Movie Review - Hamnet

Director: Chloé Zhao
Genre: Drama
Runtime: 125 minutes
Year: 2025
Starring: Jessie Buckley, Paul Mescal, Joe Alwyn, Emily Watson, Jacobi Jupe, Noah Jupe
 
Description: In late 16^th-century England, Agnes (Jessie Buckley), a healer sensitive to the world around her, builds a home with William (Paul Mescal), a local tudor and aspiring playwright. As their lives fracture, they are tested by distance, silence, and grief.
 
Review: The film adaptation of Maggie O’Farrell’s best-selling novel “Hamnet” by Oscar winner Chloé Zhao is a rare example of an adaptation that not only understands the soul of the source material but also amplifies it. It is a visually stunning and emotionally devastating portrait of grief, love, and the transcendent power of art.

Although Paul Mescal portrays a fragile yet powerful William Shakespeare (never named until the very end), this is unmistakably Jessie Buckley’s film. As Agnes, she is the emotional anchor; a woman with a powerful connection to nature. Zhao wisely chooses not to show the rise of the famous playwright in London, but to focus on the raw reality of family life in Stratford. The chemistry between Buckley and Mescal is palpable and makes the impending tragedy all the more painful.

The cinematography by Łukasz Żal is nothing short of sublime. He captures the English countryside in 1596 with a sensory richness that immediately transport the viewer into the mud and sunlight of the Elizabethan era. The scenes in which the plague slowly creeps into the household are portrayed with a suffocating tension. Max Richters’s music enhances the melancholic atmosphere.

The absolute highlight is the finale, in which the film shows an indescribably personal loss – the death of eleven-year-old Hamnet – is transformed into the universal masterpiece Hamlet. Zhao succeeds in giving familiar monologues from the play a new, deeply moving meaning that will bring even the most stoic viewers to tears.

“Hamnet” is a tearjerker of the highest order, but its more than that. It’s a story of loss and the aftermath of this, how people grief differently. The narrative structure of the middle section is somewhat uneven, but the emotional impact of the final scene more than makes up for it. I have only just read the book (which I gave a 5-star rating) and it always makes me happy to see a director succeeding into translating it to film. Beautiful film and a well-deserved Academy Award for Jessie Buckley.

Rating: 4,5/ 5

10s Movie Review - Wonder

Director: Stephen Chbosky
Genre: Drama/ Family
Runtime: 113 minutes
Year: 2017
Starring: Jacob Tremblay, Julia Roberts, Owen Wilson, Izabela Vidovic, Mandy Patinkin, Noah Jupe

Description: The story of August Pullman (Jacob Tremblay), a boy with facial differences who enters the fifth grade, attending a mainstream elementary school for the first time.

I WATCHED THIS MOVIE FOR MY 2023 MOVIE CHALLENGE
WEEK 45: A MOVIE WITH A CHIL AS THE LEADING CHARACTER
 
Review: It is not easy to be different. Especially when you look different from others. So different that they stare at you, whisper about you, point at you or don’t even dare to touch you. It is the life of Auggie Pullman as soon as he enters fifth grade. His parents have long kept him at home, but now it’s time for him to learn to be among other kids. And that they learn to look past his appearance.

Aggie Pullman has Treacher Collins syndrome, an extremely rare hereditary condition that makes his face look distorted from birth. In his case, it even required a slew of surgeries to keep him alive. Despite the genetic component, it is possible that no one else in the family has it.

“Wonder” is a typical American family drama, in which children bully each other for being different, but then gradually accept each other once they get to know each other better. A sympathetic feel-good movie that never colors outside the lines, except perhaps for Auggies condition. Jacob Tremblay does an excellent job as Auggie.

What makes “Wonder” so likeable, besides its well-intentioned message about acceptance, is that no one is singled out as the culprit for the main characters’ misfortune. We get to see not only Auggie’s perspective, but also that of his older sister Via who has accepted that the family’s life revolves around her little brother and the she must solve her typical teenage girl problems on her own. We also get to see the perspective of Via’s best friend, who all of a sudden is very popular and is hardly talking to Via anymore. And Auggies first friend Jack, who accepts him at first but then gets into a fight with him when he pretends not to accept him for fear of the class bully. All children have their own problems, fears and motivations.

“Wonder” is predictable, but it’s such a heartwarming film, that you cannot help but smile in the end.

Rating: 4/ 5

TV Show Review - The Undoing (Mini Series)

Season: Mini Series
Genre: Drama/ Crime/ Mystery
Number of episodes: 6
Year: 2020
Starring: Nicole Kidman, Hugh Grant, Noah Jupe, Donald Sutherland, Lily Rabe, Matilda de Angelis, Edgar Ramirez, Michael Devine

Description: The life of a New York therapist (Nicole Kidman) is turned upside after she and her family get involved with a murder case.

Review: In this psychological thriller, you follow the lives a Grace and her husband Jonathan. They are live the perfect life in New York, with their son Henry. Until Elena, a mother at Henry’s school, is found dead in her art gallery. It turns out to be a murder and Grace and Jonathan’s life is turned upside down. Especially when one of them becomes a suspect.

You think you know, but think again. “The Undoing” has plot twist after plot twist. And just when you think, you figured it out, things turn again. There moments you believe that this certain person has done it, and then you believe they might be innocent. You go back and forth constantly. It’s like a rollercoaster with a new exit each time. Just when you think you are sure of the culprit, they drop a small hint that makes you question everything again.

