MOVIE REVIEW: WICKED

 

Misunderstood because of her green skin, a young woman named Elphaba forges an unlikely but profound friendship with Glinda, a student with an unflinching desire for popularity. Following an encounter with the Wizard of Oz, their relationship soon reaches a crossroad as their lives begin to take very different paths.

Director: Jon M. Chu

Cast: Cynthia Erivo, Ariana Grande, Jonathan Bailey, Ethan Slater, Bowen Yang, Marissa Bode, Peter Dinklage, Michelle Yeoh, Jeff Goldblum

Release Date: November 22, 2024

Genre: Fantasy, Musical, Romance

Rated PG for some scary action, thematic material and brief suggestive material.

Runtime: 2h 41m

Review:

The big screen adaptation of Wicked is a massive spectacle, almost to a fault, as it assaults nearly every sense in a colorful cornucopia of sights and sounds.  Jon M. Chu's film shoots a dizzying kaleidoscope of visual imagery onscreen paired with the kind of large scale choreography you'd expect from this kind of production.  People who hate movie musicals should steer clear of this film since it unapologetically embraces its source material.  It’s a lavish production that's sure to win a bevy of awards on that merit alone with the impressive amount of world building on display.  Oz is wonderfully rendered in all its CGI glory with the central setting of Shiz University coming to life like a brighter, slightly older Hogwarts.  There's a lot to take in but none of it would work as well as it does if the two central performances from Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande weren't as engaging as they are.  Ariana Grande is great fun as she perfectly channels Kristin Chenoweth as the vacuous, self-absorbed Glinda with impressive gusto.  Grande's performance is likeable and fun even as she's playing a bulldozer of a mean girl, friendmeny in the first half of the film.  She brings a likable effervescence to the role which keeps the character from coming off as truly mean spirited.  It’s a big showy role that she nails from start to finish while Cynthia Erivo has a slightly tougher task with a more layered character.  Erivo proves to be up to the task as she manages to convey the character's tough exterior with a lingering sense of melancholy from being ostracized her entire life.  There's plenty of nuance in her turn which cycles through a range of emotions which is strangely reminiscent of Sissy Spacek's performance in 1976's Carrie.  They share wonderful, natural chemistry together onscreen that's paired with their immense vocal talents make the film work as well as it does.  Jonathan Bailey, Michelle Yeoh and Jeff Goldblum have small but importance supporting roles with each bringing their specific energy to the performances to great effect.  If there is an issue that works against this all is the film's slightly bloated runtime which start to turn its final forty minutes into an exercise in attrition.  There's plenty of moments that linger on for longer than needed and they would have benefited from some judicious edits to make it a more streamlined, effective film.  That doesn't mean that Wicked Part One isn't an enjoyable cinematic journey even though it's noticeably bloated in the long run.  

 

B+

MOVIE REVIEW: JURASSIC WORLD: DOMINION

 

The future of mankind hangs in the balance as humans and dinosaurs coexist following the destruction of Isla Nublar.

Director: Colin Trevorrow

Cast: Chris Pratt, Bryce Dallas Howard, Laura Dern, Jeff Goldblum, Sam Neill, BD Wong, Omar Sy, Isabella Sermon, Justice Smith, Daniella Pineda, DeWanda Wise, Mamoudou Athie, Campbell Scott, Scott Haze, Dichen Lachman

Release Date: June 9, 2022

Genre: Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi, Thriller

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

Runtime: 2h 26m

Review:

Jurassic World: Dominion, supposedly the final entry in the franchise, is a bloated, tired exercise in soulless blockbuster filmmaking.  Colin Trevorrow's film is shockingly inert even as it traverses multiple continents before its first action set piece begins.  Those sequences, even those that borrow familiar beats from previous films, are the high points as Trevorrow really digs into 50s era monster B movies.  Swarms of oversized locusts and a tunnel chase with well timed scares provide the few bits of fresh energy in terms of action.  Even the regurgitated bits are fun in a comfort food sort of way but the film's script is shockingly lazy.  The overall plot combines the new trilogy and legacy character together by sheer coincidence as opposed to something grander. Laura Dern, Jeff Goldblum and Sam Neill are the main draw here, returning to their legendary roles with mixed results.  They do their best to channel the energy of the original but with a decidedly weaker script.  Goldblum natural energy leaves him faring the best with the least amount of screen time.  Chris Pratt and Bryce Dallas Howard aren't asked to do much other than look steely or terrified depending on the situation.  Newcomers to the series, Mamoudou Athie and DeWanda Wise are both intriguing performers that  make for welcome additions to the series but each character is so terribly underwritten that they serve as little more than plot devices. Campbell Scott serves as the primary tech villain in this entry but making him look like Apple CEO Tim Cook doesn't really make for the most menacing adversary.  Jurassic World: Dominion is a paint by the numbers entry that fails to wrap up the series in a satisfying way as it fails to recapture the magic that made the original so special. 

