Cruella

Some films that have been around for awhile can and have gone through many incarnations, whether it be animation, live-action or even sometime be turned into musicals. Well, "Cruella", which started as a novel, then landed as an animated feature film, "One Hundred and One Dalmations" has returned in yet another live-action film for all to enjoy.

In this all-new live-action feature film about the rebellious early days of one of cinema's most notorious--and notoriously fashionable villains, the legendary Cruella de Vil, follows, in 1970's London amidst the punk rock revolution, a young grifter named Estella (Emma Stone), a clever and creative girl determined to make a name for herself with her designs. She befriends a pair of petty young thieves, Jasper (Joel Fry) and Horace (Paul Walter Hauser) who appreciate her appetite for mischief, and together they are able to build a life for themselves on the London streets. One day, Estella's flair for fashion catches the eye of the Baroness von Hellman (Emma Thompson), a fashion legend who is devastatingly chic and terrifyingly haute. But their relationship sets in motion a course of events and revelations that will cause Estella to embrace her wicked side and become the raucous, fashionable and revenge-bent Cruella. 

Others to round out the cast are John McCrea as Artie, Mark Strong as John the Valet, Emily Beecham as Catherine, Kayvan Novak as Roger, Kirby Howell-Baptiste as Anita Darling, Jamie Demetriou as Gerald,  Abraham Popoola as George, Bobby as Buddy, the dog and Bluebell as Wink, the dog.

This was delineated well by veteran director Craig Gillespie ("Mr. Woodcock" '07, "Lars and the Real Girl" '07, "Fright Night" '11, "Trooper" (TV movie) '13, "Million Dollar Arm" '14, "The Finest Hours" '16, "I, Tonya" '17) plus TV and video shorts. All characters were credible in the approach to their respective roles, however the leads--Estella, the Baroness, Jasper and Horace simply jumped off the screen with an amazing presence. One could think back to the old animated flick and visualize the animated characters back just from watching the characters in this play out. This filmmaker is a consummate pro. It was well structured by writers Dana Fox ("The Wedding Date" '05, "What Happens in Vegas" '08, "Couples Retreat" '09, "How to Be Single" '16, "Isn't It Romantic" '19) plus TV and Tony McNamara ("The Rage in Placid Lake" '03, "Ashby" '15, "The Favourite" '18) plus a plethora of TV, based on a story by Aline Brosh McKenna, Kelly Marcel and Steve Zissis, which is based on the novel, "One Hundred and One Dalmations" by Dodie Smith. Certainly, Fox has the lion's share of the feature film experience here, but McNamara has a ton of TV experience, and I've mentioned many times that cutting one's teeth on TV before writing for the big screen makes them a much better and honed writer once they hit feature film land. Since this story has been written in many different forms since its inception, I wasn't expecting the screenplay that I received. Really, other than this being a little long-in-the-tooth, this script was spot on. It would've been a bit tighter in its script, if about 10 mins from its 134 minute running time were shaved off, still being able to convey to the audience every nuance of the story. I actually went to see this because of both Stone and the comparable Thompson in their delicious roles, and I definitely received what I wanted. 

If the Cruella character is a favorite of yours, you will be in Cruella heaven, especially in how this film conveys to us how Cruella became the way she turned--the origins of her if you will. If there is anything different about this, the origins is that aspect, and this will definitely entertain.

Out of 4 Stars: 3.5                                         Rated: PG-13                                              134mins.

A Quiet Place Part II

There have been many horrific, chilling and thrilling films in our past--enough to make your nerves be put on edge, but since "A Quiet Place" was released in 2018, it put a whole new twist on that description. So, three years later, we now have "A Quiet Place Part II" in the offing and it is just as much of a rush as its predecessor.

Following the events at home, the Abbott family including Evelyn (Emily Blunt), Regan (Millicent Simmonds) and Marcus (Noah Jupe), now face the terrors of the outside world. The film starts with day 1 of the alien invasion and how the Abbott family, along with Lee (John Krasinski) were attempting to cope with all this. Then it cuts immediately to day 474,  sometime after where the original leaves us, whereas their neighbor, Emmett (Cillian Murphy) along with Regan decide to venture out into the unknown for help, as they realize the creatures that hunt by sound are not the only threats lurking beyond the sand path. While they are away, Evelyn stays to take care of Marcus and her new baby. 

Others to round out the cast are Djimon Hounsou as Man on island, Okieriete Omaodowan as Police officer, Scoot McNairy as Marina man, Zachary Golinger as Emmett's son, Blake DeLong as Umpire, Gary Sundown as Island person and Laura-Ashley Cristiano as Emmett's wife. 

