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  • Movie Review: ‘Here’

    (L to R) Tom Hanks and Robin Wright star in 'Here'. Photo: Sony Pictures.
    (L to R) Tom Hanks and Robin Wright star in ‘Here’. Photo: Sony Pictures.

    Opening in theaters November 1st is ‘Here,’ directed by Robert Zemeckis and starring Tom Hanks, Robin Wright, Paul Bettany, Kelly Reilly, Michelle Dockery, Gwilym Lee, Ophelia Lovibond, and David Fynn.

    Related Article: Tom Hanks Features in First Pictures of Robert Zemeckis’ ‘Here’

    Initial Thoughts

    (L to R) Robin Wright and Tom Hanks star in 'Here'. Photo: Sony Pictures.
    (L to R) Robin Wright and Tom Hanks star in ‘Here’. Photo: Sony Pictures.

    Robert Zemeckis has made some genuinely great films, including the ‘Back to the Future’ trilogy, ‘Contact,’ and ‘Who Framed Roger Rabbit,’ and the mark of much of his career has been his endless fascination with pushing the boundaries of filmmaking and visual effects forward with new technologies and techniques. But for much of the past two decades, he has focused on the latter seemingly at the expense of the former, turning out a variety of films that may offer up new and sometimes dazzling effects while skimping on good stories and well-developed characters.

    Such is the case with ‘Here,’ Zemeckis’ formally experimental new film in which he positions his camera, so to speak, slightly above and to the right of a single piece of land in Pennsylvania. The film then documents events that have happened on that spot, from millions of years ago when it was a dinosaur-inhabited swamp wiped out by an asteroid, to the romance between two First Nations lovers, to the series of families who inhabit a modest house over the course of the last century. Most of the focus, however, centers on one family and their rather banal history, with Zemeckis’ distant camera and constant changing of the scene failing to allow even the most perfunctory connection to these characters. The result is a shallow, trite film that also doesn’t do its lead actors any favors with the distracting digital de-aging foisted upon them.

    Story and Direction

    Robert Zemeckis, Tom Hanks and Robin Wright on the set of 'Here'.
    (L to R) Robert Zemeckis, Tom Hanks and Robin Wright on the set of ‘Here’. © 2023 CTMG, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

    ‘Here’ is based on a 2014 graphic novel by Richard McGuire, which he expanded from a six-page comic strip he first wrote and drew in 1989. In both the strip and the graphic novel, McGuire drew panels within panels, showing the space in different periods of time and connecting events from one panel to another whether they took place in the past, the present, or the future. Working from a screenplay he co-wrote with Eric Roth, Zemeckis attempts the same thing on film: as one scene plays out, a panel opens in a section of the screen and either expands or dissolves into the next scene, with the eras in time overlapping.

    The problem is that Zemeckis and Roth do very little to make connections between the different eras, and with the exception of the period during which the house (which is built in 1907) is owned by the Young family, not enough time is spent in any of the eras to give us meaningful insight into how these different periods correspond or how life plays out in similar ways even in varied circumstances. After a while the continually opening frames just become annoying because they signify little.

    That the most time is spent with the Young family is the second major problem with ‘Here.’ After a brief prologue in which the aged Richard (Hanks) and Margaret (Wright) enter the now-empty house, we flash back to when Richard’s dad Al (Bettany) and his new wife Rose (Reilly) first purchased it after World War II for the princely sum of $3,400. Beset by PTSD, Al drinks too much but nevertheless dutifully goes off to work for an insurance company, while Rose stays home and tends to their kids. They squabble, the frugal (almost penny-pinching) Al loses his job, they need to take out a second mortgage at one point, and their three kids grow up, including Richard, who is actually quite talented as an artist and harbors dreams of becoming one professionally. “Get a job where you wear a suit,” Al barks at him, giving us a preview of what’s ahead.

    Robert Zemeckis, Tom Hanks and Robin Wright on the set of 'Here'.
    (L to R) Robert Zemeckis, Tom Hanks and Robin Wright on the set of ‘Here’. © 2023 CTMG, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

    Sure enough, Richard gets his sweetheart Margaret pregnant at 18, and he’s forced to abandon his dreams and go into the insurance business as well. We find out later on that Margaret also gave up on a whole slew of ambitions, including owning their own house: Richard is even more thrifty than his dad, always coming up with reasons to keep their family under his parents’ roof instead of making a home of their own. And that’s how it goes for the Youngs, whose repressed dreams, secret yearnings, family get-togethers and fights, and ultimate destinies offer nothing we haven’t seen before in numerous family dramas, and doesn’t even absorb us in any way because our view hangs in one place above the living room like a security camera we might as well be checking on our phone.

    The rest of the stories – minus the earliest dinosaur days and subsequent ice age – get even shorter shrift. The best is that of Leo (David Fynn) and Stella (Ophelia Lovibond), a free-spirited, bohemian couple in the 1920s who hit the big time when Leo invents the La-Z-Boy recliner (spoiler alert: it’s not true). The story of the First Nations couple goes nowhere (and seems tokenistic), nor does the tale of a woman (Dockery) who is worried sick that her early adopter aviator husband will die in a crash. A peek into the era of the Revolutionary War, when Benjamin Franklin lived a few hundred feet from where the Young house is eventually built, is simply pointless (the big connection? Richard and his brother wear Ben Franklin costumes at a family Halloween party).