C-

MOVIE REVIEW: JURASSIC WORLD: FALLEN KINGDOM

Three years after the destruction of the Jurassic World theme park, Owen Grady and Claire Dearing return to the island of Isla Nublar to save the remaining dinosaurs from a volcano that's about to erupt. They soon encounter terrifying new breeds of gigantic dinosaurs, while uncovering a conspiracy that threatens the entire planet.

Director: J. A. Bayona

Cast: Chris Pratt, Bryce Dallas Howard, B. D. Wong, Jeff Goldblum, Rafe Spall, Justice Smith, Daniella Pineda, James Cromwell, Toby Jones, Ted Levine, Isabella Sermon, Geraldine Chaplin

Release Date: June 22, 2018

 

Genres: Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi

Rated PG-13 for intense sequences of science-fiction violence and peril

Runtime: 2h 8min

Review:

Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom is a fun if forgettable sequel in a franchise that seems to be losing anything new to say.  J. A. Boyona does a fine job directing the film, infusing it with some of his horror sensibilities.  The film is a collection of big set pieces, at times it feels like the film’s plot is merely an excuse to move from one set piece to another.  The story itself is rather silly and the more you think about it the dumber it is.  The new characters and villains are all about as paper thin and clichéd as they come.  Chris Pratt and Bryce Dallas Howard continue to share strong chemistry which is a strong point of the film.  They both have plenty to do this go around so they’re fully engaged even though it’s a bit of a shame that the movie wasn’t slightly better.  The supporting cast is made of strong name actors but the film doesn’t seem interested is using them for anything substantial.  Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom is one of those sequels that is easily forgettable because it lacks anything memorable about itself which is a shame because there’s clearly talent on hand. 

C+

MOVIE REVIEW: ISLE OF DOGS

When, by executive decree, all the canine pets of Megasaki City are exiled to a vast garbage-dump called Trash Island, 12-year-old Atari sets off alone in a miniature Junior-Turbo Prop and flies across the river in search of his bodyguard-dog, Spots. There, with the assistance of a pack of newly-found mongrel friends, he begins an epic journey that will decide the fate and future of the entire Prefecture.

Director: Wes Anderson

Cast: Bryan Cranston, Edward Norton, Bill Murray, Jeff Goldblum, Greta Gerwig, Frances McDormand, Courtney B. Vance, Harvey Keitel, Liev Schreiber, Scarlett Johansson, Tilda Swinton, F. Murray Abraham, Frank Wood, Yoko Ono.

Release Date: March 23, 2018

Genres: Animation, Adventure, Comedy

Rated PG-13 for thematic elements and some violent images

Runtime: 1h 41min

Review:

Isle of Dogs, Wes Anderson’s 2^nd foray into stop motion, is a charming and thoughtful tale of mans best friends.  Wes Anderson’s film is filled with his usual hipster hallmarks which people either love or hate.  Its all here in spades so if you’re not a fan of his distinct style this won’t change your mind.  Those who do enjoy his style will find plenty to love here.  The direction and craftsmanship is top notch throughout making it one of the most visually arresting films of the year.  The voice cast is filled with Anderson regulars and a few newcomers like Bryan Cranston.  Cranston provides the emotional center of the film and really gives the story its heart.  Like most of Anderson’s films there’s a streak of sadness through the entire story.  Isle of Dogs does have a slightly bleaker outlook than usual and the story has a fairly obvious allegory to current events which makes it more dense than expected and one of Anderson’s best.

A

Cindy Prascik's Reviews of Independence Day: Resurgence & Free State of Jones

Dearest Blog: Today it was off to Marquee Cinemas for Independence Day: Resurgence and The Free State of Jones. 

 

Spoiler level here will be mild, nothing that hasn't been divulged by the trailers. 

 

First up: Independence Day: Resurgence. Two decades after the first Independence Day invasion, aliens prove they can't take a hint. 

 

Well, dear reader(s), if you thought this reboot was unnecessary before, just wait 'til you see it! 

 

Resurgence features some pretty imposing disaster effects, and, if you're a fan of the first one, there are plenty of familiar faces to indulge your nostalgia, but unfortunately, the movie doesn't have much else going for it. 

