The chaps at Aardman Animations are here with another Plasticine romp. Early Man is a fun Stone Age adventure with Football (Soccer) and hi-jinks. Let's see if we can explain it.
In the film's pre-history, the first Football was the meteor that killed the dinosaurs. The Cavemen who found it knew not what it was, except that it was very hot, and passing it around like a hot potato made for a fun game. Years later, Football is worshiped as the "Sacred Game" by Lord Nooth (Tom Hiddleston) and his Bronze Age kingdom. Nooth decides to make a nearby valley the site of a new mine.
That valley is where Dug (Eddie Redmayne) and his Stone Age tribe live. He doesn't take kindly to the invaders and challenges them to a Football match with the valley at stake. The tribe's cluelessness is their own worst enemy. Goona (Maisie Williams), a friendly Bronze Age girl and aspiring Footballer, helps them learn the ropes. How will Nooth react if the Cavemen beat his Bronzemen?
Director Nick Park and his co-writers, Mark Burton and James Higginson, keep things going well for 89 minutes. There's plenty of silliness from the cast to keep kids entertained. A few notable characters include Grubup, a caveman with a pig head and Hognob (Park), an actual pig who acts like a dog. Lord Nooth makes for a funny, snooty villain. But some of the Football humor might not register for American audiences (I got a reference to "Early Man ... U(nited)," though). Its dramatic conflict is a bit light although the tribe's aversion to forced labor is understandable. A few other members of the tribe are just there.
The Plasticine characters look as memorable as their environments. The movement photographed by Dave Alex Riddett is pretty good but the opening sequence is amazing. A cockroach witnessing the meteor's explosion provided another great gag. Harry Gregson-Williams and Tom Howe's score works as both a majestic and light soundtrack.
Early Man is a good start for animated films this year. It's not the best Stone Age parody but it gets things done. This is sure to be fun for kids and Football-savy adults. You might see a preview of Aardman's next adventure, starring Shaun the Sheep, during the trailers. It doesn't have a clear title or release date yet, but that trailer was funny.
About Me
- Jethrotcat
- This is the blog where I talk about the latest movies I've seen. These are my two Schnauzers, Rufus (left) and Marley (right, RIP). As of now, the Double Hollywood Strikes are officially over. May the next strikes not last as long as these ones did.
Wednesday, February 21, 2018
Black Panther
Black Panther was one of the best characters in Captain America: Civil War. Now, once again played by Chadwick Boseman, he's back in his own same-titled movie. The end result is another win for Marvel and for director/co-writer Ryan Coogler.
The African nation of Wakanda formed around a meteorite containing the metal Vibranium. Their king, the Black Panther, gained super powers from a heart-shaped herb. Eventually, they secretly became the most advanced country in the world.
Years later, Prince T'Challa becomes king after the assassination of his father, T'Chaka (John Kani) during Civil War. His first order of business is to recover a Wakandan artifact from arms dealer Ulysses Klaue (Andy Serkis). T'Challa soon encounters Klaue's cohort, Erik "Killmonger" (Michael B. Jordan). Killmonger seeks to avenge the oppression of Blacks around the world by arming them with Vibranium weapons. His goal becomes easier when he usurps T'Challa's throne in ritual combat.
T'Challa recovers to face Killmonger again. T'Challa is aided by his ex-lover, agent Nakia (Lupita Nyong'o), his sister Shuri (Letitia Wright), his all-female Dora Milaje bodyguards and CIA agent Everett Ross (Martin Freeman). They have to hurry before the first weapons leave Wakanda.
There's much to praise about the supporting cast. Everyone, including Shuri, Nakia, the Dora Milaje member Okoye (Danai Gurira) and Ross are strong characters. They all get a memorable moment to help T'Challa take down Killmonger. Klaue makes for a funny, yet creepy villain; I have mixed thoughts about his eventual fate. The Shaman Zuri (Forest Whitaker) is a strong mentor figure. A grand highlight is M'Baku (Winston Duke), leader of the mountainous Jabari tribe, who goes from rival to ally.
Killmonger deserves his own paragraph. His smug attitude may rub people the wrong way but we understand his tragic story. His fighting ability backs up his boasts all the way. It's great to see T'Challa defeat Killmonger and take back the throne. But the audience is affected by the bitterness that turned him bad.
