 |
| Courtesy of Disney |
(Rated PG-13 for sequences of sci-fi violence and action, and brief suggestive language.)
The cast: Brie Larson, Samuel L. Jackson, Ben Mendelsohn, Lashana Lynch, Jude Law and Anette Bening.
What it’s about: In 1995, test pilot Carol Danvers (Larson) returns to Earth after a six-year absence with several mysteries to solve and gaps in her memory. She teams up with Nick Fury (Jackson), looking much younger and still using both of his eyes. As the two uncover the origins of an intergalactic war between the Kree (last seen in Guardians of the Galaxy) and the shapeshifting Skrulls, they must stop it before our planet becomes a casualty.
The good: Overall, the first (and long overdue) female superhero movie in the Marvel Cinematic Universe is an enjoyable adventure. Although it’s far from perfect, it succeeds thanks to a handful of compelling characters and several terrific actors who make up for the film’s early flaws (which we’ll get to in a moment).
Setting the story almost 25 years in the past retroactively makes Captain Marvel (although she’s never called that) the saga’s earliest superhero aside from Captain America – for now, anyway – while also allowing for plenty of period-appropriate humor and a killer soundtrack.
But the movie’s greatest strength lies in the buddy comedy scenes between Larson (one of my favorite actresses – seriously, if you haven’t seen Short Term 12, do so immediately) and Jackson, de-aged using remarkable visual effects. Weirdly, the expensive, CGI-laden blockbuster soars highest when the two actors are just hanging out together.
The same goes for the duo’s scenes with Lynch, as Danvers’ best friend and a fellow pilot, and Mendelsohn, who gets to play both a shapeshifting alien and a bureaucratic S.H.I.E.L.D. agent. He’s got killer comedic timing and he’s clearly having a blast playing into the audience’s expectations for his character.
The not-so-good: Much like Iron Man 2 and Thor: The Dark World, there’s far too much exposition and table-setting for future movies that obliterates the film’s momentum. The first 20 minutes or so are particularly troubling, with Larson and other actors delivering clunky, stilted dialogue – especially Bening, whose talents are completely squandered in a thankless role.
It proves just how integral James Gunn was to the success of the Guardians of the Galaxy series and why he’ll be sorely missed. However, once Danvers returns to Earth and connects with Fury, things pick up considerably.
Captain Marvel isn’t a home run, but there’s nothing wrong with a solid double. It’s a serviceable origin story that hints at more exciting adventures to come.
Grade: B-
Fighting with My Family
 |
| Courtesy of MGM |
The cast: Florence Pugh, Jack Lowden, Nick Frost, Lena Headey, Vince Vaughn and Dwayne Johnson.
What it’s about: In this heartwarming comedic drama, based on a true story, a British family obsessed with wrestling is stunned when the WWE announces tryouts in London. Siblings Saraya (Pugh) and Zak (Lowden) both audition, but they’re crushed when only one of them makes the cut. Now, Saraya – adopting the stage name Paige – must travel to the United States alone and make it through a cutthroat training program. Her journey forces her to fight for her dream and prove that being different is her secret weapon.
The good: I know squat about the WWE, but I loved this Rocky-esque story of the no-nonsense Paige and her delightful family. Pugh is outstanding in the lead role, as is Lowden, who does most of the film’s dramatic heavy lifting. Frost and Headey (displaying a wonderfully deadpan sense of humor that she doesn’t often get to utilize on Game of Thrones) pop in occasionally for just the right amount of comic relief.
At first glance, Stephen Merchant (who co-created The Office with Ricky Gervais) might seem like an odd choice to write and direct the film, but he ends up being perfect for the job. The mixture of humor and heart is perfect, allowing viewers to invest in the story even if they’re not interested in professional wrestling. In the end, we care about it because the characters do.
The not-so-good: Those expecting a Dwayne Johnson movie might be disappointed initially. Although the former WWE star executive produced the flick and pops up in a few scenes, he’s not the main attraction. Still, any time he’s onscreen playing a slightly heightened version of himself, he brings the charisma and star power.
Grade: B+
The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind
 |
| Courtesy of Netflix |
(Not rated, but contains brief language and thematic elements. Now playing in limited release and streaming on Netflix.)
The cast: Maxwell Simba, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Aissa Maiga, Lily Banda and Joseph Marcell.
What it’s about: Based on a remarkable true story, thirteen-year-old William Kamkwamba (Simba) searches for a way to help his father (Ejiofor) continue to grow crops despite a famine ravaging Malawi. When all hope seems lost, he invents an unconventional way to generate wind energy to power a water pump, which saves his family and his village.
The good: In his laudable directorial debut, Ejiofor (who also wrote the screenplay and is best known for his work in 12 Years a Slave) crafts a frank, unsentimental look at a staggering accomplishment. He’s not interested in a feel-good, Hallmark movie version of Kamkwamba’s inspiring story. Instead, he focuses on the life-or-death stakes of the disaster the characters face.
Amid poverty, political corruption and a society that undervalues education, this family plays by the rules but still comes up short. That’s why it takes so long for the young boy’s idea to gain enough traction for the community to pitch in and help it come to fruition. Yes, viewers eventually get the happy ending, but it’s a challenge of endurance to arrive there.
It helps that Simba, Ejiofor and the rest of the cast are outstanding in their portrayals of complex people who can’t be summed up as all good or all bad. In addition, Ejiofor knows how to pick his collaborators. Dick Pope’s workmanlike cinematography and Antonio Pinto’s poignant score keep the movie from seeming like the cliché-ridden depiction of Africa we’ve seen a million times before.
The not-so-good: At just under two hours, portions of The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind are a tough slog. It’s laudable that Ejiofor wants viewers to understand precisely why young Kamkwamba has to take such risks, but the film turns into misery porn at times – especially in key scenes involving a starving home invader, the village chief standing up to shady politicians, and heartbreaking moments involving the family’s dog.
Grade: B
Comments
Post a Comment