Teaser Trailer for PADDINGTON 2

I was late to the party when it came to 2015's Paddington, an adaptation of the children's literature character as created by Michael Bond in 1958, that received glowing reviews and seemed to amass loving fans all over the world while remaining rather distant here in the States. Of course, I could have a misconception of how much attention the film received this side of the sea, but I don't know that I do. Paddington simply didn't seem to play in as many theaters and was certainly released much later stateside than it was in the UK. The run was so limited, in fact, I remember distinctly not being able to catch it during it's theatrical run, but instead buying it out of good faith on Blu-Ray and hoping for the best. I wasn't disappointed as the film was more or less what I expected: extremely pleasant and extremely cute. Director Paul King, who also helped pen the screenplays for both the original and the sequel, was able to craft a tender tale that seemingly captured the heart of the children's books it was based on while appealing to modern audiences all the same. Honestly, with all the positive word of mouth around the film I couldn't wait to see it and by the time I finally did I couldn't help but to agree with the fact it was a delightful piece of work; nothing especially exceptional by any means, but the best kind of example for the type of movie it was intended to be. With a budget of $55 million and a worldwide gross of over $265 million it seemed a no-brainer Studio Canal and its partners, including The Weinstein Company's Dimension division, would want another film in the series. And so, here we are, as Paddington 2 will continue to follow the adventures of the titular bear (again voiced by Ben Whishaw) this time having him face off against a thief who has stolen a book that is quite special to our Paddington. This first-look teaser doesn't give away too much by way of story, but it does feature plenty of shots of the newcomers to the cast including Hugh Grant, Brendan Gleeson, and Jim Broadbent. Hugh Bonneville, Sally Hawkins, Imelda Staunton, Peter Capaldi and Julie Walters all return as well with Paddington 2 set to open on January 12th, 2018.

LEGEND OF TARZAN Review

Say what you want, I certainly would have prior to walking into the new live-action adaptation about the lord of the apes, but The Legend of Tarzan is a welcome surprise in a sea of lackluster, would-be summer blockbusters. Taking keys from Chris Nolan and Sam Mendes in their grand but grounded takes on mythological heroes like Batman and Bond director David Yates (the last four Harry Potter films and this November's Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them) has created a Tarzan film that is very much in line with the origin stories of these larger than life figures while simultaneously steeping itself in some of the politics of the time all the while remaining self-aware enough through the presence of one Samuel L. Jackson to remind us we shouldn't take things too seriously as we're still talking about a man who was raised by apes and travels by vine. In short, The Legend of Tarzan is kind of everything one could want out of a big-budget summer blockbuster as it features not a re-tread of the same story Disney animation told seventeen years ago, but more a re-structuring of the origin tale through a brand new adventure that lends the action some purpose and includes some unexpected weight in its story. Some will list this new incarnation of Tarzan as empty spectacle, but I'm hard pressed to understand the reasoning as not only does the screenplay by Adam Cozad (Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit) and Craig Brewer (Hustle & Flow, Black Snake Moan) feature some templates for what Yates orchestrates as pretty impressive action sequences without relying too heavily on visual effects, but it also features scenes of crisp dialogue where what could have easily been stock characters have real, intelligent conversations that not only move the plot forward, but acknowledge the larger world that their actions exist within and will ultimately effect. Maybe it is due to the lack of expectations when walking into the film, but it quickly proved to be more than another summer tentpole to come off the blockbuster conveyor belt. Bringing us into this world and to these characters we thought we knew there are added layers that enthrall. Becoming invested in these familiar names as played by a top notch cast we come to care about the somewhat complicated if not familiar plot that is still able to put just enough of a spin on what was expected that the reality of what we've received is so much more fulfilling than what I could have imagined prior to sitting down in the theater. In all honesty, I'm not sure one could make a better Tarzan movie than what we have here.