What about our hero, T'Challa? T'Challa is a good man learning to be a great leader. He spares M'Baku in ritual combat and gets an ally in the climax. He's not sure how to live up to the legacy but he learns soon enough. The moment he resolves to challenge Killmonger again is awesome. His story has him learn "might does not make right" and "with great power comes great responsibility." And it's a lesson certain people should learn.
Coogler's brings along his usual band of Marvels, consisting of editors Claudia Castello & Michael P. Shawver, cinematographer Rachel Morrison and composer Ludwig Göransson. This leads to some tense, colorful action scenes with a memorably sleek soundtrack. Wakanda is a perfectly designed Utopia and its colorful production and costume design is outstanding. T'Challa's Black Panther suit is alluring with its glowing purple highlights. Wonder Woman was ignored by the Oscars but hopefully they won't make the same mistake here.
The African nation of Wakanda formed around a meteorite containing the metal Vibranium. Their king, the Black Panther, gained super powers from a heart-shaped herb. Eventually, they secretly became the most advanced country in the world.
Years later, Prince T'Challa becomes king after the assassination of his father, T'Chaka (John Kani) during Civil War. His first order of business is to recover a Wakandan artifact from arms dealer Ulysses Klaue (Andy Serkis). T'Challa soon encounters Klaue's cohort, Erik "Killmonger" (Michael B. Jordan). Killmonger seeks to avenge the oppression of Blacks around the world by arming them with Vibranium weapons. His goal becomes easier when he usurps T'Challa's throne in ritual combat.
T'Challa recovers to face Killmonger again. T'Challa is aided by his ex-lover, agent Nakia (Lupita Nyong'o), his sister Shuri (Letitia Wright), his all-female Dora Milaje bodyguards and CIA agent Everett Ross (Martin Freeman). They have to hurry before the first weapons leave Wakanda.
There's much to praise about the supporting cast. Everyone, including Shuri, Nakia, the Dora Milaje member Okoye (Danai Gurira) and Ross are strong characters. They all get a memorable moment to help T'Challa take down Killmonger. Klaue makes for a funny, yet creepy villain; I have mixed thoughts about his eventual fate. The Shaman Zuri (Forest Whitaker) is a strong mentor figure. A grand highlight is M'Baku (Winston Duke), leader of the mountainous Jabari tribe, who goes from rival to ally.
Killmonger deserves his own paragraph. His smug attitude may rub people the wrong way but we understand his tragic story. His fighting ability backs up his boasts all the way. It's great to see T'Challa defeat Killmonger and take back the throne. But the audience is affected by the bitterness that turned him bad.
What about our hero, T'Challa? T'Challa is a good man learning to be a great leader. He spares M'Baku in ritual combat and gets an ally in the climax. He's not sure how to live up to the legacy but he learns soon enough. The moment he resolves to challenge Killmonger again is awesome. His story has him learn "might does not make right" and "with great power comes great responsibility." And it's a lesson certain people should learn.
Coogler's brings along his usual band of Marvels, consisting of editors Claudia Castello & Michael P. Shawver, cinematographer Rachel Morrison and composer Ludwig Göransson. This leads to some tense, colorful action scenes with a memorably sleek soundtrack. Wakanda is a perfectly designed Utopia and its colorful production and costume design is outstanding. T'Challa's Black Panther suit is alluring with its glowing purple highlights. Wonder Woman was ignored by the Oscars but hopefully they won't make the same mistake here.
Black Panther makes the best use of its 134 minutes. It's an exciting Marvel adventure which blends the past, present and future in one stunning vision. Its ending was one of the most meaningful ends to a superhero story in years. It leaves us a lot to think about our real world. T'Challa's next appearance in Avengers: Infinity War is even more anticipated now. This film definitely deserves to be seen on the big screen.
Tuesday, February 13, 2018
Call me by your name
I was disappointed last year that the Anime mega-blockbuster Your Name didn't play locally. As that title lingers in my mind, we now have Call Me By Your Name, which only now started playing locally. The coincidences end in the title and my review begins.
In 1983, Elio Perlman (Timothee Chalamet) spends the summer in the Italian countryside. His father (Michel Stuhlbarg), a professor, has invited grad student Oliver (Armie Hammer) over as a research assistant. Elio is perplexed by how Oliver uses "later" as a goodbye. But they hit it off once Elio learns that Oliver is Jewish like him.