    The sole story that takes place after the Young family sells the house, about the well-off Black couple who purchase it, settles on the father (Nicholas Pinnock) and mother (Nikki Amuka-Bird) instructing their teenage son (Cache Vanderpuye) on how to behave if he’s ever pulled over by a cop as its big moment. Instead of adding depth to their lives or how the neighborhood around them is changing, Zemeckis and Roth settle for simple button-pushing before paneling back to the whitebread, flavorless Youngs.

    In the end, none of it really sticks. The Youngs are too stereotypical to come across as real, and nobody else gets enough time to breathe. The single-shot framing becomes a box from which the story and the people in it cannot escape.

    The Cast

    (L to R) Tom Hanks and Robin Wright star in 'Here'. Photo: Sony Pictures.
    (L to R) Tom Hanks and Robin Wright star in ‘Here’. Photo: Sony Pictures.

    Much has been made of the fact that the teaming of Zemeckis, Roth, Wright, and Hanks constitutes a reunion of the principal creatives of 1994’s ‘Forrest Gump,’ perhaps accentuating the director’s sentimentality over the passage of time. But trying to turn back time for his stars by de-aging them is not the best way to address this. While de-aging has come a long way – even in just the past few years – it’s still a weird, jarring sensation to see Tom Hanks and Robin Wright with smoother versions of their faces plastered on their heads, especially when their voices and physical movements are of the moment.

    Wright probably fares best here, even given her stereotypical character and some of the grating dialogue that comes out of her mouth, while Tom Hanks continues his recent stretch of stilted performances and never relaxes into the role of the unmotivated Richard. Paul Bettany’s Al is supposed to be hard of hearing as a result of his WWII injuries, but the usually reliable Bettany ends up shouting most of his lines theatrically – as if projecting to the back row – whenever he speaks. The bottom line, however, is that it’s a shame to see capable actors like Bettany and Kelly Reilly do their best to animate these stock, post-war suburban disappointments.

    Zemeckis doesn’t do them any favors either with his fixed gaze, which forces the actors to move closer to the camera when it’s time to deliver important bits of story or foreshadowing (speaking of which, the latter is incredibly heavy-handed: one character makes sure to let us know three times that they’ve forgotten something before – surprise! – they end up with Alzheimer’s). This all just heightens the artificiality of the whole setup – bringing the actors closer to the lens ironically adds more distance to what we’re watching.

    Final Thoughts

    (L to R) Tom Hanks and Robin Wright star in 'Here'. Photo: Sony Pictures.
    (L to R) Tom Hanks and Robin Wright star in ‘Here’. Photo: Sony Pictures.

    We’ll always respect Robert Zemeckis for giving us some of our favorite films of all time – we stand by our assertion that ‘Contact’ is one of the finest sci-fi films of its time, while ‘Back to the Future’ is just about a perfect film (and the trilogy as a whole comes damn close to that hat-trick as well). And even when we don’t admire the films much – ‘Beowulf,’ ‘Death Becomes Her,’ or a truly dreadful outing like ‘Welcome to Marwen’ – we appreciate his curiosity about how far the medium can go and how it can continue to deliver sights that audiences have never seen.

    But he’s paid a price for that quest along the way – sacrificing stories and characters with depth and nuanced emotional honesty for stunts that try fruitlessly to replace both — and ‘Here’ is the latest casualty of that journey.

    ‘Here’ receives 4 out of 10 stars.

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    What is the plot of ‘Here’?

    A single area of land and the dwellings built on it is the scene for literally millennia of events, from the extinction of the dinosaurs to the COVID pandemic, with much of the focus on one mid-20th century family who live there for decades.

    Who is in the cast of ‘Here’?

    • Tom Hanks as Richard Young
    • Robin Wright as Margaret Young
    • Paul Bettany as Al Young
    • Kelly Reilly as Rose Young
    • Michelle Dockery as Mrs. Harter
    • Gwilym Lee as John Harter
    • Ophelia Lovibond as Stella Beekman
    • David Fynn as Leo Beekman
    'Here' director Robert Zemeckis and Tom Hanks attend the AFI Fest Director's Spotlight. Photo by Stewart Cook/Sony Pictures via Getty Images.
    ‘Here’ director Robert Zemeckis and Tom Hanks attend the AFI Fest Director’s Spotlight. Photo by Stewart Cook/Sony Pictures via Getty Images.

    Other Robert Zemeckis and Tom Hanks Movies:

    Buy Tickets: ‘Here’ Movie Showtimes

    Buy Robert Zemeckis Movies on Amazon

  • First Images from Robert Zemeckis’ New Movie ‘Here’

    Robin Wright and Tom Hanks star in 'Here'.
    (L to R) Robin Wright and Tom Hanks star in ‘Here’. © 2023 CTMG, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

    Preview: 

    • The first look at Robert Zemeckis’ new movie, ‘Here’ is online.
    • Tom Hanks and Robin Wright star in the time-spanning drama.
    • It’s another experimental project for the ‘Forrest Gump’ team.

    The filmmaking team behind ‘Forrest Gump’ certainly know a thing or three about a story that spans a large amount of time, and one that required considerable effect advances to support its main character’s encounters with historical figures.

    So, as you might presume, their reunion –– and in this case, we mean specifically ‘Gump’ director Robert Zemeckis, stars Tom Hanks and Robin Wright and screenwriter Eric Roth –– also offers an expansive chronological storyline and some experimental techniques.