This was rivetingly directed by John Krasinski ("Brief Interviews with Hideous Men" '09, "The Hollars" '16, "A Quiet Place" '18) plus TV. Even though this filmmaker doesn't have a plethora of experience behind the camera, he has got to be a natural. I'm sure his being a talented, honed actor has a tremendous effect on his ability and he surely showed it in this as with its predecessor. The audience simply cringed right along with the characters in the film. Being an actor certainly can and has in his case, made him an effective director. Interestingly, Krasinski didn't want to direct this sequel, but was talked into it, and we are the victors for it. It was also brilliantly written by Krasinski ("Brief Interviews with Hideous Men" '09, "Promised Land" '12, "A Quiet Place" '18) plus TV, based on characters created by Bryan Woods and Scott Beck. Not only was this sequel as intense as its predecessor, it was probably scarier than the original as well. And, as I mentioned in the review of the original, the supervising sound editors (Erik Aadahl mpse and Ethan Van der Ryn) were as much the stars as the stars. The sound editing and design were incredible as it, through amazing editing, set the entire mood of this film. There would be a whisper, then an accidental noise, then the chaos with crisp and loud sound effects that would make the audience jump out of their seats. Along with the visual effects/animation by ILM (Industrial, Light & Magic) and fine acting, this film simply rocked. 

What can say, but for a film that showcases horror, drama, thrills and plenty of action where it's most needed, this film had it all! It was originally premiered in New York City on March 8, 2020, about a week before the pandemic shutdown, so since the theaters were then closed, it was pushed back to May 28, 2021. I believe if one only sees this on their TV sets, in my opinion, you will have not seen the film. This will lose everything on the smaller screen. In fact, I only wished now, looking back in retrospect, that I had seen it in IMAX, which would've been killer. 

Out of 4 Stars: 4                                           Rated: PG-13                                            97mins.

Those Who Wish Me Dead

As the summer film season is slowly approaching, more and more action-adventure films will start coming out of the woodwork. "Those That Wish Me Dead" is one of many films coming out this summer that hopefully will get people back into the theaters. This film certainly will keep you on the edge of your proverbial seat.

A smoke jumper, Hannah (Angelina Jolie) and a traumatized boy, Connor (Finn Little) fight for their lives as two relentless assassins, brothers, Jack (Aiden Gillen) and Patrick (Nicholas Hoult), who actually murdered Connor's father, Owen (Jake Weber) in front of the boy, pursue them through a raging wildfire in the Montana wilderness. A lightning strike disables the radio in Hannah's smoke jumper tower, so she and Connor have to make it on foot to town all the while Deputy Sheriff Ethan (Jon Bernthal) is attempting to locate them before the assassins do. 

Others to round out the cast are Medina Senghore as Allison, Ethan's wife, Tyler Perry as Arthur, Boots Southerland as Sheriff, Tory Kittles as Ryan and James Jordan as Ben. 

This was intensely directed by Taylor Sheridan ("Vile" '11, "Wind River" '17) plus TV. Although this filmmaker is quite the seasoned writer, his ability behind the camera gets better with each film he directs. These characters simply jump off the screen showcasing just the right amount of emotion to convey to the audience where these characters are at and how they interact with each other. It was creatively and excitingly written by Michael Koryta, Charles Leavitt ("The Sunchaser" '96, "The Mighty" '98, "The Jennie Project" (TV movie) '01, "K-Pax" '01, "Blood Diamond" '06, "The Express" '08, "Seventh Son" '14, "In the Heart of the Sea" '15, "Warcraft" '16) and Sheridan ("Sicario" '15, "Hell or High Water" '16, "Wind River" '17, "Sicario: Day of the Soldado" '18, "Tom Clancy's Without Remorse" '21) plus TV, based on the book by Michael Koryta. Between Leavitt and Sheridan, this film certainly showcased two veteran writers at their best. The script was cohesive, tight and gripping as these characters were being the hunters or the hunted. There were a couple of very small inconsistencies in storyline, however not enough to detract from the intensity of this screenplay where fighting the clock became paramount. I'm sure Koryta was included as one of the writers since it was based on his book. This was actually a smart move with the producers, because including him would only add to the validity of the screenplay that much more. If Sheridan's writing is to your liking, his "Fast" is in pre-production. 

Soon, more big-budget grandiose films will be gracing the theater screens and I am certainly looking forward to them considering the year plus we have all been through. I don't know about you, but I'm waiting for something to escape into, and this film was a good start. 

Out of 4 stars: 3.5                                              Rated: R                                                 99mins.

Finding You

Romantic comedies and dramas have been a Hollywood staple for quite sometime, and even though it's not really my favorite genre, they can be interesting depending on the premise. When I saw my first trailer of "Finding You", I felt like it had promise, and after seeing it, my assessment was accurate.

