disney

Wish

Posted on by Charlotte_Sometimes

‘Introverts deserve sanctuary!’

It’s been 100 years since Walt Disney and his brother, Roy, signed an agreement to produce an animated series called Alice Comedies. In 1928, Steamboat Willie came along – introducing the world to both Mickey Mouse and animation being screened in a cinema with synchronised sound. In 1937 they released their first feature film, Snow White and the Seven Dwarves. And the rest, as they say is history. To mark their centenary they’ve made a film, their 62nd feature film, celebrating their history with a very literal look at what happens when dreams & wishes do or don’t come true. Suffice to say, Disney have a lot riding on this one.

Life in the Kingdom of Rosas is a pretty sweet deal. Founded by King Magnifico (Chris Pine) and his wife Amaya (Angelique Cabral), he uses his sorcery to protect his citizens from harm. All he asks for in return is that, on their 18th birthday, each person must hand over their wish – their heart’s truest desire. He protects these wishes in his tower, each month granting a different wish as a sign of his great leadership and benevolence. Asha (Ariana DeBose) is 17 years old and is desperate to be the King’s newest apprentice, but during her training she quickly realises all is not well and will do all she can to stop it.

The biggest problem that Wish has is that it is fine. It’s neither amazingly good, nor is it bad by any stretch of the imagination. It’s a pass. Nice. All-right. A-Okay. It does relatively well with balancing nods to the past with some lovely little Easter Eggs along the way. There’s a couple of good gags for all ages. It’s heroine is very likeable, endearing, funny and kind. The ensemble cast is great and the supporting characters memorable. The songs vary between solid to ear-worm potential. The animation style is unique, maybe slightly-off if we’re being honest, but there’s beauty within it.

It’s just. That’s it. It does the job, no more and no less. There’s nothing superlative about it, which feels a bit sad for something that is being pitched as so monumental. But perhaps that’s where the problem lies, the weight of expectation, purpose and meaning weighs every moment down. It’s been robbed from being a film in it’s own right, instead it is a self-appointed monument to the studio’s legacy. This feels more content than movie. They’ve simultaneously followed the formula whilst having also metaphorically plastered ‘This is significant!’ across the screen in bright, flashing lights. Never is this more felt than during at least two of the musical numbers, which both have a subsequent pause that seems almost expectant, if not even demanding of applause – a la a live theatrical performance. I mean, the songs are good. But they’re not *that* good…

Wish doesn’t necessarily shine incandescently, but there’s enough of a glow that it’s worth giving a go. [3/5 stars]

Wish is in UK cinemas from Friday 24th November.

Haunted Mansion (2023)

Posted on by Charlotte_Sometimes

‘I know this place isn’t as warm as I hoped. But I’m gonna light a vanilla candle, and it’s gonna be a game-changer.’

I’ve written before about what happens when bad films happen to good actors, but I feel like Haunted Mansion warrants a new sub-genre – what happens when a film has the best ingredients and manages to fumble them completely. As harsh as it may sound, that is the prevailing thought when watching this latest fare from the House of Mouse because, really, the most impressive thing about it is how unimpressive it is. Which is fascinating when you consider it’s parts.

The Haunted Mansion ride first opened in Disneyland in the 1960s, with four cousins appearing at it’s kinderlands over the decades. A film adaptation appeared in 2003, with Eddie Murphy in the lead role. 10 year-old me loved it, but I’d dare not watch it now. In 2010 we were teased and tantalised by the prospect of a Guillermo del Toro production. Oh, what might have been.

Instead, in 2023, we are gifted a flat and overlong attempt at a family friendly spooky comedy movie that is too convoluted for kids and without enough jokes for the adults. It’s so overly dependent on both formula and nostalgia that it just ends up being a dull cash grab.

New Orleans-based scientist turned tour guide Ben (LaKeith Stanfield) is in such a state of grief that he’s drifting through life, until a surprise visit from a priest (Owen Wilson) offers a chance at putting his unique skills to the test, or at least making a wad of cash. The job? Visit the new home of single mother Gabbie (Rosario Dawson) and her son Travis (Chase Dillon) to help them exorcise the ghosts that are haunting them. The scale of the job is so big that they need to rope in a medium (Tiffany Haddish), a historian (Danny DeVito) and a spirit entrapped in a crystal ball (Jamie Lee Curtis). But, with their lives in increasing danger, can they stop the mysterious malicious force that may doom them all?