    The first look at the result, ‘Here’, is now online via Vanity Fair.

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    What’s the story of ‘Here’?

    Tom Hanks and Robin Wright star in 'Here'.
    (L to R) Tom Hanks and Robin Wright star in ‘Here’. © 2023 CTMG, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

    ‘Here’ finds scriptwriter Roth adapting Richard McGuire’s much-loved graphic novel title.

    First published as a six-page comic strip in 1989, before being turned into a full graphic novel decades later, ‘Here’ is a high-concept story that focuses on one single room, telling the interconnected, overlapping stories of the many people who’ve inhabited that room over thousands of years.

    The film will feature a locked-down camera that never moves, with the action all occurring in one space, and, like the source material, overlapping panels representing changes in design for scene/time zone transitions.

    Hanks stars as baby boomer Richard, who grows up in the same house he ends up raising his own family in during the 1970s and 1980s, with Wright as his wife, Margaret.

    Tom Hanks and Robin Wright star in 'Here'.
    (L to R) Tom Hanks and Robin Wright star in ‘Here’. © 2023 CTMG, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

    Zemeckis and his effects team are using a mixture of traditional make-up and cutting-edge digital techniques to portray the characters at different ages, and the story expands out further either way through time, showing Richard’s parents (played by Paul Bettany and Kelly Reilly), occupants of the house long before them and even people –– and creatures –– living in the space before the place was built. There will also be a segment set in 2020, following the couple who inhabit the house after Richard and Margaret.

    And though it features the very top end of de-aging effects, Zemeckis soon realized one way to make them work beyond what other filmmakers have tried:

    “It only works because the performances are so good. Both Tom and Robin understood instantly that, ‘Okay, we have to go back and channel what we were like 50 years ago or 40 years ago, and we have to bring that energy, that kind of posture, and even raise our voices higher. That kind of thing.”

    The aim, according to the director, is to show characters with whom the audience can connect.

    Robert Zemeckis, Tom Hanks and Robin Wright on the set of 'Here'.
    (L to R) Robert Zemeckis, Tom Hanks and Robin Wright on the set of ‘Here’. © 2023 CTMG, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

    Here’s what Zemeckis says about that concept:

    The whole point was to make the story identifiable. We didn’t want people [in the house] to be criminals or spies in highly dramatic situations. There are some people who probably won’t like the fact that the conflicts in the movie are not over the top—that they’re pretty rooted in reality.”

    Who else is in ‘Here’?

    Tom Hanks and Robin Wright star in 'Here'.
    (L to R) Tom Hanks and Robin Wright star in ‘Here’. © 2023 CTMG, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

    The cast also includes Michelle Dockery, David Fynn, Ophelia Lovibond, Nicholas Pinnock, Nikki Amuka-Bird and Anya Marco Harris.

    When will ‘Here’ be in theaters?

    Tom Hanks and Robin Wright star in 'Here'.
    (L to R) Tom Hanks and Robin Wright star in ‘Here’. © 2023 CTMG, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

    Sony aims to have ‘Here’ in theaters on November 15th. So if you’re itching to see what Team ‘Gump’ have been up to, you only have a few months to wait now.

    Robert Zemeckis, Tom Hanks and Robin Wright on the set of 'Here'.
    (L to R) Robert Zemeckis, Tom Hanks and Robin Wright on the set of ‘Here’. © 2023 CTMG, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

    Other Robert Zemeckis and Tom Hanks Movies:

    Buy Robert Zemeckis Movies on Amazon

    You can watch the new trailer for ‘Here’ by clicking on the video player below:

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  • Where To Watch Kenneth Branagh’s ‘A Haunting In Venice’

    Tina Fey as Ariadne Oliver and Kenneth Branagh as Hercule Poirot in 20th Century Studios' 'A Haunting In Venice.'
    (L to R) Tina Fey as Ariadne Oliver and Kenneth Branagh as Hercule Poirot in 20th Century Studios’ ‘A Haunting In Venice.’ Photo by Rob Youngson. © 2023 20th Century Studios. All Rights Reserved.

    The third installment in the Agatha Christie movies takes a chilling turn in ‘A Haunting in Venice’. Actor and director Kenneth Branagh returns to helm the film and reprise his role of the famed mustache detective, Hercule Poirot.

    A Murder Mystery Fit For Halloween

    Michelle Yeoh as Mrs. Reynolds in 20th Century Studios' 'A Haunting in Venice.'
    Michelle Yeoh as Mrs. Reynolds in 20th Century Studios’ ‘A Haunting in Venice.’ Photo courtesy of 20th Century Studios. © 2023 20th Century Studios. All Rights Reserved.

    The movie is based on Christie’s novel ‘Hallowe’en Party’ and will be available on streaming and digital just in time for Halloween. While these murder mystery novels are often accompanied by a sense of suspense and horror, ‘A Haunting In Venice’ leans straight into the horror theme by placing the murder inside a haunted palazzo.

    Releasing on Halloween means the film will just make the Huluween line-up at the end of its celebration. Additionally, ‘A Haunting In Venice’ will also be available to rent or purchase on digital on the same day.

