There’s something to be said for predictability – for coziness and safety, so to speak. And “The Ballad of Wallis Island” might be the coziest movie to come along in quite awhile. And I mean that in the most positive way possible.
Directed by James Griffiths with a screenplay from Tim Key and Tom Basden, “The Ballad of Wallis Island” follows an eccentric – to put it lightly – millionaire named Charles (Key) who invites his favorite musician, Herb McGwyer (Basden), to perform a solo show on the remote island where Charles lives. The catch? He’s also invited Nell Mortimer (Carey Mulligan), Herb’s ex-bandmate and ex-girlfriend, without Herb’s knowledge.
And so begins as cozy of a dramedy as you could ever want. And yet, even with its gentle, comfortable nature, “The Ballad of Wallis Island” aims to make a strong point about the very feeling of comfort it projects, about how we deal with nostalgia and move on. It’s a point that, while sometimes obfuscated by moments of dramatic tension that feel a tad forced, is made clearly and without retreating into treacly sentimentality.
Read Sammie’s full review on Rough Draft
