Jurassic Park

Tags

1990's, Adventure, Ariana Richards, Bob Peck, Jeff Goldblum, Joseph Mazzello, Jurassic Park, Laura Dern, Richard Attenborough, Sam Neill, Samuel L. Jackson, Steven Spielberg, Wayne Knight

The delightful duo of Gill and Emma invited me to take part in a tribute to the excellent Jeff Goldblum. I’ve always been a fan of his and enjoy whenever he graces the screen. I decided to review the adventure blockbuster that is Jurassic Park.

A full on thrill ride with eye popping effects and Steven Spielberg at some of his best, Jurassic Park is an ageless spectacle with the power to shock, scare and entrance from start to finish.

Dr Alan Grant( Sam Neill), who specialises in Paleontology and Dr Ellie Sattler(Laura Dern), whose field is Paleobotany are romantically linked and currently working on another dig of dinosaur fossils .One day to their Montana dog comes eccentric billionaire John Hammond( Richard Attenborough) who has a proposition for them. He has created a theme park off the coast of Costa Rica which is inhabited by cloned dinosaurs, which his team of scientists managed to create after extensive DNA testing and sampling. Hammond is worried because there have been doubts about the safety of the park and he wants Alan and Ellie to view it and give their opinions. Naturally, they accept the offer and are joined by mathematician and chaos theory nut Ian Malcolm( Jeff Goldblum). Also visiting are Hammond’s grandchildren, Lex( Ariana Richards) and Tim( Joseph Mazzello), who are more than curious about the park. Upon arrival, Alan, Ellie, Ian and the kids are bowled over by the cloned dinosaurs that have been brought to life and in the flesh. And though some of the group have their doubts about how ethical it all is, Hammond’s enthusiasm remains undimmed. Yet all of this will change as danger lurks right around the corner. A disgruntled worker by the name of Dennis(Wayne Knight) has accepted a shady offer to smuggle out dinosaur embryos to a competitor. To do this, he sneakily shuts down the security of the park in order to disguise his theft and leave undetected . The shutdown causes all power to go out but more dangerously, the electric fences that guard the dinosaurs open, setting the scene for chaos as the many carnivorous creatures go on the hunt with humans as their prized dinner. Alan ends up sheltering the terrified kids, while Ellie, Ian, Hammond, plus game warden Robert Muldoon( Bob Peck) and chief engineer Ray Arnold( Samuel L. Jackson) , attempt to restart the power and avert more horror. It’s up to the survivors to make it through the park and to safety before they end up on the menu.

Jurassic Park finds Steven Spielberg at some of his most fun and skilled. He displays sense of wonder at seeing these prehistoric beasts and then cranks the tension up when all hell breaks loose. He knows how to entertain and keep you on the edge of your seat throughout this adventure with sequences of immense excitement and haunting terror existing right after the other. Simply put, it’s one of his best movies which is saying something considering the excellence in his filmography over the years. Memorable scenes abound like the first glimpse of the towering , the terrifying encounter with a Tyrannosaurus Rex and the nasty Velociraptors menacing Ellie in the maintenance shed as she switches the circuit breakers on and the children in the kitchen narrowly escaping being attacked. Many of these moments hold that balance between scary and exhilarating. I like the look at how playing God never ends up well, but it sure can be extremely entertaining to watch. There’s the greedy Dennis getting his comeuppance when attacked by an initially friendly dinosaur reveals itself to be bloodthirsty, Hammond’s growing realisation of what he has created and the chaos that ensues once the prehistoric creatures are let loose. One can’t speak about this movie without mentioning the influential special effects in it. They make the dinosaurs feel so real as if you could reach out and touch them. I mean, we all remember the first time we, like an awe-struck Ellie, witnessed the Brachiosaurus in all its glory, right? Or the first attack of the enormous Tyrannosaurus Rex on the visitors at nighttime? The blend of the then new CGI and animatronics is seamless in execution and so thoroughly convincing at bringing these ancient creatures to jaw-dropping. John Williams is on hand with one of his most suspenseful and alive scores; charting the wonder of the park then plunging us into the terror of fighting for survival against hungry dinosaurs.

Sam Neill has the laconic attitude right for his role, while shading it with a winning curiosity and eventual mellowing of his character’s occasional dour and solemn nature. In fact, he’s  one of the main heroes of the piece as he’s entrusted with two young children to protect against creatures he knows a lot about. Laura Dern backs him up with intelligence and when it’s called for action; her run to the shed and ordeal inside leave you on the edge of your seat as you watch an ordinary woman fighting against a terrifying situation. And of course the man of the hour and resident scene stealer is here by the name of Jeff Goldblum. Portraying the know it all mathematician who drops sarcastic yet ethical  questions, Goldblum is a hoot. And considering for a big chunk of the film he’s incapacitated, he’s still dispensing entertaining one liners among the terror and excitement. It’s the definition of a star supporting turn. In a fine showcase, Richard Attenborough subtly shows the dreams of an eccentric man of money and his realisation that it isn’t the most ideal or safe thing to do. Although his actions are questionable, he just boasts a certain geniality that is hard to fault. Ariana Richards and Joseph Mazzello are thankfully talented child actors who you feel for on this journey. Fine work also comes from Samuel L. Jackson, Bob Peck and Wayne Knight in this adventure, particularly from Jackson as the gruff chief engineer who is never seen without a cigarette.

A simply phenomenal adventure with stellar effects, fine cast, wonderful music and the masterful Spielberg at the helm, Jurassic Park is a film you can never grow tired of.