    Related Article: Movie Review: ‘A Haunting In Venice’

    The Film Switched From Shooting In 70 Millimeter To Digital

    Director Kenneth Branagh as Hercule Poirot and crew on the set of 20th Century Studios' 'A Haunting In Venice.'
    (L to R) Director Kenneth Branagh as Hercule Poirot and crew on the set of 20th Century Studios’ ‘A Haunting In Venice.’ Photo by Rob Youngson. © 2023 20th Century Studios. All Rights Reserved.

    Branagh teams up once again with cinematographer Haris Zambarloukos (‘Death on the Nile’, ‘The Orient Express’). In an interview with Collider, the British cinematographer expands on why they made the switch from filming on 70 millimeter to digital, “There were a lot of photographic characteristics that we wanted to maintain in the Poirot films. One was a certain kind of clarity, the other is a sense of depth of field.” he explains.

    “One of the things that I think makes the intimacy of the portraiture that we have used on previous Poirot films is that we work at a slightly higher depth of field than most films, T4. Not ‘Citizen Kane‘ levels, but just enough that a face and its features are all in focus. So, we wanted to shoot with a large format lens camera system that was in the highest sensitivity to light, and that was the Sony Venice 2. Those photographic elements were more important than the analog versus digital – that we were able to shoot at low-light levels but with our preferred depth of field. Those were the choices behind shooting this with a digital camera.”

    Where Can I Watch ‘A Haunting In Venice’?

    Kelly Reilly as Rowena Drake in 20th Century Studios' 'A Haunting In Venice.'
    Kelly Reilly as Rowena Drake in 20th Century Studios’ ‘A Haunting In Venice.’ Photo by Rob Youngson. © 2023 20th Century Studios. All Rights Reserved.

    ‘A Haunting In Venice’ held its world premiere at the Odeon Luxe Leicester Square at the West End London on September 11th. It was released domestically on September 15, 2023, and is still available in theaters if you want to experiment it in standard format or in IMAX. ‘A Haunting In Venice’ has a total runtime of 1 hour and 44 minutes.

    Buy Tickets: ‘A Haunting in Venice’ Movie Showtimes

    Watch the official trailers for ‘A Haunting In Venice’ below:

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    The movie will be available on digital on October 31 on major platforms such as Prime Video, Apple TV, Vudu, YouTube, and Google Play for rent or purchase.

    Where to Watch: ‘A Haunting In Venice’ Online

    Fans of physical media can also look forward to 4K UHD, Blu-Ray, and DVD release of the film on November 28.

    Buy ‘A Haunting In Venice’ Movie On Amazon

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    The official synopsis for ‘A Haunting In Venice’ is below:

    Hercule Poirot (Kenneth Branagh) has retired from detective work and has moved to Italy to live a quiet life. His peace is interrupted when old friend and novelist Ariadne Oliver (Tina Fey) stops by and insists he attends a séance on Halloween in order to expose a psychic named Joyce Reynolds (Michelle Yeoh). However, when a murder occurs, Poirot vows to catch the killer within the haunted palazzo.

    Who Is In The Cast of ‘A Haunting In’?

    Kenneth Branagh as Hercule Poirot in 20th Century Studios' 'A Haunting in Venice.'
    Kenneth Branagh as Hercule Poirot in 20th Century Studios’ ‘A Haunting in Venice.’ Photo courtesy of 20th Century Studios. © 2023 20th Century Studios. All Rights Reserved.

    Other Movies Similar to ‘A Haunting in Venice:’

     

  • Movie Review: ‘A Haunting in Venice’

    Kenneth Branagh as Hercule Poirot in 20th Century Studios' 'A Haunting In Venice.'
    Kenneth Branagh as Hercule Poirot in 20th Century Studios’ ‘A Haunting In Venice.’ Photo by Rob Youngson. © 2023 20th Century Studios. All Rights Reserved.

    Opening in theaters on September 15th is ‘A Haunting in Venice,’ which is the third film in actor and director Kenneth Branagh’s Agatha Christie trilogy following 2017’s ‘Murder on the Orient Express’ and 2022’s ‘Death on the Nile.’

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    What is the plot of ‘A Haunting in Venice’?

    Following the events of ‘Death on the Nile,’ the world’s greatest detective, Hercule Poirot (Kenneth Branagh), has retired and is now living a quiet life in Italy. One day he is visited by his old friend and mystery novelist Ariadne Oliver (Tina Fey), who invites him to a séance on Halloween to expose a fraudulent psychic named Joyce Reynolds (Michelle Yeoh). But when someone if murdered, Poirot vows to catch the killer.

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    Who is in the cast of ‘A Haunting in Venice’?

    Initial Thoughts

    Kenneth Branagh as Hercule Poirot and Tina Fey as Ariadne Oliver in 20th Century Studios' 'A Haunting In Venice.'
    (L to R) Kenneth Branagh as Hercule Poirot and Tina Fey as Ariadne Oliver in 20th Century Studios’ ‘A Haunting In Venice.’ Photo by Rob Youngson. © 2023 20th Century Studios. All Rights Reserved.

    ‘A Haunting in Venice’ feels more like an epilogue than an actual third installment but is still a fairly entertaining yet predictable mystery movie. Kenneth Branagh gives another good performance as Hercule Poirot but the film never really seems to come together as a whole. The new supporting cast create interesting foils for Poirot, but ultimately, the mystery is not that hard for the audience to solve.

