My Old School
- 2022
- 1h 44m
IMDb RATING
7.1/10
1.7K
YOUR RATING
In 1993, 16-year-old Brandon Lee enrolled at Bearsden Academy, a secondary school in a well-to-do suburb of Glasgow, Scotland. What followed over the next two years became the stuff of legen... Read allIn 1993, 16-year-old Brandon Lee enrolled at Bearsden Academy, a secondary school in a well-to-do suburb of Glasgow, Scotland. What followed over the next two years became the stuff of legend.In 1993, 16-year-old Brandon Lee enrolled at Bearsden Academy, a secondary school in a well-to-do suburb of Glasgow, Scotland. What followed over the next two years became the stuff of legend.
- Awards
- 2 wins & 13 nominations
Brandon Lee
- Self
- (archive footage)
David Tattoo Dave McKinlay
- Self
- (as David McKinlay)
Wam Siluka Jr.
- Stefen
- (voice)
- Director
- Writer
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaThe music of Orange Juice is featured in the soundtrack. Edwyn Collins, lead singer and songwriter in the band, is also a former pupil of Bearsden Academy.
Featured review
Happiest Days of Your Life
It would've been easy for this documentary to follow the current trend of stitching up it's protagonist, in this case Brandon Lee, and to haul him over the proverbial coals for the duration..
However, Jono McLeod has taken a much fresher approach to this than most people would perhaps have expected.
Rather than be patronised and led in an all too obvious direction, the viewer is trusted to draw their own conclusions from the interviews given throughout, by McLeod, Lee, and their grown up classmates.
And therein lies one of the beautiful things about My Old School. Although the main story is already known, any preconceived notions or views are quickly dispelled, as we're introduced to a variety of Lee's former school chums - some closer to the man during his ruse than others.
It's these former classmates that keep this documentary grounded in reality, as they recall the many, and at times bizarre, encounters with Brandon during their penultimate year at high school.
Another major plus of this documentary is, just when you think you've got the whole story worked out, McLeod reveals another twist or turn. Some coming so far out of left field that you'll wonder just what has happened, and more importantly, why?
The director gently opens the many doors of the story, revealing surprises with an ease that keeps the viewer almost enchanted by Lee's growing deceptions. It's this brilliantly paced, and deliberate, drip feed of information that helps the narrative grow from straightforward, if somewhat bizarre scam, to one of almost Machiavellian proportions.
At times funny and exciting, others sad and poignant, My Old School provides many different and diverse points of view, and gets to what's essentially the untold truth of this 27 year old story.
However, a second watch will be more than intriguing, with the benefit of having all the information to hand, as the story unravels again.
As Lee only granted an audio interview, in a master stroke of genius, he's healthily portrayed on screen by Alan Cumming, who performs Drag Race levels of lip-syncing, and captures the essence of the real life Scottish Walter Mitty whom he was meant to play in a film two decades before.
However, Jono McLeod has taken a much fresher approach to this than most people would perhaps have expected.
Rather than be patronised and led in an all too obvious direction, the viewer is trusted to draw their own conclusions from the interviews given throughout, by McLeod, Lee, and their grown up classmates.
And therein lies one of the beautiful things about My Old School. Although the main story is already known, any preconceived notions or views are quickly dispelled, as we're introduced to a variety of Lee's former school chums - some closer to the man during his ruse than others.
It's these former classmates that keep this documentary grounded in reality, as they recall the many, and at times bizarre, encounters with Brandon during their penultimate year at high school.
Another major plus of this documentary is, just when you think you've got the whole story worked out, McLeod reveals another twist or turn. Some coming so far out of left field that you'll wonder just what has happened, and more importantly, why?
The director gently opens the many doors of the story, revealing surprises with an ease that keeps the viewer almost enchanted by Lee's growing deceptions. It's this brilliantly paced, and deliberate, drip feed of information that helps the narrative grow from straightforward, if somewhat bizarre scam, to one of almost Machiavellian proportions.
At times funny and exciting, others sad and poignant, My Old School provides many different and diverse points of view, and gets to what's essentially the untold truth of this 27 year old story.
However, a second watch will be more than intriguing, with the benefit of having all the information to hand, as the story unravels again.
As Lee only granted an audio interview, in a master stroke of genius, he's healthily portrayed on screen by Alan Cumming, who performs Drag Race levels of lip-syncing, and captures the essence of the real life Scottish Walter Mitty whom he was meant to play in a film two decades before.
helpful•285
- tattoodave1608
- Mar 7, 2022
- How long is My Old School?Powered by Alexa
Details
- Release date
- Country of origin
- Official site
- Language
- Also known as
- Going Back
- Production company
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
Box office
- Gross US & Canada
- $103,966
- Opening weekend US & Canada
- $4,364
- Jul 24, 2022
- Gross worldwide
- $385,007
- Runtime1 hour 44 minutes
- Color
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