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Tag: kenneth branagh

  • 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.

     

     

  • Movie Review: ‘Oppenheimer’

    Cillian Murphy is J. Robert Oppenheimer in 'Oppenheimer,' written, produced, and directed by Christopher Nolan.
    Cillian Murphy is J. Robert Oppenheimer in ‘Oppenheimer,’ written, produced, and directed by Christopher Nolan.

    Opening in theaters on July 21st is the new biopic ‘Oppenheimer,’ which chronicles the life and career of the “Father of the Atomic Bomb” J. Robert Oppenheimer and was directed by acclaimed filmmaker Christopher Nolan (‘Tenet,’ ‘Dunkirk,’ ‘The Dark Knight’).

    What is the plot of ‘Oppenheimer’?

    ‘Oppenheimer’ tells the story of J. Robert Oppenheimer’s role in the development of the atomic bomb during World War II.

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    Who is in the cast of ‘Oppenheimer’?

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    Initial Thoughts

    Christopher Nolan has crafted another masterpiece with an epic historical biopic that is as captivating as it is compelling. What begins as a character study eventually unfolds into an intriguing political mystery with unexpected twists and turns. Cillian Murphy gives the performance of his career as the conflicted and complicated J. Robert Oppenheimer, while Robert Downey Jr. also gives one of his finest performances to date as Lewis Strauss, Oppenheimer’s eventual adversary.

    Story and Direction

    Writer, director, and producer Christopher Nolan on the set of 'Oppenheimer.'
    Writer, director, and producer Christopher Nolan on the set of ‘Oppenheimer.’

    The three-hour long movie tells the story of J. Robert Oppenheimer from his early years studying physics in Germany, to eventually being recruited by the U.S. government to work on the Manhattan Project and the aftermath of the creation of the Atomic bomb. The story is mostly told in flashbacks from both Oppenheimer and Lewis Strauss’ points of views. Oppenheimer is defending his actions following WWII in a secret government meeting, while Strauss is addressing a Senate committee as he has been appointed to a cabinet position. We see the events as they unfold as memories for both characters, with Strauss’ in black and white, and Oppenheimer’s depicted in color, which also represents the characters personalities as Strauss sees the world in black and white while Oppenheimer sees bright colors.

    Christopher Nolan is unarguably one of the most celebrated filmmakers of his generation and is known for making twisty movies like ‘Memento’ and ‘Inception,’ as well as historical documents like ‘Dunkirk,’ but ‘Oppenheimer’ excels because it does both at the same time and embraces everything Nolan does well. Nolan’s script is smart, cutting back and forth between both Oppenheimer and Strauss’ hearings and their individual flashbacks, and using that to frame the story of creating the Atom bomb. But the movie is also a political thriller, and has a ‘Usual Suspects’ level twist towards the end that you won’t see coming.

    Nolan sets an epic tone for the film, which is grand in scope and design, and he gets the very best out of his ensemble cast. Nolan’s use of cutaways to visual effects of atoms, molecules, fire and stars representing thoughts running through Oppenheimer’s head were interesting but thankfully used sparingly. While the film is long at just about three-hours, it goes fast and Nolan uses the most of his time setting the stakes for the drama and allowing his cast room to breathe. The movie also looks gorgeous, thanks to Nolan and the work of cinematographer Hoyte van Hoytema.

    Cillian Murphy as J. Robert Oppenheimer

    Cillian Murphy is J. Robert Oppenheimer in 'Oppenheimer,' written, produced, and directed by Christopher Nolan.
    Cillian Murphy is J. Robert Oppenheimer in ‘Oppenheimer,’ written, produced, and directed by Christopher Nolan.

    Cillian Murphy is best known for playing the Scarecrow in Nolan’s ‘Dark Knight’ movies and hasn’t really had the chance to show off his talents until now. As the title character Murphy delivers a strong and layered performance with authority that gives the movie a feeling of importance and urgency. Oppenheimer is driven, egotistical, brilliant, self-absorbed and conflicted, and Murphy conveys all of this with very little effort, giving a seamless performance. This is definitely the actors best work, and I would be surprised if he doesn’t get a lot of attention come awards season.

    Robert Downey Jr.’s Performance

    Robert Downey Jr is Lewis Strauss in 'Oppenheimer,' written, produced, and directed by Christopher Nolan.
    Robert Downey Jr is Lewis Strauss in ‘Oppenheimer,’ written, produced, and directed by Christopher Nolan.