    Story and Direction

    Director Kenneth Branagh as Hercule Poirot and crew on the set of 20th Century Studios' 'A Haunting In Venice.'
    (L to R) Director Kenneth Branagh as Hercule Poirot and crew on the set of 20th Century Studios’ ‘A Haunting In Venice.’ Photo by Rob Youngson. © 2023 20th Century Studios. All Rights Reserved.

    The movie begins by introducing us to an older and weathered Hercule Poirot (Branagh), who is now retired from detective work and living a quiet life in Italy. One day he is visited by his old friend, an American mystery novelist named Ariadne Oliver (Fey), who’s most popular literary character is based on Poirot himself. Oliver invites Poirot to a séance on Halloween night at the house of the wealthy Rowena Drake (Reilly), who recently lost her daughter in a tragic accident. The séance is being conducted by a medium named Joyce Reynolds (Michelle Yeoh). Oliver believes she is the real deal and wants to base her next novel on her, but needs Poirot, ever the skeptic, to witness her work and confirm she’s for real.

    Poirot is not impressed by Reynolds, and confirms his suspicions but is then attacked by an unknown assailant. Not long after, one of the guests is murdered and with a storm closing the canals, the remaining guests are trapped in Drake’s house, presumably with the killer, and with nowhere else to go. While waiting for the weather to clear, Poirot begins to investigate and questions everyone, including Oliver, Drake, her doctor, Dr. Leslie Ferrier (Jamie Dornan), and his young son, Leopold Ferrier (Jude Hill).

    I enjoyed both of Branagh’s other Agatha Christie movies, ‘Murder on the Orient Express’ and ‘Death on the Nile,’ but ‘A Haunting in Venice’ lacks the scope or style of its predecessors. It feels rushed, truncated and lacking of any real purpose. In fact, Branagh’s performance is really the only bright spot in the movie, which is otherwise tedious. But as a director, Branagh adds no style or freshness to the movie. It’s pretty much a paint-by-numbers mystery, and nothing is added to make that more sophisticated or cinematic. The first two movies benefited from the exotic locations which Branagh shot in an epic manner, but the director does not utilize his backdrop here, as most scenes take place at night, in the rain, or inside.

    A scene from 20th Century Studios' 'A Haunting in Venice.'
    A scene from 20th Century Studios’ ‘A Haunting in Venice.’ Photo courtesy of 20th Century Studios. © 2023 20th Century Studios. All Rights Reserved.

    Kenneth Branagh’s performance as Hercule Poirot

    Kenneth Branagh as Hercule Poirot in 20th Century Studios' 'A Haunting in Venice.'
    Kenneth Branagh as Hercule Poirot in 20th Century Studios’ ‘A Haunting in Venice.’ Photo courtesy of 20th Century Studios. © 2023 20th Century Studios. All Rights Reserved.

    The only saving grace ‘Haunting’ offers is Branagh’s solid performance as Poirot. After three movies the actor really has the character down, and it helps that we as an audience have embraced him in this role. In this outing, Branagh explores Poirot’s age and his passion for life after spending so much of it surrounded by death. This Poirot is older, weathered, and questioning himself, maybe for the first time in his life, and it’s an interesting juxtaposition for the character. Also this time around, Branagh wisely chose to cut back Poirot’s signature mustache just a bit, which doesn’t affect the character or the performance, but is a little less distracting than in the previous films.

    Related Article: Movie Review: ‘Death on the Nile’ 

    Supporting Cast

    Tina Fey as Ariadne Oliver, Michelle Yeoh as Mrs. Reynolds, and Kenneth Branagh as Hercule Poirot in 20th Century Studios' 'A Haunting In Venice.'
    (L to R) Tina Fey as Ariadne Oliver, Michelle Yeoh as Mrs. Reynolds, and Kenneth Branagh as Hercule Poirot in 20th Century Studios’ ‘A Haunting In Venice.’ Photo by Rob Youngson. © 2023 20th Century Studios. All Rights Reserved.

    This is where the movie starts to fall apart, and it’s not the fault of the actors, who are all very good, but their characters are either poorly written or not fleshed out enough. Now some may not care for Tina Fey’s performance as Ariadne Oliver, as she is basically doing a Katherine Hepburn impression, but I actually thought the characterization fit well considering the movie’s 1940’s setting. Oliver is feisty and smart, and a good companion to Poirot, and Fey has nice chemistry with Branagh. However, without giving anything away, a twist in the third act renders the character unreliable.

    Jude Hill, who was last seen in Branagh’s Oscar-winning ‘Belfast,’ gives a good performance as the precocious Leopold Ferrier and has strong chemistry with Jamie Dornan, who once again plays his father as he did in ‘Belfast.’ As Dr. Leslie Ferrier, Dornan is solid and plays a man with PTSD well, but the character is not given enough to do and is basically used as a red herring to the mystery.

    Recent Oscar-winner Michelle Yeoh has a few fun scenes as the psychic Joyce Reynolds, but again, is really not given a lot to do. You don’t really get a chance to know the character or understand her motivations in her limited screentime, and again, it’s a shame the character was used as a bit of a red herring. It was nice to see ‘Yellowstone’ actress Kelly Reilly return to the big screen, and while the actress plays the role to the best of her abilities, the character was terribly written and weakens the mystery at the core of the story.

    Predictable Mystery

    Kelly Reilly as Rowena Drake in 20th Century Studios' 'A Haunting In Venice.'
    Kelly Reilly as Rowena Drake in 20th Century Studios’ ‘A Haunting In Venice.’ Photo by Rob Youngson. © 2023 20th Century Studios. All Rights Reserved.