Advertisements

Yesterday

Tags

2010's, Comedy, Danny Boyle, Drama, Ed Sheeran, Himesh Patel, Joel Fry, Kate McKinnon, Lily James, Music, Richard Curtis, Romance, Yesterday

Danny Boyle directs this warmly engaging tribute to the Beatles and the journey of love in a film that’s inviting without being cloying. Yesterday is the definition of a feel good movie.

Jack Malik(Himesh Patel) is a struggling young man whose passion is singing but whose never had success. He’s beginning to see that it might be the end of the road in Lowestoft as he’s not amounted to much. His best friend and manager Ellie( Lily James) attempts to sway him into not forgoing his dreams as she believes in him. This is coupled with the fact that she is desperately in love with him, though Jack has never noticed it. He is on the verge of giving up when something unusual happens. He’s riding home on his bike one night when a global power cut ensues and coincides with him being hit by a bus. Thankfully, he lives and though injured will recover. But once he comes around, Jack notices one strange fact about the world around him: no one remembers The Beatles. At first, Jack things it’s a bit of a joke but a few searches online reveal that all knowledge of them has been wiped. This in turn has led to other things not being remembered but the big one is the iconic Beatles. Jack starts to sing their music as if it’s his own to bring it the attention it deserves. This backfires as people assume he has written these classic songs and he starts to become successful. Even Ed Sheeran is impressed and his manager Debra(Kate McKinnon), who worships at the altar of greed and business, snaps Jack up. Soon he’s famous for singing these songs, but struggling with his own feelings of guilt that started off  as him trying to be good. Yet just how much longer  can Jack live a lie? And what of his relationship with Ellie, who obviously loves him?

Though it isn’t the first film to come to mind when I think of Danny Boyle’s directing, Yesterday shows him in mellow but touching mood. His eye for detail is very much on show with canted angles to signify the world being upside down for Jack and some pretty groovy transitions. Thinking on it, of late the underdog story has featured in Boyle’s films, only this time there’s a lot more laughs that show the director having fun. It’s aided by a winning script by Richard Curtis that mixes sarcastic humour and life-affirming love. Curtis often features lovable losers in unusual circumstances or being tested and Jack is no exception. The observations of what might have been without The Beatles are both funny and reflective, particularly in the last third where things get somewhat poignant. There’s a what if angle to a lot of Yesterday that’s delightfully daffy yet retains an emotional impact. And there’s a neat little unexpected twist that is very intriguing not to mention surprising. But because I’m a good guy, I shall not spoil it. Yesterday is t perfect and some areas seem overly familiar, but from an overall viewpoint, it’s a very nice experience and one that will leave you smiling.  Hearing the music of The Beatles is always welcome to my ears and hearing them performed with zeal and resonance in Yesterday is splendid. And I can’t not mention the romance of this film, which is tentative at first but eventually blooms as Jack realises just how important and loyal Ellie is to him.

Himesh Patel, who is best known for starring in Eastenders, is superb in the lead role of sympathetic Jack. Though his actions get him in trouble, he’s a character who tries to do the best and Patel brings that out of the part with a combo of subtlety and comedy. I hope to see in more movies as he’s really got potential as an actor. And I can’t forget his singing, which is also worthy for praise. Alongside him is the luscious Lily James, who is steadily becoming a very reliable actress. Her quirky mannerisms, winning smile and downright adorable nature are on full display for a lovely performance. You can’t help but fall in love with Lily James here. Ed Sheeran shows he’s not afraid to parody himself with a tongue in cheek role as a version of himself. I must say he does elicit quite a few laughs. Speaking of laughs, Joel Fry contributes fine humour as Jack’s right hand man whose not the brightest person, but who’s goofy heart is very much in the right place. On the other scale of laughs is Kate McKinnon who is simultaneously a ruthless bitch after money and an unhinged hoot The balancing act is effectively walked by McKinnon who is obviously revelling in being devious.

Capitalising on a strange but impressive premise and directed with skill by Danny Boyle, Yesterday is a charming, thoroughly enjoyable film, enlivened by the music of the Beatles and work of Himesh Patel and Lily James.

The Black Stallion

Tags

1970's, Adventure, Carroll Ballard, Hoyt Axton, Kelly Reno, Mickey Rooney, Teri Garr, The Black Stallion

A captivating story of a boy and his horse, The Black Stallion is a delight for the whole family. Blessed with a sublime cinematography, love for nature and understated performance, it’s simply irresistible to all the family.

It’s 1946 and young Alec Ramsey(Kelly Reno) is sailing with his father on a boat off the East Coast of Africa. While onboard, Alec discovers an black Arabian Stallion that he becomes intrigued by. Though warned to stay away by the fearsome owner, Alec refuses to. Later that night, a violent storm hits the ship, throwing Alec and the horse overboard. They are the only survivors from the storm as Alec manages to pull on the ropes around the horse. When he awakens, he is on a deserted island. Armed with the penknife his later father gave him and resourcefulness, he learns to survive. The horse also made it to the island at first, both keep a distance from each other. Over time, however Alec wins the horse over gives the horse the name The Black. They become inseparable from that moment on as a bond is solidified. Eventually, Alec is rescued and makes sure The Black comes with him. Back home, Alec’s mother( Teri Garr) is overjoyed to see him but doesn’t quite understand the bond between her son and his horse. Alec comes across old horse trainer Henry Dailey( Mickey Rooney) accidentally when The Black runs away. Henry hasn’t raced in years but you can sense he feels a bit of regret and nostalgia creeping his way once he finds The Black. Following a bit of hostility between them, Alec and Henry become friends and Henry rekindles his love of horses with a dream of racing The Black. After a few mishaps and hurdles,  Alec and Henry enter to the horse into the race and hope for success with what they truly believe is not just a horse, but a supremely special one.

