It’s obvious that director/writer Tom Gormican and co-writer Kevin Ettern have a lot of love for Cage. Fans will be delighted with references, throwbacks and Easter eggs associated with his iconic roles, from The Rock to Mandy. Cage also has visions and speaks to a de-aged Wild at Heart version of himself, which is simultaneously hilarious and terrifying. One particularly memorable scene sees Javi proudly show the actor his excessive Nick Cage shrine, complete with a statue of Cage which he calls ‘grotesque’. It’s evident that he doesn’t take himself too seriously, and the film is all the better for it. Even audiences who aren’t familiar with Cage’s body of work can find something to enjoy, specifically the film’s central bromance.

Cage and Pedro Pascal make for a brilliant comedic duo, and it's the relationship between Nick and Javi that is the heart of this film. Both are at a point where they’re stuck and unfulfilled - Cage in his career, and Javi in his crime family, when really he wants to fulfill his creativity. It’s natural that the two are drawn to each other, and Cage and Pascal’s chemistry radiates off the screen. They clearly had a blast making this, and Javi’s delight at spending time with Cage is endlessly charming. Pascal firmly holds his own on screen, even in Cage’s presence, and proves he has the comedic chops needed for a film like this. 

Tiffany Haddish and Ike Barinholtz, comedic actors in their own right, aren’t given as much to do as CIA agents Vivian and Martin, but deliver with the material they do have. One could also argue that the film could have pushed its meta commentary on Cage’s career even further, but perhaps that would have been a distraction from the film’s heart and made it less accessible to a wider audience. 

THE UNBEARABLE WEIGHT OF MASSIVE TALENT will remind audiences why Nicholas Cage remains such a beloved force in Hollywood, no matter what role he’s taking on. This is not simply a showcase for Cage, but a celebration of the craft he’s dedicated his life to. It is ridiculously fun thanks to the pairing of Cage and Pascal, and one of the funniest, and surprisingly heartwarming, films of the year so far. 

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It’s difficult at first to guess when the film is actually set. There are no phones or computers, and the girls’ outfits aren’t indicative of any particular time period, nor the way they speak. Little details slowly reveal its setting - the boys wearing suits and ties, the Elvis-inspired music playing at dances, and the revelation that our young protagonist was born in 1940. This can make the earlier parts of the film slightly jarring to watch, and challenging to contextualise. However, that may just be the point. This story is frighteningly timely and relevant to today’s society, with abortion still being condemed and banned in certain countries, including states in the U.S. Diwan wants to remind us that some women are still denied the choice almost sixty years after the film is set. 

The narrative is cleverly structured through each week of Anne’s pregnancy, which creates a ticking time bomb and sense of unease. It plays out like a psychological thriller with the use of handheld and close-up shots, claustrophobic atmosphere and minimalistic but alarming music. The audience is very much in Anne’s mindset. The first half is definitely slower than the second, which could be on purpose, as she has time on her side before things become urgent. While mood is a significant vehicle to create discomfort for the audience, so are the film’s extremely graphic scenes. It’s not always easy to watch and can be quite hard to stomach at times. When Anne is unable to find someone to help her, she attempts to carry out her own abortion, and later have one illegally. Diwan isn’t afraid to show us the ugliness and brutality of it all, and it’s certainly a lot. While a portion of it does feel excessive, it also highlights the catastrophic consequences when abortions aren’t performed professionally and safely. 

HAPPENING is an incredibly well made and important film that is simultaneously subtle and bold. Leading actress Anamaria Vartolomeni is stunning in this challenging role, and Diwan should be applauded for approaching this subject with such empathy and grit. 

HAPPENING is playing in select cinemas from April 14, 2022. ​
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While the previous instalment lacked the whimsy so synonymous with the Potterverse, The Secrets of Dumbledore succeeds in making this franchise fun and enjoyable once more. This is largely due to utilising what made the first film a hit - its group dynamic. Eddie Redmayne reminds audiences why he was the perfect choice to play Newt. His awkward, quirky and good- hearted nature makes him the heart of this film and franchise. Dan Fogler is once again delightful as muggle Jacob, bringing warmth and relatability to the story. There are new additions also, the standout being Lally (Jessica Williams), a U.S. wizarding professor who steals each scene with her charisma and charm. The beasts in the film’s title also offer some terrific laughs, easily making this the funniest Beasts film. Newt’s Niffler and Bowtruckel make for an iconic duo.

As the title promises, we indeed uncover secrets to Jude Law’s Dumbledore. This is a very different Dumbledore compared to the long bearded, majestically robed and mysteriously wise version in the Potter films. However, as layers are peeled, we learn more about the man who became that old wizard. Now for the big question - how does Mads Mikkelsen’s Grindelwald shape up against Johnny Depp’s? Fans can rest easy, because Mikkelsen’s version is far superior to Depp’s. Grindelwald is cold and calculated, as Mikkelsen gives an understated yet chilling performance. It’s a shame he wasn’t initially cast from the beginning.

While THE SECRETS OF DUMBLEDORE is a vast improvement over its predecessor, one can’t help but notice the overarching issues this series has. There is a disconnect between the two main storylines belonging to Newt and Dumbledore. Whose film is it really? Is this a Fantastic Beasts or a Harry Potter movie? It seems like the filmmakers aren’t so sure either. There’s a few Potter throwbacks and references in the film, and the characters even visit everyone’s favourite magical school. While it’s exciting and fun to return to Hogwarts, it’s not all that necessary, and is an obvious play on nostalgia that isn’t fully earned. The inevitable showdown between Dumbledore and Grindelwald is also teased, which might explain why it feels like the story is building up to something bigger. This is the third installment though, and that luxury can’t really be afforded at this point, making the film’s third act slightly anticlimactic. Fans will have to accept that the Fantastic Beasts series will never quite match up to the standard of the Potter films, and while flawed, THE SECRETS OF DUMBLEDORE does recapture the magic once again.
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