    The real problem with ‘A Haunting in Venice’ is that the mystery is too predictable and easy to solve. While there was a bit of a twist in the third act, I knew who the killer was from the beginning and it just seemed too obvious. While the previous movies had third act twists as well, they seemed fresh and original at the time and this one just feels like we’ve seen it before.

    Final Thoughts

    Tina Fey as Ariadne Oliver and Kenneth Branagh as Hercule Poirot in 20th Century Studios' 'A Haunting In Venice.'
    (L to R) Tina Fey as Ariadne Oliver and Kenneth Branagh as Hercule Poirot in 20th Century Studios’ ‘A Haunting In Venice.’ Photo by Rob Youngson. © 2023 20th Century Studios. All Rights Reserved.

    While ‘A Haunting in Venice’ is a serviceable and entertaining enough movie that includes another fine performance by Branagh as Poirot, it lacks the fun and urgency of the previous films and features an extremely predictable mystery at its core.

    ‘A Haunting in Venice’ receives 5 out of 10 stars.

    Kenneth Branagh as Hercule Poirot in 20th Century Studios' 'A Haunting In Venice.'
    Kenneth Branagh as Hercule Poirot in 20th Century Studios’ ‘A Haunting In Venice.’ Photo by Rob Youngson. © 2023 20th Century Studios. All Rights Reserved.

    Other Movies Similar to ‘A Haunting in Venice:’

    Buy Tickets: ‘A Haunting in Venice’ Movie Showtimes

    Buy Kenneth Branagh Movies On Amazon

    ‘A Haunting in Venice’ is produced by 20th Century Studios, Scott Free Productions, The Mark Gordon Company, and Genre Films. It is set to release in theaters on September 15th, 2023.

     

     

  • Matthew McConaughey Eyed For Yellowstone Spin-off

    Matthew McConaughey in director Christopher Nolan's 'Interstellar.'
    (Center) Matthew McConaughey in director Christopher Nolan’s ‘Interstellar.’

    Popular cowboy drama ‘Yellowstone’ has some drama of its own!

    Alright, alright, alright. It looks like Interstellar star Matthew McConaughey is being eyed for a spin-off series for the popular drama ‘Yellowstone’. Deadline reports co-creator and showrunner, Taylor Sheridan, Paramount Global, and Paramount Network are looking to end the series due to scheduling conflicts with its star, Kevin Costner.

    Costner, who won a Golden Globe earlier this year for his role in the series originally limited himself to 65 days of of filming. Later, the actor only wanted to film for 50 days for the first half of current season. For the second part of season, he then only wanted to film for a week.

    Given the show’s popularity, the series is likely to continue with or without its star. Garnering 8.2 million same-day views in the first half of the fifth season, Yellowstone grosses more viewers than any other primetime network shows.

    The spin-off would extend the Dutton Family storyline, further expanding the Yellowstone universe. A spokesperson from Paramount says, “We have no news to report. Kevin Costner is a big part of ‘Yellowstone’ and we hope that’s the case for a long time to come. Thanks to the brilliant mind of Taylor Sheridan, we are always working on franchise expansions of this incredible world he has built. Matthew McConaughey is a phenomenal talent with whom we’d love to partner,”

    While no deal has been set, Sheridan is planning to write with McConaughey in mind. No word on who from the cast will appear in the new show. The spin-off would start on Paramount Network then stream exclusively on Paramount+.

    Kevin Costner as John Dutton III in Paramount Network's 'Yellowstone' season 5.
    Kevin Costner as John Dutton III in Paramount Network’s ‘Yellowstone’ season 5. Credit: Paramount Network.

    Expanding the universe wouldn’t be a difficult task as prequel limited series such as ‘1883’ and ‘1932‘ are a hit with the audience. In fact, ‘1923’ which stars Harrison Ford and Helen Mirren has already been confirmed a second season. It will focus on Western expansion, prohibition, and the Great depression.

    Sources say Paramount Network has declined Costner’s recent proposal and has decided to move on to the other show. If this is true, then it is likely that ‘Yellowstone’ will end with the second half of the current season.

    ‘Yellowstone’ follows the story of the Dutton Family who are the owners of the Yellowstone Dutton Ranch, the largest ranch in Montana. The family’s patriarch John Dutton (Kevin Costner) leads his family through difficult times with developers, the national park, the bordering Brocken Rock Indian Reservation and internal family conflicts.

    The show stars Kevin Costner, Kelly Reilly, Luke Grimes, Cole Hauser, Wes Bentley, and Kelsey Asbille Chow.

    ‘Yellowstone’ was co-created by Taylor Sheridan and John Linson. Produced by 101 Studios and MTV Entertainment Studios. Executive produced by Taylor Sheridan, John Linson, Kevin Costner, Art Linson, David C. Glasser, Bob Yari, and Stephan Kay.

    Kevin Costner as John Dutton III, Kelly Reilly as Bethany "Beth" Dutton, and Wes Bentley as Jamie Dutton in Paramount Network's 'Yellowstone' season 5.
    (L to R) Kevin Costner as John Dutton III, Kelly Reilly as Bethany “Beth” Dutton, and Wes Bentley as Jamie Dutton in Paramount Network’s ‘Yellowstone’ season 5. Credit: Paramount Network.
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  • Yellowstone’ Season 5: Wes Bentley and Cole Hauser Interviews

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    Premiering on the Paramount Network November 13th is season 5 of the popular series ‘Yellowstone,’ which was created by Taylor Sheridan (‘Hell or High Water’).

