June 1, 2021
Greetings again from the darkness. Any kids that watched Dreamworks’ original SPIRIT: STALLION OF THE CIMARRON (2002) are now at least in their mid-20s and many likely have kids of their own. That original film featured old school animation, and provides a nice comparison for today’s computerized “drawing”. However, from a story and character perspective this is less a sequel to that film, and more a spinoff of the original Netflix series, of which there have been more than 50 episodes.
Lucky Prescott (voiced by Isabela Merced, Dora in DORA AND THE LOST CITY OF GOLD, 2019) is a rambunctious youngster being attended to by her Aunt Cora (Oscar winner Julianne Moore) at the home of Lucky’s wealthy and now candidate-for-Governor grandfather. With no time for her shenanigans, grandpa ships off Lucky and Cora to be reunited with Lucky’s father, Jim Prescott (Jake Gyllenhaal). The two haven’t seen each other since Lucky’s mother died tragically ten years ago. On the train ride to Miradero, Lucky has a connection with a beautiful wild stallion she names Spirit. The two share a bond of wildness and independence, though soon enough Spirit is being held captive by mean-spirited horse wranglers.
Lucky and her father have an awkward reunion as he tries to keep her safe, unwilling to admit the free-spirited nature she shares with her mother, who once rode with the Los Caballeros, a local trick-riding team. Her mother’s clothes, boots, and posters open Lucky’s eyes to a world that feels like home. She befriends not just Spirit, but also a couple of local girls, Pru (Marsai Martin) and Abigail (Mckenna Grace), who are drawn to Lucky’s energy, but also recognize the danger she’s in going up against the evil wrangler (Walton Goggins).
What follows is an adventure with terrific visuals and enough action to keep the three and five year olds that I watched the film with glued to the screen. Heck Mountain and the Ridge of Regret seemed to be especially exciting for them, and I personally got a kick out of the importance of math (a word problem) in keeping Lucky on track. The film clocks in under 90 minutes, which is just right for most kids. The songs (Taylor Swift sings the trailer song) didn’t seem to make much impression, but the kid characters did. From a grown-up perspective, it’s hard to miss the fact that the adult males aren’t the best role models, and even Abigail’s young brother Snips (Lucian Perez) spends most of his time wreaking mischievous trouble. However, the lack of other political messages was a relief, and female empowerment in youngsters is always a welcome story line.
The film is co-directed by Elaine Bogan and Ennio Torreson. Writing credits go to John Fusco (the original Spirit film), Aury Wallington (the TV series) and Kristin Hahn and Katherine Nolfi. The all-star voice cast is a nice complement to the visuals (especially the mountains and clouds), and the message about independence and finding one’s own way in life. It should also be noted that the film is rated PG, not G.
Opens in theaters on Friday June 4, 2021
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Leave a Comment » | 
Action, Animation, Drama | Tagged: Aury Wallington, Elaine Bogan, Ennio Torreson, Isabela Merced, Jake Gyllenhaal, John Fusco, Julianne Moore, Katherine Nolfi, Kristin Hahn, Marsai Martin, Mckenna Grace, Walton Goggins | 
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Posted by David Ferguson
May 28, 2021
Greetings again from the darkness. World War II continues to provide the stories of individuals who were caught up in the horrific events surrounding the war – some folks acted heroically, some despicably, and still others simply did what they could to survive. Director Michael Polish (NORTHFORK, 2003) adapted the screenplay with Vance Owen and Darryl Hicks from the book by Mr. Owen and his father William E. Owen. It’s the nearly forgotten story of an American woman drawn into the powerful Nazi propaganda machine, and subsequently tried for treason.
Mildred Gillars is a name few will be familiar with. Portrayed well here by Meadow Williams, Ms. Gillars was known as Axis Sally by American servicemen during WWII. Her radio broadcasts of Nazi propaganda alternately entertained and enraged Americans, and this depiction of her story shines a light on the lengths to which the Nazis utilized psychological warfare in conjunction with traditional tanks and guns.
