Howe's World of Film and TV

Jojo Rabbit (2019) – Review

A 20th Century Fox Picture, Written and Directed by Taika Waititi.

This is a film that I was really looking forward to and left the cinema feeling incredibly torn about. While it is undeniably a well made film and I have no issue satirising anything, I don’t feel the payoff actually justified the film.

My main issue with the film is it’s central character. He is a 10 year old boy who is a brainwashed Nazi fanatic, and there is clearly plenty of room there for him to see the error of his ways and be redeemed.

However, I think by the end of the film that Jojo has only seemed to reject the Nazi armband because he has a crush on a girl and the Nazi’s have lost, not because he realised how wrong he was. Obviously this is only my interpretation and others will see it differently, but this stopped me really connecting with the film.

However, it is very obviously well made in many aspects. Waititi’s script is packed full of funny moments and his directing style is continuing to improve, with many impressive flourishes here. The best thing he does is how he cast the film.

Actors like Sam Rockwell, Rebel Wilson, Alfie Allen and Stephen Merchant all have their moments to stand out, mainly in comedic performances, and they do it very well.

Roman Griffin Davis looks like a really talented actor and does a good job in a tough role as Jojo. During most of the scenes he shares with Archie Yates he is completely blown out of the water though and the hilarious Yates is going to be a huge star.

Taika Waititi plays an imaginary version of Hitler and he has some truly hilarious moments and his like delivery is spot on, although I can see why Waititi had to play the role himself as very few actors would’ve likely took it on.

The two best performances though come from Scarlett Johansson and Thomasin McKenzie.

Johansson plays a really complicated role as you can see the real kindness she has but also how she is trying to raise her son is a world gone crazy, while also maintaining her humanity and love of life. She brings a lot to this film.

McKenzie showed in Leave No Trace that she was destined to be a star and she cements that here. If her performance doesn’t work then most of the character motivations would not work. If anyone was to receive an acting nomination from this film, I’d rather it was her.

Rating = 3/5

His Dark Materials (2019) – TV Review

This large scale drama is based on Phillip Pullman’s epic novels and is one of the most expensive shows in the BBCs history, and in general, it is a big success. It was a very good series and connected mostly with a large audience.

This epic fantasy is very difficult to adapt to the screen and doing a multiple season TV series is definitely the best idea, as it allows you to build the world and develop the characters, which is exactly what the show does.

I will start off with a couple of negatives I had and then get into the positive’s, which are in the majority. Firstly, the alternate world story featuring Will Parry and his family was completely out of place and made the show lose its momentum. However, it seems like this story will come into focus much more in the new season and promises the introduction of the exceptional Andrew Scott.

I also feel like the season didn’t offer many complete arcs and acted as a total set up for season 2, which is fine, but I would’ve liked slightly more to be tied up.

However, in the whole, I found this to be a very enjoyable series, which many thrilling, scary, and heartbreaking moments. Jack Throne did a really good adapting and the effects and directing were strong.

The main strength of the show is the cast, full of brilliant actors. The whole supporting cast is strong, with people like Anne-Marie Duff and Nina Sosanya making impacts.

Lin-Manuel Miranda brings a real charisma and swagger to the middle part of the season and breathed a welcome breath of fresh air into Lyra’s story.

James McAvoy isn’t in the show that much but he has a crucial role to play at the start and end of the season. His character is such a contradiction and it takes an actor of McAvoy’s quality to pull it off.

Ruth Wilson is such a remarkable actress with incredible versatility and she is perfectly cast as Mrs Coulter. She brings menace, charm, and an internal pain to the character and leaves the audience unsure how to feel towards her.

Dafne Keen is the reason the show works. Without her performance as Lyra, everything wouldn’t fit together. She is so charismatic, feisty, and likeable, managing to carry the entire show on her back and is sure to have a huge career ahead of her.

Rating = 3.5/5

Most Anticipated Films of 2020 – Romance/Musical

2020 already looks like a year stacked full of brilliant films, and I have decided to break down by genre the ones I am most excited about. Some films are undated but sure to be out in 2020, and some may always change dates.