    Robert Downey Jr. is one of the most popular actors of his generation, but after a decade of playing Iron Man, it’s easy to forget just how good a dramatic actor he is and this movie helps remind us of that. Despite the title, ‘Oppenheimer’ is almost as much Downey’s movie as it is Murphy’s, and the actor completely holds his own narrative well. While the two actors share few scenes together and Downey’s role is supporting, his character is pivotal to the story and the true antagonist of the film. In a career as impressive as Downey’s, it’s hard to say this is his best performance, but it’s certainly on the short list, and I’m starting the campaign now for Downey to get nominated for an Oscar for Best Supporting Actor.

    Supporting Cast

    Matt Damon is Leslie Groves in 'Oppenheimer,' written, produced, and directed by Christopher Nolan.
    Matt Damon is Leslie Groves in ‘Oppenheimer,’ written, produced, and directed by Christopher Nolan.

    Nolan has always assembled incredible casts of actors for his projects, but the abundance of riches here is a bit embarrassing. The movie stars a who’s who of talented actors, and I of course can’t mention all of them, but I will say Matt Damon stands out. Damon plays Leslie Groves, the General that recruited Oppenheimer. The actor plays the role with a bit of his signature charm, which fits the otherwise serious military figure well. Damon also has good chemistry with Murphy, and the two characters forge a nice friendship together.

    Surprisingly, Josh Hartnett, who’s been away from the big screen for some time makes a fantastic comeback as Ernest Lawrence, one of Oppenheimer’s colleagues. Hartnett gives a really strong performance opposite Murphy and is a wonderful addition to the cast. Benny Safdie and David Krumholtz also play colleagues of Oppenheimer and both actors bring a lot to their characters as well.

    Josh Hartnett is Ernest Lawrence in 'Oppenheimer,' written, produced, and directed by Christopher Nolan.
    Josh Hartnett is Ernest Lawrence in ‘Oppenheimer,’ written, produced, and directed by Christopher Nolan.

    Florence Pugh also stands out and gives a very daring performance as Jean Tatlock, Oppenheimer’s first love. Pugh’s character is sweet and vulnerable, and you understand why he falls in love with her in the first place. But their story is also tragic, and Pugh’s tender performance gives her character a real voice in the movie.

    Unfortunately, Emily Blunt’s performance as Oppenheimer’s wife, Kitty, did not work for me. The character was not as well-defined in the script as Jean, and while Blunt is a great actress and did her best in the role, her performance falls flat with her limited screen time. The chemistry between Oppenheimer and Kitty never quite works, especially in comparison to his relationship with Jean, but perhaps that was the point.

    Emily Blunt is Kitty Oppenheimer in 'Oppenheimer,' written, produced, and directed by Christopher Nolan.
    Emily Blunt is Kitty Oppenheimer in ‘Oppenheimer,’ written, produced, and directed by Christopher Nolan.

    Related Article: ‘Oppenheimer’, ‘The Exorcist’ and More Feature in Universal Pictures’ CinemaCon Presentation

    Oscar Hopes

    Emily Blunt is Kitty Oppenheimer and Cillian Murphy is J. Robert Oppenheimer in 'Oppenheimer,' written, produced, and directed by Christopher Nolan.
    (L to R) Emily Blunt is Kitty Oppenheimer and Cillian Murphy is J. Robert Oppenheimer in ‘Oppenheimer,’ written, produced, and directed by Christopher Nolan.

    I would imagine that this film will be nominated for Best Picture at the Oscars next year. I’d be surprised if Nolan doesn’t get nominated as well for both Best Director and Best Adapted Screenplay. Depending on how the rest of the year shapes up, he’ll probably walk away with at least one of those awards. Nolan’s been nominated five times before and never won, and right now, this seems like the movie and the year where he might actually win.

    I think Cillian Murphy has a great chance of being nominated for Best Actor, and certainly deserves it, but I’m really hoping that Robert Downey Jr. is rewarded for his incredible performance here, as well as his overall body of work. Florence Pugh also has a chance at a Best Supporting Actress nomination, but that will really rely on who the rest of the competition will be. I would also imagine the film will receive several technical nominations as well as cinematography for Hoyte van Hoytema.

    Final Thoughts

    In the end, ‘Oppenheimer’ is another Christopher Nolan masterpiece. A movie that works both as a compelling historical biopic, and an intriguing political thriller with brilliant performances from Cillian Murphy and Robert Downey Jr.

