MOVIE REVIEW: DUNE PART TWO

 

Paul Atreides unites with Chani and the Fremen while seeking revenge against the conspirators who destroyed his family. Facing a choice between the love of his life and the fate of the universe, he must prevent a terrible future only he can foresee.

Director: Denis Villeneuve

Cast: Timothée Chalamet, Rebecca Ferguson, Josh Brolin, Stellan Skarsgård, Dave Bautista, Zendaya, Charlotte Rampling, Javier Bardem, Austin Butler, Florence Pugh, Christopher Walken, Léa Seydoux

Release Date: March 1, 2024

Genre: Action, Adventure, Drama, Sci-Fi

Rated PG-13 for sequences of strong violence, some suggestive material and brief strong language.

Runtime: 2h 46m

Review:

Denis Villeneuve's Dune Part Two is a sci-fi epic in every sense of the word filled with mesmerizing visuals, a stellar cast and a beefier story than you'd expect from a blockbuster of this size.  Villeneuve, now free of the first film's exposition dump, moves his film at a steadier pace delivering massive action set pieces that are impressively staged and far more engaging than the first film's offers.  Paul's first ride on a sandworm is wonderfully set up and executed to create a thrilling and visceral experience, something the battle sequences can't quite match.  Visually, you can see Villeneuve pulling inspiration from other legendary sci-fi films such as 2001 or Star Wars for Arrakis and contrasting it with the Harkonnen's which clearly draws inspiration from H.R. Giger early work from Jodorowsky’s failed attempt to bring the film to the screen in the 70's.  There are a bevy of shots that are sure to join the pantheon of the memorable shots in cinematic history.  Overall, the film and story move at a brisker pace with the full scale of the story's themes and relationships unfurling at steady pace leaving very few dead spots throughout the film’s hefty runtime.  The film's ensemble cast shines throughout with each delivering strong performances regardless of screen time.  Timothée Chalamet and Zendaya get the lion's share of the screen time with both doing fine work albeit their romantic chemistry isn't quite as strong as it should be likely due to their romance being rushed thru in the opening act.  It’s a minor issue especially with the amount of story they have to work through and both still deliver the goods on the dramatic sides.  Rebecca Ferguson gets a meatier role here as her character takes a darker more ominous tone which she's more than capable of conveying.  Javier Bardem also gets more to do this go around after his extended cameo in the first film.  Bardem is fun every time he's onscreen thanks to his general charisma which works for his character's unwavering zealotry.  Austin Butler proves he doesn't have to be Elvis in everything with an impressive about face as the psychotic Feyd-Rautha Harkonnen.  Florence Pugh does well in her limited screen time even though the character is mainly used for exposition dumps, but you get the sense there's more on the horizon if a third film comes to fruition.  Stellan Skarsgård, Dave Bautista, Josh Brolin and Charlotte Rampling return from the first film with much smaller but important roles with each making those small moments far more impactful.  It’s a testament to the scale of Dune Two that these actors serve as garnish to its cinematic cornucopia which delivers on multiple fronts while leaving you wanting to see the story's final act.   

A

Cindy Prascik's Review of Oppenheimer

 

My dear reader(s), if you have been with me for any length of time, you will know that I’ve gone from a twice-a-week movie-goer to a twice-a-year movie-goer, and my reviews these days are mostly limited to streaming options. If ever there were a person who could get me to face the talkers, the seat-kickers, the popcorn-bag-rattlers, and the straw-slurpers at the cinema again, that person is Christopher Nolan, who last week presented us with yet another masterpiece, Oppenheimer.

Spoiler level here will be mild, nothing you wouldn’t know from the trailers, possibly from real life, and from the paragraph above, wherein I pretty much spoiled my entire review. D’oh!

Yes, Oppenheimer is a masterpiece, among Christopher Nolan’s best work, and that’s a very high bar. It’s early goings yet, but people are already throwing around the “O” word (no, not *that* O-word, though Florence Pugh is pretty hot), and, with half the year behind us, I’d say that’s probably going to stick. Nolan makes a three-hour movie seem like three minutes, with mesmerizing storytelling, sharp dialogue, and a glorious visual landscape. Robert Oppenheimer is painted neither hero nor villain, but rather a man so consumed by whether a thing *could* be done, he failed to consider whether it *should* be done…until it was too late. While there are some gruesome images in Oppenheimer, there’s nothing over-the-top or gratuitous, and the movie never takes lightly the grave ramifications of the choices it depicts.

