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34

can someone though genuinely please explain to me what the point of harris dickinson’s character was in this movie?? like what does he do??

3

To literally no one’s surprise, Saoirse Ronan is incredible. The day she isn’t one of the best things about a movie she’s in is the day the world ends.

5

A conglomerate of subjects and ideas poorly written, does not decide what it wants to be; is it a drama? a war epic? Maybe it wants to be everything, but it just doesn’t work.

Review by davidehrlich ★★★

It’s strange to discover that “Blitz” is the most anonymous movie that Steve McQueen has made thus far, as this pseudo-Dickensian epic — the story of a half-Grenadian boy’s quest to reunite with his guilt-ridden single mother (Saoirse Ronan) after she evacuates him out of London in the fall of 1940 — would appear to be an ideal showcase for his singular vision as a filmmaker.

Drawn towards subjects that allow him to interrogate and expand upon historical notions of resilience, the “Hunger” director has frequently returned to portraits of life during wartime over the course of his career as both a visual artist and commercial auteur. This one, set at the height of the stiff upper lip spirit that…

Review by cob ★★★

love how harris dickinson’s character serves no purpose whatsoever he’s just there to look fine as hell

5

Harris Dickinson is the most random casting decision ever for this film. Dude is just there.

Man, I really did not care for this. This does not feel like the same director who made 12 Years A Slave. Saoirse Ronan was innocent, but this felt deeply thin, disted, and uninspired.

I know Apple is desperate for some more Oscar love after failing to bring anything home with Killers of the Flower Moon, but this oozes Oscar bait in all the wrong kinds of ways and is much more akin to Empire of Light than anything truly worthy of winning awards.

The score is there but the tension never feels earned, the performances are all great but the emotion never lands. Blitz is just missing something, or maybe it is just something that felt all too familiar.

If this works as Oscar bait, though, I hope it at least baits Saoirse Ronan some more love.

2024 Ranked

Review by Kit Lazer ★★★

Saiorse Ronan shines, as ever, and even though the narrative oscillates between frustrating and slog at times, there are a couple of truly breathtaking (or at least incredibly interesting) sequences that would cause me to recommend this. 

Elliott Heffernan has a bright future!

1

Saoirse Ronan with this hair, makeup and outfits should’ve made a prequel to Carol (2015) instead.

Review by matt lynch ★★★½ Liked

I guess I see dismissing this as merely McQueen's impeccably crafted EMPIRE OF THE SUN recapitulation but I found its digressions on the very real and not at all subtle gulfs between communities in the face of a common threat really fascinating. Frankly I think he belongs in genre-adjacent cinema like this.

Review by Lillian Crawford ★

CharGPT, write me a film called ‘Blitz’ directed by Steve McQueen.

Review by Robert Daniels ★★★★ Liked

Steve McQueen's ”Blitz” is great and gutsy. It's a very good marriage between his artistic sensibilities and the elements of a throwback sentimental wartime picture. It's the kind of film (in its emotion and craft) that we don't get much of anymore.

3

I am always entertained by how British people either sound like Keira Knightley or Adele (not singing). Saoirse is a joy to watch no matter what accent.