EDDIE THE EAGLE Review

More than anything Eddie the Eagle, a new inspirational sports dramedy not from Disney, gets away with being as cute as it is largely due to the fact it doesn't come from Disney. Instead, Eddie the Eagle comes to us courtesy of Marv Films, the British production company owned by director Matthew Vaughn (Stardust, Kick-Ass, Kingsman). Vaughn, who surprised no one with the quality of Kingsman last year, but did slightly stun a few with its box office capabilities also discovered Taron Egerton in the process. Egerton cements his rising star status in this somewhat unexpected follow-up for the new collaborators. Fortunately, this direction is an interesting one and the film works as there truly hasn't been much in the way of a credible sports story as of late where we don't inherently expect the sentimentality factor to be over the top. With the mouse house not having its hands on this property though we expect something slightly more mature, something a little closer to reality in the ways of the world and while Eddie the Eagle is certainly cute and even somewhat fantastical in certain aspects it never makes excuses for its titular characters shortcomings. Instead, it simply uses those real world circumstances to push our peculiar protagonist further. And thus, the reason Eddie the Eagle succeeds as well as it does despite being pure formula-it understands its hero and it breaks down the walls that people were afraid to climb over in Eddie's real life introducing us to a fully faceted character and not just a one note joke who can't take a hint from reality. Yes, Eddie the Eagle is formulaic in every way imaginable as you inevitably know all the beats the film will hit from the training montage down to the late second act obstacle that will be greatly overcome in the third, but it is damn entertaining formula and is made with such affection and honest aspiration one can't help but to want to cheer for Eddie just as all those at the 1988 Calgary Winter Olympics did.

BROOKLYN Review

Note: This is a reprint of my review for Brooklyn, which originally ran on September 11, 2015 after seeing it at the Toronto Film Festival. I am publishing it again today as it hits theaters this weekend.

Brooklyn is gorgeous and moving and all things warm and fuzzy without ever devolving into a Hallmark channel original. From the moment the film opens on a doe-eyed and innocent Saoirse Ronan working feverishly in a convenience shop in the early 1950's I was hooked by the effortless quality of the inviting atmosphere director John Crowley (Boy A, Closed Circuit) establishes. Even when a character as horrible as Ronan's prickly boss is present she can't dampen the mood of the eternally vibrant tone that radiates off this thing like a campfire in early fall. This immediate sense of safe familiarity allows for the rather objective-less story adapted from Colm Toibin's novel by Nick Hornby (About A Boy) to feel all the more profound and affecting as it unravels. While nothing that happens in Brooklyn will make you think too critically or give you a sense of accomplishment it is more a relaxing and comforting experience of a movie. It exists simply to make you feel something. Whether that something is overly sentimental or not will depend on your own mentality, but for the sake of my gullible and rather naive mind it was a perfectly cooked and plated dessert that made me feel cozy to the point of almost feeling gluttonous. Brooklyn gives and gives and never fails to keep you in line with it's simple narrative and somewhat complex emotional roller coaster that is complimented by it's ability to paint it's scenarios as simply as it can. Cheers to simplicity, to pleasantries and to being sappy; sometimes, it's all you need.

TIFF 2015: BROOKLYN Review

Brooklyn is gorgeous and moving and all things warm and fuzzy without ever devolving into a Hallmark channel original. From the moment the film opens on a doe-eyed and innocent Saoirse Ronan working feverishly in a convenience shop in the early 1950's I was hooked by the effortless quality of the inviting atmosphere director John Crowley (Boy A, Closed Circuit) establishes. Even when a character as horrible as Ronan's prickly boss is present she can't dampen the mood of the eternally vibrant tone that radiates off this thing like a campfire in early fall. This immediate sense of safe familiarity allows for the rather objective-less story adapted from Colm Toibin's novel by Nick Hornby (About A Boy) to feel all the more profound and affecting as it unravels. While nothing that happens in Brooklyn will make you think too critically or give you a sense of accomplishment it is more a relaxing and comforting experience of a movie. It exists simply to make you feel something. Whether that something is overly sentimental or not will depend on your own mentality, but for the sake of my gullible and rather naive mind it was a perfectly cooked and plated dessert that made me feel cozy to the point of almost feeling gluttonous. Brooklyn gives and gives and never fails to keep you in line with it's simple narrative and somewhat complex emotional roller coaster that is complimented by it's ability to paint it's scenarios as simply as it can. Cheers to simplicity, to pleasantries and to being sappy; sometimes, it's all you need.