Cillian Murphy, of course, is brilliant in the title role. He’s never been less, and if anyone didn’t know that by now, this is their education. The whole cast really couldn’t be more perfect, and it’s a testament to the Power of Nolan how many big people took little roles just to be part of this project. Expect awards season to be lucrative for at least Murphy, Robert Downey, Jr., Emily Blunt, and (depending on the field) Ms. Flo, although her role is comparatively small. Exceptional work to a person, Oppenheimer left me breathless.

Oppenheimer clocks in at 180 minutes and is rated R for “some sexuality, nudity, and language.”

Oppenheimer is a masterclass in storytelling and performing, making fascinating work of a grim tale. Of a possible nine Weasleys, Oppenheimer gets all nine.

Oppenheimer is now playing in theaters worldwide.

Until next time…

MOVIE REVIEW: OPPENHEIMER

A feature biography from director Christopher Nolan, explores how one man's brilliance, hubris, and relentless drive changed the nature of war forever, led to the deaths of hundreds of thousands of people, and unleashed mass hysteria. 

Director: Christopher Nolan

Cast: Cillian Murphy, Matt Damon, Emily Blunt, Robert Downey Jr., Florence Pugh, Josh Hartnett, Casey Affleck, Rami Malek, Kenneth Branagh

Release Date: July 21, 2023

Genre: Biography, Drama, History

Rated R for some sexuality, nudity and language

Runtime: 3h 0m

Christopher Nolan's Oppenheimer is a heady, engrossing biopic that makes a series of conversations feel just as thrilling as any large scale action set piece.  Nolan's meticulous eye is laser focused throughout as he unveils a bendy narrative that jumps from two separate time periods and view points.  His sweeping visual style is more focused here, taking plenty of time on faces and subtle ruminations from the main characters as they tackle some truly world changing concepts and the repercussions they bring.  Cillian Murphy leads the film with a nuanced measured performance that maybe the best of his career.  Murphy's hundred yard stare conveys a bevy of emotions as the character carries the weight of the world as his mind juggles through the countless challenges and ultimate ramifications of what his work creates after the fact   Nolan uses his faces and expressions on more than a few occasions to communicate a slew of information occasionally without a single line of dialogue being uttered.  He's the driving force in the film but he benefits from some truly impressive turns from a stellar supporting cast.  Robert Downey Jr. gets the meatiest role as Oppenheimer's post war rival who is trying to secure a cabinet position.  Downey Jr. sinks his teeth into the role with impressive ease as he reveals the character's duplicitous nature.  His scenes play well in contrast against Murphy's more subdued, internalized sequences.  Matt Damon and Emily Blunt have smaller supporting roles with each doing the most with their screen time with the latter playing against time with great effect.  Florence Pugh is equally solid as Oppenheimer's mistress even if she is a bit young for the role.  A slew of other familiar faces pepper the film giving it a rich textured quality, Tom Conti, in particular, is fascinating in his limited screen time as Albert Einstein.  Their conversation revealed near the end of the film is particularly revelatory and devastating in its implications.  Its these kind of moments that Oppenheimer revels and delivers in a steady stream throughout with the cast and crew all working in top form.

A

MOVIE REVIEW: PUSS IN BOOTS: THE LAST WISH

Puss in Boots discovers that his passion for adventure has taken its toll: he has burnt through eight of his nine lives. Puss sets out on an epic journey to find the mythical Last Wish and restore his nine lives.

Director: Joel Crawford

Cast:  Antonio Banderas, Salma Hayek, Harvey Guillén, Florence Pugh, Olivia Colman, Ray Winstone, Samson Kayo, John Mulaney, Wagner Moura, Da'Vine Joy Randolph, and Anthony Mendez

Release Date: December 21, 2022 

Genre: Animation, Adventure, Comedy, Family, Fantasy, Mystery, Romance

Rated PG for action/violence, rude humor/language, and some scary moments.