Director Polish spends most of the movie’s runtime on Gillars’ trial for treason, which provides a courtroom for Oscar winner Al Pacino (now 81 years old) to play her attorney James Laughlin and chew scenery with an enthusiasm and fervor matched by few actors. Joining Laughlin at the defense table is green-behind-the-ears attorney (and former GI soldier) Billy Owen (Swen Temmell), whose warm approach contrasts well with Laughlin’s gusto. The lead prosecutor John Kelly is played by Mitch Pileggi (“The X-Files”), and other supporting roles are covered by Lala Kent, Jasper Polish, and Carsten Norgaard.
Flashbacks are vital here, as we see Gillars “perform” her act, often in front of Joseph Goebbels, the chief propagandist of the Nazis during the war. Thomas Kretschmann (U-571, 2000) is excellent and sufficiently creepy as Goebbels, and some of the most intense scenes feature Goebbels and Gillars. Filmmaker Polish takes a sympathetic approach to Gillars, an approach surely to ruffle some patriotic feathers. The trial is not often-remembered in the aftermath of the war, but Ms. Gillars’ story makes us wonder just what we might do if our life was threatened … and just as importantly, how would our actions be judged after the fact?
In select theaters and On Demand May 28, 2021
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Leave a Comment » | Drama | Tagged: Al Pacino, Carsten Norgaard, Darryl Hicks, Jasper Polish, Lala Kent, Meadow Williams, Michael Polish, Swen Temmell, Thomas Kretschmann, Vance Owen, William E Owen | Permalink
Posted by David Ferguson
May 20, 2021
Greetings again from the darkness. Remember when an exonerated OJ Simpson vowed to dedicate his time to finding “the real killer” of Nicole Brown Simpson and Ronald Goldman? For some reason that memory came back in the early stages of this film as a Melbourne-based Australian Federal Police agent returns to his isolated hometown after his childhood friend is implicated in a murder-suicide. See, that agent left town as a teenager when he was suspected of being involved in the murder of a local teenage girl.
Eric Bana (MUNICH, 2005) stars as that AFP agent Aaron Falk. He’s been gone for 20 years, but agrees to return for the funeral of his friend Luke (Martin Dingall Wall) at the request of Luke’s parents (Bruce Spence, Julia Blake). The parents don’t believe Luke would have killed his wife and one of his two kids and then committed suicide, and they want Luke to investigate. Of course, the rest of the town believes Luke did it, and most are none too happy that Aaron has returned, as they haven’t forgotten the suspicion tied to him for the tragedy that took the life of his friend Ellie (BeBe Bettencourt) so many years ago.
The stark contrast of glass and steel Melbourne towers and the drought-stricken cracked soil of (fictional) Kiewarra are as distinct as the comparison of today’s Kiewarra with Aaron’s flashbacks to those carefree days of swimming in the river with Ellie, Luke and their friend Gretchen – who is now a single mom played by Genevieve O’Reilly, and one of the few to welcome Aaron back. The film is based on the 2016 international best-selling novel by Jane Harper, and there is a lot to keep up with, despite a pace that never feels rushed. The two cases may be separated by twenty years, but they seem connected, even though we aren’t sure how murder and suicide and a slew of suspects all fit together. Aaron works with local police officer Greg Raco (an excellent Keir O’Donnell) in an attempt to make sense of what’s happened.
There are angry and suspicious people throughout the town. William Zappa plays Mal, Ellie’s grudge-bearing father, while Matt Nable plays her obnoxious and quick-to-accuse cousin Grant. James Frecheville (ANIMAL KINGDOM, 2010) is local farmer with a motive Jamie Sullivan, while John Polson plays school Principal Scott Whitlam who isn’t quite as put together as he’d like everyone to believe. Farmer Sullivan remarks (with the film’s best line), “You think you’re gonna get the truth in a town like this?” And by that time, we know exactly what he means.
The flashbacks to Aaron’s teenage years provide much of the context to the story and his character, and they are handled beautifully. It’s a small town whose residents hold an abundance of secrets, rumors, and grudges, creating a web of misinformation that challenges Aaron and Officer Raco. The two cases (past and present) collide, and cinematographer Stefan Duscio does terrific work with the vast, dusty landscape, as well as the many interior shots where the characters reveal their true selves. Writer-director Robert Connolly (a heavy TV workload recently) co-wrote the script with Harry Cripps and Samantha Strauss, and they have created a suspenseful and entertaining whodunit. With the heavy dose of crime shows on TV these days, it’s a pleasure to see a well done film with high production value and a cohesive story. Just remember to use an alibi other than “shooting rabbits”, if you are ever working on a cover story.
