The Platform
is probably the site’s most lauded release this year so far. You can imagine how this was easily pitched. A high rise vertical prison has one cell on each floor with two inmates in each cell. In the middle of the cells, a platform laden with food descends each day. People can eat as much as they want in the time allowed. That means inmates at the top eat well, whilst those at the bottom starve.
Despite the intriguing set up and a very good performance by Zorion Eguileor as a long term prisoner, I ultimately found this disappointing. The social commentary was pretty obvious and hammered home too much, and clearly the writer David Desola had no clear idea how to end the story.
Rating: 5 out of 10
Isi and Ossi
felt like a breath of fresh air after The Platform. Isi, a billionaire’s daughter, wants access to her trust account to fund her attendance at culinary school. But her parents want her to go to college. To shock them into releasing her cash, she hooks up with Ossi, an impoverished boxer who also needs money for his career and to clear his Mum’s debts.
For the most part this is a breezy and bawdy comedy that reminded me somewhat of the excellent Sky comedy series, Brassic. The leads, Lisa Vicari and Dennis Mojen bring enough warmth to their characters to make me root for both if them, even when their relationship breaks down and they both start doing appalling things. The film does sag a little about two thirds of the way in, losing a little zip, but it does end pleasantly.
Rating: 7 out of 10