Wild Rose (2019)

Rating: 9.5/10
Genre: Drama/Music
Related Titles: A Star is Born, Billy Elliot
By Leanne Harragan

Rose Lynn is a young Scottish woman who dreams of being a country music singer...half way across the world. While she has big dreams, she also has to deal with her past and being a mother of two. 

Wild Rose is the first film in a while that has really caught me off-guard and surprised me. The story line isn't anything completely new or original, it's even in ways relatively similar to last years A Star is Born. Personally what I think makes this film stand out are the performances from Jessie Buckley and Julie Walters. 

The film follows Rose Lynn Harlan, a young Scottish woman, just released from jail and facing coming back to her life and looking after two young children. She has big dreams of becoming a country music singer, she has the talent but not the audience in Glasgow. There's really not much more to it than that, it's a simple enough story but it really packs a lot of emotion in. Rose Lynn has to try and figure out how to balance a job, a dream and two young children at home and there are plenty of ups and downs along the way. 

Jessie Buckley plays Rose Lynn is she is enchanting. I cannot express enough how incredible her performance is, from the way she dances around, to the way she speaks - not giving a shit about manners or swearing no matter where she is and I loved the character consistency of the white cowgirl boots she is pretty much constantly seen in. Buckley makes this character come to life and she is very real and relatable. Julie Walters plays the often exasperated mother Marion, wanted the absolute best for both her daughter and her grandchildren which often tends to be two very different things. Their relationship is very real, with Marion often sacrificing everything to do what's best for her child and grandchildren.  

The music is different from your usual film, most films usually follow a pop star and while there's nothing wrong with that, it's nice to have a different type of music being the focus. Country music is a great choice because it's different and not the most popular genre but I think everyone will find at least one song they love in this film, the songs have a great beat and there are some moving lyrics too.

It interestingly looks at the social elements of life and looks at how being born in a certain area or place can change your whole outlook on life. Rose Lynn wants nothing more than too succeed as a country singer but believes that her start in life means that people don't like her. It also takes a tough look at what can happen when children are had young, Rose Lynn is the most attentive mother, often seeing her children as just another obstacle in her journey to success. 

Honestly, Wild Rose is one of the better films I've seen in a while, it's moving, it's funny and it has a great soundtrack to go along with it. I think there's something for everyone in this film and to be honest, if nothing else you should check this out to see the up and coming star Jessie Buckley! 

Rating: 9/10

By Rebecca Mannick

A story like this is one to remember. Movies like Wild Rose remind you how powerful cinema can be and how one character can leave a lasting impact. Rose Lynn has just been released from prison and she makes her way back to Glasgow to see her two kids who have been looked after by Rose's mother Marion. The kids give her a less than frosty welcome and the audience is already judging Rose's character as a convict and a bad mother. Her life revolves around country music, she lives and breathes it - she even had a tattoo saying 'three chords and the truth' (lol). She dreams of a country career in Nashville, Tennessee. Things start to kick off for her when she develops a friendship with Susannah, the owner of the hose in which Rose Lynn cleans. Susannah backs Rose and opens some doors to progress her country music career.

Firstly, Jessie Buckley is breathe-taking. Her performance was flawless - she was passion able and aggressive yet when she was singing, she was angelic and warm. Buckley was able to translate emotions through her voice in a way which gave me goosebumps every time. What made her performance so special was how believable it was - what made it real was the slow build of relationship between mother and children. She was able to be charming in some scenes but also be super naive at points. Of the most difficult parts for Rose as a character was balancing her relationship with her mother played by Julie Walters. Walters played a role in which did remind me of her award winning performance in Billy Elliot. Marion was loving and caring yet still down to earth and truthful. Some of the scenes between Buckley and Walters balanced on a blade of a knife - edge of your seat drama it was so engaging and raw.

What makes Wild Rose a step above other movies is the character development - you just don't get this in-depth in other stories. The audience is drawn in and ever so subtly grips you through the entire movie. The original soundtrack is an added bonus and some of the songs were quite catchy. All in all I thoroughly enjoyed Wild Rose - might even say that I loved it. It will probably end up in my top movie lists of the year - I definitely recommend you check this one out.