Opening in theaters and on VOD on May 21, 2021
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2 Comments | Drama, Thriller, World Cinema/Foreign | Tagged: BeBe Bettencourt, Bruce Spence, Eric Bana, Genevieve O'Reilly, Harry Cripps, James Frecheville, Jane Harper, John Polson, Julia Blake, Keir O'Donnell, Martin Dingall Wall, Matt Nable, Robert Connolly, Samantha Strauss, William Zappa | Permalink
Posted by David Ferguson
May 20, 2021
Greetings again from the darkness. Feel-good, underdog sports stories are a dependable addition to the entertainment value many seek from movies. Director Euros Lyn (shout out for the first 3 episodes of “Happy Valley”) and writer Neil McKay take us to South Wales for the unlikely true story of Dream Alliance, a racehorse whose saddle carried the hopes of a downtrodden small town. Only rather than focus on the horse, this is the story of the townspeople who desperately needed something to believe in.
Toni Collette (THE SIXTH SENSE, 1999) stars as Jan Vokes, a South Wales villager working two jobs. She also cares for her arthritic husband and her elderly parents, while wondering why her life is so mundane and joyless. Her affinity for animals is apparent by the dog in her bed (not her husband) and the rehabilitating goose in the kitchen. She also has a history of prize-winning with whippets and pigeons. One evening while working at the local pub, she overhears blustering bravado from a customer named Howard Davies (Damian Lewis, “Billions”) who regales his drinking buddies with tales of his time in a syndicate for a racing thoroughbred. After a bit of research, Jan decides she’s going to purchase a mare in order to breed and raise her own race horse.
The fun begins when Jan, with the help of Howard, puts together a syndicate of local town folks in order to bankroll her idea. It’s kind of a rag-tag group, including the town drunk (Karl Johnson). But their passion clearly brings hope where it’s been lacking for a while. Howard, an accountant by trade, has to initially keep the whole thing secret from his wife (Joanna Page), who has no tolerance after his last syndicate almost cost them everything.
Jan’s husband Brian (Owen Teale, “Game of Thrones”), aka Daisy, jumps in to help, though this is one segment that detours from what we saw in the 2015 documentary, DARK HORSE (an audience winner at Sundance). It’s likely Brian’s work was more important than what this dramatized version leads us to believe. Here, the focus is on Jan, and of course, the always reliable Ms. Collette, is strong in the role. However, when Dream Alliance disappears for long stretches of the movie (while off with trainer Philip Hobbs played by Nicholas Farrell), we forget that it’s the story of a horse. Beyond that, we rarely see Jan with Dream Alliance, yet we are supposed to buy a “horse whisperer” connection between the two. How and when did that happen?
The racing scenes are very well done and provide a jolt of energy to the film. The steeplechase jumps are especially impressive and stress-inducing. Cinematographer Erik Wilson provides a touch of realism both at the track and in the small town. This helps immensely since the story is mostly fluff with minimal conflict between the elite of horse racing and the blue collar folks of a mining town. The film ends with a group song of “Delilah” (by Welshman Tom Jones) that includes the real Jan and Brian, as well as others who were involved with Dream Alliance. It’s a true example of “Hwyl” no matter how you say it or how you define it.
Releasing in theatres on May 21, 2021 and On Demand June 11, 2021
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Leave a Comment » | Drama | Tagged: Damian Lewis, Erik Wilson, Euros Lyn, Karl Johnson, Neil McKay, Nicholas Farrell, Owen Teale, Toni Collette | Permalink
Posted by David Ferguson
May 20, 2021
Greetings again from the darkness. “You say you want a revolution … well, you know … we all want to change the world.” Writer-director Michel Franco hits head-on the always hot, and very current topic of the haves versus the have-nots, and I immediately thought of those Beatles’ lyrics.
