the precious side, but it's so well shot and the musical montages are so well done that you'll have a hard time not falling into it. Personally, I loved it.

Submarine is a pretentious mess of a movie. First time feature director/writer Richard Ayoade throws thousand ideas into his debut film and none of them actually works. For the worse he is stylistically stealing from director Wes Anderson and with catastropic results.
Submarine is like the worst film ever done by Anderson. Always high and aware of it's hipster touches and annoying jump-cuts and pointless stylistical solutions. Ayoade is simply trying way too hard for his own good.
There is nothing actually wrong in Craig Roberts' performance as a troubled teenager Oliver Tate but honestly, how many times we have to see these kind of coming of age stories where characters feel completely written with no authentic feel of anykind. That is the biggest problem here. It is hard to feel anything for character who feels so utterly written and artificial.
Yes, i cans see that Ayoade is aimg for a cute little independent art-comedy with his film, but in fact he has made utter piece of garbage with no emotional impact of anykind. Avoid!

Submarine is the latest coming-of-age story, this time set in 1980s Wales, and while not breaking any new ground, it manages to be witty, stylish, and a completely winning portrait of a unique kid and his unique view of the world.

Oliver Tate (Craig Roberts) is a 15-eyar-old kid with two life goals. He's like to romance the rebellious loner Jordana (Yasmin Paige) and, if possible, lose his virginity in the process. Oliver is also on a mission to save his parent' marriage. Jill Tate (Sally Hawkins) has been drifting from her husband, Lloyd (Noah Taylor), a marine biologist who has been in a depressive funk for years. Jill's old boyfriend, Graham (Paddy Considine), has moved in next-door and begun to insert himself back in her life.

Submarine is going to be something of an acquired taste. It's almost drowning in whimsy, following the numerous affectations of its main character. Fans will say that the movie borrows liberally from Wes Anderson's 1998 film, Rushmore; non-fans will just say the movie cops to outright theft. Like Rushmore, this movie follows the coming-of-age trials and tribulations of an intelligent but lonely outcast, a wiseacre beyond his years. What sets this movie apart is that we taken on the point of view of Oliver. He often refers to his life as if it were a movie, noting dramatic moments that would be accompanied by dramatic music, and a solemn moment that would feature a crane shot rising above the ground but if the budget were low he'd settle for a slow zoom out (the actual movie chooses the slow zoom). "I have turned these moments into the Super-8 footage of memory," he remarks. Oliver is a student of pop-culture, an early Rob Gordon (High Fidelity), and as such blurs the line between reality and the movies. He will routinely point out film tropes ad then indulge in them. We are each the stars of our own stories. In this manner, Submarine separates itself from the idiosyncratic, miniaturized-doll house world of Anderson's films or the fanciful magic realism of Jean Piere Jeunet (Amelie). For me, the multitude of quirks were appealing instead of insufferable because we were inside the mind of Oliver, seeing his world through his unique worldview. This brings rationale for the whimsy.

Oliver is both an unreliable narrator and a flawed protagonist, a fantastic development. So often coming-of-age tales are mainly autobiographical (this one is based off a book by Joe Dunthorne), and as such the authors usually portray themselves as individuals whose chief fault is that they are naïve. Some life experience will shatter their innocence, usually a girl, and thus they will grow and learn. With Submarine, Oliver gains our sympathy by being clever but then he tests it with the compromises he makes to fit in. He engages in some very mean bullying all to win over Jordana. He's trying to seem so mature, using advanced vocabulary to provide the illusion of adulthood, but really Oliver can't comprehend the subtleties of social cues. Just when Jordana appears to be opening up and looking to him for need, that's when he botches it, acts kind of awful, and then justifies it in his head, like so many of us will do with our mistakes. Still, I never stopped rooting for this kid. I was rooting for him and Jordana to work out. So hard was I yearning for these two loner oddballs to have their happy ending, I think I pulled something (my dignity?). We can see Jordana through Oliver's infatuated eyes, but then we can also see deeper, see the vulnerability that comes forward that Oliver might be blithe to. Paige (The Sarah Jane Adventures) is a true breakout star and it's easy to see why Oliver is so infatuated with the charming lass. She's bruised but approachable, risky but relatable. We can see the connection building between these two, and we want it to continue (maybe that's my own high school experience speaking out). The youthful romance is sweet and unconventional without seeming like a coming-of-age folly, something that Oliver is supposed to learn some gallant life lesson.

