Cindy Prascik's Reviews of Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald & Widows

 

Dearest Blog: Yesterday it was off to Marquee Cinemas for Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald, and Widows.

 

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

 

First on the docket, Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald.

 

The magical world must pick a side when the dark wizard Grindelwald begins spreading a dangerous message.

 

Well, dear readers, in my house Harry Potter is gospel. It's unlikely I'll ever worship the Fantastic Beasts movies as I do the original series, but I'm happy enough to see the franchise continue and generally have no issues with its means of doing so. However...

 

Fantastic Beasts 2 has some problems. It's solid enough that I still enjoyed it, but the negatives are noteworthy.

 

The Harry Potter movies were always better than they had to be, largely due to the quality of the talent they attracted. Fantastic Beasts also has its share of great actors, but the missteps seem more pronounced. Katherine Waterston, in particular, is annoying to the point of distraction. On the flip side, an under-used Jude Law is wonderful as the young Dumbledore and--though it's unfashionable to say so--Johnny Depp is remarkable as Grindelwald. Law's characterization of Dumbledore skews more amiable-Richard-Harris than aggressively-kooky-Michael-Gambon, a wise choice that leaves plenty of room for development. Though his recent films do little to prove it, for my money Johnny Depp remains the most talented actor in the world. Fantastic Beasts lacks the gravitas of his best projects, but in his turn as Grindelwald there are flashes of the brilliance we once took for granted, particularly during a showcase speech towards the film's end.

 

Fantastic Beasts runs long and frequently feels like it's wasting time, yet there are no drawn-out action sequences or other obvious spots that could have used a trim. The movie fiddles with canon in ways both large and small, but before anyone gets their robes in a bunch, I'd suggest not everything is as it seems just now. Remember: Three more films are planned for this series. Nods and callbacks to the original series provide plenty of "awwww" moments for die-hards. Fantastic Beasts 2 boasts glorious visuals, with top-notch effects and lovely colors and textures in the costumes. James Newton Howard's always exceptional work in the music department effectively sets the mood from start to finish. It's an uneven but entertaining outing that leaves me excited for the next installment, and hopeful the filmmakers will sharpen their efforts to make a movie more worthy of carrying on this much-loved franchise.

 

Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald clocks in at 134 minutes and is rated PG13 for "some sequences of fantasy action."

 

Fantastic Beasts 2 is an imperfect movie that's still magical enough to keep fans of the wizarding world wanting more. 

 

Of a possible nine Weasleys, Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald gets seven.

 

Next on my agenda, Widows.

 

When their husbands are killed on a job gone wrong, a group of women attempts to pull off a heist the men had planned.

 

Widows is being touted by some Serious Film Critics as a potential best picture contender, so I suppose it's a pretty great movie, but the sad fact is I hated every minute of it.

 

For an action movie that presents as credible drama, Widows has too many suspiciously convenient turns, and a fair few other things I just couldn't swallow. Outlandish tricks work with light entertainment like Oceans 8, but not here. Viola Davis lately makes a career of playing troubled people for whom I just can't muster any sympathy, and her abrasive gang leader is no different. As one of the finest actresses of her generation, I did wonder that nobody could have taught her to hold a dog as if she'd actually *seen* a dog before, but other than that it's a strong performance as another brash, unlikable woman. If there's a more irritating actor than Zooey Deschanel working today, well, I guess her name is Elizabeth Debicki. (End of list.) Smokin' hotness can't save Michelle Rodriguez from being way out of her acting depth. A chilling turn by Daniel Kaluuya is easily the movie's the best work, and, fresh off a stellar performance in Bad Times at the El Royale, Cynthia Erivo manages to present Widows' one and only character with any appeal at all. (Not counting the dog, of course. The dog is always the best character in any movie.) Overall Widows is a drab, violent exercise that's way too implausible for as seriously as it takes itself.

 

Widows runs 128 minutes and is rated R for "violence, language throughout, and some sexuality/nudity."

 

The next time I see a movie that opens with Liam Neeson in a van talking about a plan, it better be a sequel to The A-Team. 

 

Of a possible nine Weasleys, Widows gets four.

 

Fangirl points: Garrett Dillahunt! Manuel Garcia-Rulfo! That oddly-placed WASP song!

 

Until next time!!

MOVIE REVIEW: FANTASTIC BEAST: THE CRIMES OF GRINDELWALD

In an effort to thwart Grindelwald's plans of raising pure-blood wizards to rule over all non-magical beings, Albus Dumbledore enlists his former student Newt Scamander, who agrees to help, unaware of the dangers that lie ahead. Lines are drawn as love and loyalty are tested, even among the truest friends and family, in an increasingly divided wizarding world.