Director Carroll Ballard is the perfect choice to direct this heartwarming adventure. His love for nature and the relationships humans share with the animal kingdom are splendidly evoked. Some could write the movie off as as sickly as too much sugar, yet Ballard knows how to keep us invested without resorting to overt sentimentality. Aided by the arresting cinematography of Caleb Deschanel and vivid camerawork, the friendship at the core of The Black Stallion comes to life. The main sections on the island are largely wordless and though that might sound boring to some viewers, it certainly isn’t the case. The unspoken bond between Alec and the horse is observed with nuance and eventual trust; much like a friendship between humans. We watch as Alec wins the horse over and the horse comes to respect him and it’s very beautifully portrayed. The childlike sense of wonder and excitement is imbued within the DNA of The Black Stallion and it definitely pleases the crowd with this touch. And though many may see where the story is heading when he returns to land, they will no doubt be impressed by the eventual outcome and how things play out to a rousing and joyous finale. It’s a movie with a heart that’s sole goal is to be inspiring and for the whole family, and on that score alone it’s a winner. Carmine Coppola contributes an eclectic score that mixes Middle Eastern percussion and a soaring orchestral feel that is truly a thing of beauty. It imprints itself on your mind and is just beautifully orchestrated with obvious craftsmanship and phenomenal skill at arousing emotion.

Young Kelly Reno is full of life and wonder as the freckle-faced Alec. He’s ideal casting for the role and a genuinely convincing child actor that isn’t cloying or prone to overly annoying child acting. Mickey Rooney has fun as the slightly grouchy but brought back to life horse trainer, discovering what he’s missed for so long. Rooney is subtle yet sparkling with revived energy; both are exactly the notes he needs to star here. Just like the horse, he splendidly compliments Reno as the two things that mean the most to him. Teri Garr makes the most of her small part as Alec’s mother who doesn’t quite understand his link to the horse but comes around to the idea in a way only a mother could. Hoyt Axton is here in a brief role of father and given that he’s not on screen for long, he nails the part of adventurous dad that we miss when he’s gone. The two biggest stars however are Kelly Reno and the horse; they form the beating heart of The Black Stallion.

An outstanding, life-affirming and gentle film that knows how to touch the heart with its story, acting and cinematography, The Black Stallion is a champion.

Midsommar

Tags

2010's, Ari Aster, Florence Pugh, Horror, Jack Reynor, Midsommar, Psychological Horror, Vilhelm Blomgren, Will Poulter, William Jackson Harper

Ari Aster follows up his creepy and startling debut Hereditary with Midsommar; an ambitious, head-spinning horror that builds to a stocking finale, while supplying tension, tiered meanings and an immensely dedicated performance from Florence Pugh.

Dani( Florence Pugh) is a young woman who’s just experienced a gut-wrenching trauma. Her bipolar sister committed suicide via inhaling carbon monoxide and killing her parents as well. Broken by this, Dani turns to boyfriend Christian( Jack Reynor) , who is not exactly helpful and more interested in himself. Their relationship was precarious as it was and now Dani leans on him for support which he is unable to supply her with. A few months pass and Christian, who is studying anthropology for a PHD, is invited by his Swedish friend Pelle(Vilhelm Blomgren) to a festival in his Nordic homeland. He is to be joined by fellow students reasonable Josh( William Jackson Harper) and obnoxious Mark(Will Poulter). Dani finds out and Christians reluctantly asks her to come with them, to which she accepts. She’s still reeling from her trauma and suffering with depression and anxiety, but the trip sounds like a good getaway for her. Touching down in Sweden, they go back to nature among the wide fields and mountains that are populated by a commune. Dani and the others are soon witness to the ways in which they celebrate and their intriguing but slightly off kilter ways of ritual and worship. At first, the practices seem odd but just slightly different and nothing too serious. There’s dancing, ingestion of strange ingredients with hallucinogenic qualities and the fact that everyone does things in a group which while weird doesn’t really give the impression of anything dark or macabre. Yet with growing horror, events get ramped up and grisly horror ensues for the visitors, most of all fragile Dani. What started out as a sojourn to a festival with a difference slowly morphs into a waking nightmare for Dani as things just get more and more intense, impacting on her already tenuous mental state.

Ari Aster proves Hereditary was no fluke with this electrifying and bizarre blend of psychological folk horror and a meditation on trauma. He goes for the creeping approach, peppering in shocks and even snippets of humour at the start then slowly bubbling away at the uneasiness mounting like a fit to burst volcano. Grief seems to be a subject with which Ari Aster is familiar with and Midsommar continues in that vein but from a more surreal and grander scale. The most obvious comparison to Midsommar is The Wicker Man. Both films feature a community that’s pagan religion deviates from what is deemed traditional and most of the action takes place in sunlight. References can be seen and are well done( for me it’s a high comparison with a classic), but Midsommar is its own film with a hallucinogenic sensibility and layered drama. While very much a horror film, Midsommar functions as an exploration of reaction to trauma, purging the soul and toxic relationships. The last mentioned point on relationships is especially true as things continue to go downhill for Dani. The horror hits home more for that very reason and then some. I believe Midsommar is the type of movie that is rewarding upon watching again. Pockets of information are scattered often in plain sight but make more sense once the whole picture comes together with frightening force. You’ll be left thinking about the film no matter how you feel about it that’s for sure and certain.

