Film Review: Mary Magdalene

Garth Davis’ Mary Magdalene offers good performances and a mesmeric feel. Despite its efforts however, the film does not distinguish itself fully from other biblical epics.

Mary Magdalene is due to be married to a suitor, on the wishes of her family. However, Mary is searching for something more. When Jesus of Nazareth visits her village, she feels compelled to join his movement…

The story of Jesus has been told on film numerous times. Director Garth Davis’ film offers a different take on this, viewing the well-known events through a hitherto peripheral character. The film tells the familiar story, but also tells the story of Mary Magdalene. A character that has been given a particular representation in the mainstream, the film offers a differing perspective.

The narrative begins by concentrating on Mary’s circumstances; her first contact with Jesus does not come until after the title character has been established. After Mary joins Jesus’ band of followers, the story becomes much more familiar. Even in these events, much of what is seen is from the perspective of the title character. It is uncertain whether Mary Magdalene was as involved in all these key moments as the film suggests, yet writers Helen Edmundson and Philippa Goslett clearly wish to emphasise her importance.

Mary Magdalene has a mesmeric quality to it. The film feels more pensive than other biblical epics, with a higher focus on spirituality. This comes through thanks to the protagonist and following her spiritual journey, as well as her interpretation of Jesus’ teachings. The contrast between Mary’s understanding and that of some of the other apostles seems to mirror some of the divides in contemporary Christianity.

Rooney Mara delivers a believable performance as the title character. Joaquin Phoenix is convincingly cast as Jesus, he offers a charisma which seems suitable for the character. Tahir Rahim is suitably zealous in his role. Mary Magdalene is at its most interesting when it focuses on its title character. In telling the story of the Crucifixion, the film feels too much like the numerous other adaptions of this tale.

Previews: On Chesil Beach Trailer, Death Wish, More!

Plenty in this week’s preview attractions, including the new Yardie trailer, Death Wish, Yardie, and more…

On Chesil Beach Trailer

Here is the latest On Chesil Beach trailer. Based on the novel by Ian McEwan (with a screenplay also written by McEwan), On Chesil Beach is about a young couple’s wedding day in the early 1960s. The film stars Saoirse Ronan, Billy Howle, and Anne-Marie Duff. On Chesil Beach will be released on 15th June 2017.

Yardie Trailer

Above is the trailer for Idris Elba’s directorial debut Yardie. Set in 1970s Kingston and 1980s Hackney, the film tells the story of a young man who grows up under the wing of a Kingston don and music producer. Starring Aml Ameen, Sheldon Shepherd, and Shantol Jackson, Yardie will be released later this year.

Death Wish Poster

Here is one of the new poster for Death Wish. The new Eli Roth movie is a reimagining of the 1974 film. The film stars Bruce Willis as a surgeon who is confronted by violence when his family are attacked. Also starring Vincent D’Onofrio and Elisabeth Shue, Death Wish will hit UK screens on 6th April 2018.

A Gentle Creation Trailer

Here is the trailer for the Palme d’Or nominated A Gentle Creature. Directed by Sergei Loznitsa, the film is about a woman with an incarcerated husband. When her parcel to him is returned, she begins on a quest for justice. A Gentle Creature will be released in UK cinemas on 13th April 2018.

A Quiet Place Featurette

John Krasinski explains a little about the concept of A Quiet Place in the above featurette. Directed, co-written, and starring Krasinski, the horror is about a family who must stay quiet in order to evade detection. Co-starring John Krasinski’s wife Emily Blunt, A Quiet Place will hit the big screen later this year.

Mary Magdelene Trailer

Mary Magdalene is a biblical biopic. The film tells the story of the title character as she meets Jesus of Nazareth. Rooney Mara plays Mary, with Joaquin Phoenix playing Jesus. The film also stars Chiwetel Ejiofor and Tahar Rahim. Directed by Garth Davis, Mary Magdalene is out in UK cinemas on 16th March 2018.

Film Review: Una

Director Benedict Andrews’ Una is a drama that reveals its characters and narrative in an unravelling and competent manner. The film may veer towards the melodramatic, yet it excels in other ways.