Runtime: 1h 40m

It’s rare that a sequel, much less to a spinoff of another franchise, would still pulse with the energy of Puss in Boots: The Last Wish.  This newest entry into the Shrek spinoff is surprisingly vibrant onscreen which paired with a sharp script makes for a pleasant surprise of a family film.  Kids and adults will find plenty to enjoy here as the story tackles such heady issues like enjoying every moment of your life in the face of your own mortality.  If it sounds like a rather heavy topic for a kid’s movie it is but the script has the right balance of emotional resonance and fun to keep things enjoyable for the younger members of the audience.  Cleary, the film's biggest assets is its collection of stars voicing the collection of fantasy characters onscreen.  Antonio Banderas and Salma Hayek's interplay drives the film with the kind of chemistry few couples have shared even behind animated characters.  They both bring so much fun and authenticity to their characters that the adults may forget they are watching fairy tale cats on an adventure.  Harvey Guillén joins the couple as an orphaned but kindhearted dog who looking for friendship.  Florence Pugh, Olivia Colman, Ray Winstone and Samson Kayo have just as much fun bring Goldilocks and Three Bears to life by giving their classic fairytale newfound resonance and meaning by the time the film ends.  John Mulaney is solid as the primary villain, but Wagner Moura's Big Bad Wolfe is impressively creepy, probably too much for very young children, as the embodiment of death.  Puss in Boots: The Las Wish could use a few trims here and there but overall, it’s the kind of family film that doesn't feel the need to pander to its audience while delivering and meaningful experience for children and adults alike.

A-

Cindy Prascik's Review of Don't Worry Darling

 

My dear reader(s), this week I was able to catch up with one of the year's most talked-about movies, Don't Worry Darling.

Spoiler level here will be mild, nothing you wouldn't know from the trailers.

A woman begins to suspect her perfect community is not all it seems.

Don't Worry Darling is a passable thriller victimized by a disastrous publicity campaign. The story is nothing very new or surprising, but the movie maintains tension well enough and is blessed with an eminently watchable cast, led by the always stellar Florence Pugh. Of course, It's Harry Styles who drew me to the film (not usually the sort of thing that would interest me) and yet again I'll give him credit for being good enough that I wasn't thinking of him as Harry Styles (TM) while watching. (To qualify this achievement: I'm *always* thinking of Harry Styles.) The rest of the supporting cast - featuring Gemma Chan, Nick Kroll, Kiki Layne, and director Olivia Wilde - is solid, with special mention to Chris Pine, who plays sinister exceedingly well for such a benignly handsome dude. Don't Worry Darling keeps a nice place, is creepy throughout (though not always in the way it means to be), and features a terrific soundtrack filled with some great oldies. If the last act feels a bit contrived, for the most part it's still an enjoyable but forgettable thriller.

Don't Worry Darling clocks in at 123 minutes and is rated R for "sexuality, violent content, and language."

Don't Worry Darling is a decent thriller that undoubtedly would have fared better had it kept its drama onscreen. Of a possible nine Weasleys, Don't Worry Darling gets five.

Don't Worry Darling is now playing on the HBO family of channels, and streaming on HBO Max.

Until next time...

MOVIE REVIEW: DON'T WORRY DARLING

 

A 1950s housewife living with her husband in a utopian experimental community begins to worry that his glamorous company could be hiding disturbing secrets.

Director: Olivia Wilde

Cast: Florence Pugh, Harry Styles, Olivia Wilde, Gemma Chan, KiKi Layne, Nick Kroll, Chris Pine

Release Date: September 23, 2022

Genre: Mystery, Thriller

Rated R for sexuality, violent content and language

Runtime: 2h 2m

Review:

Olivia Wilde's Don't Worry Darling, which has been mired in offscreen drama before its release, is glossy, intriguing in parts, but ultimately little more than a rehash of well-worn tropes.  Wilde, for her part, delivers well-constructed shots which take advantage of the gorgeous sets and wardrobing on display intercut with some cinematic tricks to give it all an unsettling feel.  Unfortunately, there is a lack of subtly right from the start which kills the majority of tension from the central mystery.  That's not to say there aren't twist and turns throughout its overlong runtime but it never takes the material into new thematic territory.  The film's saving grace is Florence Pugh who carries the film with a committed and engaging turn as a wife who feels the walls of reality closing in on her, sometimes literally.  Pugh's authenticity shines through here making you care about her character even though the endgame is fairly obvious.  She's always the most interesting person onscreen especially the script doesn't bother to give any of the supporting characters much depth if any.  Harry Styles, Olivia Wilde, Gemma Chan, KiKi Layne, Nick Kroll and Chris Pine are saddled with one note characters since the film seems content with them serving as nothing more than high end eye candy.  Populating a film with this much talent only to let it go to waste is a huge miss for the film since it could have added far more nuance to its story especially in its increasingly nonsensical final act.  Don't Worry Darling may feel fresh to people unfamiliar with its cinematic forebears like The Stepford Wives, The Truman Show, Pleasantville or Dark City but if you are then it's nothing more than a hollow rehash.  