Elio and Oliver become closer as they spend time with each other. Oliver tells Elio to "call me by your name and I'll call you by mine" as a sign of endearment. But they know that society might not accept their relationship. There's a lot of complicated feelings between them.
James Ivory, of Merchant-Ivory, adapted the screenplay from Andre Aciman's novel. Aciman also has a cameo as Mounir, a friend of Elio's father. Director Luca Guadagnino keeps the film going at a slow pace. It's a while before Elio and Oliver's relationship goes from subtext to text. One can emphasize with Elio and Oliver as they struggle with their feelings. Their chemistry is endearing and their relationship is great. Before long, they're separated when Oliver's stay ends. Elio is left with the memories of his summer romance. In the end, Mr. Perlman tells Elio that he has nothing to be ashamed of with his relationship.
There's not much of an original score, save for Sufjan Stevens's softspoken songs. One of the most memorable is the now-Oscar nominated Mystery of Love. It's a perfect summary of a summer romance and its aftermath. The scene it plays in highlights cinematographer Sayombhu Mukdeeprom's great view of the Italian countryside. The last shot of the movie, during which most of the credits play, highlights another great song from Stevens, Visions of Gideon.
Call Me by Your Name is a fine movie. Its 130 minutes are slow, but the characters make it worth it. It's a movie where peoples' emotions are their worst enemy. The last few scenes leaves the film on a memorable note. Guadagnino wants to do sequels, but this can stand on its own just fine. If they are made, then hopefully the sequels are as equally memorable as this film.
In 1983, Elio Perlman (Timothee Chalamet) spends the summer in the Italian countryside. His father (Michel Stuhlbarg), a professor, has invited grad student Oliver (Armie Hammer) over as a research assistant. Elio is perplexed by how Oliver uses "later" as a goodbye. But they hit it off once Elio learns that Oliver is Jewish like him.
Elio and Oliver become closer as they spend time with each other. Oliver tells Elio to "call me by your name and I'll call you by mine" as a sign of endearment. But they know that society might not accept their relationship. There's a lot of complicated feelings between them.
James Ivory, of Merchant-Ivory, adapted the screenplay from Andre Aciman's novel. Aciman also has a cameo as Mounir, a friend of Elio's father. Director Luca Guadagnino keeps the film going at a slow pace. It's a while before Elio and Oliver's relationship goes from subtext to text. One can emphasize with Elio and Oliver as they struggle with their feelings. Their chemistry is endearing and their relationship is great. Before long, they're separated when Oliver's stay ends. Elio is left with the memories of his summer romance. In the end, Mr. Perlman tells Elio that he has nothing to be ashamed of with his relationship.
There's not much of an original score, save for Sufjan Stevens's softspoken songs. One of the most memorable is the now-Oscar nominated Mystery of Love. It's a perfect summary of a summer romance and its aftermath. The scene it plays in highlights cinematographer Sayombhu Mukdeeprom's great view of the Italian countryside. The last shot of the movie, during which most of the credits play, highlights another great song from Stevens, Visions of Gideon.
Call Me by Your Name is a fine movie. Its 130 minutes are slow, but the characters make it worth it. It's a movie where peoples' emotions are their worst enemy. The last few scenes leaves the film on a memorable note. Guadagnino wants to do sequels, but this can stand on its own just fine. If they are made, then hopefully the sequels are as equally memorable as this film.
Thursday, February 8, 2018
I, Tonya
Imagine Rashomon mixed with the TV movie The Positively True Adventures of the Alleged Texas Cheerleader-Murdering Mom. Granted, I haven't seen that movie, but I'll guess that's the experience with another dark, real-life comedy, I, Tonya. It's off my to-see list.
Tonya Harding (Margot Robbie) was a skating prodigy at age four. Her cruel mother, LaVona Golden (Alison Janney), took her out of school to skate. She proves herself as a professional skater, but she fails to impress the stuffy judges. She still makes the Winter Olympics in 1992 and 1994. Her closest competition is Nancy Kerrigan (Caitlin Carver). Tonya's unstable husband, Jeff (Sebastian Stan), decides to threaten Nancy to give Tonya an edge. His accomplice, Shawn (Paul Walter Hauser), takes it a step too far. It doesn't go well for anyone.