But for now, in order from bottom to top, this is my list of most anticipated romance/musicals due to come out in 2020.

10. Everybody’s Talking About Jamie

The stage phenomenon gets it big screen adaptation later in 2020 and if it is any good, then the power of the brand is likely it make this a big hit, especially in Britain.

9. Wild Mountain Thyme

Emily Blunt looks set to have a great and varied year. She is the lead of this romantic comedy, as well as leading Jungle Cruise (action/comedy) and A Quiet Place II (Horror).

8. Happiest Season

A romantic comedy starring Kristen Stewart and Mackenzie Davis. This is sure to be a huge deal for the LGBT community and rightfully so, and hopefully it will be a big deal for society in general as films like this should become the new normal, not a stand out.

7. Emma

Anya Taylor-Joy starring as the lead of a Jane Austen comedy seems like a dream come true, and we are actually getting it here.

6. Tick, Tick… Boom

Lin Manuel Miranda makes his cinematic directing debut with this film set to star Andrew Garfield and Vanessa Hudgens, based on the life of composer Jonathan Larson.

5. The Prom

Ryan Murphy is adapting the stage smash for Netflix and it will Star an incredible cast including Meryl Streep, James Corden, Nicole Kidman, Awkwafina, Keegan-Michael Kay, and Ariana Grande. With such a high level of talent, this is sure to be one of the events of 2020.

4. Annette

This musical drama will Star two of indie cinemas greatest talents; Adam Driver and Marion Cotillard, in what could very easily become a big awards player next year.

3. In The Heights

The trailer looks packed full of colour and hwart, with a real celebration of culture and of New York. This could be a huge hit in July and potentially introduce us to some talented new stars.

2. West Side Story

Legendary director Steven Spielberg takes on the iconic West Side Story. While I am unsure how he will tackle a musical and would rather see Spielberg do original content, the story is iconic and for years I have been a fan of newcomer Rachel Zegler’s social media, and she is one of the main reasons I am so excited for this film.

1. Ammonite

Saoirse Ronan and Kate Winslet star as two women caught up in a passionate love affair. If this isn’t one of your most anticipated films of the year then what possibly is?

Little Women (2019) – Review

A Sony Picture, Written and Directed by Greta Gerwig.

This is quite simply one of the best films of the year. Despite the story being known the world across and having had multiple adaptations throughout the years, this version feels fresh and relevant. This is due to many things; the re-ordering of the story, the writing, and the performances.

With both her screenplay and direction, Gerwig is a tour de force, making us really feel for the characters and connect to them in a way rarely possible. She deserves awards attention.

When it comes to the performances, the whole cast is top notch, and it is arguably the best ensemble of the year. James Norton, Chris Cooper, and Meryl Streep all make their small roles memorable. Laura Dern is getting a lot of awards buzz for Marriage Story, but this is comfortably her best film performance of the year and should be what she is nominated for.

Emma Watson and Eliza Scanlen have had less press due to having the less flashy roles, but I think they both do a good job, making you root for their kind hearted characters.

Florence Pugh is having a hell of a break out year, and I think this could be her best performance yet. As the older Amy she brings real internal conflict and relatability to an often misunderstood character. As younger Amy she is bratty and childish, and brilliant at it, providing some of the funniest moments of the film. Seeing a Pugh (a woman in her early 20s) in a classroom full of 13 year olds was one of the most unintentionally hilarious scenes of the year, it felt like her version of Elf.

Although the characters of Jo and Laurie were created in 1868, it seems as if they were made specifically for Saoirse Ronan and Timothée Chalamet. The chemistry between the two is undeniable and they fit perfect.

Chalamet brings real charisma, playfulness and sense of a good heart to Laurie and he has amazing chemistry with multiple of the March sisters. James Dean doesn’t need digitally resurrecting, because his replacement is right here.

As for Ronan, she is unlikely to win beat actress, but I truly believe she should. She has been nominated multiple times already at such a young age and here she is superb. She is headstrong, vulnerable and totally unsure of her own ability to succeed, which is something all artists and most people relate to.

Both Pugh and Ronan (Ronan especially) have monologues in the film that were truly transfixing. This film broke my heart and then made it back up again. Truly wonderful.