CLOUD ATLAS Home Video Review

While I would certainly classify myself as a sci-fi nerd I don't think I would place Cloud Atlas fully in that category. It is one of those movies that is hard to describe. I can't imagine the pitch for it (which I guess is one reason it had to be financed by foreign investors) and to have such a grand idea condensed into a single cinema-going experience all seems to be a bit too much to feed in one serving. It is something that might have worked better, and would have likely benefited, from being a mini-series on HBO or something of that nature rather than having an audience sit through six elaborately detailed stories pushed together and feeling forced to connect what it attempts to deliver in theme. That being said, the themes this film does concern itself with mixed with several of the individual stories that are ambitious in their own way and are then layered with others combine to create an impact that will leaving you feeling as if you truly have witnessed something special, if not at least very stimulating. I cannot say that Cloud Atlas will be for everyone, in fact, I can certainly understand where many people would have issues with the film. Whether it be that it is simply too confusing without being compelling enough to hold their attention or that for all its big ideas, in the end, it feels rather simplistic. I would understand and to a certain degree, I would concur with those points. Still, this movie is far too ambitious and far too unique to be dismissed for not being exactly what you expected or wanted it to be. Cloud Atlas is a sprawling epic that not only delves into several subjects but wants to make us think and speculate as much as it wants to entertain. It is a rarity and for that, I appreciate every minute it gave me.

CLOUD ATLAS Review

While I would certainly classify myself as a sci-fi nerd I don't think I would place Cloud Atlas fully in that category. It is one of those movies that is hard to describe. I can't imagine the pitch for it (which I guess is one reason it had to be financed by foreign investors) and to have such a grand idea condensed into a single cinema-going experience all seems to be a bit too much to feed in one serving. It is something that might have worked better, and would have likely benefited, from being a mini-series on HBO or something like that rather than having an audience sit through six elaborately detailed stories pushed together and feeling forced to connect what it attempts to deliver in theme. That being said, the themes this film does concern itself with mixed with several of the individual stories that are ambitious in their own way and are then layered with others combine to create an impact that will leaving you feeling as if you truly have witnessed something special, if not at least very stimulating. I cannot say that Cloud Atlas will be for everyone, in fact, I can certainly understand where many people would have issues with the film. Whether it be that it is simply too confusing without being compelling enough to hold their attention or that for all its big ideas, in the end, it feels rather simplistic. I would understand and to a certain degree, I would concur with those points. Still, this movie is far too ambitious, far too unique to be dismissed for not being exactly what you expected or wanted it to be. Cloud Atlas is a sprawling epic that not only delves into several subjects but wants to make us think and speculate as much as it wants to entertain. It is a rarity and for that, I appreciate every minute it gave me.

ARTHUR CHRISTMAS Review

It is a tricky thing, making a seasonal film that will resonate not only in theaters for the few weeks it runs before Christmas but also for years to come. So, that when the holidays come around again and people begin to have that craving for holiday cheer in their home and want to watch a Christmas movie they will turn to yours as a possible option. Creating a Christmas classic, one that becomes overly familiar but never old, is tough. I have only a select few I like to turn to and I don't think I've added a new one since "Elf". That being said I will be more than happy to add "Arthur Christmas" to my collection when it appears on blu-ray. The tale of the youngest son of Santa is a breath of fresh air in terms of creativity. It re-imagines all the classical myths we have for the season and gives them a present twist that fits perfectly as a subtle lesson about how things are so rushed these days, that the true reason for the season has been lost. It is a classic Christmas tale in that sense with a heart of gold it is just smart enough to wrap those ideas in a shiny gloss that exudes wit and great storytelling. Everything we see here is in service of the story and it is sublimely funny, I don't think I heard one fart joke. The animation isn't Pixar-level but you only notice when the camera stays on a characters face for too long. It has its moments though and Aardman studios, the same guys who brought us "Chicken Run" and "Flushed Away", continues a great tradition of animated films that are expertly told stories with moments of hilarious wit. Adding a Christmas film to their canon expands their territory while giving audiences looking for quality entertainment with genuine Christmas cheer a real present this year.

Santa's elves drop in on a neighborhood to help deliver
the gifts on Christmas night.

