10s Movie Review - Maleficent

Director: Robert Stromberg
Genre: Action/ Adventure/ Fantasy/ Family
Runtime: 97 minutes
Year: 2014
Starring: Angelina Jolie, Elle Fanning, Sharlto Copley, Lesley Manville, Imelda Staunton, Juno Temple, Sam Riley, Brenton Thwaites, Michael Higgins

I WATCHED THIS MOVIE FOR MY 2021 MOVIE CHALLENGE.
WEEK 26: A MOVIE WITH AN ANTI-HERO
 
Description: A vengeful fairy (Angelina Jolie) is driven to curse an infant princess, only to discover that the child may be the one person who can restore peace to their troubled land.

Review: “Sleeping Beauty” is a classic Disney animation that was screaming for a new interpretation. The classic may be beloved worldwide; there are also a few things to be said about it. The story is very thin and the characters are hardly given any depth. However, with  the evil witch Maleficent it does have one of the scariest Disney villains of all time. Memorably terrifying because there was no glimmer of compassion or humanity in this mistress of evil.  
So, with “Maleficent” the infamous shrew is given her own full movie. And Disney could have gone either way: work out the creepy cold-bloodedness even more or add more nuance. Debuting director Robert Stromberg goes full for the nuance, making “Maleficent” primarily a breezy family film.
It is the safer choice of the two, but also the dullest. Maleficent is transformed from a terrifying demoness into a nature-loving fairy who fights to preserve her magical forest, while people from the surrounding areas want to destroy it. She becomes the victim of deep betrayal and is not the same from that point on. Revenge she wants, and she gets it.
But soon she regrets it when it turns out that the baby she cursed grows up to be a very sweet girl. Perhaps even a little too sweet for the sober observer. Princess Aurora is played by Elle Fanning, one of the most talented actresses of her age, but her puzzled look and cheerful giggles quickly get on your nerves. Maleficent’s elaboration is better. The creators have given her a background that, for the most part, fits nicely with the 1959 classis. But otherwise, it’s all fat from original and surprising.
Fortunately, there are also plenty of things to enjoy. In the first place, the leading rol of Angelina Jolie, who plays her character with visible pleasure. She is at her best in the famous scene of the christening party: delightfully diabolical. And then there is the visual aspect of the film, which isn’t bad. Only he three fairies look pretty horrible.
I would have wanted a more dark version of the tale, but “Maleficent” is, mostly thanks to Jolie, still an entertaining film.

Rating: 3/ 5

10s Movie Review - Super 8

Director: J.J. Abrams
Genre: Science Fiction/ Thriller/ Adventure
Runtime: 112 minutes
Year: 2011
Starring: Elle Fanning, Kyle Chandler, Amanda Michalka, Ron Eldard, Noah Emmerich, Gabriel Basso, Zach Mills, Katie Lowes, Marco Sanchez, Joel Courtney, Thomas F. Duffy, Ryan Lee, James Hébert, Teri Clark, Riley Griffiths

I WATCHED THIS MOVIE FOR MY 2020 MOVIE CHALLENGE.
WEEK 37: A MOVIE ABOUT MOVIES

Description: During the summer 0f 1979, a group of friends witness a train crash and investigate subsequent unexplained events in their small town.

Review: Nowadays science fiction almost seems to be synonymous with action and spectacle. From destructive robots to heroes with superpowers; as long as it looks impressive and is loud. That used to be different. Look at films like “Close Encounters of the Third Kind” and “E.T.”. The characters and the atmosphere were much more important. Director J.J. Abrams grew up with it and brings with “Super 8” a nostalgic ode to these type of films. And Steven Spielberg produced it.
The film is set in the late 70s and we follow a group of children. they are enthusiastic filmmakers. The young director Charles is all about the production value of his new zombie film, so everyone has to be ready immediately when a train races past their nocturnal filmset. The super-8 camera record more than they hoped for, as the train derails and explodes.
The crash with al its consequences form the main plot, but actually that’s not what the film is all about. It’s centered around Joe, a boy who has had a difficult relationship with his father since his mother died in a work accident. During the filming of Charles’ zombie movie, he meets Alice, who has an even worse bond with her dad. It’s the small and tender scenes between them that make “Super 8” more than just and exciting story. Elle Fanning is clearly a natural talent, she steals the show.
The highlight of “Super 8” is not the visual effects or the mystery and intrigue, which are both topnotch, but it’s the wonderfully nostalgic, warm-hearted atmosphere and fantastic cast.