This is an inspirational romantic drama full of heart and humor about finding the strength to be true to oneself. After an ill-fated audition at the prestigious New York music conservatory, violinist Finley Sinclair (Rose Reid) travels to an Irish coastal village to begin her semester studying abroad. At the B&B run by her host family including Nora (Fiona Bell) and husband Sean (Ciaran McMahon) and their daughter Emma (Saoirse-Monica Jackson), she encounters gregarious and persistent heartthrob movie star Beckett Rush (Jedidiah Goodacre), who is there to film another installment of his medieval fantasy-adventure franchise. As romance sparks between the unlikely pair, Beckett ignites a journey of discovery for Finley that transforms her heart, her music, and her look on life. In turn, Finley emboldens Beckett to reach beyond his teen-idol image, and pursue his true passion. But when forces surrounding Beckett's stardom threatens to crush their dreams, Finley must decide what she is willing to risk for love.

Others to round out the cast are Vanessa Redgrave as Cathleen Sweeney, Tom Everett Rush as Montgomery Rush, Beckett's father, Patrick Bergin as Seamus, Judith Hoag as Jennifer Sinclair as Finley's mother and Helen Roche as Fiona Doyle.

This was paced and staged well by director Brian Baugh ("To Save a Life" '09, "I'm Not Ashamed" '16, "The World We Make" '19) plus TV. Even though this filmmaker doesn't have an extensive resume, he was able to combine the heartfelt feeling of an interesting story with the reality that these characters were emitting throughout the film. He is truly a natural, so much so that if the directing was to your liking, his "Appointments with Heaven" is in pre-production along with the writing penned also by him. This was also effectively written by Baugh ("To Save a Life" '09, "The World We Make" '19), based on the book, "There You'll Find Me" by Jenny B. Jones. This film could've been written in such a sappy, sentimental way, but even though it was heartfelt, it was grounded in just the right amount of reality that made this, not only palatable, but a movie that captured the attention of its audience. Other than a couple of very small places of inconsistencies, this story rocked. The photography filmed on location in Ireland by Michael Lavelle, isc was breathtaking and definitely added to the story, as was the music which consisted of fiddles and dancing Irish style.

Certainly if you like romantic dramas, you'll love this, but even if not, the chemistry between the two young stars was real as it was entertaining. These two were about as unlikely to meet and eventually connect as a couple could be, but it should show us that anyone can meet and have that connection no matter how different we are. If you don't believe it, watch "Here Today" which was also recently released and still in theaters. 

Out of 4 Stars: 3.5                                                   Rated: PG                                              119mins.

Wrath of Man

Ever since "The Godfather" came to the theaters back in 1972, we have seen a plethora of these types of films repeatedly. We've seen "The Godfather II", "Casino", "The Departed", "Goodfellas", "Killing Them Softly" to mention just a handful, so when Guy Ritchie starting coming into his own as a filmmaker, he had produced a number of these kinds of films, i.e. "Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels", "Snatch", "The Gentlemen", and now we have "Wrath of Man".

Mysterious and wild-eyed, a new security guard, Patrick Hill, or H (Jason Statham), as he's called is hired for a cash truck company which transfers large sums of money across the LA area. As he goes out with co-guards, Bullet (Holt McCallany) and Boy Sweat Dave (Josh Hartnett), he surprises his co-workers when he unleashes precision skills during a heist. The crew is left wondering who he really is and where he came from. Soon, the marksman's ultimate motive becomes clear as he takes dramatic and irrevocable steps to settle a score. What is this score to settle, and will he succeed?

Others to round out the cast are Rocci Williams as Hollow Bob, Jeffrey Donovan as Jackson, Scott Eastwood as Jan, Andy Garcia as Agent King, Deobia Oparei as Brad, Niamh Algar as Dana, Laz Alonso as Carlos, Raul Castillo as Sam, Chris Reilly as Tom, Eddie Marsan as Terry and Tadhg Murphy as Shirley. 