In the opening moments of "Arthur Christmas" we experience the super high tech operation that delivering all those gifts in one night has now turned into. No longer is it a simple sleigh with a bag full of endless toys but this is a full fledged military operation. Elves are dressed in camouflage with red and green berets. they are sorted into divisions and while some are deployed for the Christmas night operation others stay and work at mission control aka the North Pole. This new way of getting things done more efficiently has been designed and put into effect by the next in line for the Santa position, Steve. Steve is the current Santa's oldest son and is more prone to process than customer service. Arthur on the other hand is kept in the letter writing department as he happily responds to all the children of the world and reassuring them his dad is the greatest man in the world. Arthur is a bit prone to messing things up, leaving a trail of destruction wherever he's been, but his heart is the right place and he absolutely adores Christmas. When Steve's full proof system makes a mistake in leaving a young girl without a gift Arthur immediately finds in necessary to find a way to get it to her. Steve on the other hand doesn't see it as a possibility and their father, Santa is simply too tired to object to his eldest sons conclusion. Naturally, Arthur can't let this be and so he and Grand Santa (a riotous Bill Nighy) set out in the old sleigh to guarantee every child has a merry Christmas.

Arthur (James McAvoy) and GrandSanta (Bill Nighy)
celebrate Christmas dinner.

As voiced by the charismatic James McAvoy (Wanted, X-Men: First Class) Arthur is a loveable goof. He is every bit the enthusiast others make fun of him for being but he is not an idiot. He is self-aware and understands the dynamics of his family better than anyone else seems to. That is what "Arthur Christmas" indeed boils down to (as so many great Christmas films do): the comedy and relatability of a dysfunctional family. GrandSanta doesn't understand the new generations way of doing things when he got them done just fine his way. Steve doesn't understand why his father has not passed on the torch yet; he is already running the show, he might as well have the title. Mrs. Santa has stood by her entire life watching her husband be Santa instead of the man she probably first fell in love with and is no doubt eager to spend some time with a retired Santa as well. Arthur, the clear underdog just wants to be a part of the great tradition his family carries on. He wants to continue to spread the joy and forget all of the politics of who's rightly Santa and what methods are used to deliver the gifts. He just wants to make sure every child has a present from Santa on Christmas morning. This is where the film shines too, getting exactly right not just the dynamics between family members but the relationships that actually have to be carried out. The interaction between Santa's clan here is completely believable and lends the film its cleverness in delivering an age old lesson in a time of well oiled machines.

Arthur and Bryony (Ashley Jensen) help deliver the one
gift that got the left behind.

I can remember watching Tim Allen in "The Santa Clause" when I was younger and being completely enthralled with the experience of getting to see the behind the scenes action of how Christmas came together. I can only imagine "Arthur Christmas" will do the same for an audience that has never seen it spelled out on screen but always had the imagination to wonder. Even myself, as a 24-year old, sat in amazement in those first ten minutes or so as the city-size airship came over Germany and dispersed thousands of elves as if they were in a Mission Impossible film to deck the halls and deliver the gifts. It was thrilling and completely original. Creativity is what makes any film thrive, but especially animated ones and that particular trait is on full display throughout "Arthur Christmas". Whether it be the way elves fill stockings or even how Santa and his helpers escape a "waker". All of it is brilliantly executed with a charming title character and side kick in the form of an expert gift-wrapping elf Bryony (Ashley Jensen). Her and Arthur form a team the kiddies will love and the parents in the audience will enjoy the tone and lessons of the film while being transported back to their childhood state of mind as well.

ARTHUR CHRISTMAS Review

It is a tricky thing, making a seasonal film that will resonate not only in theaters for the few weeks it runs before Christmas but also for years to come. So, that when the holidays come around again and people begin to have that craving for holiday cheer in their home and want to watch a Christmas movie they will turn to yours as a possible option. Creating a Christmas classic, one that becomes overly familiar but never old, is tough. I have only a select few I like to turn to and I don't think I've added a new one since "Elf". That being said I will be more than happy to add "Arthur Christmas" to my collection when it appears on blu-ray. The tale of the youngest son of Santa is a breath of fresh air in terms of creativity. It re-imagines all the classical myths we have for the season and gives them a present twist that fits perfectly as a subtle lesson about how things are so rushed these days, that the true reason for the season has been lost. It is a classic Christmas tale in that sense with a heart of gold it is just smart enough to wrap those ideas in a shiny gloss that exudes wit and great storytelling. Everything we see here is in service of the story and it is sublimely funny, I don't think I heard one fart joke. The animation isn't Pixar-level but you only notice when the camera stays on a characters face for too long. It has its moments though and Aardman studios, the same guys who brought us "Chicken Run" and "Flushed Away", continues a great tradition of animated films that are expertly told stories with moments of hilarious wit. Adding a Christmas film to their canon expands their territory while giving audiences looking for quality entertainment with genuine Christmas cheer a real present this year.