Director: David Yates

Cast: Eddie Redmayne, Katherine Waterston, Dan Fogler, Alison Sudol, Ezra Miller, Zoë Kravitz, Callum Turner, Claudia Kim, William Nadylam, Kevin Guthrie, Jude Law, Johnny Depp

Release Date: November 16, 2018

Genres: Adventure , Family , Fantasy

Rated PG-13 for some sequences of fantasy action

Runtime: 2h 14 min

Review:

I’ll start with a disclaimer; I’ve never been a die hard Harry Potter fan.  It’s a series that I warmed up too as the stories got more mature but I’d be lying if I said I loved them.  I appreciate them on multiple levels but if I never saw another film in the universe I’d be ok.  I enjoyed the first Fantastic Beast film because it was an enjoyable jaunt with some likeable characters starting with Eddie Redmayne’s Newt Scamander.  In this entry, Redmayne has clearly nailed the character and he’s even more likeable this go around even though he’s not the primary focus.  A large cast of returning faces and new faces, like Johnny Depp’s titular Grindelwald and Jude Law’s Albus Dumbledore, make this film feel much larger and busier than the first entry.  The movie is never uninteresting but it does feel like there are multiple story lines jammed into this entry with a hefty amount of exposition setting up future entries.  David Yates film clearly suffers from being a middle entry in a much larger story which leaves this feeling incomplete by design.  Still there is a lot to like and fans of the series will find plenty to like.

B-

MOVIE REVIEW: THE GIRL IN THE SPIDER’S WEB

Fired from the National Security Agency, Frans Balder recruits hacker Lisbeth Salander to steal FireWall, a computer program that can access codes for nuclear weapons worldwide. The download soon draws attention from an NSA agent who traces the activity to Stockholm. Further problems arise when Russian thugs take Lisbeth's laptop and kidnap a math whiz who can make FireWall work. Now, Lisbeth and an unlikely ally must race against time to save the boy and recover the codes to avert disaster.

Director: Fede Álvarez

Cast: Claire Foy, Sverrir Gudnason, LaKeith Stanfield, Sylvia Hoeks, Stephen Merchant

Release Date: November 9, 2018

Rated PG-13 for thematic content, some drug and sexual references, and for language

Runtime: 1 hr. 42 min.

Genres: Crime, Drama, Thriller

Review:

The Girl in The Spider’s Web serves as a sort of reboot / continuation of Dragon Tattoo story with Clair Foy taking over the main role.  Claire Foy seems like she’s miscast at first glance but she’s actually more than capable to carry on the role from Noomi Rapace and Rooney Mara.  Foy has a quiet intensity that fits the character perfectly even if the character has been mainstreamed a bit to make her more easily digestible to the general public.  Still, Claire Foy is able to give this iteration of Lisbeth enough of an edge to keep the spirit of the character alive.  Not fairing as well is this films version of Mikael Blomkvist.  Sverrir Gudnason is decidedly bland as the stalwart journalist who mostly just blends in with the background.  LaKeith Stanfield does give the film a nice boost with his strong on screen presence even though I wish the film would have given us a bit more of him and Foy together.  Still, Fede Álvarez and his cast deliver an interesting and engaging entry into the franchise which still shows signs of life especially with Foy in the lead.

B

MOVIE REVIEW: OVERLORD

On the eve of D-Day, American paratroopers drop behind enemy lines to penetrate the walls of a fortified church and destroy a radio transmitter. As the soldiers approach their target, they soon begin to realize that there's more going on in the Nazi-occupied village than a simple military operation. Making their way to an underground lab, the outnumbered men stumble upon a sinister experiment that forces them into a vicious battle against an army of the undead.

Director: Julius Avery

Cast: Jovan Adepo, Wyatt Russell, Mathilde Ollivier, John Magaro, Gianny Taufer, Pilou Asbæk, Bokeem Woodbine.

Release Date: November 9, 2018

Genres: Action, Horror, Mystery

Rated R for strong bloody violence, disturbing images, language, and brief sexual content

Runtime: 1h 49 min

Review:

Overlord is a schlocky B movie that hits all the right notes.  Julius Avery directs the film with a steady hand.  The film opens with an amazing aerial sequence that will make some people think of the opening sequences in Saving Private Ryan.  As the film settles in, you get the feeling you are watching a well made World War 2 film as the film introduces us to classic war movie types.  These types could typically come off as clichéd but the performances from the cast makes them all interesting and engaging.  Avery and his cast establish an excellent sense of atmosphere and the feeling that something is just a tad bit off.  Once the film takes its right turn, which has been highlighted in the trailers, it turns into a full tilt horror film and does it quite well.  It calls to memory the reaction people had to From Dusk till Dawn, some people will go with it others will be turned off by where the film ends up.  Those that stick with it will find plenty to enjoy because as a horror film it’s an effective gory ride.  

B+

Cindy Prascik's Reviews of The Girl in the Spider's Web & Dr. Seuss' The Grinch

Dearest Blog: Yesterday it was off to Marquee Cinemas for the strange-bedfellows double-bill of The Girl in the Spider's Web and Dr. Seuss' The Grinch. Spoiler level here will be mild, nothing you wouldn't know from the trailers.

