10s Movie Review - Late Night

Director: Nisha Ganatra
Genre: Comedy
Runtime: 102 minutes
Year: 2019
Starring: Mindy Kaling, Emma Thompson, John Lithgow, Hugh Dancy, Reid Scott, Denis O’Hare, Max Casella, Paul Walter Hauser, John Reynolds, Luke Slattery, Ike Barinholtz, Amy Ryan
 
Description: A late night talk show host (Emma Thompson) suspects that she may soon lose her long-running show.

I WATCHED THIS MOVIE FOR MY 2025 MOVIE CHALLENGE
WEEK 32: A FILM WITH EMMA THOMPSON
 
Review: Many late night talk shows have a rigid structure: an opening monologue in which the news is discussed in a humorous way, followed by a sketch or light-hearted interlude, and finally, a famous guest is welcomed and a pleasant conversation is held. At the start of “Late Nate”, Katherine Newbury’s program has lost some of its appeal after twenty-eight years. The station manager is dissatisfied with the declining ratings and therefore want to replace the host. However, Katherine is not the type to agree to this without a fight, so she decides to get her talk show back on track. She has a long way to go, because she knows only one of her writers by name, and none of them know her as a pleasant person to work with.

Her writer’s team, consisting of white men only, has just expanded with Molly. She is inexperienced, the newcomer, but has some fresh ideas.

Mindy Kaling, who stars as Molly, is also the writer of the film. It’s likely she drew some inspiration from “The Devil Wears Prada”, there are many similarities. But this is more an observation than a criticism. Kaling’s script takes a slightly different route in enough places, and Emma Thompson, as Katherine, is hardly inferior to Mery Streep as the cold boss. In fact, where Streep often veered toward a cartoonish performance, Thompson manages to keep her character within human limits. This is thanks in large part to John Lithgow’s wonderful performance as her husband.

What also helps is that, despite its subject matter, “Late Night” does not necessarily try to be a full-blooded comedy. Not that there is nothing to laugh about, but it aims more for a smile than for loud laughter. For the main character, humor is a fairly serious craft and therefore not something you can just whip up in a moment of cheerfulness. What I also loved, is that the romantic storyline is very far in the background, almost non-existent. Which is a fresh take as well, it’s not predictable that way
I was surprised about how much I enjoyed “Late Night”, but thanks to the great writing by Mindy Kaling and strong performances by her, Thompson and Lithgow, turn “Late Night” in a delightful comedy.

Rating: 3,5 / 5

00s Movie Review - Shooting Dogs

Director: Michael Caton-Jones
Genre: Drama
Runtime: 115 minutes
Year: 2005
Starring: John Hurt, Hugh Dancy, Dominique Horwitz, Claire-Hope Ashitey, David Gyasi, Susan Nalwoga, Steve Toussaint, Nicola Walker

Description: In April 1994, after the airplane of the Hutu President of Rwanda is shot down, the Hutu militias slaughter the Tutsi population. In the Ecole Technique Officielle, the Catholic priest Christopher (John Hurt) and the idealistic English teacher Joe Connor (Hugh Dancy) lodge two thousand and five hundred Rwandans refugees, under the protection of the Belgian UN force and under siege by Hutu militia. When the Tutsi refugees are abandoned by the UN, they are murdered by the extremist militia.

Review: “Shooting Dogs”. You wouldn’t say, but this is one of the most politically charged movie titles of the past years. Because shooting dogs was the only thing the soldiers were allowed to do in Rwanda, where the war between the Hutu’s and Tutsi’s is getting out of hand. One thing is sure: director Michael Caton-Jones has balls. He filmed on location and had some local people on his crew. His movie is extremely touching, gripping and confronting. No nuances, just as it is.
The movie is set at the ‘Ecole Technique’, a school where local kids are thought by Joe Connor and is led by priest Christopher. Both roles are very well cast. Hugh Dancy shows that he is worth more than the little roles he usually gets. The beauty of his role is that he shows us the dilemma’s he has as an European in Africa and the naivety he has as a young, unexperienced teacher. John Hurt doesn’t have to proof himself anymore, but his fatherly qualities grab you.
When desperation hits and thousands of Tutsi’s hide at the school, where Belgian UN soldiers keep peace, “Shooting Dogs” gets more tempo and adds tension. Bloody confrontations are shown and director Caton-Jones has great eye for detail. Besides the country in war, he also shows the personal struggles. Like Joe who can’t look away from a brutal murder and later he is confronted with a good friend who joined the gangs.
More and more Hutu’s gather and are armed with machetes, surrounding the school knowing there are Tutsi’s hiding there. The little room where Christopher holds mass, is the only place of peace and serenity. The camera shoots this wonderfully.
Joe ends up with a dilemma: run to safe his own life or stay and show solidarity and wait for his death on the campus. Christopher doesn’t have to make a choice, his heart lies with the school.
This movie is an eye opener. The movie is overlooked, I don’t think many people know this film. Most people would prefer “Hotel Rwanda”, with a similar theme, but I think this is the movie to watch. “Shooting Dogs” is confronting and it hits every nerve in your body.

Rating: 5/ 5

100 Movie Challenge 2016 - # 41: Martha Marcy May Marlene

Director: Sean Durkin
Genre: Drama/ Thriller
Runtime: 102 minutes
Year: 2011
Starring: Elizabeth Olsen, Sarah Paulson, Hugh Dancy, John Hawkes, Christopher Abbott, Brady Corbet

Description: Haunted by painful memories and increasing paranoia, a damaged woman (Elizabeth Olsen) struggles to re-assimilate with her family after fleeing an abusive cult.