Una, a young woman, travels to a warehouse to confront a man who used to be her neighbour. She wants to know what drove him to seek a relationship with her when she was just thirteen years old…

Written by David Harrower, based on his play Blackbird, Una is a drama about a difficult subject. The film tackles the area of paedophilia from the premise of a victim confronting her attacker many years after the event. The film features several flashbacks as the two main characters recollect past events.

The strength of Una is in the relaying of psychological effects of trauma. Protagonist Una feels a multitude of emotions. Given the content of the flashbacks, as well as Peter’s words, it is easy to see why what happened in her childhood has had such an effect later in life. Uncomfortable viewing at times, the film often compels. Nevertheless, it comes undone in the second half. The subplot seemingly intends to give more tension to the main interaction, yet this feels like an unnecessary addition.

Ben Mendelssohn gives a strong performance in a challenging role. Rooney Mara is also good, despite an uneven accent. Riz Ahmed is underused; his talents are not stretched in this minor role. Although the film breaks out of its space for the final third, the film does not depart majorly from its stage origins. The moving around in the warehouse may have been an attempt at differentiating from the play, yet tension may have been greater if this device had been employed less.

The final sequence adds friction certainly, however it heightens the disturbed aspect of protagonist. As a result, it feels like it cheapens a serious subject. Una is an engaging examination of a troubling relationship. The film it at its best when it underplays the theatrics.

Film Review: A Ghost Story

David Lowery’s A Ghost Story is a poignant meditation on grief, and indeed life itself. The film covers an expansive subject, but does so with style.

A couple who live together are beset by a tragedy. C returns in spirit form hoping to comfort M, but he struggles to connect with her. His new form takes him on a metaphysical journey…

Written and directed by David Lowery, A Ghost Story is an extensive exploration of themes delivered in a simple cinematic form. This is none more distinct than in the depiction of C as a ghost. The film does not rely on special effects, instead C wears a white sheet to depict his ghost form. At first instance this is humorous, yet the lack of technical effects is disarming. It promotes a lack of distraction from the film’s central themes that perhaps a more sophisticated rendering would not.

Akin to Lowery’s Ain’t Them Bodies Saints, A Ghost Story unfolds at a relaxed pace, allowing for atmosphere to develop. The most striking thing about the film is not the individual characters featured, but how the film speaks about life as a whole. On one level the film is about grief; the loss of a loved one and the effect this has. On a broader level however, this segues into the wider theme of loneliness of existence, and indeed each person’s place in both their time and wider history. The film becomes more compelling as it progresses, thanks to the questions that it asks. There is a section of the film which features a diatribe by a throwaway character. Although this serves to verbalise the film’s key themes, it feels an unnecessary intrusion. A Ghost Story performs best in its subtlety.

Casey Affleck and Rooney Mara both offer good performances in the film. Nevertheless, the highest praise goes to David Lowery for creating such an honest and compelling film.

Film Review: Carol

Based on Patricia Highsmith’s novel, Carol is a sumptuous and engaging romantic drama.

Working in a department store in New York, shop girl Therese meets married older lady Carol when the latter comes into the store to buy a Christmas gift. The two embark on a friendship that spells danger for Carol’s home life…

Director Todd Haynes’ Carol is a entertaining drama which offers good performances and great production values. The film concentrates on the relationship between the wealthy Carol and the younger shop girl Therese in a time when any non-traditional relationship was taboo or worse. The film works in social issues of its 1950s setting in a way that seems a natural outcome of the relationship.

Haynes’ direction and Phyllis Nagy’s screenplay are effective at keeping viewers engaged throughout the film. Carol and Therese’s relationship is portrayed in a compelling way; the writing and performances make it easy to get on board with the protagonists. Both characters are depicted in a believable fashion, and are given enough personality to engage with the audience. Viewers will root for the couple, even if their union looks doomed. The ending of the film is a brilliant stroke.

The period setting calls for issues with a same-sex relationship to be at the forefront. Carol respects this; the film’s narrative allows for a number of different aspects to be brought up. The illustrations of these problems are entirely convincing. Moreover, the film highlights other differences in Carol and Therese’s relationship, namely age and class. These social issues are dealt with a slighter hand, yet still represent the constraints of the period.

Cate Blanchett delivers as competent a performance as ever; she is completely convincing as Carol. Rooney Mara offers perhaps her best performance to date. Her quiet understatement seems perfect for Therese. Carter Burwell’s score is magnificent, and Sandy Powell’s costumes are wonderful. This is particularly true of Blanchett’s glamorous wardrobe.