    The series follows the Dutton family, owners of the largest ranch in Montana, known as the Yellowstone Dutton Ranch. Season 5 will explore John Dutton’s (Kevin Costner) political career, Beth (Kelly Reilly) and Rip’s (Cole Hauser) marriage, Beth and her brother Jamie’s (Wes Bentley) rivalry, Kayce’s (Luke Grimes) family, and the future of the ranch.

    Moviefone recently had the pleasure of speaking with Wes Bentley and Cole Hauser about their work on the fifth season of ‘Yellowstone,’ Jamie’s rivalry with the family, Beth and Rip’s relationship, John Dutton’s political career, and the future of the ranch.

    Wes Bentley stars as Jamie Dutton in Paramount Network's 'Yellowstone' season 5.
    Wes Bentley stars as Jamie Dutton in Paramount Network’s ‘Yellowstone’ season 5.

    You can read the full interviews below or click on the video player above to watch our interviews with Wes Bentley and Cole Hauser.

    Moviefone: To begin with, Wes, Jamie did some pretty terrible things at the end of last season, where is he mentally and in terms with the family when the new season begins?

    Wes Bentley: I was just laughing because you said he did a terrible thing at end of the season. It feels like (he does that) almost every season. I mean Jamie is, for the first time in his life, I think, fully checkmated. I think he feels cornered and in a cage. He has no plan. For Jamie, that’s terrifying. He’s always had a plan. He’s always had an idea. He’s always had an out. He has none of that now. Beth has him locked down and she knows it and he knows it.

    I think what he’s doing is he’s upset. He’s upset and he’s raging inside about what he’s had to do, and now how they’re treating him again. But I think he’s also, like Jamie does, staying loyal and trying to help them through the governorship as he enters it, and help them not mess everything up and try to keep the ranch. I mean, in Jamie’s world, he’s trying to keep the ranch too. He’s conflicted I think. There’s a real struggle going on inside of him and I don’t know if he can maintain it for the whole time.

    MF: Now that Beth has leverage on Jamie and is blackmailing him, how does that affect their relationship, and will we see that storyline play out this season?

    WB: I mean, we don’t build the relationship, but it gets better though. It only gets more intense. She really is enjoying, I think, having Jamie now locked down. It seems to be that she’s relishing it and taking advantage of it. I think that’s only going to spark Jamie more to react. I think now Jamie is no longer going to try to play her games.

    He’ll answer her questions. He’ll do what she says, but he’s going to try not to participate in this thing she does. I don’t know if he can pull it off the whole time. Like I said, his anger is only building. He’s a pot boiling with a lid on and it’s going to burst. Whether that’s to his benefit or not, I don’t know yet, but something’s going to happen.

    MF: Now that John Dutton is involved in politics, how does that make Jamie feel and how does it change his relationship with his father?

    WB: I mean, I think any sort of mythical character John was to Jamie died when he ran for governor because he spent his whole life railing against politicians, railing against lawyers, the law, the government, and now he’s the governor, not Jamie, but John.

    I think it cleared something up, that his dad is a hypocrite. I mean, he probably knew that in a lighter way before, but this is full hypocrite. This is not a real man. Two things happen there. You lose respect and also, he sees a weakness and that might be something to exploit.

    Cole Hauser stars as Rip Wheeler in Paramount Network's 'Yellowstone' season 5.
    Cole Hauser stars as Rip Wheeler in Paramount Network’s ‘Yellowstone’ season 5.

    MF: Cole, Rip and Beth finally got married at the end of last season. How are they doing as a couple when the new season begins?

    Cole Hauser: I don’t think much has changed when it comes to them being a couple. I mean, they’ve been a couple since they met each other at 12 and 13 years old. But I think what Taylor wrote this year, which is wonderful, is there’s some stuff that comes up in the past when it comes to Beth and what she’s dealing with.

    Certainly, in the first episode you see that. But once again, Rip is there, not only as a rock, but as a friend and her lover. I think it’s just more of him being the man that she’s always wanted. I love playing that guy, he’s just solid when it comes to her.

    MF: As I’m sure you know, fans love seeing Rip and Beth together. Why do you think their relationship resonates so much with the show’s audience?

    CH: I would say they’re imperfect and I think a lot of people want to see that. I don’t watch all the television shows that are out there right now, so I can’t speak for all of them, but I think what Taylor does really well is he writes them imperfect.

    Also, they need to help each other to fix not only issues outside of their relationship but within it. I think the audience seems to resonate not only with that, but also their passion for each other and the love, which is unwavering no matter what you do. So, I’m assuming that’s why people are attracted to them.

    MF: Finally, now that John Dutton is involved in politics, Rip fears for the future of the ranch. Can you talk about that and what does he see that no one else is does?

    CH: I talked to Taylor about this when we were shooting the scene that’s on the hillside and why he feels the way he does. It’s uncomfortable for him to have people in his backyard, so to speak. I think that’s never been something that has been allowed in the past.

    So, I think that’s kind of a reaction based on allowing them into this world that is very private. This is a guy who doesn’t have an ID. He’s not really on the planet. People don’t know about him. He’s kind of an animal in the Montana landscape. So, it’s the idea of having that in his backyard, that I think is troublesome to him.