Look at the cast involved. The talent. The charisma. The screen presence. Now, imagine they are given an overly plotted, poorly dialogued script and occupy a screen full of some dodgy-looking special effects. There, now you’ve pretty much seen the film and I’ve saved you 123 minutes of your lives. And you’ve not had to endure Jared Leto. You’re welcome.

The really frustrating factor here is that it feels like such an own-goal that should have worked, but really doesn’t. It wants to be a Ghostbusters or Coraline, and it has the potential to do so with it’s grief-leaning storyline, but instead it gets weighted down by attempts at jokes that fail to raise anybody’s spirits.

[2/5 stars]

Haunted Mansion is in UK cinemas from Friday 11th August.

What To Watch Wednesday #8

Posted on by Charlotte_Sometimes

I’m sure there’s theory for it, but when it gets darker and colder – I crave crime-related telly. If you’re the same, then this week’s 6 picks are for you….

Here’s What To Watch Wednesday #1, #2, #3, #4, #5, #6, #7.

Slow Horses (Apple TV+: 2022: 6 x 50 mins)

River Cartwright (Jack Lowden) was an up-and-coming MI5 Agent until he made a serious mistake during a live training exercise, and found himself relegated to dead end work at Slough House. Ruled over by the curmudgeonly Jackson Lamb (Gary Oldman), it’s usually the home of dead end missions – until something dangerous comes headed quickly their way. The stacked cast also includes Olivia Cooke, Kristin Scott Thomas and Jonathon Pryce – to name but a few. An excellent addition to the espionage genre.

Inside Man (BBC iPlayer: 2022: 4 x 60 mins – two episodes shown so far)

Speaking of stacked cast, we turn here to David Tennant, Dolly Wells, Lydia West and Stanley Tucci fronting this intriguingly intricate crime drama. Tucci plays Jefferson Grieff – a law lecturer turned criminal on death row. His unique skillset has people turning to him to solve crimes. Lydia West plays Beth Davenport, a journalist who’s come to interview Jefferson and is also planning to use the opportunity to ask for his help with finding new friend Janice (Wells) who was last seen going to tutor the son of Rev Harry Watling (Tennant). Pulpy and properly compelling.

Am I Being Unreasonable? (BBC iPlayer: 2022: 6 x 30 mins)

The show’s title comes from the message board of the infamous Mumsnet, an online forum where mums around the world vent about their lives – which inspired Daisy May Cooper during her own unhappy marriage that she went on to co-write a show with her best friend Seline Hizli. Nic is depressed and mourning the secret lover her oblivious husband (Dustin Demri-Jones) knows nothing about. Lonely and isolated, Nic makes friends with a new school mum. Jen (Hizli) is unlike all the other mums in the village, and her friendship quickly becomes everything Nic has ever wanted – except it seems like Jen isn’t all that she appears… Savagely funny and dark as anything, a special mention has to go to young actor Lenny Rush who is incredible as Nic’s son.

Sicario (Netflix: 2015: 121 mins)

Taylor Sheridan has written some of the most underappreciated crime movies of the 21st Century, a run that kicked off with this film. Add in the iconic director Denis Villeneuve at the helm. Round it off with cast members Emily Blunt, Josh Brolin, Benico Del Toro, Daniel Kaluuya and Jon Bernthal – I don’t think I need to say much more aside from the fact you need to be prepared for this dark and murky thriller.

Cruel Summer (Prime Video:2021: 10 x 45 mins)

In the summer of 1993 Jeanette Turner (Chiara Aurelia) was nerdy and invisible. In summer 1994 she was the most popular girl in school. By 1995, the loser outcast. Over the course of the ten episodes we hop between the three years as things begun to become more apparent. Whilst it clearly has something to do with the disappearance of beloved Kate Wallis (Olivia Holt), how exactly is Jeanette involved? Deviously twisty and turny.