    ‘Oppenheimer’ received 9.5 out of 10 stars

    Cillian Murphy (as J. Robert Oppenheimer) and writer, director, and producer Christopher Nolan on the set of 'Oppenheimer.'
    (L to R) Cillian Murphy (as J. Robert Oppenheimer) and writer, director, and producer Christopher Nolan on the set of ‘Oppenheimer.’

    Other Christopher Nolan Movies:

    Buy Tickets: ‘Oppenheimer’ Movie Showtimes

    Buy Christopher Nolan Movies on Amazon

    ‘Oppenheimer’ is produced by Syncopy, Universal Pictures, and Atlas Entertainment. It is set to release in theaters on July 21st.

     

  • Ryan Reynolds and Kenneth Branagh Starring in ‘Mayday’

    (Left) Ryan Reynolds in 'The Adam Project.' (Right) Kenneth Branagh in 'Death on the Nile.'
    (Left) Ryan Reynolds in ‘The Adam Project.’ (Right) Kenneth Branagh in ‘Death on the Nile.’

    Apple is looking to continue its connection with big-name actors, landing a deal that includes Ryan Reynolds and Kenneth Branagh to star in ‘Mayday’, a new action-adventure movie being produced by Skydance Media.

    According to Deadline, the new movie was born from original pitch by ‘Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves’ writer/directors John Francis Daley and Jonathan Goldstein, with the advantage that the script from the duo is complete to the point where the ongoing writers’ strike shouldn’t have too much of an impact on when it could shoot.

    Reynolds, of course, is currently busy making the ‘Deadpool 3’, but he showed interest in the new movie back in April and if all schedules and other details line up, this could be next on his To Do list, once his latest turn as motormouthed mutant Wade Wilson is complete.

    Reynolds as Deadpool
    Ryan Reynolds in 20th Century Fox’s ‘Deadpool.’

    Related Article: Reynolds and Jackman Answer ‘Deadpool 3’ Wolverine Questions

    What do we know about ‘Mayday’?

    So far, in keeping with a project like this that is still at an early stage, the actual story of ‘Mayday’ is being kept under wraps for now, beyond the fact that it’s an action-adventure.

    We’re hopeful that in Goldstein and Daley’s hands, it’ll prove to be something more than the genre standard, and potentially funny, since the pair has proved they know what they’re doing when it comes to blended movies. ‘Game Night’ drew laughs out of a mix of mystery and comedy, while ‘Honor Among Thieves’ worked as both a faithful fantasy adventure and a knowing wink at its conventions.

    The title could well be a nod to a rescue of some kind, though we’re going to have to wait and see on that front.

    ‘Mayday’ marks the latest collaboration between Apple and Skydance, with the companies engaged in a first-look deal that has so far yielded the likes of ‘Ghosted’, ‘The Greatest Beer Run Ever’ and the animated movie ‘Luck’.

    This new project returns Reynolds to the Apple fold, since he previously starred alongside Will Ferrell in festive-themed musical comedy ‘Spirited’, which was a new spin on ‘A Christmas Carol’. Alongside ‘Deadpool 3’, which is due in theaters on November 8th, 2024, he also has John Krasinski’s latest directorial outing, ‘Imaginary Friends’, itself headed to screens on May 24th the same year. And he’ll likely also be seen in the sequel to Netflix hit action comedy ‘Red Notice’.

    Branagh, meanwhile, will next show up in Christopher Nolan’s ‘Oppenheimer’, in theaters on July 21st this year, followed by his latest directing/starring turn in an Agatha Christie adaptation, ‘A Haunting in Venice’, where he’ll once again play detective Hercule Poirot. That movie will arrive on September 15th and promises to be more of a horror-inflected story for the master detective.

    With no start date in place yet we’ll have to wait to learn when ‘Mayday’ might make it to screens.

    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 Starring Ryan Reynolds or Kenneth Branagh:

    Buy Ryan Reynolds Movies On Amazon

    Buy Kenneth Branagh Movies On Amazon

     

  • 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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  • First Teaser for Christopher Nolan’s ‘Oppenheimer’

    Having famously switched his filmmaking operations to Universal from longtime home Warner Bros. after dissatisfaction with the straight-to-HBO handling of some movies and its treatment of ‘Tenet’, Christopher Nolan has been working away on his next movie, ‘Oppenheimer’.

    Universal, naturally, is going all out to promote this one, including with this first, unusual teaser, which features fragments of footage from the film, some voice-over dialogue referring to its subject matter and an ominous countdown clock.