    But what’s kind of happening this year, which he’s struggling with and certainly Taylor wrote it this way to see another side of Rip, is the idea of being thrusted into this responsibility of being the foreman while John’s away, and how he deals with that personally and also with Beth. So, this year there’s a lot of stuff going on mentally that’s different from any other year with Rip.

    Kelly Reilly as Bethany "Beth" Dutton and Cole Hauser as Rip Wheeler in Paramount Network's 'Yellowstone' season 5.
    (L to R) Kelly Reilly as Bethany “Beth” Dutton and Cole Hauser as Rip Wheeler in Paramount Network’s ‘Yellowstone’ season 5. Credit: Paramount Network.
    Wes Bentley as Jamie Dutton in Paramount Network's 'Yellowstone' season 5.
    Wes Bentley as Jamie Dutton in Paramount Network’s ‘Yellowstone’ season 5. Credit: Paramount Network.
    Kevin Costner as John Dutton III in Paramount Network's 'Yellowstone' season 5.
    Kevin Costner as John Dutton III in Paramount Network’s ‘Yellowstone’ season 5. Credit: Paramount Network.

  • Kenneth Branagh Back as Poirot for ‘A Haunting in Venice’

    Kenneth Branagh as Hercule Poirot in 20th Century Studios’ 'Death on the Nile.'
    Kenneth Branagh as Hercule Poirot in 20th Century Studios’ ‘Death on the Nile,’ a mystery-thriller directed by Kenneth Branagh based on Agatha Christie’s 1937 novel. Photo by Rob Youngson. © 2020 Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

    While ‘Death on the Nile’ suffered from mixed reviews and relatively quiet box office, 20th Century Studios seems eager to stay in business with producer/director/star Kenneth Branagh, who has been busy setting up his next Agatha Christie adaptation.

    With Michael Green – who wrote both ‘Death’ and ‘Murder on the Orient Express’ for the filmmaker – once again cranking out the script, Branagh is ready to make ‘A Haunting in Venice’ as his next film.

    The story this time, as opposed to sticking with the book’s title, adapts Christie’s 1969 novel ‘Hallowe’en Party’.

    Set in post-World War II Venice on All Hallows’ Eve, ‘A Haunting in Venice’ is described as a terrifying mystery featuring the return of the celebrated sleuth, Hercule Poirot. Now retired and living in self-imposed exile in the world’s most glamorous city, Poirot reluctantly attends a séance at a decaying, haunted palazzo. When one of the guests is murdered, the detective is thrust into a sinister world of shadows and secrets.

    Naturally, Branagh and his epic (albeit fake) mustache will be back as Poirot, delving into another mystery. And he has, in keeping with the other two movies, assembled an impressive, eclectic ensemble.

    Kenneth Branagh as Hercule Poirot in 20th Century Studios' 'Death on the Nile.'
    Kenneth Branagh as Hercule Poirot in 20th Century Studios’ ‘Death on the Nile.’ Photo courtesy of 20th Century Studios. © 2022 20th Century Studios. All Rights Reserved.

    Partly, ‘A Haunting in Venice’ will serve as a ‘Belfast’ reunion for the director, since he’s cast Jamie Dornan (who played a version of his father in the nostalgic, Oscar-winning drama) and Jude Hill (the young actor bringing to life a character based on Branagh’s own youth).

    But that’s just the start. We can also expect to see Tina Fey (best known for her writing and performing work on ‘Saturday Night Live’ and ’30 Rock’), Michelle Yeoh (who needs little introduction but kicked ass this year in ‘Everything Everywhere All At Once’), ‘Mayor of Kingstown’s Emma Laird, ‘Yellowstone’ actor Kelly Reilly, Riccardo Scamarcio from ‘John Wick: Chapter 3’, Ali Khan of ‘6 Underground’ and ‘West Side Story’s Kyle Allen.

    “This is a fantastic development of the character Hercule Poirot, as well as the Agatha Christie franchise,” Branagh enthuses. “Based on a complex, little known tale of mystery set at Halloween in a pictorially ravishing city, it is an amazing opportunity for us, as filmmakers, and we are relishing the chance to deliver something truly spine-chilling for our loyal movie audiences.”

    “We are enormously privileged to continue our long collaboration with the incomparable Sir Kenneth Branagh and couldn’t be more excited by the bold new creative direction Ken, Michael, and the rest of the filmmaking team have taken with this latest film,” says 20th Century Studios president Steve Asbell. “We also remain grateful to James Prichard and the rest of our friends at Agatha Christie, Ltd., for their partnership and for once again entrusting us with, as Poirot modestly calls himself, ‘probably the greatest detective in the world.’”

    The director will start the cameras rolling on possibly the most suitable date possible – October 31, with shooting scheduled for Pinewood Studios outside London and on location in Venice.

    No exact date has been announced, but ‘A Haunting in Venice’ should be scaring audiences in theaters next year.

    Kenneth Branagh as Hercule Poirot in 20th Century Studios’ 'Death on the Nile.'
    Kenneth Branagh as Hercule Poirot in 20th Century Studios’ ‘Death on the Nile,’ a mystery-thriller directed by Kenneth Branagh based on Agatha Christie’s 1937 novel. Photo by Rob Youngson. © 2020 Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation. All Rights Reserved.
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