Romcom of the week – While You Were Sleeping (Disney+: 1995: 103 mins)

The fun thing about this film is, it’s on the cusp of creepy and it’s down to the charm of the leads that it really isn’t and ends up being one of the finest romantic comedies of the 90s. A hopelessly romantic Chicago Transit Authority token collector (Sandra Bullock) has been lusting over commuter Peter (Peter Gallagher) for as long as she can remember. When an accident occurs, and Peter ends up in a coma, she finds herself being mistaken as his fiancée. Enamoured with his close-knit family, she decides to play the role – although a growing connection with his brother Jack (Bill Pullman) may just jeopardise everything. I know, just trust me with this one. If you’re not sure, Bill Pullman as a plaid lumberjack shirt wearing grumpy love interest should be reason enough.

Stream On Vol. 7

Posted on by Charlotte_Sometimes

Ladies, gentlemen and those of us who know better – there are 9 days till cinemas reopen in the UK. 9 DAYS till we can return to that dark palace where we can disappear into other worlds and universes. I, for one, cannot wait – so much so I just booked my ticket for a screening of Sound Of Metal on Monday 17th May. It’ll be a first watch, I’ve saved it so I can see it with the best soundscape possible. Here’s some more small screen suggestions to help you get through the final stretch… Not enough for you here? Try volumes 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6…

Nomadland (2020 : Disney+ : 107 mins)

Speaking of cinemas reopening, the other big, big screen release is this gem. Directed by Chloé Zhao, for which she won the 2020 Oscar for Best Director (the second woman in the awards 93-year history…) and Best Picture, a woman in her sixties (Frances McDormand) lives out her days travelling America whilst living in a van, having lost everything in the Great Recession of 2007/09. McDormand produced the film too, and won the Oscar for Best Actress – her performance really is extraordinary. Watch it now on Disney+ or wait for the big screen, either way you’re in for an epic watch.

Bill (2015 – 94 mins – BBC iPlayer)

Thanks to TikTok, I have discovered I was not alone in being a teenage girl who adored the tv series Horrible Histories for the comedy, the education and the men-folk. If you’ve not seen it, it’s all on Netflix if you wish to rectify matters. The central team have since gone on to make two fantastic other series, Yonderland (all 3 series on SkyGo) and Ghosts (all 2 series and counting on BBC iPlayer). And, in between all that fantastic telly – they even made a film! Bill explores what may have happened during William Shakespeare’s lost years upon arriving in London to hilarious effect.

The Favourite (2018 – Disney+ – 119 mins)

Directed by the incredible Yorgos Lanthimos, we’re in early 18th-century England, where the status quo at the court is upset when a new servant (Emma Stone) arrives and endears herself to a frail Queen Anne (Olivia Colman). But leaves long-standing favourite Lady Sarah (Rachel Weisz) won’t give up her status without a fight… Just sublime.

School of Rock (2003 – Netflix – 109 mins)

It feels futile to really tell you why you should watch this one. Either you’ve seen it already and this is a reminder of its brilliance and how you should go rewatch it immediately. Or you’ve never seen it and you’ve realised from my tone here that you need to fix that immediately. Now go and STEP OFF!

The Descent (2005 – ALL4 – 109 mins)

I rarely recommend horror movies as I am a scaredy cat and avoid watching them as much as possible… But, I’m making an exception here when I spotted this one, it’s available on ALL4 for 16 days and it’s very worth a watch if you’re horror-inclined. A caving expedition goes horribly wrong, as the explorers become trapped and ultimately pursued by a strange breed of predators. It’s terrifying and I’ll never watch it again as nerves couldn’t handle it, but it is bloody brilliant.

Movie Mondays – 20 weeks in review

Posted on by Charlotte_Sometimes

‘Of all the arts, movies are the most powerful aid to empathy, and good ones make us into better people.’ – Roger Ebert

After 20 weeks, I’m going to take a break on doing Movie Mondays. Whether I bring them back, most likely in a slightly different format is still to be decided! For now, he’s an overview of the 420 films I recommended: