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

TV Show Review - Dirty John (Season 1)

Season: 1
Genre: Thriller/ Drama/ Crime
Number of episodes: 8
Year: 2018
Starring: Connie Britton, Eric Bana, Juno Temple, Julia Garner, Jean Smart, Alan Ruck

Description: Debra's (Connie Britton) seemingly perfect life is disrupted as she falls for a handsome doctor (Eric Bana) who sweeps her into a whirlwind romance. But her handsome new beau pulls Debra into a sinister game of psychological manipulation.

Review: Giving love a second chance. But what if the seemingly perfect guy turns out to be a sociopath? That’s what’s happening in “Dirty John”.
“Dirty John” is based on the podcast by the American crime journalist Christopher Goffard. He takes on true crime stories. In his first podcast, he focuses on John Meehan.
We meet Debra Newell, a successful interior designer with three grown children and a beautiful house. Through a dating website she meets John Meehan, a charismatic anesthesiologist. Debra falls for him immediately. They are living together within months and married not long after. But Debra’s family doesn’t trust John. And they have good reason for it.
They rush through the beginning of their relationship, but it’s hard to fault that. Because John’s illicit intentions don’t stay hidden very long. That’s good, it has good pace. But it’s pretty hard to understand why Debra is falling for John so hard, because it all goes so fast.
Connie Britton plays Debra, and she is such a talented actress and I always love watching her. But despite Britton’s best effort to bring her character to life, there’s not much going on with Debra. In the beginning, I was hoping for a little more depth in her character, but after seeing the third episode, it was clear what the shows priority was: explore the killer’s point of view and keep the victim scared senseless. It’s not Britton’s fault, her character is just very bland.
Eric Bana plays the titular John. And his performance only pays off when John shows his true colors.
The daughters, played by Juno Temple and Julia Garner, are probably the best part of the show’s acting. Even though their characters are pretty annoying at times, they steal the show. And Jean Smart, playing Debra’s mother, is also very strong. When it comes to the story. I expected so much more. Off course John wasn’t the man that Debra thought she’d married, but what he does to Debra in the period they are together, isn’t all that shocking. I felt no danger, when Debra really was in danger. The true feeling of threat isn’t really present. When it comes to the stalker theme, “You” did a way better job.
The show does scare you in a way, that any guy could be a ‘John’ and women could be lured in easily. But overall, “Dirty John” wasn’t as good as I thought it would be.

10s movie Review - Unsane

Director: Steven Soderbergh
Genre: Thriller
Runtime: 98 minutes
Year: 2018
Starring: Claire Foy, Jay Pharaoh, Juno Temple, Joshua Leonard, Sarah Stiles, Amy Irving, Matt Damon

Description: A young woman (Claire Foy) is involuntarily committed to a mental institution, where she is confronted by her greatest fear--but is it real or a product of her delusion?

Review: In 2013, director Steven Soderbergh announced his retirement and become a painter. But that didn’t last long. First with the TV-show “The Knick”. He realized that film making is what he loves most. Even before he returned with “Logan Lucky”, he announced the movie “Unsane”, which he filmed in secret.
Not only did he film it in secret, he did it within a month in 2017. Soderbergh filmed the entire movie with an iPhone 7 Plus in 4k. You would think that this film would have terrible quality, but that’s not really true. It’s visible in a few moments, but overall this way of filming adds to the realistic and raw feel of the film.
Sawyer Valentini tries to start a new life, with a new job in a new city. But the trauma of the stalker in her past life, still haunts her. So she talks to a therapist. Sawyer has to fill in some standard forms. And before she knows it, she is committed to a mental institution. Sawyer goes through a personal hell, between people who are completely mad and people who are, like her, healthy. And one of the nurses seems to be her stalker. Or is it just in her head?
Soderbergh leaves it to question for a long time, if Sawyer is really losing her mind or if she is sane. We find out the truth, but I think they should’ve waited later in the film. The film still does have some elements of surprise, things you didn’t see coming.
“Unsane” is a strong thriller, where you constantly have that realistic feel where it could happen to you too. Claire Foy is really good in her role, she carries this film.