Rating: 4/ 5

Movie Review - All the Bright Places

Director: Brett Haley
Genre: Drama/ Romance
Runtime: 119 minutes
Year: 2020
Starring: Elle Fanning, Justice Smith, Luke Wilson, Keegan-Michael Key, Kelli O’Hara

Description: The story of Violet (Elle Fanning) and Theodore (Justice Smith), who meet and change each other’s lives forever. As they struggle with the emotional and physical scars of their past, they discover that even the smallest places and moments can mean something.

I WATCHED THIS MOVIE FOR MY 2020 MOVIE CHALLENGE.
WEEK 10: A TEEN MOVIE

Review: We follow Violet, who is dealing with the loss of her sister, who died in a car accident. She meets Theodore Finch, who is also struggling with himself for yet unknown reasons. They have to work together for a school project, where they have to find the most meaningful and beautiful places in Indiana, where they live.
When they meet, Violet is at her worst. Finch helps Violet’s process her sister’s death and it even feels like he becomes her mentor. But Finch’s situation worsened.
If you can appreciate “The Fault in Our Stars’, you will also enjoy this film. “All the Bright Places” shows us in a beautiful wat how two teenagers deal with mental health issues and which effects this has on themselves, their relationships and the people around them. A pretty heavy theme, but the film has plenty of cheerful and light moments.
“All the Bright Places” is a good romantic drama, that doesn’t shy away from heavy topics. But it’s still not daring enough. Although it’s easy to relate to both characters, it’s not completely clear what Finch is struggling with the most and why he is the way he is. I feel like Violet’s character was more in-depth. And there is one character, Amanda, one of Violet’s friends, who has a small subplot that is so thrown in there that it’s really hard to care. When you really want to care, but it’s so out of the blue. And it doesn’t really serve a purpose.
Like I said before, you will probably like it if you enjoyed films like “The Fault in Our Stars”. And it is a pretty good teen drama with a good change that you will shed a tear.

Rating: 3 / 5

100 Movie Challenge 2017 - # 118: The Beguiled

Director: Sofia Coppola
Genre: Drama/ Thriller
Runtime: 94 minutes
Year: 2016
Starring: Colin Farrell, Nicole Kidman, Kirsten Dunst, Elle Fanning, Oona Laurence, Angourie Rice

Description: The unexpected arrival of a wounded Union soldier (Colin Farrell) at a girls school in Virginia during the American Civil War leads to jealousy and betrayal.

Review: They are no longer helpless and innocent, the women in corsets. Several costume dramas proved that this year. And “The Beguiled” by Sofia Coppola is also one of them, a dramatic thriller with heaps of estrogen.
“The Beguiled” is based on the novel by Thomas Cullinan. In 1971 it was adapted to a movie for the first time, with Clint Eastwood starring as the wounded soldier. Sofia Coppola follows the story of the original film, but it didn’t become a boring repetition of it. Coppola managed to add themes like abalienation and group dynamic to it they way only she can. It’s clear this film was written from a female perspective.
It’s great to see how Coppola managed to let lust and envy be defining for the atmosphere. Especially the scene where the women try to trump each other over apple pie, trying to impress the male guest. The camera work is static and music is minimal, this is typical Sofia Coppola. I always loved her timid way of directing.
Nicole Kidman is very strong as Miss Martha, but Kirsten Dunst and Elle Fanning are also solid. Colin Farrell, the only male performer in “The Beguiled” is also the right choice. He can easily be a charming gentleman and a foulmouthed brute. “The Beguiled” is a really good film, a good film to show off the talents of the women in Hollywood.