Chaos at a hospital and a pile of bodies informs us trouble is brewing on the streets of Mexico. We then cut to a lavish wedding event being held at the luxurious residential compound of the Novellos, a wealthy family whose daughter Marianne (Naian Gonzalez Norvind) is marrying her fiancé Alan (Dario Azbek). Her father Ivan (Roberto Medina) is an important businessman who invited other important people and dignitaries. As the attendees mingle, her mother Rebecca (Lisa Owen) is summoned to the gate to meet with Ronaldo (Eligio Melendez), a former employee who is asking for the money to pay for a surgery his ill wife needs. What follows is the mannered way in which the Novellos react. They give Ronaldo some money, but it’s far short of the amount needed. It’s Marianne who, even on her wedding day, tries desperately to help him.
Marianne has Cristian (Fernando Cuautle), the son of loyal housekeeper Marta (Monica Del Carman), drive her to where Ronaldo lives. Unbeknownst to Marianne, an insurgence has disrupted the wedding festivities and carnage has ensued at her house. Upon arrival at Ronaldo’s house, masked soldiers take Marianne hostage. Her vibrant red outfit and the green paint used by protesters provide symmetry to the national flag of Mexico as the streets are under siege. Many of the elite rich have been killed, while others taken hostage for ransom and torture. Filmmaker Franco expertly captures the frenzy and terror brought on by the revolution.
As the uprising takes hold and the coup progresses, we quickly see the effects of power and greed. Most of the story is told from the viewpoint of the privileged, and that’s likely to offend many. At times we are confused about just how many sides there are in this war, though it seems Franco’s point is that there are no good guys. The film teeters on the line between social commentary and exploitation, due to the violence and greed – we even see the glee on a maid’s face as she loots the valuables from her employer. We find little empathy for anyone here, except of course, for those being held captive and tortured. Certain elements thrive in chaos, and the situation turns to Authoritarianism. The cynical message is that entitlement and corruption exist regardless who is in charge. In other words, the more things change, the more they stay the same. The “New Order” is the same as the old – just with new faces. Franco has highlighted unrest specific to Mexico, but also nods to global issues.
“You say you got a real solution … well, you know … we’d all love to see the plan.”
Releasing in theaters on May 21, 2021
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Leave a Comment » | Drama, Thriller, World Cinema/Foreign | Tagged: Dario Azbek, Eligio Melendez, Fernando Cuautle, Lisa Owen, Michel Franco, Monica Del Carman, Naian Gonzalez Norvind, Roberto Medina | Permalink
Posted by David Ferguson
May 18, 2021
Greetings again from the darkness. Taylor Sheridan was Oscar nominated for his screenplay of the superb HELL OR HIGH WATER (2016). He also wrote and directed WIND RIVER (2017), wrote the screenplays for both SICARIO movies, and is the creative force behind the TV series “Yellowstone”. He has excelled in generating slow-burn tension and conflict. For his latest film, he’s back in the director’s chair after co-writing the script with Charles Leavitt (BLOOD DIAMOND, 2006) and the 2014 novel’s author, Michael Koryta.
Oscar winner Angelina Jolie stars as Hannah, a thrill-seeking smokejumper (those folks who jump out of airplanes to fight fires and save lives) burdened with a faulty decision that cost lives in a massive forest fire the previous year. After flunking her psyche-evaluation, Hannah packs up the blame and her flashbacks and accepts her low-key assignment to the solitude of “Fire Tower”, a lookout perched above the tree line of Soda Butte, a park area within Yellowstone that encompasses the Continental Divide. Early on we see the camaraderie of the smokejumpers as they tease each other and “welcome” the new firefighters to the park.
In a seemingly unrelated storyline (although we know the intersection is coming), Owen (Jake Weber, “Medium”) and his son Connor (Finn Little) take an emergency detour on the way to school. Owen is a forensic accountant who uncovered some corruption while working for a Florida DA who was recently murdered by the same hitmen now chasing Owen and his son. Soon, Connor is wandering alone through the forest looking for someone he can trust, and up pops Hannah. The pair of calm-cool-collected hitmen are played by Aidan Gillen (“Game of Thrones”) and Nicholas Hoult (MAD MAX: FURY ROAD, 2015). They track down Owen’s brother-in-law Ethan (Jon Bernthal, BABY DRIVER, 2017), who happens to work for the sheriff’s department in the same park.