    Some have speculated that it’s to the release date – but not in America, as those figures don’t sync up. But with the movie opening in Singapore the day before its Stateside release, it makes more sense.

    Nolan here is adapting the Pulitzer Prize-winning book ‘American Prometheus: The Triumph and Tragedy of J. Robert Oppenheimer’ by Kai Bird and the late Martin J. Sherwin. It chronicles how he was part of the infamous Manhattan Project and played a key role in the creation of atomic weapons, yet later came to have complicated feelings about their deadly power. He lobbied for international control of nuclear power and opposed the creation of the even more destructive hydrogen bomb.

    Cillian Murphy, a Nolan regular, plays Oppenheimer, who is glimpsed briefly in this first footage.

    Cillian Murphy as J. Robert Oppenheimer in 'Oppenheimer' written and directed by Christopher Nolan.
    Cillian Murphy as J. Robert Oppenheimer in ‘Oppenheimer’ written and directed by Christopher Nolan.

    Emily Blunt is playing his wife, biologist, and botanist Katherine “Kitty” Oppenheimer, with Matt Damon as General Leslie Groves Jr., director of the Manhattan Project and Robert Downey, Jr. as Lewis Strauss, a founding commissioner of the U.S. Atomic Energy Commission.

    Florence Pugh will portray psychiatrist Jean Tatlock, who turns out to have a hidden agenda, while Benny Safdie plays theoretical physicist Edward Teller. Michael Angarano is physicist Robert Serber and Josh Hartnett plays pioneering American nuclear scientist Ernest Lawrence.

    Also among the cast? Kenneth Branagh, Rami Malek, Gary Oldman, Dane DeHaan, Jack Quaid, Scott Grimes, Dylan Arnold, Olivia Thirlby, Olli Haaskivi, Matthew Modine, Gustaf Skarsgård (yes, another son of Stellan, and aged between Alexander and Bill), Jason Clarke, David Dastmalchian, Alden Ehrenreich, Casey Affleck, Tony Goldwyn, Alex Wolff, Josh Peck, James D’Arcy, David Krumholtz…

    Look, at this point it’s probably easier just to list the people who aren’t in Nolan’s latest. It might be the first end credits crawl in years where the cast runs for a longer time than the effects teams.

    ‘Oppenheimer’ sees Nolan tackling a historical subject again, and one that surely offers the opportunity for plenty of his terse dialogue and large-canvas visions. It won’t surprise you to learn that it has been shot and be and released on 65mm IMAX and large-format film. Providing the beautiful footage is another repeat Nolan colleague, director of photography Hoyte Van Hoytema, while composer Ludwig Göransson returns after scoring ‘Tenet’. A pulse-pounding biopic thriller with high stakes certainly feels like it could work well for Nolan.

    ‘Oppenheimer’ will be in theaters here from July 21st.

    Cillian Murphy as J. Robert Oppenheimer in 'Oppenheimer' written and directed by Christopher Nolan.
    Cillian Murphy as J. Robert Oppenheimer in ‘Oppenheimer’ written and directed by Christopher Nolan.
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  • Andrew Garfield and Kristen Stewart Win at the Hollywood Critics Association Awards

    Andrew Garfield excepting award
    Andrew Garfield excepting Best Actor for ‘tick, tick…BOOM!’ at the 5th Annual Hollywood Critics Association Awards.

    Nestled among the giant likes of awards shows such as the Oscars and the various guilds are the scrappier, more entertaining galas such as Monday evening’s Hollywood Critics Association Awards.

    This year’s event, the fifth annual ceremony and the first to be held in person since the start of the pandemic saw a wide variety of actors and artisans honored with both traditional categories and special awards. Among the winners this year? Andrew Garfield, Kristen Stewart, and directors Denis Villeneuve and Jane Campion.

    The best director category was a legitimate tie between the two veteran filmmakers, with ‘Dune’s Villeneuve on stage to receive his trophy and ‘The Power of the Dog’s Campion accepting via a video.

    Andrew Garfield gave a joyous, sweary and sweet speech accepting his Best Actor award for ‘tick, tick… BOOM!’ while Kristen Stewart seemed more surprised that she’d won for ‘Spencer’.

    Kristen Stewart wins award
    Kristen Stewart excepting Best Actress for her performance in ‘Spencer’ at the 5th Annual Hollywood Critics Association Awards.

    There was also a lot of love for team ‘CODA’ as the movie won Best Adapted Screenplay for writer/director Siân Heder, Best Supporting Actor for Troy Kotsur, and in an emotional finale, Best Picture.