Rating = 4.5/5

Most Anticipated Films of 2020 – Comedy

But for now, in order from bottom to top, this is my list of most anticipated comedies due to come out in 2020.

10. Coming 2 America

Eddie Murphy has finally returned to the mainstream and here he is going back to one of his most infamous films and turning it into a potential franchise.

9. Bill & Ted Face the Music

A cult classic gets a years later follow up, co-starring the ‘never been more popular’ Keanu Reeves and in a move I’m very excited about, it will also star the very talented Samara Weaving.

8. The King of Staten Island

Whatever you think of Pete Davidson, he certainly has an interesting story (including losing his father in 9/11) and this comedy biopic, starring Davidson himself, will be directed by Judd Apatow and has the potential to be a summer break out.

7. Covers

Dakota Johnson.

6. The Personal History of David Copperfield

Armando Ianucci is back with a comedy that has a cast to die for. The likes of Dev Patel, Tilda Swinton, Peter Capaldi and Hugh Laurie are sure to be comedy gold.

5. Downhill

Julia Louis-Dreyfus and Will Ferrell star in this English language remake of the film that went viral with the clip of a husband running away and leaving his wife and kids to escape an oncoming avalanche. Hilarity is likely to ensue.

4. Ghostbusters: Afterlife

Did anyone need another Ghsotbusters film? No. Will I watch this? Yes. Carrie Coon, Finn Wolfhard, McKenna Grace, and Paul Rudd are all really well cast here so I have hope this isn’t the cash grab it initially seemed like.

3. The French Dispatch

A Wes Anderson film with a cast including; Frances McDormand, Timothée Chalamet, Bill Murray, Saoirse Roman, Lea Seydoux, Kate Winslet, Tilda Swinton, Elisabeth Moss, Jeffrey Wright, Willem Dafoe, Christoph Waltz, and many others.

2. Next Goal Wins

Taika Waititi is one of the most unique voices in comedy right now and this film looks set to add to that. He has cast Michael Fassbender and Elisabeth Moss as two of his leads, and he looks to have one more indie hit before he goes back to Thor.

1. Free Guy

The concept of this film seems fun enough but that isn’t really why it’s top. The cast is great too; Ryan Reynolds, Joe Kerry, Taika Waititi among others. But the real reason this is top is that it will be the incredibly talented Jodie Comer’s first major film role and I can’t wait to see this incredible talent get more large roles. She even has experience of multiple accents, which she apparently will be using again here…

Most Anticipated Films of 2020 – Horror

But for now, in order from bottom to top, these are my list of most anticipated horror films due to come out in 2020.

10. Antebellum

A mystery horror film starring Janelle Monáe, Kiersey Clemons, and Jena Malone, among others is enough to sell me, and many others, on the concept of this movie.

9. The Lodge

This is the sort of psychological thriller/slow build horror that is destined to become a cult classic, and the fact that it stars the incredibly talented and very willing to take risks actress Riley Keough, makes it even better.

8. Fantasy Island

Blumhouse look like they have hit gold with a horror twist on this familiar concept, and with a cast led by the likes of Lucy Hale and Michael Pena, I wouldn’t be surprised to see this be a hit in a few months times.

7. False Positive

A24 have become infamous for horror films that aren’t really horror films, and this seems like another entry. Some of the quality of these films has been incredibly high and they are hoping this can be another Hereditary/Midsommar level hit.

6. Antlers

Keri Russell and Jesse Plemons starring in a film from the director of Out of the Furnace would be enough of a draw, but the fact that it is a mystery (and potentially monster filled) horror film produced by Guillermo Del Toro means it’s a must see.

5. The Turning

Mackenzie Davis, Finn Wolfhard and Brooklyn Prince star in this adaptation of the iconic turning of the screw story. It’s material that has been done many times but this could be a fresh and exciting take with a great cast.

4. The Organ Donor (Saw)

Bringing Saw back just a few years after it’s “last entry” doesn’t seem appealing to many people. But with an original idea from Chris Rock, and set to star Rock and Samuel L. Jackson, this film looks set to add something fresh to the franchise.