On a visual level, Midsommar is an assault on the senses. From a flipped shot that goes upside down in arresting fashion to the houses the commune live in that are decorated with telling murals, you can’t escape the sensory overlord and beautiful cinematography. The use of wide shots and aerial shots captures the surrounding in majestic form, fleshing out the setting that is as breathtaking as it is unsettling. Bathing events in a mostly bright sheen, horror plays out against flora and fauna in a most peculiar way. The setting is alive, quite literally in some parts as you’ll no doubt be witness to if you venture out to see Midsommar. One of my favourite touches is Dani among the ladies dancing around in circles, adorned with a flower headdress. It’s a scene that overlaps images to a dazzling effect and perfectly sums up the unusual stance of this movie. It’s spellbinding even when outrageous and stomach churning festivities are taking place, making sure you never quite look away from what’s presented to your eyes.The use of sound is exemplary, from the unusual rhythms and punctuated noises to the eerie sense of silence and stillness. It compliments the atmosphere of something being very sinister and extremely horrifying to come.

At the heart of everything is the promising Florence Pugh. Over the last few years she has impressed me with her versatility and she doesn’t disappoint with her performance  in Midsommar. She’s contained and crumbling under the burden of grief, constantly attempting to stifle her feelings. When it all comes out, Pugh nails the anguish and the sense of release, coupled with the slow and crushing sense of falling deeper into horror( or is it something else?) Her eyes are fascinating at profiling her internalised emotions that eventually reveal themselves with shocking intensity and surprising depth. Put simply, Florence Pugh impresses throughout with her surrender to challenging material. Jack Reynor nails it as the conceited boyfriend who gets put through his own horror and Reynor shines in the horrifying last act. Vilhelm Blomgren, William Jackson Harper and Will Poulter flesh out the other men of the movie who experience the terror unfolding, with Will Poulter the most memorable as the guy obsessed with getting sexy action and getting a lot more than he bargained for. As good as the guys are though, Midsommar belongs to the exceptional Florence Pugh who is for my money, going places.

Horrifying, hypnotic and hard to forget, Midsommar is one of the most unsettling films I’ve seen in a while. But like it’s predecessor, once you’ve viewed it, you can’t shake it. Ari Aster is shaping up to be a major league director and Florence Pugh is fast becoming a prominent and talented actress to watch.

Scandal

Tags

1980's, Based on a true story, Bridget Fonda, Britt Ekland, Drama, Ian McKellen, Jeroen Krabbé, Joanne Whalley-Kilmer, John Hurt, Michael Caton-Jones, Scandal

A dramatisation of the Profumo Scandal of the early 60’s, Scandal is a stylish and well acted evocation of the time and excellently focuses on the nature of guilt and a powder keg situation and who suffers and rises as a result of it.

In 1959, society osteopath and charming man Stephen Ward( John Hurt) meets the beautiful young showgirl by the name of Christine Keeler(Joanne Whalley-Kilmer). Immediately entranced, he asks her to live with him and she accepts. Their relationship is mainly platonic as he schools her in the art of moving in higher circles to which he aspires. After a makeover, Christine is ready for the future as Ward introduces her to wealthy gentlemen who she can spend the night with. Joining her is the saucy and fun loving fellow showgirl Mandy Rice-Davies(Bridget Fonda), who goes along with the fun of the time and enjoys the attention. At first, the girls are in it for the fun and Stephen is their sponsor as they share the beds of powerful men and he hears details. Keeler in particular is between the sheets with most notably Minister of War, John Profumo( Ian McKellen) and alleged spy Eugene Ivanov( Jeroen Krabbé) . An inevitable fallout begins when Christine feels used by the whole situation and you can see that Ward is realising he is out of his depth. Scandal engulfs everyone when an angry and dejected Christine sells the story to the papers, setting off a tragic set of events that brings down the Conservative Government and embarrasses the Establishment in the early 1960’s.

Michael Caton-Jones has the right feel for the time where you can sense that times were for the changing and the Sexual Revolution was about to explode. We also get insights into the people behind the headlines and a bit of insight into this revealing affair that captured everyone. Parts of the film drag on occasion and can get a bit dull, but the dark second half more than makes up for any langurs. I would have liked to have seen some characters a little more such as Profumo and , but when they were on screen they were good to view. A tiny bit of expansion is what I wanted just a bit more of, though I understand that the story was mainly focused on Ward. Although it deals with affairs and sexual encounters, Scandal isn’t overtly sleazy. Yes there is nudity and some unusual activity going on, but it doesn’t feel cheap and exploitative because of this immensely watchable true story that was quite the event in its day and shook things up on a massive scale. Plus, I think it skewers the whole myth of those higher up in society being above others in terms of decency, when in fact they are just as bad as anyone else. And who can forget the allure of Christine and Mandy getting ready for a night out; eyeliner going on and stockings being applied, to the sound of ‘Apache’? On a visual level, the glamour and chance of new promise that started with the 60’s is rendered beautifully.