    Along with Villeneuve’s win, ‘Dune’ proved popular among the voters, as it also took home Best Visual Effects, Best Score for Hans Zimmer, and Best Cinematography for Greig Fraser.

    On the special award front, Kenneth Branagh was awarded Excellence in Artistry (while his latest, ‘Belfast’, also won the Cast Ensemble award), and the actor/writer/director naturally quoted Shakespeare in his acceptance speech.

    Nicolas Cage was the recipient of both a trophy for Acting Achievement and a heartfelt presentation by ‘Pig’ co-star Alex Wolff, who seemed genuinely happy and excited to give his friend the award.

    Nicolas Cage winning an award
    Nicolas Cage excepting the Acting Achievement Award at the 5th Annual Hollywood Critics Association Awards.

    Here’s the full list of winners:

    • Best Picture – CODA
    • Best Actor – Andrew Garfield, tick, tick…BOOM!
    • Best Actress – Kristen Stewart, Spencer
    • Best Supporting Actor – Troy Kotsur, CODA
    • Best Supporting Actress – Ariana DeBose, West Side Story
    • Best Cast Ensemble – Belfast
    • Best Director *Tie* – Denis Villeneuve, Dune & Jane Campion, The Power of The Dog
    • Best Original Screenplay – Fran Kranz, Mass
    • Best Adapted Screenplay – Siân Heder, CODA
    • Best Animated or VFX Performance – Stephanie Beatriz, Encanto
    • Best Action Film – The Harder They Fall
    • Best Animated Film – The Mitchells vs. The Machines
    • Best Comedy or Musical – tick, tick…BOOM!
    • Best Documentary – Summer of Soul
    • Best Horror – Last Night in Soho
    • Best Indie Film – Pig
    • Best International Film – Drive My Car
    • Best First Feature – Lin-Manuel Miranda, tick, tick…BOOM!
    • Best Short Film – Us Again
    • Best Score – Hans Zimmer, Dune
    • Best Original Song – Be Alive, King Richard
    • Best Cinematography – Greig Fraser, Dune
    • Best Production Design – Tamara Deverell, Nightmare Alley
    • Best Film Editing – Paul Machliss, Last Night in Soho
    • Best Stunts – Shang-Chi and The Legend of the Ten Rings
    • Best Costume Design – Jenny Beavan, Cruella
    • Best Hair & Makeup – Justin Raleigh, Linda Dowds, and Stephanie Ingram, The Eyes of Tammy Faye
    • Best Visual Effects – Brian Connor, Gerd Nefzer, Paul Lambert, and Tristan Myles, Dune

    Honorary Awards

    • Acting Achievement Award – Nicolas Cage
    • Artisan Achievement Award – Greig Fraser
    • Artisan on the Rise – Alice Brooks
    • Excellence in Artistry – Kenneth Branagh
    • Filmmaker on the Rise – Natalie Morales
    • Filmmaking Achievement Award – Guillermo del Toro
    • Game Changer Award – Simu Liu
    • Inspire Award – Aunjanue Ellis
    • International Icon Award – Javier Bardem
    • Newcomer Award – Jude Hill
    • Spotlight Award – The Cast of CODA
    • Star on the Rise – Saniyya Sidney
    CODA cast
    Director Sian Heder and the cast of ‘CODA’ excepting Best Picture at the 5th Annual Hollywood Critics Association Awards.

  • Kenneth Branagh Added to Oppenheimer

    Cillian Murphy as J. Robert Oppenheimer in 'Oppenheimer' written and directed by Christopher Nolan.
    Cillian Murphy as J. Robert Oppenheimer in ‘Oppenheimer’ written and directed by Christopher Nolan.

    At this point, if you wrote up a list of people who aren’t in the cast for Christopher Nolan’s new film ‘Oppenheimer’, that inventory would be shorter than rounding up who is in it. And, even with cameras now rolling on the atomic bomb drama, Nolan isn’t finished adding people, with Kenneth Branagh, Alden Ehrenreich, David Krumholtz and Michael Angarano.

    On the heels of the latest casting news comes a first look at the movie – or at least the man playing the title character – Cillian Murphy is seen here sporting a hat and cigarette as Robert Oppenheimer, one of the scientists behind the bomb.