This was grittily directed by Guy Ritchie ("Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels" '98, "Snatch" 2000, "Swept Away" '02, "Revolver" '05, "Suspect" (TV movie) '07, "RocknRolla" '08, "Sherlock Holmes" '09, "Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows" '11, "The Man from U.N.C.L.E." '15, "King Arthur: Legend of the Sword" '17, "Aladdin" '19, "The Gentlemen" '19) plus shorts and video shorts. As with this filmmaker's resume, he definitely has a distinct style with the way his films are shot--they're slick, and with quick editing to emphasize the frenzy of the scenes. This style definitely helps to create the suspense and the full impact of the fact as it's a thriller--this is truly a director that showcases each film he has his hands on. It was well thought out by writers Ritchie ("Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels" '98, "Snatch" 2000, "Swept Away" '02, "Revolver" '05, "RocknRolla" '08, "The Man from U.N.C.L.E." '15, "King Arthur: Legend of the Sword" '17, "Aladdin" '19, "The Gentlemen" '19) plus TV and shorts, Ivan Atkinson ("The Gentlemen" (story) '19) and Marn Davies ("The Gentlemen" (story) '19), based on the film, "Le Convoyeur" by Nicolas Boukhrief and Eric Besnard. Unlike most mob type films, Ritchie usually puts a whole new spin on the story bringing the audience to a point where they start questioning where this story is heading. It comes to a point where the script looks like it's totally convoluted, but this is clearly the genius of a Ritchie film--keep the audience in the dark, but only to a point, lest they start getting disinterested. He writes from one point in the story, then he shoots back in time a bit, then goes ahead a bit more all leading up to the final climax of the story. Since the other two writers collaborated with him on "The Gentlemen", I suspect it was his idea to gain their insight on the story of this film with their writing. His approach to screenwriting isn't necessarily unique, but the way he implements this style makes it unique in and of itself. Other than a couple of very few inconsistencies in script, this storyline kept me riveted. 

This is not your typical heist film where the armour truck is stopped, robbed and that's it. Oh no. This goes way beyond that premise. So when you see the trailer to this, believe me, there is so much more to it than meets the eye. Ritchie clearly has cornered the market in how he presents his films unlike a lot of other filmmakers. 

Out of 4 Stars: 3                                        Rated: R                                                 119mins.

Here Today

As I've mentioned in many reviews, the genre of comedy is my favorite one if there is a comedy that is actually funny these days. However, after seeing "Here Today", my faith in the comedy genre was reassured when the likes of Billy Crystal is gracing the screen. Wow, I thought this filmmaker had retired since it's been awhile since he has been on the screen. Hopefully this is the start of a resurgence of more to come.

Veteran comedy writer Charlie Burnz (Billy Crystal) forms an unlikely yet hilarious and touching friendship with New York singer Emma Payge (Tiffany Haddish). Emma--the unlikely recipient of a prize to have lunch with the comedy legend, despite not knowing who he is--gets off to a rocky start with Charlie (think seafood allergy, a hospital visit, and an epi pen). Before long, each finds in the other a sort of soul mate, forging a deep bond that kicks the generation gap aside and redefines the meaning of friendship, love and trust. 

Others to round out the cast are Penn Badgley as Rex, Charlie's son, Laura Behanti as Francine, Charlie's daughter, Andrew Dupand as Darrell, Matthew Broussard as Roger, Alex Brightman as Justin, Gianmarco Soresi as Lenny, Brandon Uranowitz as Gary, Audrey Hsieh as Lindsay, Charlie's granddaughter, Anna Deavere Smith as Dr. Vidor, Louisa Krause as Carrie and Nyambi Nyambi as Dwayne St. John, Emma's ex-boyfriend.

This was directed with amazing staging and pacing by Billy Crystal ("Likely Stories, Vol. 3" (segment- "Split Decision") '83, "Mr. Saturday Night" '92, "Forget Paris" '95, "61*" (TV movie) '01) plus TV. He hasn't directed many films in his career,but what he has helmed, he certainly knows how to work with his actors so they truly emit the appropriate emotions when needed. This was also well written by Crystal ("Likely Stories, Vol. 3" (segment- "Split Decision") '83, "Memories of Me" '88, "Mr. Saturday Night" '92, "City Slickers II: The Legend of Curly's Gold" '94, "Forget Paris" '95, "America's Sweethearts" '01) plus TV, and Alan Zweibel ("The Beach Boys: It's OK" (TV movie) '76, "Gilda Live" '80, "Big Shots in America" (TV movie) '85, "Dragnet" '87, "North" '94, "I Am Your Child" (TV movie documentary) '97, "The Story of Us" '99) plus TV, shorts and videos, based on the short story, "The Prize" by Zweibel. This film was written as a sort of dramedy (both comedy and drama), which gave it more of a poignant story. The way it is conveyed finds the audience laughing and being misty-eyed all in the same paragraph. The late, great Neil Simon wrote many of his comedies using the dramedy route and it made a difference. In fact, like Simon's "The Odd Couple", this also had that 'odd couple' feel to it which gave it that 'opposites attract' conveyance to it. Other than a couple of very small places of slowness, this story was compelling as it was entertaining. If you like Crystal's brand of writing, his "Which Witch?" has been announced. 

All that I can say, is that I'm so glad that Crystal didn't retire and looks like he will make a return to the big screen. If you're a Crystal fan, like I am, you will revel with this. It's not one 'one-liner' after the other, but having drama included, this would be assumed that it would be a little more toned down. Suffice it to say, I had a great time with this, considering my love of comedies and of the true talent of a natural comedian in the form of Billy Crystal. 

Out of 4 Stars: 3.5                                           Rated: PG-13                                         117mins.