Whether you call it a hunt or a chase, it’s always a bit creepy when professional hitmen are tracking down an innocent kid, and the tension is elevated when we see the bad guys take their direction from a higher-up bad buy played by Tyler Perry in one brief scene. The film features a hand full of excellent action sequences, including a shootout between the hitmen and Ethan’s pregnant wife Allison (Medina Senghore). Conveniently, Allison runs a survivor camp, and despite her belly, manages to put up quite a fight.
Cinematographer Ben Richardson (BEASTS OF THE SOUTHERN WILD, 2012) capitalizes on the extraordinary vastness and beauty of Soda Butte, and some of the forest fire effects are so good we can almost feel the heat. The supporting cast is excellent and the multiple story lines all work together nicely. For me, what prevented the film from reaching the level it could have, was the presence and performance of Angelina Jolie. Her last action movie was SALT in 2010, and here she seems too concerned with a look of glamor – right down to consistently brushed hair and perfect make-up – than fitting the profile of the courageous (and slightly off-center) smokejumpers. She stands out from the others on the team not because of her inherent extreme risk-taking, but rather because of her magazine-cover approach – something not limited to the hair and make-up, but also her posing and preening, including many of the same gazes from other movies like GONE IN SIXTY SECONDS (2000). I often admire and respect the choices actors make, but in this case, those choices work against everything else in what could have been an excellent dramatic thriller.
Now available on HBO Max
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Leave a Comment » | Drama, Thriller | Tagged: Aidan Gillen, Angelina Jolie, Ben Richardson, Charles Leavitt, Finn Little, Jake Weber, Jon Bernthal, Medina Senghore, Michael Koryta, Nicholas Hoult, Taylor Sheridan | Permalink
Posted by David Ferguson
May 13, 2021
Greetings again from the darkness. The film opens with a man pointing a gun at a sleeping couple. We hold our breath in anticipation until the tense moment abruptly passes. At its most extreme moments, life can push people to their emotional and physical limits, and that’s what we see with David, played exceptionally well by Clayne Crawford (TV series: “Lethal Weapon”, “Rectify”).
The foreboding of that opening scene cloaks the entire film with an inevitability that we never shake. David is living with his ailing father (Bruce Graham) right down the street from Niki (Sepideh Moafi, “The Deuce”), his high school sweetheart, and the mother of his teenage daughter and three younger sons. David and Niki are in the midst of a trial separation, in which they’ve agreed to see other people while also trying to work things out. They even try “date night”, which is where it becomes painfully clear to us that Niki not only has a new boyfriend (Chris Coy), but she’s doing well at her job, and is looking to the future. It’s likely she agreed to the separation to make the transition easier on David, whose pride will not allow him to accept the break-up of his family.
David’s a loving father, but he lacks the emotional maturity to handle the situation. The strain of it all has him simmering with rage – even as he hustles for manual labor jobs and tends to his dad. His dream of being a singer-songwriter is in the distant past and now he’s in crisis mode. Even his daughter Jesse (Avery Pizzuto) advises him of Niki’s situation. This is a small town with wide open spaces, but David can barely breathe, and this is perfectly captured by cinematographer Oscar Ignacio Jimenez.
Robert Machoian is the writer-director-producer-editor, and he keeps the characters and situation grounded in reality and familiarity. He was co-director with Rodrigo-Ojeda Beck of GOD BLESS THE CHILD, a film I saw at the 2015 Oak Cliff Film Festival in Dallas, and he possesses a distinct feel for the little things that seem big in life. Crawford expertly captures the essence of a man caught in a grim situation. I would have liked to have seen another interaction between he and Chris Coy, but what we do see is chilling. Take special note of the sound effects from Peter Albrechtsen – highly unusual, but effective in helping us understand the chaos inside David’s head. Mr. Machoian is a filmmaker to follow.