The ever excellent John Hurt turns in one of his most underrated performances as the eventual scapegoat in the spiralling situation. While Ward was no angel, he was used as whipping boy and discarded by the friends in high society who themselves were far from lily white. John Hurt masterfully plays to the flaws of this charming man, but finds sympathy to his eventual fate that befell Ward, who paid for his attempts to move in the right circles. It’s a hard act to pull off, but Hurt does it with considerable skill in finding the lonely heart of a man undone by his actions and given the lions share of blame. Joanne Whalley-Kilmer project a feeling of naive innocence to start and then progress to unearth a sexy and alluring confidence. Whalley-Kilmer is a sensual presence on screen with her dark hair and doe eyes shining. Her biggest triumph is the mystery she encapsulates when playing Keeler; sometimes you are unsure of what she is thinking or likely to do. Through subtle flashes, we view a young woman at the centre of controversy and reacting in all sorts of ways to it.

A wonderfully and impeccably cast Bridget Fonda is a high point; clearly savouring her role as the sexy Mandy with whom Christine finds herself friends with. She’s got the confidence, razor sharp wit and slinky glamour that is superbly put to great use. It’s her who gets the humour and good lines in Scandal and makes the most of them. Although I would have liked to have seen more of him, Ian McKellen is reliably good as Profumo, showing a man paying for his desires and jeopardising everything he’s worked for in return for the company of a beautiful young woman. The same can be said of Jeroen Krabbé, though it’s Mckellen who emerges as the most interesting of the two. A sexy supporting part is afforded to Britt Ekland, who is a stunning beauty and makes the most of her short time on screen.

A well directed and well cast look at The Profumo Affair, Scandal is intriguing and inviting in its exploration of culpability and Parliamentary ruin.

Hereditary

Tags

2010's, Alex Wolff, Ann Dowd, Ari Aster, Gabriel Byrne, Hereditary, Horror, Milly Shapiro, Psychological Horror, Supernatural Horror, Toni Collette

A visceral, emotionally haunting and horrifying psychological horror from the debuting Ari Aster, Hereditary plunges you into grief, family secrets and the terror of what we might inherit from our relatives.

Annie Graham(Toni Collette), a miniatures artist, is mourning the death of her secretive mother. She is joined in this by her therapist husband Stephen( Gabriel Byrne)and their two children; bored and dejected 16-year-old son Peter( Alex Wolff) and unusual tomboy daughter Charlie( Milly Shapiro) . The thing is Annie was estranged from her mother and various things in her past impacted their tenuous relationship. while young Charlie, who was her Grandma’s favourite, begins acting even more strangely than usual. Soon enough, a strange force begins plaguing the family. Though she secretly visits grief counselling for guidance, Annie believes she sees her mother again, Charlie also sees visions of this along with unusual phenomena. Peter buried his feelings in smoking pit and trying to get girls but tragedy brings him back around. Stephen is the main point of attempted calm in a powder keg situation that slowly starts to unravel. It all pertains to the deceased Grandmother, but how does it? As grief and tragedy plunge the family further into turmoil, Annie starts to lose her grip on her sanity and events descend into a waking horror for the Graham’s. Matters aren’t helped by the arrival of Joan(Ann Dowd), a mysterious woman who ingratiates herself into Annie’s life with shocking results.

Ari Aster marks himself out as a director with a future. He’s clearly a guy who loves his  spine-chilling, psychological horror and Hereditary is a testament to that. He’s got a fantastic handle over pacing; slowly dropping crumbs of information and things you think are just accidental, but are intentional. It’s a slow burn that’s punctuated by moments of shock horror and extreme situations, while still examining the ups and downs of grief in a bubbling way. Then when we get to the heart of things, all hell breaks loose and Aster unleashes chilling moment after moment. Be warned, the last half an hour is some intense stuff that will make even the most seasoned horror viewer sit up and be freaked out.

You’ll be left with images of great horror and of an unsettling nature once you finish Hereditary. And with good reason as they are plentiful and a credit to the visual team and the exploration by Aster. From slowly zooming camerawork to a mastery over sound( the sound of a tongue clicking will haunt your dreams as will Colette’s roars of grief and an intense dinner scene) , it’s a movie for definite horror fans. The claustrophobic atmosphere, heightened by the abundance of scenes within the family’s large house, helps us ruminate in how grief can isolate is and how familial ties are not always . This film isn’t full of cheap scares as it has more on its mind. Take for instance when Annie believes she sees the ghost of her mother. Most horror films would feature a sudden reveal, not here. Instead, Aster uses a wide shot and gets the audience to really pay attention as to see whether it was real or not, as if daring us not to trust our eyes. I admired Hereditary for the fact it didn’t have to resort to throwaway scares. Hereditary is certainly not for everyone, but for those with a penchant for dramatic scares and unusual imagery, this should be a treat. A rumbling score is the cherry on top of the cake as murmurs, low electronic humming and unusual instances of cacophony blend hauntingly.

One of the finest things in Hereditary is the committed performance from Toni Collette, who turns in some of her finest work. She’s put through the wringer of emotions and just displays them all so convincingly and vividly. From grieving daughter to mentally unstable and all that’s in between, Collette doesn’t miss a beat and often conveys varying feelings within seconds of each other. One can’t stress enough the sheer full throttle force with which she acts here. It has to be seen to be believed and experienced. Gabriel Byrne provides solid support in a role that could have been boring, but rises above such worries. He’s the non believer trying to keep his family together but failing as times passes. Alex Wolff gets the alienated and confused state of mind for his character just right, going between moments of escaping pain to enduring intense suffering that makes no sense to him. Rounding out the family is young Milly Shapiro, who sends shivers down the spine as the daughter seemingly most affected by her grandmother’s death. You never quite know what to make of this little girl but she is damn important to the story. In a small but pivotal role, the ever reliable Ann Dowd exudes an uneasy sense of niceness that is tempered with something that tells you that you can’t trust her as far as you can throw her.

