2022 | DIR: TOM GORMICAN | STARRING: NICOLAS CAGE, PEDRO PASCAL, TIFFANY HADDISH, NEIL PATRICK HARRIS | REVIEW BY ALYSSA DE LEO There’s no doubt Nicolas Cage has had one of the most interesting careers of any acting A-lister. The Oscar winner was a box office magnet in the 90s, starring in some of the biggest blockbusters of the time, including Face/Off and Con-Air. More recently, he has been seen in more obscure VOD films such as Prisoners of the Ghostland, and independent films like Pig. The actor is clearly at a different stage in his life, and is taking the less conventional approach to Hollywood - which he can afford to do as the household name he is. The proof is in his new film, THE UNBEARABLE WEIGHT OF MASSIVE TALENT, where he plays his wildest role to date - himself. In this self-aware action comedy, a fictionalised version of Cage is at a standstill in his career and has a substantial amount of debt. His ex-wife (Sharon Hogan) is sick of his antics, and he has a strained relationship with his daughter (Lily Sheen). Cage is seriously considering retirement and reluctantly accepts a million dollar offer to appear at wealthy fan Javi’s (Pedro Pascal) birthday party in Spain. However, Cage soon finds himself caught up in a plot reminiscent of one of his very own far-fetched films. Javi is the head of a dangerous cartel and has kidnapped the daughter of a presidential candidate. The CIA uses Cage as an informant, which sees him channel one of the many heroes he’s famous for playing, and indulge Javi’s filmmaking fantasies to get close to him. On paper, this concept could come off as pretentious and simply an exercise in ego for Cage. It is anything but this. Cage isn’t afraid to take the mickey out of himself and poke fun at Hollywood and his movie star persona. The result is a laugh out loud, satirical and wildly entertaining romp, which at its heart is a straight-up buddy comedy and love letter to storytelling. 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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2022 | DIR: AUDREY DIWAN | STARRING: ANAMARIE VERTOLOMEI | KACEY MOTTET KLEIN | LUÀNA BAJRAMI | REVIEW BY ALYSSA DE LEO. In recent years, topics and conversations surrounding abortion have become more present and progressive in the mainstream media, specifically in cinema. Films such as Never Rarely Sometimes Always and Unpregnant, while vastly different in tone, tackle the frustrating reality when it comes to women making choices about their own bodies - and the lengths they must go to in order to earn that choice. The latest addition to this category, and arguably the most harrowing depiction so far, is HAPPENING. Based on the semi-autobiographical novel by Annie Ernaux, who had her own experience with abortion, the film follows Anne, an academic 23-year-old student attending a conservative school in France in 1963. Pressure mounts on Anne with her final exams coming up, as her parents have high expectations and she intends to continue her studies. However, Anne’s world is turned upside down when she discovers she is pregnant. She doesn’t want to keep the baby, but abortion is still illegal in France, and anyone who undergoes, executes or assists the procedure could go to jail. With no help from her family, friends, doctors or the baby’s father, Anne is alone and forced to take matters into her own hands. Director Audrey Diwan has created a restrained yet brutal film. It is not groundbreaking in its subject matter or point of view, but in the way it delivers it. The conversation around abortion is seen as taboo by everyone around Anne - no one dares to even mention it, with fear of the consequences. Even Anne’s friends refuse to be associated with her situation the moment they find out she wants to have one. In one of the most stomach churning moments of the film, Anne learns that her doctor tricked her into taking embryo strengthening medication, saying it would make her menstruate. 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. 2022 | DIR: DAVID YATES | STARS: EDDIE REDMAYNE, JUDE LAW, MADS MIKKELSEN | REVIEW BY ALYSSA DE LEO The last few years have been slightly tumultuous for the Wizarding World franchise and its fans. Everyone’s favourite boy wizard departed with a bang in 2011’s Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2, and Warner Bros. has tried everything in its power to keep the magic alive since. Their answer? The Fantastic Beasts series, now releasing its third instalment, FANTASTIC BEASTS: THE SECRETS OF DUMBLEDORE. Debuting with Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them in 2016, fans joined magizoologist Newt Scamander (Eddie Redmayne) in 1920s New York on the hunt for his lost magical creatures. The film received a positive reception but its 2018 sequel did not. The Crimes of Grindelwald focused primarily on the rise of evil wizard Gellert Grindelwald (Johnny Depp), and was met with negativity from fans and critics alike. With the future of the series already tarnished, Warner Bros. was plagued with a publicity nightmare. Depp was in the middle of a public scandal and was fired from the series, and fans turned against author J.K. Rowling due to controversial remarks on Twitter. One pandemic later, THE SECRETS OF DUMBLEDORE hopes to get this once beloved franchise back on track, and thankfully does - for the most part. As suggested by the title, the film focuses on Albus Dumbledore (Jude Law), as his former friend and lover Grindelwald (now played by Mads Mikkelsen) attempts to wage war against muggles. Dumbledore is unable to move against him, so he enlists Newt, muggle Jacob Kowalski (Dan Fogler), Theseus Scamander (Callum Turner) and a host of new faces to join his motley crew and stop Grindelwald. 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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