Available in select theaters and VOD on May 14, 2021
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Leave a Comment » | Drama | Tagged: Avery Pizzuto, Bruce Graham, Chris Coy, Clayne Crawford, Peter Albrechtsen, Robert Machoian, Sepideh Moafi | Permalink
Posted by David Ferguson
May 13, 2021
Greetings again from the darkness. French journalist Anna Erelle documented her month-long correspondence with an ISIS terrorist in her 2015 book, “In the Skin of a Jihadist.” Her experience resulted in a fatwa being issued for her … basically an Islamic death sentence on her head. Based on (more like influenced by) Ms. Erelle’s story, writer-director Timur Bekmambetov (ABRAHAM LINCOLN: VAMPIRE HUNTER, 2012) and co-writers Brittany Poulton and Olga Kharina bring us a movie version via computer screen storytelling.
Valene Kane (“The Fall”) stars as Amy Whittaker, a British freelance journalist with a bright idea for an important story. With so many western girls being recruited by ISIS and sold as sex slaves, Amy decides to track down a recruiter and gain intel on how the process works. She does this by creating new Facebook and Skype accounts under the fictitious name of Melody Nelson, an “almost” 20 year old new convert to Islam who just doesn’t fit in to her current world. With the beep of a new post, Melody is contacted by Bilel, a terrorist and ISIS recruiter, whose profile expertly blends cat videos with bombings and beheadings.
Bilel (Shazad Latif, “Star Trek: Discovery”) is handsome and charming. He talks the talk and walks the walk as both a terrorist and man who can seduce vulnerable young women via FaceTime. There is a lot happening on Amy’s/Melody’s screen at any given time. The pop ups come fast and frequently from her hard-nosed news editor Vick (Christine Adams, “Black Lightning”), curious best friend Kathy (Emma Cater), confused boyfriend Matt (Morgan Watkins), and IT specialist Lou (Amir Rahimzadeh), himself the son of a Muslim. As if all that isn’t enough, YouTube videos come and go, and Melody is constantly googling the latest topic of conversation so she doesn’t give away her ruse.
Artistic license is taken with her in-the-moment research and blunders. Although Ms. Kane is strong in the role, Amy never comes across as a professional journalist on a job. She does, however, expertly play to the stresses – rent due, concerned boyfriend, social commitments, dual personas, work deadlines, and the social media chaos that comes with flirting with terrorists or “making friends with jihadists”. It’s just impossible to imagine a job like this wouldn’t find all parties better prepared and protected.
Still, the reality of young women being seduced and recruited by terrorists is quite real, and this should generate fear in every parent. I kept thinking “that wouldn’t happen”, all the while my stomach churned with the tension. It’s the reality of the threat that creates the fear, but director Bekmambetov effectively uses the online interactions to create a current and urgent scenario.
In theaters on May 14, 2021
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1 Comment | Drama, Thriller | Tagged: Amir Rahimzadeh, Brittany Poulton, Christine Adams, Emma Carter, Morgan Watkins, Olga Kharina, Shazad Latif, Timur Bekmambetov, Valene Kane | Permalink
Posted by David Ferguson
May 12, 2021
Greetings again from the darkness. Who is the woman in the picture? What did the five men toss in the river? Why are those men chasing the man in the hat? Why is that other man wet? If the man in the hat is running from the five men, why does he keep running into the same people? What are those two measuring now? Why doesn’t anyone (ok, almost no one) speak? Why are there so many questions, and why, by the end, do we not care that most go unanswered?
John-Paul Davidson, known mostly as a travel documentarian, and Stephen Warbeck, an Oscar-winning composer, have teamed up as co-directors and co-writers to deliver an unusual and whimsical road trip movie that tips a cap to the silent comedy films of yesteryear. Adding to the unusual elements is Ciaran Hinds starring as the titular man in the hat. Mr. Hinds is a long-time terrific actor, but not one we think of for jocular comedies requiring exaggerated facial expressions, physical pratfalls, and squeezing into a tiny Fiat for a back roads drive through rural France.
As the film opens, the man in the hat spends the day sharing a table with the woman’s photo at a charming riverside café. That evening, while still seated at the table, he witnesses 5 grown men pile out of a clown car Citroen and dump what appears to be a body into the river. The man escapes with the framed photo and one of the film’s recurring gags is the close calls he has with the five men as they drive through the countryside. The film plays a bit like Homer’s Odyssey in that the only real story occurs as the man interacts with various folks he meets along the way. The Damp Man is played by the always interesting Stephen Dillane, and a lovely woman on a bicycle who exchanges flirtations with hat man is played by Sasha Hails.