“The Undoing” is very America, it’s all very polished. The only thing I would’ve changed, is to make the characters look a less “perfect” all the time.  

The cast of “The Undoing” alone is worth watching. Nicole Kidman plays the lead and she is very strong in her role. The same goes for Hugh Grant, especially as the series progresses. And Donald Sutherland, in his 80s, still knows how to intrigue. Noah Jupe, who plays son Henry, is such a great talent. You might also know him from the movie “A Quiet Place”.

“The Undoing” is absolutely worth watching, it’s exactly that kind of psychological thriller that gets under you skin after watching it. The who, why and how are very interesting questions you keep asking yourself constantly while watching this series.

Movie Review - A Quiet Place Part II

Director: John Krasinski
Genre: Horror
Runtime: 97 minutes
Year: 2021
Starring: Emily Blunt, Cillian Murphy, Millicent Simmonds, Noah Jupe, John Krasinski, Scoot McNairy, Djimon Hounsou

Description: Following the events at home, the Abbott family now face the terrors of the outside world. Forced to venture into the unknown, they realize the creatures that hunt by sound are not the only threat lurking beyond the sand path.
 
Review: Where in “A Quiet Place” we followed the Abbott family within the ‘safety’ of their own home, they now have to leave their home and face the dangers of the outside world. And “A Quiet Place Part II”, picks up, after a fantastic opening sequence showing us what happened on day 1, right after the first film. When Evelyn and her children leave the house, they find out that there is more danger then just the creatures that hunt by sound.
Making a sequel to such an amazing horror film, is a daunting task. The first film was very tense and suspenseful all throughout. The whole concept of the monsters that hunt by sound and you have to be very quiet, or it will literally kill you, is such a genius and original idea for a horror film. And once again, that is executed extremely well in “A Quiet Place Part II”. The film is very tension based and John Krasinski pulls off what I believe is one of the best horror sequels I have ever seen. It is exactly the kind of movie I wanted it to be. It surprised me.
The performances were once again magnificent. Emily Blunt can do no wrong, she is one of my favorites for a reason. Millicent Simmonds and Noah Jupe, who play her children, are fantastic. Especially Simmonds, who has a very featured role in the sequel. And I knew Cillian Murphy was in it, but never expected him to have such an important and significant role. And he is phenomenal. The reason why these actors are so good in both of these movies, is because they rely on silent communication and visual storytelling.
But John Krasinski is the real star, because his direction is masterful. He made yet another movie he can be very proud of and happy with. The film keeps the tension constantly and has some really intense and scary scenes.
I loved this movie, just as much as the first. Watching these two movies back to back would be a great three hours of suspense. I hope John Krasinski keeps making movies like this, he did such a great job.

Rating: 4,5/ 5

10s Movie Review - Ford V Ferrari

Director: James Mangold
Genre: Drama/ Action
Runtime: 152 minutes
Year: 2019
Starring: Matt Damon, Christian Bale, Tracy Letts, Jon Bernthal, Josh Lucas, Caitriona Balfi, Noah Jupe, Ray McKinnon

Description: American car designer Carroll Shelby (Matt Damon) and driver Ken Miles (Christian Bale) battle corporate interference and the laws of physics to build a revolutionary race car for Ford in order to defeat Ferrari at the 24 Hours of le Mans in 1966.

Review: Some stories are so Hollywood, that no one believes it untill Hollywood filmed them truthfully. The genesis of the Ford GT40 is one of those. An almost childish quarrel between two car manufacturers is finally fought out on the asphalt of Le Mans. The price turns out to be high: many millions disappear in a contest between two men who have their names on cars and factories, but want to prove that they have the biggest. Or in this case: the fastest.
It's a ‘David and Goliath’story. The great Ford, who made more cars in an hour than Ferrari would in a year, was above all the epitome of solidity. Ferrari, on the other hand, was sporty, sexy and exclusive. But also broke. When an acquisition that should have helped both manufacturers ended in nothing, it became personal. And the best place for this was at Le Mans, the most prestigious motorsport event of the year, which moreover, had been dominated by Ferrari for years.
Director James Mangold decided to go more Hollywood for this film. Take for instance the two great leads: Matt Damon and Christian Bale. Matt Damon plays Carroll Shelby, a blue-collar car builder and Bale portrays the rebellious race car driver Ken Miles. Their characters have definitely been made more Hollywood for entertainment purposes. And the same goes for the Ford and Ferrari people.
“Ford V Ferrari is at its best when the relationship between man and machine (because women are relegated to the smallest possible supporting roles) is highlighter in these ways. A ratio that is tested extremely during the famous 24-hour race on the Le Mans circuit in 1966.
But the creator’s ambition goes further: this is also a film about the boring Ford’s attempt to break through the racing dominance of the slick Ferrari in the 1960s. a heroic portrait of two American racing cowboys, designer Shelby and the driver Ken Miles against a pair of Italians. And “Ford V Ferrari” is never subtle. The opponent is caricatural, but somehow this approach is entertaining. It provides much-need perspective in the battle for the best ‘toy’.
“Ford V Ferrari” is a good underdog-type story with strong performance by especially Christian Bale. But overall it’s a story with no subtlety and lots of stereotypical characters. The perfect story for a Hollywood film.

Rating: 3,5 / 5