 

Resurgence gets off to a slow start and, despite the fact there's plenty of action, it never really seems to pick up. Wooden performances exacerbate clunky dialogue, emotional moments are worse than contrived, and the "one world, one people" message is so heavy-handed I kept expecting everyone to sit in a circle and sing Kumbaya. 

 

If I'd rolled my eyes any harder, I'd be writing this review out the back of my head. Independence Day: Resurgence runs 120 minutes and is rated PG13 for "sequences of sci-fi action and destruction, and for some language." 

 

Independence Day: Resurgence is a silly, unnecessary exercise in bad science fiction. 

 

Of a possible nine Weasleys, Independence Day: Resurgence gets four. 

 

Next on the agenda: Free State of Jones. 

 

Tired of poor people dying to keep rich people rich, a Confederate deserter declares his indpendence. 

 

Movie lovers: would you believe me if I told you Free State of Jones is the *less* preachy of the weekend's two new epics? 

 

I know, right?? While it does run overlong and is in no hurry to get anywhere, Free State of Jones never seems to drag. Matthew McConaughey, Gugu Mbatha-Raw, and Mahershala Ali headline a stellar cast that makes a pretty average drama seem much better. 

 

The film is gruesome and hard to watch at times, but it boasts extraordinary production design and a lovely score by Nicholas Britell. It also serves as an important and timely reminder that being horrible to others is a lousy idea that invariably lands a person on the wrong side of history. 

 

Free State of Jones clocks in at 139 minutes and is rated R for "brutal battle scenes and disturbing graphic images." 

 

It'll be long forgotten come awards time, but Free State of Jones is a pretty solid historical drama that's worth your movie dollar. 

 

Of a possible nine Weasleys, Free State of Jones gets six and a half. 

 

Until next time...

MOVIE REVIEW: INDEPENDENCE DAY: RESURGENCE

Roland Emmerich returns to the helm for this long-awaited sequel to the 1996 blockbuster Roland Emmerich. Fearful of another attack, the nations of Earth have teamed up against their common enemy -- the extraterrestrials who brought humanity to the brink of extinction. Using recovered alien technology to bolster their defenses, the alliance braces itself for another invasion. Jeff Goldblum and Bill Pullman reprise their roles from the original film, while Liam Hemsworth, Jessie Usher, and Maika Monroe are among the new additions to the cast. ~ Daniel Gelb, Rovi

Director: Roland Emmerich 

Cast: Liam Hemsworth, Jeff Goldblum, Bill Pullman, Judd Hirsch, Vivica A. Fox

Release Date: Jun 24, 2016

Rated PG-13 for sequences of Sci-Fi Action, Destruction and Some Language

Runtime: 2 hr. 0 min.

Genres: Action/Adventure, Sci-Fi/Fantasy

Review:

Independence Day: Resurgence is a massive summer blockbuster that’s as dumb as it is loud.  The good thing about it is that the film never really feels like a chore and rarely bores throughout.  It’s a silly film and that will affect people’s enjoyment of it.  The spectacle is impressive but less impressive than it was 20 years ago when it seemed groundbreaking.  The comedy is about as broad as humanly possible, as if one of the six writers on the project wanted to make sure they recycled as many jokes as possible while trying not to offend.  We get a run through of returning characters and some are killed off unceremoniously while other still play vital roles.  The first act also, makes it a point to let the audience know that Will Smith’s character had died in the 20 years since the original film, explaining away Smith absence.  Sadly, the new characters aren’t terribly engaging or interesting but the film does throw in a African Warlord and a high speed school bus vs. giant alien chase because why not.  Independence Day: Resurgence isn’t going to set the world on fire like the original but it’s surprisingly light disaster film that’s eager to please.

C

Cindy Prascik's Review of Mortdecai & The Imitation Game

Dearest Blog, lemme tell ya: I'm a little bit exhausted from juggling all these awards hopefuls (that I never expected to see in my area) with regular new releases and weekly screenings of The Hobbit!

However, thanks to an understanding boss, this weekend I was able to catch Johnny Depp's latest as well as one of Oscar's favorites.

First on my agenda: Mortdecai.

Johnny Depp stars as art dealer/thief Charlie Mortdecai, called upon by MI5 to assist with a case.
Well, dear reader(s), even as a die-hard Depp fan, I'm growing bored with his seemingly endless succession of interchangeable goofy characters. Alice in Wonderland, Dark Shadows, and even Transcendence were all terrible disappointments to me. So, as a Depp fan, I'm pleased to say that Mortdecai, while far from perfect, represents a bit of a rebound.

Comedies are a sketchy business...so often you pay ten bucks for a ticket only to find that all the really funny bits were in the trailer. It is, perhaps, because Mortdecai is more amusing than gut-bustingly funny that it doesn't seem that way; instead of a dozen big laughs spread over two otherwise boring hours, Mortdecai is a more evenly-entertaining experience.