C+

MOVIE REVIEW: BLACK WIDOW

 

Natasha Romanoff, aka Black Widow, confronts the darker parts of her ledger when a dangerous conspiracy with ties to her past arises. Pursued by a force that will stop at nothing to bring her down, Natasha must deal with her history as a spy, and the broken relationships left in her wake long before she became an Avenger.

Director: Cate Shortland

Cast: Scarlett Johansson, Florence Pugh, David Harbour, O-T Fagbenle, William Hurt, Ray Winstone, Rachel Weisz

Release Date: July 9, 2021 

Genre: Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi

Rated PG-13 for intense sequences of violence/action, some language and thematic material

Runtime: 2h 13min

Review:

Black Widow, directed with a meticulous hand by indie director Cate Shortland, is an engaging spy thriller/family drama that's far more grounded than most Marvel movies.  Scarlett Johansson's long overdue solo outing feels a bit like a film displaced in time, you get the strong sense this film should have come out much earlier.  Being sandwiched between Captain America: Civil War and Avengers Infinity War allows the stakes to less grand and more personal.  That being the case, the film is able to focus on her character and relationships on a more granular level while still delivering massive action set pieces.  This makes the film's first half feel more like a Mission Impossible/Bond mash up than a straight up superhero film.  It also benefits from more organic banter and interactions which is due in no larger part to the stellar cast assembled.  Johansson wears this character like a second skin at this point but she's able to bring some more nuance and vulnerability to her performance here.  It'd have been easy for her to phone in her performance, but you get the sense she really cares about this character and cares about her legacy in this universe.  Her costars deliver equally strong performances even if the script is clunky on more than a few occasions.  Florence Pugh delivers a fun and memorable turn as Natasha's "sister" Yelena Belova.  Pugh's wry wit and spunk really shines through her entire performance.  It's a perfect showcase for an immensely talented actress who looks to be taking over the mantel from Johansson.  Pugh and Johansson have natural chemistry together and they serve as the beating heart of the entire film.  David Harbour is perfectly cast as Russian super solider who's more brawn than brains.  Rachel Weisz is sadly underutilized but she makes the most of her scenes since she's clearly acting well above the material.  Ray Winstone's villain isn't asked to do much more than talk menacingly and look vaguely greasy which leaves the finale lacking the cathartic kick it's meant to have.  Instead, it does what most Marvel movies do, and become a long CGI action sequence which is well choregraphed but becomes mildly numbing by the end since we know how it'll all end.  There in is the main problem with the film, had Marvel made and released this film after Captain America: Civil War it would have amplified the emotional impact of the character's ultimate sacrifice in Avengers Endgame.  Ultimately, Black Widow is a well-made spy thriller that fleshes out her character on a personal level but still feels like a missed opportunity.  

B

MOVIE REVIEW: LITTLE WOMEN

In the years after the Civil War, Jo March lives in New York and makes her living as a writer, while her sister Amy studies painting in Paris. Amy has a chance encounter with Theodore, a childhood crush who proposed to Jo but was ultimately rejected. Their oldest sibling, Meg, is married to a schoolteacher, while shy sister Beth develops a devastating illness that brings the family back together.

Director: Greta Gerwig

Cast: Saoirse Ronan, Emma Watson, Florence Pugh, Eliza Scanlen, Laura Dern, Timothée Chalamet, Tracy Letts, Bob Odenkirk, James Norton, Louis Garrel, Chris Cooper, Meryl Streep

Release Date: December 25, 2019

Genres: Drama, Romance

Rated PG for thematic elements and brief smoking.

Runtime: 2h 15  min 

Review:

It's impossible to not walk away from Greta Gerwig's adaptation of Little Woman feeling uplifted.  Sure it's a story that's been told multiple times before but Gerwig's take feels fresh and timely.  Some alterations to the story make it feel more modern and the film overall is better for it.  She shuffles up the chronology of the novel which makes the familiar story much more interesting and engaging.  Gerwig is blessed with a stellar cast which makes the whole thing incredibly watchable.  Her muse, Saoirse Ronan, couldn't be better suited to play the head strong Jo.  It's easy to forget that she's only 25 since she's so naturalistic and engaging as an actress.  Florence Pugh is just as strong in this film even pulling off the incredible feat of of making Amy less annoying and interesting.  Emma Watson and Eliza Scanlen round out the other tow sisters with their performances being solid but more subdued.  Ultimately it's Ronan's film and she carries it with great ease even though we already know the majority of the story beats.  The story does start to drag a bit near the end of it's run time and it's easy to see where 15 or 20 minutes could have been shaved off.  Regardless, Gerwig's film is a fine example of how to bring something new to a well worn story but keeping it's spirit at the same time.  

