Movie Review Madness - Darkest Hour

 Never Surrender

Those words are the key to Darkest Hour.  Wow – Gary Oldman as Winston Churchill is superb.  Neville Chamberlain does not have the support of Parliament. Viscount Halifax is still an up and comer. Who to tap for Prime Minister? Oh dear. Winston Churchill appears to be the man that can appease all sides. He drinks a lot, smokes those infernal cigars, he’s insufferable and goes through secretaries like crazy. King George VI (Ben Mendelsohn) is not a fan. He’s a tad afraid of the man.  Winston’s wife Clemmie (the incomparable Kristen Scott Thomas) asks him to try to be patient, but she’s pleased he’s finally getting the accolades he deserves.

It’s dire times for Western Europe. Hitler is swallowing up countries – Poland, Holland, Belgium, and now in France. The United Kingdom must declare war or negotiate peace. But is Mussolini of Italy the one to work with. Oh dear. Churchill has a quandary. He’s in the War Room, looking at the map with despair. Thousands of young man are on the beaches of Dunkirk – stuck as the Germans narrow the circle. Now what? Civilian boats set sail and it looks as if the plan will work. Winston seeks out his people, the citizens for an opinion – fight or flight? That’s where he sees and hears – Never Surrender.

His great speech to Parliament at the finale of the film is stirring. His words still ring out today. History was made.

Director Joe Wright captures the times. There are many nuanced touches and tough characters. He gives us a slice of history on the big screen and doesn’t waver in showing flaws and strengths. It’s a wow.  I loved a line from the movie in regards to Winston – “He mobilized the English language and sent it off into battle.”

Movie Review - Baby Driver

Ansel Elgort is Baby – an innocent young man listening to music in his car. But wait, it’s a getaway car and as 1994s “Bellbottoms” blares, Baby revs the engine and the bank robbers get away. Baby Driver is a very fun running on all cylinders heist movie with a killer soundtrack.  See, Baby has tinnitus from a long ago accident that killed his parents. He keeps the music playing as he lives life and drives for bad people. He’s been indebted to Doc (Kevin Spacey) and he’s working to pay back money. Once he’s free, he plans on escaping. He meets a waitress (the lovely Lily James) who steals his heart. But he can’t seem to escape this criminal element. Jamie Foxx is psychotic. Jon Hamm is crazy. This would be a very generic car chase/bank robber movie without the whole cast.

Director Edgar Wright’s jukebox thrill ride (Time 7/10/17) absolutely works on another level. Every chase – on foot or by car is precise. It’s seedy and slick and energetic and bold. Baby Driver is why we go to the movies  in a theater to witness a film on the BIG screen. Eat popcorn, slurp a soda, and chuckle at the humor, wince at the pain, and root for Baby. Ansel Elgort is growing up and he’s convincing as a bad good boy. We know he’ll be redeemed by love and drive into the sunset with his gal. What song will be playing? Speed to the theater and find out. Vroom, vroom. 

Movie Review Madness - Pride and Prejudice AND Zombies

If you have never read Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice, well shame on you. It’s a literary classic in a good way. And if the movie version doesn’t bring to mind Colin Firth as Mr. Darcy…well, never mind. This just isn’t for you. But…if you are all things Austen, then make haste to see Pride and Prejudice and Zombies.  What sounds horribly wrong actually works. Seth Grahame-Smith did the mash-up version. He was loyal to the book and language and threw in a zombie apocalypse for good measure. The book was quite humorous and now on the big screen, it is a kick-ass tale from the 1800s.

Elizabeth Bennet (the lovely Lily James) is “a ruthless slayer of the undead hordes” (Time mag.). She and her four sisters still seek husbands to ensure financial security, and much of the movie still embraces the manners and morals of the time. Elizabeth meets her match with Sam Riley’s Darcy – together they pinwheel through the air wielding weapons. Their swordplay and wordplay prove to be electric.  Elizabeth looks out for her older sister Jane (charming Bella Heathcote) who must marry first and falls for the dashing new neighbor. But are the Bennets worthy? There’s quite the dance, but love indeed wins out and zombies are slayed too.

Intelligence is key to the Austen primer. Fortunately “our Elizabeth is fully capable of taking care of herself, but it’s still nice to have a man around the house, especially when zombies are afoot.” (Time)

Pride and Prejudice and Zombies is a lark in all the good ways.

Movie Review Madness: Cinderella

No animation, no singing bluebirds or mice. However, the new live action Disney Cinderella is truly a magical feast for the eyes. I shall mention Dante Ferretti, the production designer because he deserves high praise for the richness of the castle, ballroom, and the lushness we see on screen. Lily James is a gorgeous Ella – beautiful within and out. Richard Madden is a handsome Prince Charming. Helena Bonham Carter is a wifty fairy godmother. But it is Cate Blanchett as the Evil Stepmother who amps this movie. She just oozes selfishness and nastiness abounds as she turns poor Ella into the house servant when Ella’s father dies.  

They stick with the familiar Cinderella story. Raised by two loving parents, Ella wants for nothing. Sadly her mother dies but not without the words, “Have courage and be kind.” That motto shall sustain Ella. The father remarries thinking this will be good, bringing the Lady and her two horrific daughters into the home. But he dies, and Ella becomes Cinderella, sleeping at the hearth for warmth and cooking and cleaning. A chance meeting in the woods, and the Prince now seeks the commoner for marriage. But his father has other ideas. So a huge ball brings in royalty and the public. The Evil Stepmother schemes to have her daughters marry the prince. But Cinderella, thanks to the magic of the fairy godmother, appears at the ball and wins the Prince’s heart once again. The transformation scene is splendid – pumpkin to carriage, mice to horses, lizards to footmen, etc.  

At the stroke of midnight, Cinderella must flee the ball, leaving a glass slipper behind. The search is on for the girl’s foot to fit the slipper and become the Queen. Who shall it be? Will the ending be happily ever after? This is an excellent popcorn movie for the family. There were plenty of little girls in the audience wearing their princess outfits. And frankly, the motto “Have courage and be kind” is a good lesson for young and old. Cinderella is a classic and this movie upholds the tradition and more.