Super unsettling, packed with ideas and thematic value, plus boasting impressive acting and an atmosphere of never ending dread, Hereditary is definitely for those who appreciate a slow burn and a searing drama within a horror movie.

Nothing Like a Dame

Tags

2010's, Documentary, Eileen Atkins, Joan Plowright, Judi Dench, Maggie Smith, Roger Michell

This review that follows will be a first for me on this site. It will be the first review of a documentary and what a great one to start with. It’s Nothing Like a Dame, which has us in the company of the great women of stage and screen.

In the English countryside, we meet with icons Judi Dench, Maggie Smith, Joan Plowright and Eileen Atkins. All of them Dames and acting greats. They are conversing and reminiscing at the country house of Plowright, that she owned with her late husband Laurence Olivier. And boy is it entertaining to see them all together and in fine form. With careers spanning decades, there is no shortage of conversation here. It’s such a simple idea of watching these four wonderful ladies reflecting on life and their careers, which are extremely eventful.

Director Roger Michell keeps things low key and lets the ladies do their thing. This in turn brings out wonderfully natural results as Michell doesn’t feel the need to be flashy to be seen as good. He knows that the strength of these four dames is all he needs for this compelling documentary. I seriously want to see this quartet in another movie together. It would be a complete riot and so enjoyable. You can feel their friendship and years of experience are strong and full of energy and wisdom. They are by turns funny, irreverent, classy and humorous, with plenty of time for deep reflection on life and family. Hearing them speak about family has a certain poignancy to it. You can see the humanity of their situations and even though they are famous, they are still very much down to Earth in the grand scope of things. They’ve all seen a lot and experienced a lot too and it definitly shows their resilience. And Maggie Smith is on point with her acerbic wit, that is matched by Judi Dench( just check out her reaction to a medical worker treating her like just another old biddy). The other ladies round out this luminous quartet with grace, honesty and good humour. No one is more important than the other, it’s a celebration of them all. Whether together or apart, I could watch these ladies do anything. The quartet is marvellous; serenely bouncing off one another with memories and wisecracks. You just have to bathe in their anecdotes that run the gamut from happy to sad. Many areas are bound to bring some feelings of tears, mainly the fact that Plowright’s vision is failing and she occasionally looses track of conversation. But she still remains as strong as an ox and dispenses kindly wisdom to all. As all the ladies say, age is just a number.

I wholeheartedly recommend this documentary to anyone who enjoys watching actors reflect and fans of these amazing women.

The Girl with All the Gifts

Tags

2010's, Colm McCarthy, Drama, Gemma Arterton, Glenn Close, Horror, Paddy Considine, Sennia Nanua, The Girl with All the Gifts

A horror drama with ethical and provocative questions at its core, The Girl with All the Gifts finds new life in the zombie horror genre with fine acting, scares and a surprising intelligence.

Some time in the future, most of mankind has been overrun by a virulent fungal disease that turns the sufferer into a flesh craving zombie. These people are known as “hungries” by others. In a secret underground army base, a second generation of these creatures in the form of young children are taught. Unlike their savage relatives, these kids can think and learn, but also have a craving for flesh. Humans have a certain blocker gel that masks the smell of human flesh, but that is still no long term guarantee. The story mainly focuses on one such child known as Melanie( Sennia Nanua), who is immensely gifted, polite and eager to learn. The growling Sergeant Parks( Paddy Considine) keeps things running in a brusque way, while head scientist Dr. Caroline Caldwell( Glenn Close)experiments on the zombie children in a search for a cure to the disease. Although most see the children as just mere monsters, teacher Helen Justineau( Gemma Arterton) treats them with respect and compassion which puts her in opposition with both. Just as Dr. Caldwell is making some breakthrough, the facility is attacked by hungries. In the confusion, Melanie, Justineau, Caldwell and Parks survive and head for what they hope will be safety. But as tensions mount and Melanie is fought over, it becomes clear that there is no easy answer to what’s going on. But is Melanie the salvation of destruction of mankind in the grand scheme of things? And just how long is she to be trusted as the world around her crumbles and slips into a worse state than it already is?

Colm McCarthy is a director who clearly wants to bring that something different to the zombie horror sub genre. And that he does with this film that is both eerily tense and reflective on thematic material. I like how things start out mysterious and gradually we begin to understand the horrifying vision of the future. And once it hits the half an hour mark, intensity reigns and the pace quickens considerably backing up the horror credentials. One can make successful parallels with 28 Days Later and with good reason, for both are exemplary entries into zombie horror with more on its mind than just action and blood. Not that there isn’t action or blood as is envisioned in kinetic style and blood soaked horror, like the standout sequence of the hungries attaching the facility with a ferocity akin to a war movie. These events sit nicely along with the deeper thematic value of the piece. Considering The Girl with All the Gifts wasn’t made with the biggest budget, it never shows as it’s a gorgeously and hauntingly visual film. This extends particularly to its version of London, one in which overgrown plant life has taken over like a vicious jungle of vines that will prove fatal to those who can’t survive. And lets just say there is plenty of meat to chew over( pardon the pun.) The battle between good and evil is blurred considerably and admirably. No one is clear cut bad or good, least of all the eponymous Girl who is a mixture of both. The Girl with All the Gifts asks us to feel sympathy for her but like most of the characters, keep a certain sense of worry about her true nature and whether it’s just a matter of fate that she becomes rabid. In fact, there’s a certain tragedy attached to Melanie. You witness that she wishes to be like everyone else but is cursed from it, Some might say some of it is typical zombie fare and while there are going to be some cliched moments in here( no one said it was flawless), but what the film accomplishes is something with more heart and smarts than your average flick in this genre. A shimmering and reverberating score should rightfully be praised. It hums and throbs with an alarming intensity and haunting aura.