Among the strange and wacky paths that cross are a couple of onion-chomping geezers who fix his car, a cluster of singing female mechanics, a solo French biker, and a pair of city workers with a measuring tape and eyes for each other. Music plays a huge role here, which is not surprising given the presence of Mr. Warbeck. Not only does the accompanying music feature an unusual and varied blend of music types, but we also see and hear many local musicians, including Mathilda Homer. And for the finale, music again plays a role, bringing things full circle.
Coming up with a comparison movie is not easy, though one description could be director Michael Winterbottom’s “The Trip” franchise … if Steve Coogan and Rob Brydon were not allowed to speak! This isn’t a laugh out loud type of comedy, rather it’s mostly just pleasant and odd. For a drive through rural France or a chance to watch Ciaran Hinds chase his shoe down a drain, this bizarre little ditty from Davidson and Warbeck will work just fine.
In theaters and on demand on May 14, 2021
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5 Comments | Comedy, Drama, World Cinema/Foreign | Tagged: Ciaran Hinds, John-Paul Davidson, Mathilda Homer, Sasha Hails, Stephen Dillane, Stephen Warbeck | Permalink
Posted by David Ferguson
May 6, 2021
Greetings again from the darkness. There are likely those who know less about the history of Romania than I, but that list is pretty short. Co-writers and co-directors Alexis Sweet Cahill of Italy and Brigitte Drodtloff of Germany, along with three other listed co-writers: Gabi Antal, Ioana Manea, and Maria-Denise Teodoru, bring us the more than 100 year-old story of Queen Marie, and it’s “based on True Events” (including the Queen’s own writings).
Roxana Lupu, originally from Romania, plays Queen Marie, a Monarch who likely doesn’t receive the historical credit she deserves. Her husband, King Ferdinand I is played by Daniel Plier, who really isn’t given much to do here … hence the film’s title. A spectacular opening shot takes us over a frozen river and drops us into Bucharest in 1919. World War I has recently ended, and no one seems to care much about the state of Romania, except Romanians. Having sided with the Triple Entente (Russia, France, and Great Britain), hopes are now fading for a united Romania.
Against the preferences of Romanian Parliament, her husband, and just about everyone else, Marie headed to the Peace Talks being held in Paris … yes, the talks that led to the Treaty of Versailles. Though most tried to encourage her to let the politicians handle the politics, Marie reminded them that she was the granddaughter of Queen Victoria, and thus is not silenced easily. She forced and maneuvered her way in to meetings with powerful world leaders of the time to negotiate for international recognition (and assistance) of a united Romania.
Above all else, this is the story of strong woman fighting for her country. She goes toe-to-toe with Prime Minister Ion Bratianu (Adrian Titieni), French Prime Minister Clemenceau (Ronald Chenery), and U.S. President Woodrow Wilson (Patrick Drury) in her efforts to be heard. She even battles her own son Prince Carol II (Anghel Damian), who would later become King. Ms. Lupu is excellent in the role, and she has previously played Queen Elizabeth (twice), as well as a Princess and a Grand Duchess, so clearly has the screen presence to pull off such royal and regal roles. The film only teases her attraction to Prince Stirbey (Emil Mandanac), and the personal history between her and her cousin, King George V (Nicholas Boulton).
It’s a period drama with the requisite costumes, hair styles, and set design necessary to whisk us away to a century ago, and mostly we learn there was more to this popular Queen than her commitment to feeding citizens during a difficult time. The closing credits give us archival footage as well as the political developments that occurred. The time period covered is limited, but one that was crucial for a country and her Queen.
Available On Demand and on Digital May 7, 2021
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Leave a Comment » | Drama | Tagged: Adrian Titieni, Alexis Sweet Cahill, Anghel Damian, Brigitte Drodtloff, Daniel Plier, Emil Mandanac, Gabi Antal, Ioana Manea, Maria-Denise Teodoru, Nicholas Boulton, Patrick Drury, Ronald Chenery, Roxana Lupu | Permalink
Posted by David Ferguson