In spite of the social issues at play, Carol is ultimately a love story. The film is a finely executed piece of romantic drama.

Carol is being screened at the London Film Festival in October 2015.

Film Review: Pan

Director Joe Wright’s Pan is an enjoyable fantasy adventure. There are lulls in pace, but overall the film does its job of providing entertainment for a family audience.

Peter Pan is a twelve-year old who lives in an orphanage in London. When he is spirited away to Neverland, he faces marvel and fear on his quest to find his destiny…

Pan functions as a prequel to the Peter Pan story that many know so well. Screenwriter Jason Fuchs takes J.M. Barrie’s famous characters and transplants them to an earlier era of Neverland. The film concentrates on Peter Pan as a boy, meeting and establishing relationships with characters from Barre’s most famous work.

The film starts well, establishing Peter’s circumstances with sufficient humour. Likewise, the introduction to Blackbeard works well to exude a sense of mythos. The choice of chanting in this scene may surprise some viewers. Pan falls into a something of a lull in the middle third. This is chiefly due to the obligatory questioning of self by the protagonist. This section of the film could have been trimmed to improve pacing. Similarly, suggestions of a love story as the film progresses felt like an unnecessary addition.

The conclusion of Pan sees a return of pace with some decent action sequences. Special effects in the film are mostly good; the wood animated sequence is a nice touch. The exception to this is some obvious CGI used for the birds.

Hugh Jackman hams it up in an appealing fashion as Blackbeard. Levi Miller is decent as Peter, whilst Garrett Hedlund does his best Indiana Jones impression. With diversity in the overall cast, it is a shame that Tiger Lily, a female character with a significant role, is played by Rooney Mara. This is particularly the case given the whiteness of the rest of the main cast. Here is a missed opportunity to portray a physically and mentally strong female character as originally intended. It makes the rest of the casting feel tokenistic.

There may be a few scary moments for very young viewers, but older children and adults should find Pan satisfying as an adventure.

Previews: Mockingjay Part 2 Trailer, Jungle Book and more

Plenty in this week’s preview of coming attractions, including The Hunger Games: Mockingly Part 2 trailer, the first look at The Jungle Book and more…

The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 2 Trailer

Here is the latest Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 2 trailer. This preview focuses on Prim, and her relationship with older sister Katniss. Jennifer Lawrence, Donald Sutherland et al return for the final instalment of The Hunger Games franchise. Mockingly Part 2 will hit the big screen on 19th November 2015.

Macbeth Poster

Here is one of the new posters for the upcoming Macbeth. Starring Michael Fassbender and Marion Cotillard, the film is the latest adaptation of one of Shakespeare’s best-known plays. The film is directed by Justin Curzel, best known for 2011’s Snowtown. Macbeth is released in UK cinemas on 2nd October 2015.

The Jungle Book Trailer

Well this looks pretty spectacular. Here is the first look at Disney’s live action version of The Jungle Book. The special effects look wonderful, and the film features an enviable voice cast that includes Idris Elba, Bill Murray, and Scarlett Johansson as the terrifying Kaa. The Jungle Book will roar on to the big screen in April 2016.

In the Heart of the Sea Trailer

Ron Howard re-teams with Chris Hemsworth for In the Heart of the Sea. Also starring Cillian Murphy, Benjamin Walker and Ben Whishaw, the film tells the true story of a New England whaling ship in 1820. In the Heart of the Sea is scheduled for release on Boxing Day, 26th December 2015.

Bridge of Spies Poster

Here is the poster for Steven Spielberg’s latest Bridge of Spies. Starring Tom Hanks, the film is about an insurance claims lawyer who is sent on a mission by the CIA to negotiate the release of a captured American pilot during the Cold War. Bridge of Spies will be released in UK cinemas on 27th November 2015.

The Martian Video

The marketing for The Martian is pretty slick, with a series of “training videos” produced, like the one above. With a stellar cast that includes Matt Damon, Jessica Chastain and Chiwetel Ejiofor, it will be interesting to see if the film can replicate the success of recent space-set blockbusters like Interstellar and Gravity. The Martian is out in UK cinemas on 30th September 2015.