Rating: 3,5 / 5

00s Movie Review - The Other Boleyn Girl

Director: Justin Chadwick
Genre: Drama
Runtime: 115 minutes
Year: 2008
Starring: Scarlett Johansson, Natalie Portmann, Eric bana, Jim Sturgess, Eddie Redmayne, Juno Temple, Benedict Cumberbatch, Mark Rylance, Alfie Allen, Kristin Scott Thomas

Description: Two sisters (Natalie Portman, Scarlett Johansson) contend for the affection of King Henry VIII (Eric Bana).

Review: ”The Other Boleyn Girl” is based on the bestselling novel by Philippa Gregory and follows the sisters Anne and Mary Boleyn. Both women were love interest for Henry VIII at the beginning of the 16th century. Their love triangle cause for a lot of pain and sorrow.
The art of being a woman is to let men believe that they are in control. It’s a lesson that Anne takes on from her mother. Anne Boleyn is the woman that shook England. Henry VIII committed adultery with her. The story is well known, but in “The Other Boleyn Girl” they focus on sister Mary.
The two Boleyn sisters are complete opposites, but love each other unconditionally. It’s Natalie Portman who steals the show in this film. She is a believable ‘evil’ sister. The acting of the other cast members is okay, but not very special. The script is what makes this film so good. It’s a very well written screenplay.
The book is of course much better, but I always enjoyed watching “The Other Boleyn Girl”.

Rating: 4/ 5

100 Movie Challenge 2017 - # 75: Mr. Nobody

Director: Jaco van Dormael
Genre: Drama/ Romance/ Fantasy/ Science Fiction
Runtime: 138 minutes
Year: 2009
Starring: Jared Leto, Diane Kruger, Sarah Polley, Rhys Ifans, Juno Temple

Description: A boy stands on a station platform as a train is about to leave. Should he go with his mother or stay with his father? Infinite possibilities arise from this decision. As long as he doesn't choose, anything is possible.

Review: What if you made a different decision? Your life would be different right now. With every choice you make, and alternative is lost. So if you count all the choices you have made in your life, your could have had a thousand different lives. “Mr. Nobody” uses this concept. A 120 year old man looks back at all those lives he could have lived. How different the lives are, they all end in death and all you need is love.
The result is a big mish mash of scenes, which switches constantly in timelines. It’s an intelligent film, with an original and promising concept. But it’s also a big mess and the film takes forever. I can see where the director wanted to go with this, but it’s all over the place.
It’s not the actors, the performances are good. And I do like the idea and the risk that was taken to make this film. But it’s not coherent and it never grabbed me.

Rating: 2,5/ 5

100 Movie Challenge 2017 - # 73: Horns

Director: Alexander Aja
Genre: Thriller/ Horror/ Fantasy/ Drama
Runtime: 120 minutes
Year: 2013
Starring: Daniel Radcliffe, Max Minghella, Juno Temple, Kelli Garner, James Remar, Kathleen Quinlan, Heather Graham, David Morse

Description: In the aftermath of his girlfriend's (Juno Temple) mysterious death, a young man (Daniel Radcliffe) awakens to find strange horns sprouting from his temples.

Review: He’s come a long way since Harry Potter. Daniel Radcliffe has done some more controversial stuff after his iconic role. He appeard naked on West End, portrayed a homosexual poet and now this devilish film called “Horns”.
After his girlfriend Merrin is murdered, Iggy’s life turns into a nightmare. He is suspect number one, but there are also two horns growing on his forehead. Not only is it very unpractical, but it brings something else. People decide to share their deepest and darkest secrest with him. This gives some dark humoristic moments. But also secrets from his family he didn’t want to know about. But Iggy’s new ‘gift’ is also the perfect tool to find Merrin’s killer.
The film is very original and offers lots of opportunities to be interesting. And it is. But director Alexander Aja didn’t choose, whether “Horns” is a dark comedy or a drama. There are many examples where both genres worked perfectly together, but for “Horns” it’s an obvious two way street. It’s hard to define it.
“Horns” is still interesting enough to finish and very original. And it’s great to see Radcliffe in a role like this too.