As the titular Girl, Sennia Nanua is a revelation in her first main role. For such a young actress acting alongside more seasoned co-stars, Nanua shows no sign of nerves and turns in a layered performance that is at once sympathetic and menacing. And what a cast it is. Gemma Arterton, of pleasing, warm face and expressive eyes, beautifully portrays the teacher who treats her charges as if they were just average children. In her eyes, although they are dangerous, they still matter and it is a fine.y judged, emotional performance from Gemma Arterton. Glenn Close( a superb actress of the highest order) is once more on amazing form as the ruthlessly determined scientist who seems heartless but possesses some care within her. Close doesn’t make her a villain and although she’s questionable as a character, it’s that flawed nature that Close gets across so well. Paddy Considine is on hand for sarcastic, aggressive lines and action as the skilled soldier navigating a crew of at odds survivors through a hellish London.

A chilling, thrilling but also deep examination of moral dilemmas set against a world gone mad, The Girl with All the Gifts discovers inventive and astute ways to blend post-apocalyptic horror and sensitive drama about ethical and ambiguous questions on humanity, science and the complex link between good and evil.

Four Weddings and a Funeral

Tags

1990's, Andie MacDowell, Charlotte Coleman, David Bower, Four Weddings and a Funeral, Hugh Grant, James Fleet, John Hannah, Kristin Scott Thomas, Mike Newell, Richard Curtis, Romantic Comedy, Rowan Atkinson, Simon Callow

Director

Mike Newell

Starring

• Hugh Grant
• Andie MacDowell
• Kristin Scott Thomas
• Simon Callow
• John Hannah
• James Fleet
• Charlotte Coleman
• David Bower
• Rowan Atkinson

A most beguiling and funny romance that helped launch the career of Hugh Grant, Four Weddings and a Funeral has lost none of its witty edge, eccentric characters and unexpected pathos.

Charles(Hugh Grant) is someone who can’t seem to keep a relationship. He’s a perennial bachelor, never the groom. With a rag-tag group of friends- cynical Fiona(Kristin Scott Thomas), her not too bright brother Tom(James Fleet), partners Gareth and Matthew(Simon Callow and John Hannah), sassy flat mate Scarlett(Charlotte Coleman) and his deaf brother David(David Bower)- he’s always attending weddings. In most cases, he is late due to clumsiness. Although he’s never seemingly considered marriage or a serious relationship, he finds his world changed when he meets Carrie(Andie MacDowell). She’s an American wedding guest who he meets at the first nuptials. They hit it off and  spend the night together. But timing isn’t on their side and Carrie leaves for the States. The next time they meet(at another wedding) Carrie is engaged to someone else. For the first time in his life, Charles actually falls in love with someone deeply. But even though it’s clear that Carrie has some feeling for Charles, can anything come of the attraction seeing as though their timing is nearly always off?

Director Mike Newell brings polish and pace to proceedings with direction that allows the events to have amusing and fun atmosphere throughout, coupled with moments of sadness and reflection. As the events centre around the what the title says, we know to expect eventfulness, but it’s surprising how well crafted this romantic comedy is. Although it seems we may know where events are going, a few little twists and unexpected moments raise it from just another comedy romance. The Oscar-nominated screenplay from Richard Curtis is a big success at fleshing out the characters as they navigate the sea of love. The script makes us enjoy the company of these people and we grow to love them. They all have wit, charm and purpose in the story and you enjoy feeling like you know them as they encounter all manner of awkwardness at functions. From being seated at a table of exes to improvising when forgetting wedding rings, they all occur in hilarious fashion. Between the skill of Newell and the fun of Curtis, Four Weddings and a Funeral is a good-hearted success. Laughs flow like great wine and the entertainment factor is high.

But Four Weddings and a Funeral also has a bittersweet undercurrent to offset any worries of overly sentimental treacle. I mean if you aren’t crying at the funeral scene where ‘Funeral Blues’ is delivered, you’ve clearly not got much of a heart. This movie can deliver on the serious stuff and isn’t afraid to either. This balances with the buoyant feeling of the overall film that has a laugh at love’s complexities and bad sense of timing. Four Weddings and a Funeral is heartwarming stuff with that added something extra, that lands it in the pantheon of excellent romantic comedies. A lovely and tentative score backs up blossoming romance and all the feelings love brings out in people. And one can’t forget the use of ‘ Love Is All Around ‘by Wet, Wet, Wet to close out the film.