Rating: 4,5/ 5

100 Movie Challenge 2017 - # 42: About Ray

Director: Gaby Delal
Genre: Drama/ Comedy
Runtime: 87 minutes
Year: 2015
Starring: Naomi Watts, Elle Fanning, Susan Sarandon, Tate Donovan

Description: After Ray (Elle Fanning) decides to transition from female to male, Ray's mother, Maggie (Naomi Watts), must come to terms with the decision while tracking down Ray's biological father to get his legal consent.

Review: Worldwide acceptance maybe a long way, but transsexuality reaches a bigger audience nowadays.
In “About Ray” Elle Fanning plays Ramona, Ray. She is sixteen and wants to make the transition from girl to boy, because she always felt more like a boy. Fanning’s performance is really strong. For the testosterone therapy Ray has to go through, she needs consent from both of her parents. But Ray’s father left the family when she was just a baby. Mother Maggie wants the best for Ray, but why does she need to dig up the past.
“About Ray” is a charming drama with little hints of comedy here and there. The cast does a great job, but the film overall never manages to convince completely.

Rating: 3/ 5

100 Movie Challenge 2016 - !37: The Neon Demon

Director: Nicolas Winding Refn
Genre: Horror/ Thriller/ Drama
Runtime: 110 minutes
Year: 2016
Starring: Elle Fanning, Jena Malone, Christine Hendricks, Keanu Reeves, Alessandro Nivola, Desmond Harrington

Description: When aspiring model Jesse (Elle Fanning) moves to Los Angeles, her youth and vitality are devoured by a group of beauty-obsessed women who will take any means necessary to get what she has.

Review: Director Nicolas Winding Refn was really successful with “Drive” in 2011, with which he won at the Cannes Filmfestival. Two years later “Only God Forgives” was critized more, because of the excessive violence and the lack of narrative. “The Neon Demon”, his newest film, got both applaus and boohs at the festival.
The very young and somewhat naïve Jesse moved to Los Angeles by herself, to become a model. Photographers and designers are lining up for her extraordinary beauty and her collegues aren’t happy about it.
“The Neon Demon” is a dark and twisted story about temptation and power. A film about obsession and madness. I once read that it’s “Black Swan” meets “American Psycho”. I can see that.
“The Neon Demon” looks stunning and intrigues the viewer with hypnotizing images and music. The movie has a disturbing twist and it’s a film that will get under your skin.
Elle Fanning does a great job as the leading character. Many scenes in the movie have an artificial feel, but it fits the theme perfectly. “The Neon Demon” never tops “Drive” or even equalizes it, but it’s an original thriller with horror elements.

Rating: 4,5/ 5

100 Movie Challenge 2016 - # 107: We Bought a Zoo

Director: Cameron Crowe
Genre: Drama/ Comedy/ Family
Runtime: 124 minutes
Year: 2011
Starring: Matt Damon, Scarlett Johansson, Thomas Haden Church, Colin Ford, Angus Macfadyen, Elle Fanning, Patrick Fugit, John Michael Higgins

Description: Set in Southern California, a father (Matt Damon) moves his young family to the countryside to renovate and re-open a struggling zoo.

Review: Director Cameron Crowe is mostly known for his film “Almost Famous”. “We Bought a Zoo” is his first family film, based on a true story where a widowed man and his two kids move and buy a struggling zoo.
Benjamin Mee doesn’t have a lot of experience as a parent, because for his job as a journalist he was on the road a lot. He quits his job writing and eventually finds a beautiful house that comes with a zoo. And he buys it.
Matt Damon plays the lead and I loved his character. It’s really easy to relate to him, a man just trying to deal with his wife’s death and his kids. Especially his son, who he just can’t seem to reach. Him buying a zoo is part of the process Benjamin is going through. Scarlett Johansson is also good in this film, I also sympathized her character a lot. And the little girl Rosie, so adorable!
“We Bought a Zoo” is such a great film, very underrated. Okay, it’s bittersweet, but who cares. I loved the film and I think everyone should see it sometime. It put a big smile on my face in the end.

Rating: 5/ 5