3. The Invisible Man

Elisabeth Moss stars in this re-imagining of the classic film with a domestic abuse twist that looks like it will make the film relevant and terrifying.

2. Halloween Kills

Following the hugely successful reboot of the Halloween franchise, this will now act as the middle chapter in a Halloween trilogy. I have no idea what will happen in this entry, but it’s sure to be entertaining.

1. A Quiet Place 2

Emily Blunt and Cillian Murphy star in John Krasinski’s sequel to his 2018 hit. The original film was one of the best and smartest horrors I have seen in years and I can’t wait to see what Krasinski does next with this world.

Midsommar (2019) – Review

An A24 Picture, Written and Directed by Ari Aster.

This is one of the most talked about films of the year and I can see why. It is a look at toxic relationships and dealing with grief, told through the lens of a twisted fairytale.

The Swedish folklore and striking imagery all adds to the feeling of this strange fever dream, with a fairytale edge. It certainly isn’t a traditional horror film but it has some truly nightmarish moments and has a tension running through it.

Ari Aster has firmly established himself as a marquee director in the genre now and whatever project he chooses to do next will be in demand. I did not enthusiastically love this film like many people but I certainly did like it, and the main reason for that is Florence Pugh.

With her performance here, she has firmly established herself as an actress of immense range, despite her young age. She is obviously very beautiful but the way she carries herself and her acting choices make her also immensely relatable and likeable, meaning whatever she does, you are inclined to side with her. The future is very bright for this young star.

Rating = 3.5/5

Most Anticipated Films of 2020 – Comic Book/Video Game

But for now, in order from bottom to top, these are my list of most anticipated comic book/video game adaptations due to come out in 2020.

10. Thunder Force

This is probably going to be really bad but I’m looking forward to Pom Klementieff getting more roles outside of the MCU.

9. Bloodshot

On paper this sounds like a really generic movie but the first trailer looked interesting and I really hope Eiza Gonzalez continues to grow as a presence in Hollywood.

8. Morbius

He failed as the Joker, will Jared Leto have better luck here? Matt Smith and Adria Arjona are really talented so I’m sure there will be at least some stuff to like about this Sony flick.

7. Uncharted

Tom Holland and Mark Wahlberg are currently set to star in this video game adaptation (it is already the third Sony film on this list) and while the talent makes this film intriguing, whether this turbulent production will ever happen is a different story.

6. The New Mutants

This film has been so delayed that it may now take place in a whole different universe. Will it be any good? Will it be part of the MCU? Who knows, but I’m damn sure I’m excited to see Anya Taylor-Joy in a super hero film.

5. Venom 2

The first film was a mix of incredibly cheesy and throughly entertaining due to Tom Hardy’s bonkers performance, but it was a box office phenomenon. The sequel has brought on Andy Serkis to direct, and has therefore got most people’s attention.

4. Black Widow

I love Black Widow, and I love Scar Jo’s performance. The spy genre, David Harbour, and Rachel Weisz are great. Florence Pugh is one of my current favourite actresses and a huge rising star. But can this film recapture the MCU magic even after the fate we know it’s character will soon meet?

3. Eternals

One of the MCU’s most ambitious films, spanning thousands of years looks incredibly interesting due to director Chloe Zhao and cast including Angelina Jolie, Gemma Chan, Kit Harington, and Richard Madden.

2. Wonder Woman 1984

Gal Gadot and Steve Trevor are perfection in their roles and Patty Jenkins returns to direct this 80s set sequel. It looks visually stunning, with Gadot looking amazing and the film itself looking dazzling.

1. Birds of Prey (and the Fantabulous Emancipation of one Harley Quinn)

Some people are torn on this film and I too wish it was a Gotham City Sirens film instead. But the film we have still looks like great fun. An r-rated super hero smack down on a gritty level, with multiple female leads and Ewan McGregor as the villain. Margot Robbie is one of the best actresses out there and her Harley is iconic and due a return to the big screen after years missing since 2016.

Most Anticipated Films of 2020 – Action/Fantasy

But for now, in order from bottom to top, these are my list of most anticipated blockbusters (action/fantasy etc) due to come out in 2020.

