I'll be the first to admit I know little to nothing about the inner workings of film making, but RTB has honestly opened my eyes to how so little can do so much.
Without giving any spoilers, the story follows two brothers, Joe (played by Jack Howard) and Sid (played by Bertie), and the changes and strains their relationship has over the space of a few years.
It was not just the story and the acting that makes this film so excellent but also even the minor details that you might miss.
The title itself reflects beautifully on how the characters evolve throughout. Jack's character, Joe, is one that could absolutely be described as a rock that bleeds. As he guides Sid into adulthood, Joe is the rock. As the unexplained event draws closer, the brothers finally begin to connect once more and we see the rock being smashed and all its guts spill out.
Joe, naturally, wanted to lead his younger brother and be someone to look up to and aspire to be like. In the birthday party scene, the two characters are even dressed very similarly (see what i said about minor details. It becomes obvious that no matter how hard he tries, he cannot turn Sid into a mini version of himself. This is ultimately what drives the brothers apart and creates a year and a half's worth of silence between them.
Jack Howard is well known for his comedy work on Jack & Dean, but in RTB we see a whole different side of him. Joe is unlike any character I, at least, have ever seen Jack play and I was completely blown away by his acting abilities. I'll admit, it took a conscious effort for me to separate Joe the trained electrician from the guy that super-glued his hand to his face, but I cannot take away from how brilliantly he plays that part. You honestly believe the upset the separation from his brother has caused him, as well as all the other bad things that have happened, and are still happening, to him over the last year and a half.
When I found out Bertie is only 17, I was completely amazed. To have a talent like his for film-making at such a young age is incredible. The story he and Sammy Paul have created (although the scenario in which the bulk of the film takes place is fairly abstract) is relatable and thought-provoking.
Ciaran O'Brien was the head of photography on this film and he has done a spectacular job. Something as simple as the colouring of the shots is so powerful and conveys the progression of the story perfectly.
The film ends with a hauntingly beautiful cover of Here Comes The Sun, which aptly fits that final scene. As I got to Waterloo to get my train home, the original version came on shuffle. I mist have looked like an absolute fruitcake suddenly smiling to myself as I waited for my platform to be announced. As I said before, I know very little about film making but RTB is one that will stick with me for years to come and I will be recommending it to everyone I can. It's only 11.30am and I've already watched it 3 times today.
At a time where YouTube is beginning to have such a huge affect of popular culture, it is so refreshing to see creators putting so much time and effort, as well as their heart and soul, into a project. Having had a chance to not only listen to them explain their processes to the group but also speak to them one-to-one, it's hard not to see how passionate they all are about making something brilliant. They would rather spend months working on a film, and not upload anything to their channels in the meantime, than film something quickly that they might not even enjoy making just for the sake of content for those ever-demanding followers and that is something I really admire.
The title itself reflects beautifully on how the characters evolve throughout. Jack's character, Joe, is one that could absolutely be described as a rock that bleeds. As he guides Sid into adulthood, Joe is the rock. As the unexplained event draws closer, the brothers finally begin to connect once more and we see the rock being smashed and all its guts spill out.
Joe, naturally, wanted to lead his younger brother and be someone to look up to and aspire to be like. In the birthday party scene, the two characters are even dressed very similarly (see what i said about minor details. It becomes obvious that no matter how hard he tries, he cannot turn Sid into a mini version of himself. This is ultimately what drives the brothers apart and creates a year and a half's worth of silence between them.
Jack Howard is well known for his comedy work on Jack & Dean, but in RTB we see a whole different side of him. Joe is unlike any character I, at least, have ever seen Jack play and I was completely blown away by his acting abilities. I'll admit, it took a conscious effort for me to separate Joe the trained electrician from the guy that super-glued his hand to his face, but I cannot take away from how brilliantly he plays that part. You honestly believe the upset the separation from his brother has caused him, as well as all the other bad things that have happened, and are still happening, to him over the last year and a half.
When I found out Bertie is only 17, I was completely amazed. To have a talent like his for film-making at such a young age is incredible. The story he and Sammy Paul have created (although the scenario in which the bulk of the film takes place is fairly abstract) is relatable and thought-provoking.
Ciaran O'Brien was the head of photography on this film and he has done a spectacular job. Something as simple as the colouring of the shots is so powerful and conveys the progression of the story perfectly.
The film ends with a hauntingly beautiful cover of Here Comes The Sun, which aptly fits that final scene. As I got to Waterloo to get my train home, the original version came on shuffle. I mist have looked like an absolute fruitcake suddenly smiling to myself as I waited for my platform to be announced. As I said before, I know very little about film making but RTB is one that will stick with me for years to come and I will be recommending it to everyone I can. It's only 11.30am and I've already watched it 3 times today.
At a time where YouTube is beginning to have such a huge affect of popular culture, it is so refreshing to see creators putting so much time and effort, as well as their heart and soul, into a project. Having had a chance to not only listen to them explain their processes to the group but also speak to them one-to-one, it's hard not to see how passionate they all are about making something brilliant. They would rather spend months working on a film, and not upload anything to their channels in the meantime, than film something quickly that they might not even enjoy making just for the sake of content for those ever-demanding followers and that is something I really admire.
There is so much more I could say about Rocks That Bleed but it would be me picking apart every single second and saying why it is so great.
The only thing I will say is please please please watch it. I promise you, you will not regret it.
The only thing I will say is please please please watch it. I promise you, you will not regret it.
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