Depp is terrific as the self-absorbed Mortdecai, and, if his "weird people with English accents" routine is wearing thin, it works better here than it has in his last few attempts. As Mortdecai's loyal and long-suffering manservant, Jock, Paul Bettany is the movie's highlight.

 A running gag with Jock--not so much as hinted at in the trailers--provides the movie's best laughs.

Mortdecai is a caper as well as a comedy, and it's pretty entertaining. It doesn't drag on or over-inflate itself with unnecessary pretense. It's not too clever, but it IS fun, and, yes, there are even some laugh-out-loud moments.

Mortdecai runs 106 minutes and is rated R for "some language and sexual material." (For my money, I've seen far worse rated PG13...don't understand this rating at all.)

Mortdecai is not a special movie--you won't be talking about it next week, let alone next year at awards time--but Mortdecai IS a bit of mindlessly fun entertainment. Last I checked, that wasn't yet a crime in Hollywood.

Of a possible nine Weasleys, Mortdecai gets five and a half.

(It would have been six had it co-starred ANYONE besides Gwyneth Paltrow!)

Next up was The Imitation Game.

During World War II, English mathematician Alan Turing leads a team attempting to break Nazi codes.

Alright, I'm gonna say it straight up: though it has zero chance of taking home the Oscar, The Imitation Game is easily my favorite of the Best Picture nominees I've seen.

 (Still missing Whiplash, which hasn't hit my orbit yet.) Benedict Cumberbatch is phenomenal in the lead, often abrasive but still strangely sympathetic. Again, though he doesn't seem to have a legitimate chance of hearing his name called on the big night, his performance is as good as any I saw last year, and the supporting cast is uniformly strong as well.

The Imitation Game races against the clock to break Nazi codes and prevent further loss of life; as such, it's more "edge of your seat" than it probably seems from the description. The movie also touches on Turing's homosexuality, for which he was prosecuted later in life, under UK laws of the time. It's heartbreaking, but never miserable.

The Imitation Game clocks in at 114 minutes and is rated PG13 for "some sexual references, mature thematic material, and historical smoking."

The Imitation Game is riveting from start to finish, beautifully executed on all levels. The very definition of "must see!"

Of a possible nine Weasleys, The Imitation Game gets nine. Just go see it already!

Until next time...

Somehow I knew the Internet wouldn't make me do this myself! :-)

MOVIE REVIEW: THE GRAND BUDAPEST HOTEL

Wes Anderson heads to Europe for the first time with this Indian Paintbrush production starring Saoirse Ronan, Ralph Fiennes, Bill Murray, and Jude Law. Gustav H., the famous concierge at a legendary hotel situated in the Alps during the 1930's becomes the center of a farcical whirlwind of suspicion when one of his institution's oldest and richest patrons turns up dead, and she suspiciously leaves him her most priceless work of art -- a Renaissance painting of a boy with an apple. Infuriated that she left anything of value to anyone else, the woman's greedy and nefarious heir uses all manner of underhanded and illegal tactics to pin her death on Gustav and to silence anyone who questions his objective of inheriting every penny of her estate, leaving Gustav's trusted lobby boy Zero to clear Gustav's name and prove that the grand lady's killer is none other than her own son. ~ Jeremy Wheeler, Rovi

Director: Wes Anderson 

Cast: Tony Revolori, Saoirse Ronan, Ralph Fiennes, Bill Murray, Tilda Swinton, Jeff Goldblum

Release Date: Mar 07, 2014

Rated: R for Violence, Some Sexual Content and Language

Runtime: 1 hr. 39 min.

Genres: Comedy, Drama

Review:

I’ve been a Wes Anderson fan for a long time and I know some people are turned off by his style but any self respecting movie fan should love his work.  The Grand Budapest Hotel is another gem which delivers a thrilling and hilarious movie watching experience.  The story is funny yet incredibly moving at the same time anchored by a wonderful performance by Ralph Fiennes.  Fiennes is typically a somber and serious performer so it’s a lot of fun to see him fully commit to a character like Gustav H. who such an outlandish and hilarious character.  Fiennes and newcomer Tony Revolori share a wonderful chemistry together and the film is at its strongest when the two are on screen.  The supporting cast is a made up of a who’s who of Hollywood’s A list and each is fully committed.  All of them populate a wonderfully crafted world which a visual feast for the eyes.  At a little over and hour and a half the film just flies by delivering one of the most enjoyable movie watching experiences in recent memory. 

A