Pan Trailer

The latest Peter Pan adaptation, Pan, is about to be released. Starring Hugh Jackman, Garrett Hedlund and Rooney Mara, the film is directed by Joe Wright. It will be interesting to see how the film measures up against 1991’s Hook. Pan will hit the big screen on 16th October 2015.

Stuff To Look At

A feast of trailers and images. A feast for the eyes, I say. Whether it is horror, Disney animation, or crime thriller, there is something here for everyone…

Monsters University

I want to go to Monsters University! Human universities are so boring in comparison. A prequel to Monsters Inc., Monsters University tells the story of how Sully and Mike met as students. The film will be released in UK cinemas on 12th July 2013.

Oz The Great and Powerful

Look at this monkey! Surely he is reason alone for seeing Oz The Great and Powerful? Given that the film is a prequel to The Wizard of Oz, it seems unlikely that hot slice Toto will appear. Not to fear, we have Finley in his little uniform to beguile us. Oz The Great and Powerful is released on 8th March 2013.

Identity Thief

Jason Bateman and Melissa McCarthy star in Identify Thief. When Sandy tracks down Diana, the woman who has stolen his identity, hijinks ensue when he tries to bring her to justice. Identity Thief is out in UK cinemas on 22nd March 2013.

Olympus Has Fallen

Well this all looks rather tense. Training Day director Antoine Fuqua brings together Gerard Butler, Morgan Freeman, Aaron Eckhart and Angela Bassett in action thriller Olympus Has Fallen. The film hits UK screens on 19th April 2013.

Mama

A TV spot for Mama was on the other night when a friend (who shall remain nameless) could not bear to watch it. Guillermo del Toro is the executive producer of supernatural horror Mama, which stars Jessica Chastain. Mama is released on 22nd February 2013.

Side Effects

Steven Soderbergh reunites with Jude Law and Channing Tatum for thriller Side Effects. Also staring Rooney Mara and Catherine Zeta-Jones, the film is about a depressed patient who is prescribed the latest medication by her psychiatrist. Side Effects is out on 8th March 2013.

The Lone Ranger

Here be the latest poster for The Lone Ranger. I am not quite sure why Johnny Depp has a bird on his head; I am hoping that this will be explained in the film. The Lone Ranger will hit UK cinemas on 9th August 2013.

Evil Dead

When I first saw a trailer for Evil Dead, initially I didn’t realise it was a remake of the 1981 film. Sam Raimi and Bruce Campbell act as producers for this new version, so at least it gets their seal of approval. The trailer above is rather graphic, so brace yourself if you are squeamish. Evil Dead is released on 19th April 2013.

Jack the Giant Slayer

This is the latest poster for Warner Brothers’ Jack the Giant Slayer. Jack and the Beanstalk is not one of those fairy tales that has had a plethora of film adaptations, so it will be interesting to see what is done with it. Released in 3D, Jack the Giant Slayer hits UK screens on 22nd March 2013.

Dark Skies

Another horror! When the Sandman is mentioned, it is unlikely that things are going to go well. Dark Skies is giving me shades of The Birds. However, the trailer indicates more supernatural activity than this. Dark Skies is released in the UK on 5th April 2013.

The Paperboy

Having already been released in America, a certain scene in The Paperboy has been discussed a lot. I won’t spoil it, for those of you who don’t know what I am talking about. Nicole Kidman heads a stellar cast in thriller The Paperboy. The film hits UK screens on 15th March 2013.

The Heat

Sandra Bullock plays a FBI agent and Melissa McCarthy a Boston cop. This old couple comedy comes from Paul Feig, director of Bridesmaids. The Heat is released in UK cinemas on 5th April 2013.

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo Stills

Here are some stills from David Fincher’s The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, due for release on 26th December 2011. Not too much can be ascertained from this images, but it is fun to guess what might be going on. In the above image it looks as if Lisbeth (Rooney Mara) is in a library, or some kind of building with a shelf and a chair. More distracting, however, are her most unusual pale eyebrows. Her look is almost reminiscent of the Mystery Man for David Lynch’s Lost Highway, and no-one wants to relive those nightmares. Below it seems like Daniel Craig is struggling for phone reception in the snow. Perhaps more than anything, I am looking forward to Trent Reznor’s score for the film. Incidentally, Nine Inch Nails also provided music for Lost Highway…