First up: The Girl in the Spider's Web. Lisbeth Salander finds herself tangled in a dangerous plot with a personal twist. Well, dear reader(s), about the nicest thing I can say about The Girl in the Spider's Web is that I had the theater to myself, but for one other couple that sat far from me, so I really enjoyed that bit.

Otherwise... The Girl in the Spider's Web is a joyless, violent exercise that fails to engage on any level. I'm not such a ninny that I expected sunshine and lollipops from the Dragon Tattoo series, but...yeeesh...almost everything about this is deeply unlikable. The plot holds no surprises, and the performances frankly aren't that interesting.

That's not to say Claire Foy doesn't do a fine job in a role that's fraught with physical and emotional challenges; it's just that there's nothing, really, to make it stand out from a dozen others who will undoubtedly compete for the big hardware come awards season. (The trailer for Nicole Kidman's Destroyer that ran beforehand only served to underline that point.) Wallander alum Sverrir Gudnason is appealingly earnest as journalist Mikael Blomkvist, and the bleak landscapes and grim, fractured score provide a perfect backdrop for the film's misery, but otherwise there's not much good to be said about this one. I struggled mightily just to stay awake. The Girl in the Spider's Web runs 117 minutes and is rated R for "violence, language, and some sexual content/nudity."

The Girl in the Spider's Web is yet another sequel that nobody wanted.

Of a possible nine Weasleys, The Girl in the Spider's Web gets two. Fangirl points: Stephen Merchant!

Next on the docket, Dr. Seuss' The Grinch. Benedict Cumbergrinch can come down my chimney any ol' time. The Grinch is one of those timeless holiday tales that could be made a hundred times for a hundred different generations and it'd probably always work. This current incarnation is a real joy, thanks to bright artwork, bouncy holiday tunes, and a delightful turn by Benedict Cumberbatch as the green holiday killjoy. Glorious visuals are the star of The Grinch, with cheerful holiday decorations coming alive to get viewers into the spirit LIKERIGHTNOW. Snippets of new and classic Christmas carols--while vexing to our anti-hero--pile on the cinematic cheer, culminating in a well-known, teeth-rottingly-sweet finale that hits you right in the feels no matter your age. There are some stocking stuffers for adults (note the tune Mr. Grinch is playing on the organ midway through) that willfully aspire to keep the movie from being kids-only fare, but, even minus those little winks, The Grinch is the sort of picture that should get pretty much anyone into a holiday frame of mind. Dr. Seuss' The Grinch clocks in at a quick 90 minutes and is rated PG for "brief rude humor." The Grinch has holiday magic to spare.

Of a possible nine Weasleys, Dr. Seuss' The Grinch gets eight.

Fangirl points: Cumbergrinch said my name. TWICE. (Christmas is the only time it pays to be named after a resident of Whoville!) Until next time...

MOVIE REVIEW: BOHEMIAN RHAPSODY

Bohemian Rhapsody is a foot-stomping celebration of Queen, their music and their extraordinary lead singer Freddie Mercury. Freddie defied stereotypes and shattered convention to become one of the most beloved entertainers on the planet. The film traces the meteoric rise of the band through their iconic songs and revolutionary sound. They reach unparalleled success, but in an unexpected turn Freddie, surrounded by darker influences, shuns Queen in pursuit of his solo career. Having suffered greatly without the collaboration of Queen, Freddie manages to reunite with his bandmates just in time for Live Aid. While bravely facing a recent AIDS diagnosis, Freddie leads the band in one of the greatest performances in the history of rock music. Queen cements a legacy that continues to inspire outsiders, dreamers and music lovers to this day

Director: Bryan Singer

Cast: Rami Malek, Lucy Boynton, Gwilym Lee, Ben Hardy, Joseph Mazzello, Aidan Gillen, Tom Hollander, Allen Leech, Mike Myers

Release Date: November 2, 2018

Genres: Biography, Drama , Music

Rated PG-13 for thematic elements, suggestive material, drug content and language

Runtime: 2h 12 min

Review:

Bohemian Rhapsody is a serviceable if sanitized rock biopic that’s helped greatly by great performances.  Bryan Singer’s film bears some of his style but there is a sense that after he was let go there was a bit of committee thinking going on resulting in some generic decisions.  Even though the film plays out in a predictable paint by the number pattern, there’s plenty to love about it.  Rami Malek makes the film by delivering a star making performance.  Malek transforms into Mercury and he’s always the most interesting person on screen.  He captures the look and feel of Mercury especially during the musical portions that it makes it easy to overlook some of the film’s short comings.  Helping matters is the supporting cast which delivers equally impressive work as the rest of the band mates.  The music itself is irresistible and through some impressive blending of actual singing and lip syncing you really feel the performances which drive the film ending with the iconic Live Aid show. 

B