Weird: The Al Yankovic Story

Cast: Daniel Radcliffe, Evan Rachel Wood
Director: Eric Appel
Writer: Eric Appel, ‘Weird’ Al Yankovic

Daniel Radcliffe (Harry Potter, Swiss Army Man) leads the cast in the not-so-true to life biopic of the ever weird and wonderful Al Yankovic. Featuring most of Yankovic’s hit parody covers, and one stellar “original song”, Weird takes audiences on the ride of their lives. Comedic performances aplenty and hilarious sequences that will have audiences roaring with laughter from start to finish. 

Radcliffe holds the entire film together with his fantastical performance and is supported wonderfully by Evan Rachel Wood (True Blood, Westworld) who boasts a fascinating portrayal of rising pop star Madonna. Yankovic‘s band mates are led by Spencer Treat Clarke (Agents of Shield, Animal Kingdom) and don’t miss a beat, literally. The film is jam packed with side splitting celebrity cameos, some more surprising than others. 

The script bends the truth within an inch of its life but the film doesn’t suffer for it, it’s as wacky and wonderful as you’d expect a film about Weird Al to be. With emotional beats which make no sense and drug infused madness that make too much sense. Not enough can be said about Radcliffe’s fascinating performance, an actor that is always worth watching and makes inspired choices in the projects he takes on. When first announced this film seemed like career suicide but Radcliffe manages to pull the whole thing together with style and complete madness. 

Ridiculous, hilarious and in an industry currently obsessed with deep, meaningful and at times harmful biopics, Weird does something fresh, innovative and down right brilliant. Weird is an immediate cult classic and should be seen.

Swiss Army Man

Oh my, i really don’t know where to start with this film. I have actually just re-written that first sentence like 10 times because I just don’t know what to say.

Swiss Army Man follows the story of Hank, played incredibly well by Paul Dano, a young man who is stranded on a dessert island close to taking his own life due to loneliness and hunger. As his last few minutes flash before his eyes a dead body washes up on the shore and he stops to look and check him out. He notices the body has severe flatulent issues and therefore decides to use him as a….dare I say it….speed boat.
At this point we are watching Paul Dano ride Daniel Radcliffe across the sea with the power of bodily wind.

Yes, really.

So I’m not going to tell you much more of the story because I really can’t go into too  much detail without filling this article with spoilers. However, I will say this, it’s weird, beautiful, crazy, addictive and above all, fantastic.
I genuinely came out of the cinema with no idea what I had just witnessed and if I even liked it, because anyone who knows me, knows I don’t handle “weird” very well. But this one, I just can’t stop thinking about it. And for an hour or so after we came out of the cinema me and my friend were trying to work out what the narrative even was? Did it all happen? Or was Hank insane? Had he imagined it all? Did Manny (Daniel Radcliffe) even exist? It’s a real question mark and I am so so glad I have seen it. My whole outlook on the world of motion picture has changed thanks to this film.

Some real highlights for me were the screenplay was incredible, so beautifully written. Paul Dano was great but we can finally see Daniel Radcliffe as a great actor, he has talent and this film really shows it. And I can also see some award nominations coming its way.

If you haven’t already, go and see it, just because it’s so weird! Haha!

Also….it’s good to be back.