Review: Martha is her real name. The members of the commune she joined call her Marcy May. When women answer the phone they always introduce themselves as Marlene. Martha flees the commune at the start of the film. Completely confused she calls her older sister Lucy. Together with her new husband she has temporarely moved into a summerhouse by a lake. The two sisters haven’t had contact for a couple of years. Lucy doesn’t know what Martha went through.
The cult was led by the charismatic Patrick, who lures people into his commune by telling them stories about complete sacrifice and solidarity. Fear is the most purest emotion, because it makes you aware of yourself. Every new girl has a ‘special night’ with the leader, which really means they loose their virginity and are basically raped by Patrick. Why Martha joins them is still the question. Why she leaves, we see through flashbacks. Sister Lucy doesn’t find out why Martha’s behavior is so strange an why she gets panic attacks. Ted, Lucy’s husband, wants less and less to do with Martha because of her behavior.
“Martha Marcy May Marlene” is the debut of director Sean Durkin. It tells two parallel episodes of the life of the troubled title character. Her reunion with her family and the experiences in the cult. This way of storytelling is very effective in this film. The story unfolds and you eventually understand why Martha is the way she is.
Elizabeth Olsen is fantastic as Martha. Her silence, her introvercy. But then also her hysteria and emotional breakdowns. The focus is on her struggling personality and her reunion with her sister. This gives the scenes in the cult even more tension.

Rating: 4,5/ 5

Movie Battle: Hotel Rwanda Vs. Shooting Dogs

The movies who will go head to head are both set in Rwanda and deal with the genocide. They’re both favorites of mine, but who will I choose as the winner.

CAST

Hotel Rwanda: Don Cheadle plays the leading character and he is the only memorable actor in this movie. His performance is so realistic and heartbreaking. Nick Nolte and Joaquin Phoenix are also part of the cast, they’re just solid.

Shooting Dogs: John Hurt plays the role of Christopher, a man of faith who’s life is dedicated to the school and church he has set up in Rwanda. Hugh Dancy is the likeable Joe, a teacher who tries to make a difference. Both actor are very realistic and strong.

STORY

Hotel Rwanda: Paul Rusesabagina is a hotel manager who housed a thousand tutsi refugees and it’s an amazing true story. It got a lot of attention at the Academy Awards.

Shooting Dogs: This movie has been based on actual events, the characters are fictional, but it's a bit more confronting then “Hotel Rwanda”. It’s really heart wrenching to see that the United Nations left all those people there and only the ‘white people’ could be evacuated. I think this movie was a bit overlooked.

EFFECTS

Hotel Rwanda: Nicely filmed, don’t really have any negative points here.

Shooting Dogs: It all looks very realistic. I’ve been to Uganda, the neighbour country and parts of it look similar to Rwanda. The color scheme that was used to film “Shooting Dogs” is perfect.

WINNER

A close call, but I will go with “Shooting Dogs”. Most people would choose the other one, but I think “Shooting Dogs” is just a little bit more confronting and touched me slightly more then “Hotel Rwanda”.

In the Picture: The Characters from "The Jane Austen Book Club"

I read the book and I saw the movie and I love them equally as much. Especially because of the characters. Here they are.

Jocelyn
Played by: Maria Bello
Jocelyn is an indepedent dog breeder. She is a matchmaker but Jocelyn has been single for a long time. She doesn’t have the need to be with a man. After Sylvia breaks with her husband, Jocelyn is the one who wants to get her back on her feet by introducing her to Grigg.

Prudie
Played by: Emily Blunt
Prudie is a young French teacher for the local high school. She loves her husband Dean, but she gets confused about her relationship when she meets one of her students. Prudie has a certain attraction to him and she doesn’t know if she should give in to those feelings.

Bernadette
Played by: Kathy Baker
Bernadette is an enthusiastic woman and the most talkative of all the members. It was her idea to form a book club, especially for her friend Sylvia. Bernadette has been married multiple times, but she is happy with her lifestyle.

Grigg
Played by: Hugh Dancy
Grigg is the only male member of the club. Jocelyn invited him to join the club with the intention of distracting Sylvia. Grigg, on the other hand, is more interested in Jocelyn. Grigg is an avid reader and prefers science-fiction, but for Jocelyn he’s willing to read the entire work of Jane Austen.

Sylvia
Played by: Amy Brenneman
Sylvia has been friends with Jocelyn for a very long time and she’s in a struggeling situation. Her husband Daniël cheated on her and she divorced him. The book club was started for her and it really seems to distract her from all the misery in her life.

Alegra
Played by: Maggie Grace
Alegra is Sylvia’s daughter. She’s artistic, because she makes her own jewelry. Alegra is also known as a thrillseeker. She likes rock climbing and skydiving. She’s a lesbian and was betrayed by her partner Corinne, who is a writer and stole her most personal stories for her own succces.

Favorite Character: Jocelyn

Movie Tip #2 - The Jane Austen Book Club

Director: Robert Swicord

Starring: Maria Bello, Amy Brenneman, Hugh Dancy, Maggie Grace, Emily Blunt, Jimmy Smits, Kathy Baker, Mark Blucas, Kevin Zeegers

Description: Five women and a man decide to start a book club. Each one of them is responsible for one Jane Austen book. After reading the book they come together and talk about it. In the meanwhile they all have to deal with their own relationship problems and they will all ask the same question: What would Jane do?

Review: If you like Jane Austen, you like this movie. Every member of the club can identify himself/ herself with Austens books and so will you. You will find a character to identify yourself with. Especially Jocelyn (Maria Bello) and Grigg (Hugh Dancy) are great and they have perfect chemistry.
The reason why I like this romantic comedy is because it's not one of those soppy chick-flicks. This movie isn't as predictable as most films in this genre. Just give this movie a shot... maybe you'll like it.