Steven Rogers's script frames the story with "wildly contradictory, totally true interviews" with Tonya and others. Tonya and Jeff, in particular, try to paint the other as unstable and abusive. We see their mutual antagonism as their fights play out on screen. You'll laugh at some of the characters' less admirable acts. The actual assault on Nancy Kerrigan is dark, but her assailants' incompetence is funny. Characters break the fourth wall a few times, sometimes to address the last interviewee, including the last line.
The cast does wonders on the ice. Robbie, as Tonya, is equally sympathetic and contemptible. She displays no compassion for Nancy, but is understandably upset when the attack happens. Her unprofessional conduct fails to endear sympathy, but her breakdown after she is banned from the sport does. Janney as LaVona has a rancid attitude, but she does care about Tonya in her own way. Stan as Jeff believably goes from loving to violent in any scene. Hauser as Shawn starts off a lovable idiot who reveals himself a psychopath ... who's still an idiot. Julianne Nicholson is also memorable as Tonya's longtime coach, Diane Rawlson, one of the few wholly sympathetic characters.
The film's technical achievements also stick the landing. Its Oscar-nominated editor, Tatiana S. Riegel, keeps it going smoothly for 119 minutes. Tonya's skating scenes are outstanding and fit nicely with the music selections. A few subtle visual effects and Nicolas Karakatsanis's long takes add to these scenes' energy. The surprisingly un-Oscar nominated makeup team convincingly age Tonya and the others throughout the years. Costume designer Jennifer Johnson's recreations of Tonya's self-made costumes are perfectly colorful designs.
I, Tonya is one of the darkest sports comedies around. We see its characters as self-serving jerks and as sympathetic characters. It doesn't entirely glorify or deride their selfish behavior. We're left wondering which of them is telling the truth. It'll leave you guessing while you laugh. It was worth waiting for it.
Tonya Harding (Margot Robbie) was a skating prodigy at age four. Her cruel mother, LaVona Golden (Alison Janney), took her out of school to skate. She proves herself as a professional skater, but she fails to impress the stuffy judges. She still makes the Winter Olympics in 1992 and 1994. Her closest competition is Nancy Kerrigan (Caitlin Carver). Tonya's unstable husband, Jeff (Sebastian Stan), decides to threaten Nancy to give Tonya an edge. His accomplice, Shawn (Paul Walter Hauser), takes it a step too far. It doesn't go well for anyone.
Steven Rogers's script frames the story with "wildly contradictory, totally true interviews" with Tonya and others. Tonya and Jeff, in particular, try to paint the other as unstable and abusive. We see their mutual antagonism as their fights play out on screen. You'll laugh at some of the characters' less admirable acts. The actual assault on Nancy Kerrigan is dark, but her assailants' incompetence is funny. Characters break the fourth wall a few times, sometimes to address the last interviewee, including the last line.
The cast does wonders on the ice. Robbie, as Tonya, is equally sympathetic and contemptible. She displays no compassion for Nancy, but is understandably upset when the attack happens. Her unprofessional conduct fails to endear sympathy, but her breakdown after she is banned from the sport does. Janney as LaVona has a rancid attitude, but she does care about Tonya in her own way. Stan as Jeff believably goes from loving to violent in any scene. Hauser as Shawn starts off a lovable idiot who reveals himself a psychopath ... who's still an idiot. Julianne Nicholson is also memorable as Tonya's longtime coach, Diane Rawlson, one of the few wholly sympathetic characters.
The film's technical achievements also stick the landing. Its Oscar-nominated editor, Tatiana S. Riegel, keeps it going smoothly for 119 minutes. Tonya's skating scenes are outstanding and fit nicely with the music selections. A few subtle visual effects and Nicolas Karakatsanis's long takes add to these scenes' energy. The surprisingly un-Oscar nominated makeup team convincingly age Tonya and the others throughout the years. Costume designer Jennifer Johnson's recreations of Tonya's self-made costumes are perfectly colorful designs.
I, Tonya is one of the darkest sports comedies around. We see its characters as self-serving jerks and as sympathetic characters. It doesn't entirely glorify or deride their selfish behavior. We're left wondering which of them is telling the truth. It'll leave you guessing while you laugh. It was worth waiting for it.
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