The other plot development, the rocky relationship between Oliver's parents, is less resonant but it does provide for some fine moments of humor. The new neighbor, Graham, who practices martial arts and believes himself to be a New Age mystic, healing people by sensing their aura colors, just feels like a leftover Napoleon Dynamite. It provides Considine (In America) a springboard to act goofy, which he's quite good at. The goofiness of the character, however, cuts into the credibility of being a threat to steal away Jill. She may be caught up in this guy's tiny bubble of fame, but there's no way she would leave her husband for this doofus, even if her husband has been suffering from depression for years. Oliver's attempts to reignite his parents' marriage are plenty hilarious, but they're also informed with a sweet, if misguided, earnestness. He loves his parents and wants them to stay together. He doesn't want a ninja mystic for his new dad. Fortunately, Oliver's attempts to sabotage Graham are kept to a minimum and restrained enough not to resort to cheap slapstick or gross-out humiliation. Maybe it's the distinctive point of view steering the narrative, but the potential doom of the marriage never feels as portentous and heartbreaking as Oliver's hope at wooing Jordana.

Debut director Richard Ayoade, who also adapted the screenplay, utilizes every visual trick in the book to tell this story. If the main character weren't so amusing, and his plight so interesting, all the visual artifice might be exhausting. Instead it keeps the movie lively, crafty, and constantly wonderful to observe. Ayoade's also quite a talent when it comes to screenwriting. He smoothly captures the very mannered speaking style of Oliver. Then there are just lines that make you laugh out loud from the sheer absurdity of misplaced teenager awe: "He wasn't even considered hard until the Watkin twins famously stabbed him in the back with compasses. He said nothing; showed no discomfort as his shirt blossomed with blood poppies. His stoicism reminded me of the brave men who died in the First World War." Ayoade, best known for his starring role on The IT Crowd, will probably soon have a lot more offers to direct features once people get a gander at Submarine. The man's a natural storyteller and will be snapped up by Hollywood in no time flat.

Finally, the movie's lead actor needs to be good, better than good, if this movie is going to rise above the din of precocious, coming-of-age cinema. Roberts (Jane Eyre), hollow eyed and just a little "off" looking, handles the material with ease, never letting his performance transform into a series of tics strewn together. Oliver is straight-laced throughout, letting the peculiarities of his imagination and worldview seem ordinary. Roberts doesn't get overwhelmed by the material and makes a strong impression as a more literate, less rebellious, more anxious, less despondent Welsh version of Holden Caulfield (okay, so maybe that allusion doesn't hold).

Submarine is an unfailingly entertaining vehicle full of quirk and humor and surprising heart. Oliver's relationship with Jordana is sweet and mildly touching. I was surprised at how emotionally invested I was in their romance. The movie is also refreshingly low in angst, resorting more to Oliver's comic anxieties and insecurities. It certainly owes a debt to Anderson's Rushmore, but submarine is so good, so thrilling in its creative voice, that it can stand outside the mighty shadow of Anderson and his indomitable influence.

Nate's Grade: A-

'Submarine'. Sweet, charming, off-beat and hilarious; adorable from start to finish.

Craig Roberts and Yasmin Paige are wonderful, and together with Richard Ayoade's quirky, but beautiful direction, exude the reckless, carefree highs and lows of childhood and love. Noah Taylor's wacky father deserves a special mention too.

Alex Turner's songs are gorgeous, and having heard the soundtrack on and off for months now, it was great to see it realised on the big screen, fitting in so well with the film.

Was I in a bad mood when I watched this? I'm not sure, but I expected a really good movie considering the high ratings. It was just so-so to me. I can count on three fingers how many times I chuckled. Hmmmm....

I saw this on DVD, so that may account for the fact that I couldn't understand a lot of it--the Welsh accents, that is. But that's where the sub-title button comes in handy. It was charming, however, and different from the usual cookie-cutter Hollywood fare we are fed about teenaged boys. But having said that, I don't think that teenaged boys give a rat's ass about their parents' marriage, which thought kept intruding and kept me from ultimately enjoying the movie as much as I wanted to as he ran around trying to save that marriage. I liked his romance with Jordana and I liked that he welched out (hmmm, where did that come from?) on Joranda when her mother was possibly dying. And there is an enjoyable sweetness to foreign movies in that you aren't waiting for someone to plug the main character with a bullet. But just because it wasn't great, doesn't mean it wasn't good, which it was and I ultimately watched the whole thing which is not always the case on DVDs which I watch in bed.

'Submarine' is a brilliant quirk of a film that may prove to be endlessly entertaining and consistently fresh. Whether it's the awesome soundtrack (Alex Turner is as amazing as ever) , the great cinematography, or the dynamic editing, 'Submarine' fires on all cylinders. Craig Roberts turns in a delightful performance that evokes both pity and laughter. Richard Ayoade seems to prove he is talent to watch for in years to come. 'Submarine' is an honest, candid, quirky, fun, splendid, brilliant film, and I want to see it again already.