Heading the cast is the irrepressibly charismatic Hugh Grant. Though he’s visited the persona of bumbling and foppish leading man many times in his career, this was where it started and is one of his best. Grant just boasts this lovable rogue and awkward vibe to him that really makes a mark in the film as he finally discovers love may in fact be on the cards for him. Endearing is the perfect word for Hugh Grant’s star making presence here. People occasionally rag on Andie MacDowell by saying she’s not the most expressive actress and sometimes it’s true ,but I think she is quite well cast as the potential love interest. She’s got radiance, vitality and a certain mystery that I love and displays they under good direction MacDowell is really something.  Plus her burgeoning chemistry with Grant is delightful. Kristin Scott Thomas is reliable as ever, turning the role of the sarcastic Fiona into something more by revealing that her behaviour stems from unrequited love. Simon Callow and John Hannah are wonderful scene stealers playing the only happy couple among their group of friends. Callow is brash and full of life, Hannah is more subdued but wise. Both compliment the other in an inspired way that is convincing and involving. James Fleet is a hoot as is Charlotte Coleman as the most off the wall member of the gang and David Bower as Charles’ brother, who comes in handy in a crisis. An amusing small part is filled with great humour by Rowan Atkinson as a completely inept vicar.

A winning romantic comedy with heart and laughs, Four Weddings and a Funeral is hard to resist.

Us

Tags

2010's, Elisabeth Moss, Evan Alex, Horror, Jordan Peele, Lupita Nyong'o, Shahadi Wright Joseph, Tim Heidecker, Us, Winston Duke

Director

Jordan Peele

Starring

• Lupita Nyong’o
• Winston Duke
• Shahadi Wright Joseph
• Evan Alex
• Elisabeth Moss
• Tim Heidecker

A sophomore horror from Jordan Peele after the success of Get Out, Us may not reach the heights of its predecessor but it undoubtedly has something to say and is bolstered by fine acting.

As a child, Adelaide (Lupita Nyong’o) was traumatised when she wandered into the hall of mirrors at the Santa Cruz boardwalk. She encountered what seemed like a doppelgänger but was never able to bring herself to tell her parents what happened. As an adult, Adelaide is now married to the affable Gabe Wilson( Winston Duke) and has two children, daughter Zora( Shahadi Wright Joseph) and son Jason(Evan Alex). They are visiting Santa Cruz once more so they can see the wine-swilling and discontented Kitty(Elisabeth Moss) and Josh(Tim Heidecker), both friends of the couple. Adelaide has never confided in anyone about what happened all those years ago and is unsurprisingly apprehensive. While there, Jason wanders off which really terrifies Adelaide as it brings back bad memories and they return to their holiday home. A series of other coincidences alarm Adelaide and just as she is confessing to Gabe about her trauma , an eerie sight comes into view. To the horror of the Wilsons, they discover the figures outside are their doppelgängers . Menaced by their sinister counterparts, they are thrown into terror. And it appears that doppelgängers are not just for the Wilsons, but for many others too. Desperate to survive and protect her family, Adelaide must attempt to outwit the doubles and figure out their origins before it’s too late.

Jordan Peele is clearly going for something more ambitious here and displays immense talent too. Not every decision he makes is good, but he is largely at home with this kind of work. In relation to the highlight that was Get Out, Us falls short. But Get Out set a very high standard that it would be impossible to reach that level of success. On the praise front, Us most certainly keeps you glued with an unusual rhythm and the fact that we aren’t spoon fed information and is open to interpretation. Peele has you sympathise and get to know the Wilsons before all manner of hell breaks loose, which is commendable especially in the case of Adelaide. I don’t think Us will be a movie for everyone as it’s horror but with a difference. I’m firmly in the middle as of now, but I think the positives are outweighing the negatives.

Once you settle into the groove of the movie, Us begins to reveal its themes and message. And while it bites off more than it can chew, I was impressed by the allusions it made to the oppressive nature of society and duality. This is backed up by symbolism that eagle eyed viewers will eat up as it all means something. The humour gets a tad excessive and I would have appreciated Peele reigning it in a bit more. I found that some laughs overshadowed what Us was going for and didn’t really help. But the horror and off kilter imagery stands out for a start and continues throughout Us. It has been more than a bit overhyped, but definitely has its merits more than its faults. I feel that Us is one of those movies that will improve when watched again as there is mystery there and I’m sure parts that we might have missed. So watch this space as my mixed opinion may change in the future as I think more on it. There is some chewing the cud to do that’s for sure and certain.The score is pretty stellar at conveying the overall eerie and downright spooky nature of Us, while a well chosen soundtrack is in full swing too with many a highlight of juxtaposition.

The cast do wonders, especially considering each is playing two people. Lupita Nyong’o is the biggest standout with two fantastic and very convincing performances. While Adelaide is frightened but eventually strong, her doppelgänger is sinister and unnerving. She finely judges both roles and it’s simply amazing how much she puts into both, from the fierce look in Adelaide’s eyes to the skin-crawling voice of her double. It takes a strong actress to convince as two very different characters, but Lupita Nyong’o is more than up to the challenge. Nyong’o deserves nothing but praise for her accomplishment here which is two completely different performances executed handsomely. Winston Duke injects a lot of humour into the role of affable father and husband, he does get some of the best lines and runs with them with fine comic timing. He also provides a hulking presence as his creepy double. Usually kids in horror movies fall into two categories; believable and annoying nuisance. Thankfully Shahadi Wright Joseph and Evan Alex are in the former category and hold their own against more experienced co-stars. In a small but memorable role, Elisabeth Moss conveys the dissatisfaction and vanity of her character with ease and commitment. Then she turns it up a few notches as a nefarious but strangely tragic double. Tim Heidecker supplies good support too as her husband.

A bit overly ambitious but nonetheless creepy and with many messages among the horror, Us gets by on atmosphere and excellent acting, particularly from Lupita Nyong’o.