Cineworld Unlimited members react to advance screening of Empire of Light

Empire of Light is a poignant new drama that boasts a truly formidable array of talent. Oscar winner Sam Mendes (American Beauty; Skyfall; 1917) writes and directs this nostalgic, eighties-set tale of an English seaside cinema. He's drafted in the Oscar-winning likes of Olivia Colman (The Favourite) and Colin Firth (The King's Speech), alongside Micheal Ward (Top Boy) and Toby Jones (Captain America).

Meanwhile, behind the camera, Oscar-winning cinematographer Roger Deakins (Mendes' collaborator on Skyfall and 1917) gives everything a suitably handsome sheen. Factor in a lilting score from Oscar-winning composers Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross (The Social Network) and there's no denying the pedigree on display.

The narrative revolves around Colman's character Hilary, the cinema's emotionally troubled front-of-house manager who bonds with the building's new usher Stephen (Ward). Mendes uses the location to examine a cross-spectrum of topics, from mental health to the pernicious influence of Britain's National Front. Firth plays the cinema's unctuous owner and Jones plays the projectionist Norman whose job it is to lure people into a world of pure imagination.

The movie screened in advance last night for Cineworld Unlimited members and we've curated a few of their responses here. Is it a winner? Scroll down to find out.

 

Missed the screening? Good news: Empire of Light is released at Cineworld on January 9th.


Don't forget about our exciting Reward Season for Unlimited Members whereby you get to see movies in advance and enjoy special rewards as well.

The next Cineworld Unlimited screening is the Tom Hanks comedy-drama A Man Called Otto. What happens when Cinema's Nicest Guy plays a grumpy neighbourhood busybody? Watch the trailer below to get an idea and don't miss the screening on January 5th.