Buoyant and uplifting without being too twee.

Richard Ayoade presents a coming of age story in a very Wes Anderson style. Submarine is a fresh comedy with a hint of deeper messages. However, if you're looking for it, there is so much more depth to the story. Ayoade's neurotic style never fails to entertain throughout the entirety of the film.

A comedy that doesn't let principles stand in the way of progress.

Deep

With no pun intended - Submarine is one of the deepest movie I have yet seen in all of my life. Dripping with themes and life lessons, Oliver Tale takes us all in a journey of understanding the basic principles in life. Along with a great plot, Submarine's originality, and beautiful cinematography and script, this is by far one of the best movies of the year.

Oliver Tate (Roberts) is a unique young adolescent, his curiosity and ambition to lose his virginity and save his parents's marriage sets him off on a journey to discover the true meaning in life. The movie and the audience follow the mind of the young 15 year old - all his thoughts and worries - and with him we are introduced to a whole bunch of themes and motifs that are perfectly portrayed, like the dichotomy between life and death, and what it actually means to be dead: to actually be dead physically or to be dead mentally. Oliver Tate's mind is the most intriguing yet most beautiful mind that cinema might have yet portrayed.

There are several reasons why this movie is groundbreaking: 1) The script is wonderfully written, 2) The uniqueness and aesthetic cinematography is jaw dropping, and 3) The gist of this movie is out of this world.

Based on Joe Dunthrone's novel, and Richard Ayoade - the director and scrennplay writer - Submarine is by far one of the best screenplays that has yet existed. The slow paced dialogue between characters is never dull at any point but rather engages the audience to truly understand what is trying to be said. The depiction of Oliver Tate's mind is so incredible, that like Juno, and Napoleon Dynamite, he shall have his name on the Indie star walk of fame. Plus, I have grand admiration for writers that are able to make comedy and tragedy appear indifferent on the same page, and Richard Ayoade does this very well.

The cinematography and photography in this movie is so beautiful; like never seen before this is the first movie that uses lomography (a very hispter style of older vintage photography) in it, and the outcome is just a heavenly like eye candy. The color used in every scene is amazing, and the way Richard Ayoade incorporates a retro style to a modern movie is phenomenal . There are specific scenes that shall be unmentioned in order to prevent any spoilers that are forever going to stick in my mind - its creativity, aestheticism, and impact is so magnificent .

Finally, the essence and gist behind this movie is mind-blowing. Dripping with symbolism, Submarine, is able to convey so many messages to audience. The idea of depression being seen as being underwater is rather interesting, yet more interesting is how the movie shows the struggle of a young boy trying not to follow the steps of his depressed parents and become drowned over water (this can be even seen in the poster). Every single scene has something to offer, a lesson to learn, a scene worth analyzing. Like reading a great powerful novel, Submarine (The Movie) was able to touch me profoundly, no pun intended. This is a movie that should be studied by anyone, from psychologists to cinematographers, this movie is just brilliant.

And ofcourse like any other normal movie, the Acting is still very important. Overall the acting in this movie is great, with fresh new faces of young actors, like Craig Roberts, and Yasmin Paige, and great actors to, with some old faces like Paddy Considine, and Sally Hawkins the cast is truly great. FInally the Soundtrack goes well a long with the movie and sounds beautiful. I highly recommend this movie for Indie lovers, and for normal movie goers, its truly something to look up for. Definitely on my top list

Oliver Tate: "Most people think of themselves as individuals; that's there no one else on the planet like them. This thought motivates them to get out of bed, eat food, and walk around like nothing's wrong. My name is Oliver Tate".

"Most people think of themselves as individuals; that's there no one else on the planet like them. This thought motivates them to get out of bed, eat food, and walk around like nothing's wrong. My name is Oliver Tate".

Among others, references to Eric Rohmer, Woody Allen and, I take the risk to say, Godard (specially in the opening credits). A proper review coming soon.

Who knew Moss (Richard Ayoade) was such a brilliant director! He was a big part of the creative force behind The Boosh though for many a year, the style is different but is still impressive and just as creative. This film is very much a love letter to French new wave really, its influence is a who's who of great directors and movies. I vaguely remember Ayoade saying in an interview that Submarine was largely influenced by his favourite film, Louis Malle's Zazie dans le Metro but it's easy to spot Truffaut's 400 Blows among many other classics. The well established actors such as Considine and Hawkins are on great form but the two young actors, Craig Roberts and Tasmin Paige are the real reasons to watch. They both steal each scene away from each other, not in a competitive way but with such a natural and exciting playfulness. Both should have a long and successful career as should Ayoade, maybe his career should consist of 2 parts acting 1 part directing? either way, he needs to direct some more because this is a great film, one of my favourites of the year so far.