Rating: 3/ 5

100 Movie Challenge 2015 - # 99: Far From the Madding Crowd

Director: Thomas Vinterberg

Genre: Drama/ Romance

Runtime: 119 minutes

Year: 2015

Starring: Carey Mulligan, Matthias Schoenaerts, Michael Sheen, Tom Sturridge, Juno Temple, Jessica Barden

Description: In Victorian England, the independent and headstrong Bathsheba Everdene (Carey Mulligan) attracts three very different suitors: Gabriel Oak (Matthias Shoenaerts), a sheep farmer; Frank Troy (Tom Sturridge), a reckless Sergeant; and William Boldwood (Michael Sheen), a prosperous and mature bachelor.

Review: Danish director Thomas Vinterberg has made some great movies, like “Festen” and especially “Jagten”. Three years after the lather, Vinterberg takes a trip beyond the borders with “Far From the Madding Crowd”. He manages to create a good balance between classic and contemporary storytelling.

The movie, based on a novel by Thomas Hardy, centers young Bathsheba Everdene who constantly has doubts about her different lovers and her independence. In the very beginning of the film she is asked to marry to charming sheep farmer Gabriel Oak. He offers her a comfortable life, but decides to decline. Bathsheba doesn’t want to be anyone’s wife. Gabriel eventually loses his sheep and Bathsheba inherits a farm herself. When Gabriel helps Bathsheba to save her famr from a fire, she hires him. In the meantime Bathsheba gets the attention from the aristocratic widower Boldwood and the young soldier Francis Troy.

Although the plot sounds like your average soap opera, director Vinterberg and script writer David Nicholls do manage to make a good book to move adaptation. You see the differences between classes and the feministic character of Bathsheba. It’s great to see such a strong woman again in a costume drama, who chooses independence over the security of having a husband.

Vinterberg did make some big changes though. In Hardy’s book, he often lets certain situations be decided by faith. Like a wrongly send letter or missing a wedding. In the movie that’s not as present. And the crucial role of character Fanny Robin is also underused.

Even the small criticism make this a very good movie. The cinematography is good and also the acting by Carey Mulligan, Matthias Schoenaerts and especially Michael Sheen are worth watching “Far From the Madding Crowd”.

Rating: 4/ 5

100 Movie Challenge 2014 - # 29: The Three Musketeers

Director: Paul W.S. Anderson
Genre: Action/ Adventure
Runtime: 102 minutes
Year: 2011
Starring: Matthew Macfadyen, Ray Stevenson, Luke Evans, Milla Jovovich, Orlando Bloom, Christoph Waltz, Juno Temple, Logan Lerman, Mads Mikkelsen, Til Schweiger

Description: The hot-headed young D'Artagnan (Logan Lerman) along with three former legendary but now down on their luck Musketeers (Matthew Macfadyen, Ray Stevenson, Luke Evans) must unite and defeat a beautiful double agent and her villainous employer from seizing the French throne and engulfing Europe in war.

Review: There are some stories that have been made into films quite too many times. “The Three Musketeers” is one of them. Paul W.S. Anderson tried to give the classical tale a new life, but he didn’t manage that completely. The director does do what you would expect from him: not a very clever film with a lot of action.
It’s almost impossible to ruin the story about D’Artagnan, who looks up to the three undefeatable musketeers Athos, Porthos and Aramis. Each with their own distinctive trades. The book is filled with action, humoristic incidents, espionage, romance and intrigue. Anderson simplifies everything, while the book is a perfect script for a good adventure film. And the characters don’t get the depth they deserve, because I think they were cast very well and they all try their very best. Logan Lerman knows how to be D’Artagnan. Matthew Macfadyen, Ray Stevenson and Luke Evans don’t even get the chance to act and portray the most important characters of the story. I think the focus is more on Milady the Winter, who is played by Milla Jovovich. And Christoph Waltz, as villain Richelieu, is seriously underused. If you can get an actor like Waltz, you should give him something to do.
The movie is a visual treat. Great special effects, beautiful settings and gorgeous costumes. The movie was filmed in 3D and I can understand that some parts of the movie look a bit better with this addition. I also liked the idea of the map.
“The Three Musketeers” is a bit of a mess, but it was very entertaining. The end scene suggests a sequel, but I don’t think that should happen.

Rating: 2,5/ 5