A-

MOVIE REVIEW: MIDSOMMAR

With their relationship in trouble, a young American couple travel to a fabled Swedish midsummer festival where a seemingly pastoral paradise transforms into a sinister, dread-soaked nightmare as the locals reveal their terrifying agenda.

Director: Ari Aster

Cast: Florence Pugh, Jack Reynor, William Jackson Harper, Vilhelm Blomgren, Will Poulter

Release Date: July 3, 2019
Genre: Drama, Horror, Mystery

Rated R for disturbing ritualistic violence and grisly images, strong sexual content, graphic nudity, drug use and language

Runtime: 2 h 27 min

Review:

Midsommar, Ari Aster’s 2^nd film, is a singular movie watching experience.  It’s the type of film that’ll stick with you for a long while afterward.  Aster’s direction is self assured and methodical while never being boring even with the film’s glacial pace.  There’s a steady sense of dread from the outset and it never really lets up throughout the better part of the film.  While this film isn’t quite as strong in the horror category as Hereditary was its still filled with plenty of starkly bleak imagery and iconography.  At its center is Florence Pugh who carries the film and elevates some of the weaker portions of the film’s plot.  Pugh’s ability to emote pain and grief comes through the screen which some of the film’s more trippy sequences all the more powerful.  As for those hallucinatory sequences they are some of the most discombobulating and outright weird sequences I’ve seen on film.  It's easy to compare Midsommar to the original Wicker Man, it does share various similarities with that film, but ultimately it’s it own wonderfully weird amalgam of that film and the 1981 film Possession, destined to become a cult classic in it's own right.

A-

Cindy Prascik's Reviews of Fighting with My Family / How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World

This weekend there were two new movies on offer at the local cinema: Fighting with My Family and How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World.

I had high hopes for both, and I was not disappointed.

Spoiler level here will be mild, nothing you wouldn't know from the trailers.

First on my agenda: Fighting with My Family.

A family in a small English town dreams of wrestling glory.

Fighting with My Family is based on the true story of Paige, a young woman from a wrestling family in Norwich, England, who dreams of making it to wrestling's biggest stage, the WWE. Fighting with My Family turns a rather charmless subject into a sweet film about family and dedication. Stephen Merchant directs his first feature with the hand of an old pro, and the movie never drags despite being somewhat predictable. Young star Florence Pugh is terrific in the lead, but it's Nick Frost and Lena Headey who really steal the show, playing parents that are as desperate and sometimes clueless as they are supportive. Authentic-looking training and match sequences provide a good foundation, and Merchant's hilarious and endearing script offers plenty of laughs and sweet moments too. Despite the presence of mega-superstar Dwayne Johnson, the movie manages to feel intimate and very much attached to its English roots, a genuinely joyful cinema experience.

Fighting with My Family runs 108 minutes and is rated PG13 for "crude and sexual material, language throughout, some violence and drug content.

Fighting with My Family is a charmer that may end up one of the year's best films. Of a possible nine Weasleys, Fighting with My Family gets eight.

Fangirl points: Iron Maiden sure sounds fine in surround sound!

Next on the docket: How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World.

The final adventure of Toothless and Hiccup.

Yeah, I cried just writing it.

The first installment in the How to Train Your Dragon series is one of four movies that I consider my favorite of all time. It is perfection, and part of me always felt it should have been left at that, rather than risk being tarnished by further features. The middle film in the franchise didn't set well with me at all--one of my biggest cinema disappointments--so it's fair to say I was pretty nervous about The Hidden World. I am pleased to report my concerns were unfounded.

How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World brings this epic story to a fitting end, giving each character enough screen time that fans won't feel shorted on any front. Hell, even David Tennant's Spitelout has a couple lines this time! (I think he had one word in the first one and nothing in the second.) While I still contend the tale told in the first film was perfection that didn't require addenda, The Hidden World manages to flesh out the story and bring it to a natural close. Voice talent is on point, and the addition of F. Murray Abraham as the Big Bad could only ever be a plus. There's action to spare, but also plenty of quiet moments. Visuals are absolutely stunning, and John Powell again provides a magnificent, soaring score. You'll want to see this one again and again...I know I do!
How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World clocks in at 104 minutes and is rated PG for "adventure action and some mild rude humor."

How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World is a perfect ending to a near-perfect franchise.

Of a possible nine Weasleys, How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World gets nine.

Until next time...