10. The King’s Man

This WWI set prequel to Kingsman was due out in February but was delayed to a much more favourable date later in the year. While I would’ve rather had a third film in the Eggsy/Harry saga before expanding the universe, the concept of Gentlemen spy’s going up against RASPUTIN is enough for me.

9. Jungle Cruise

It’s easy to be cynical about Disney releases but this live action ride adaptation looks like a really fun adventure, with a seemingly strong comedic turn from Dwayne Johnson and a kick ass lead performance from Emily Blunt.

8. Green Knight

This medieval fantasy stand out not because it comes from the director of films like Pete’s Dragon, but because the same directed also did A Ghost Story. David Lowery is an experimental and talented filmmaker, and he has the very talented Dev Patel and Alicia Vikander in the lead roles.

7. Top Gun: Maverick

Although this film screams nostalgic cash grab, Tom Cruise’s recent action films have been strong and I’m hoping he can bring the Mission: Impossible magic here. It is sure to be packed full of great songs and high octane action.

6. Gunpowder Milkshake

This action film starring Karen Gillan and Lena Headey as a mother daughter assassin duo looks incredibly interesting and exactly the sort of film people should be supporting, as it isn’t a male properly rebooted with female roles, but it’s an original film specifically starring women in the main roles that men take for granted.

5. Godzilla v Kong

Despite the mixed reactions and box office that met Godzilla: King of the Monsters, I still think it is likely that this meeting of giants will be entertaining and something a lot of people want to see. Kong: Skull Island was one of my favourite monster films of all time and I am looking forward to that version of Kong try and slug it out with Godzilla.

4. Dune

Directed by Denis Villeneuve and starring Timothée Chalamet, Rebecca Ferguson, Oscar Isaac, Zendaya, Javier Bardem and many more, this on paper could be one of the best films of the year. However, this is a hard property to crack. It could either be one of the biggest box office successes or failures of the year, it’s too tough to tell at the moment.

3. Red Notice

Originally set as a Dwayne Johnson/Gal Gadot action comedy at Universal, it was subsequently picked up by Netflix. With the freedom of streaming, a lead trio of Johnson, Gadot, and Reynolds, this is sure to be incredibly entertaining, even if the films quality could certainly go either way.

2. No Time to Die

The final entry for Daniel Craig, arguably the best Bond ever and it will be directed by Cary Fukunaga with script contributions by Phoebe Waller-Bridge, and this should be enough to get you excited. On top of that, I simply can’t wait to see Lea Seydoux, Lashana Lynch, and especially Ana De Armas kick some serious ass and look great doing it in this 25th Bond adventure.

1. Tenet

It couldn’t really be anything else. Christopher Nolan returns with another large scale original film, with a mystery plot than involves some form of time travel. It’s three leads are all new to Nolan which is exciting, and I can’t wait to see what John David Washington, Robert Pattinson, and Elizabeth Debicki bring to this film. It’s sure to be fascinating.

Gavin & Stacey: Christmas Special (2019) – TV Review

Like seeing old friends again, this was a heart warming Christmas reunion.

Gavin & Stacey is one of our most beloved, and my personal favourite, sitcoms in British history, and it ended over 10 years ago with a truly satisfying finale. Therefore it has been long assumed they would never make another, but James Corden has flown over from his swanky LA life and we are back again.

While this special doesn’t contain as many laugh out loud moments as we’ve come to expect from the show, and it looked jarring with such HD cameras, what we did get was a warm, kind hearted, funny, and nostalgic Christmas treat.

It felt like a natural continuation of where these people would be and all actors were on top form, with Rob Brydon absolutely stealing the show. Moments like the karaoke in the Dolphin and Smithy’s posh persona were great, as were the natural extension of Gavin and Stacey’s relationship, the tribute to Doris, Pam and Mick getting high, and Dawn and Pete being their usual scene stealing selves.

This wasn’t a laugh riot but it was amusing and truly heartwarming to share with your family on this Christmas Day. And we have a huge cliffhanger that surely means we will get a follow up episode next Christmas once the huge viewing figures roll in?

Long live Barry Island…

Rating = 4/5