    Nolan here is adapting the Pulitzer Prize-winning book ‘American Prometheus: The Triumph and Tragedy of J. Robert Oppenheimer’ by Kai Bird and the late Martin J. Sherwin. It chronicles how he was part of the infamous Manhattan Project and played a key role in the creation of atomic weapons, yet later came to have complicated feelings about their deadly power. He lobbied for international control of nuclear power and opposed the creation of the even more destructive hydrogen bomb.

    Emily Blunt is playing his wife, biologist, and botanist Katherine “Kitty” Oppenheimer, with Matt Damon as General Leslie Groves Jr., director of the Manhattan Project and Robert Downey, Jr. as Lewis Strauss, a founding commissioner of the U.S. Atomic Energy Commission.

    Florence Pugh will portray psychiatrist Jean Tatlock, who turns out to have a hidden agenda, while Benny Safdie plays theoretical physicist Edward Teller. Michael Angarano is physicist Robert Serber and Josh Hartnett plays pioneering American nuclear scientist Ernest Lawrence.

    Also among the cast? Rami Malek, Dane DeHaan, Jack Quaid, Dylan Arnold,
    Olli Haaskivi and Matthew Modine, but their characters have yet to be announced.

    Kenneth Branagh as Hercule Poirot in 'Death on the Nile.' Photo Courtesy of Walt Disney Studios.
    Kenneth Branagh as Hercule Poirot in ‘Death on the Nile.’ Photo Courtesy of Walt Disney Studios.

    We also don’t know who Branagh will be playing, but this marks his third time working with the director, after ‘Dunkirk’ and ‘Tenet’. Still, the award for Most Frequent Collaborator surely goes to Murphy, who appears in ‘Batman Begins’, ‘The Dark Knight’, ‘The Dark Knight Rises’, ‘Inception’ and ‘Dunkirk’.

    ‘Oppenheimer’ sees Nolan tackling a historical subject again, and one that surely offers the opportunity for plenty of his terse dialogue and large-canvas visions. It won’t surprise you to learn that it’ll be shot and released on 65mm IMAX and large-format film. Providing the beautiful footage is another repeat Nolan colleague, director of photography Hoyte Van Hoytema, while composer Ludwig Göransson returns after scoring ‘Tenet’. A pulse-pounding thriller with high stakes certainly feels like it could work well for Nolan.

    For the first time in several movies, this won’t be released by Warner Bros. Following the less-than gigantic (partly because of its slot during the pandemic) box office for ‘Tenet’, Nolan and producing partner Emma Thomas opened this one up to rival studios, with Universal winning the rights to distribute, handing down a July 21, 2023 theatrical release date.

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  • Movie Review: ‘Death on the Nile’

    Kenneth Branagh as Hercule Poirot in 'Death on the Nile.' Photo Courtesy of Walt Disney Studios.
    Kenneth Branagh as Hercule Poirot in ‘Death on the Nile.’ Photo Courtesy of Walt Disney Studios.

    Opening in theaters on February 11th is ‘Death on the Nile,’ which is a sequel to 2017’s ‘Murder on the Orient Express.’ Based on Agatha Christie’s classic novel, the movie is once again directed by Kenneth Branagh, and also stars Branagh as the world-famous detective, Hercule Poirot.

    The supporting cast includes Gal Gadot (Wonder Woman 1984), Armie Hammer (Call Me by Your Name), Emma Mackey (‘Sex Education’), Annette Bening (American Beauty), Russell Brand (Forgetting Sarah Marshall), Rose Leslie (‘Game of Thrones’), Letitia Wright (Black Panther), and Tom Bateman as Bouc, who also reprises his character from ‘Murder on the Orient Express.’ The result is an entertaining mystery, that is not difficult to solve, but is lifted up by the cast, Branagh’s direction, and his signature performance as Poirot.

    The movie begins with the origin story of Hercule Poirot (Branagh), which explains why he sports such a large mustache. We then see him years later at a jazz club, where he witnesses a romance between Jacqueline (Mackey) and Simon (Hammer), and Simon’s first meeting with Jacqueline’s friend, heiress Linnet Ridgeway- Doyle (Gadot).

    We next find the detective, sometime after the events of ‘Orient Express,’ vacationing alone in Egypt. He quickly bumps into his old friend Bouc (Bateman), and his mother (Bening), who are there for the wedding of a friend. Poirot’s friend invites him to the celebration, and the detective is surprised to find that the newlyweds are Simon and Linnet, who he observed from a far when they first met.

    Trouble begins when Linnet’s old friend and Simon’s jilted lover, Jacqueline arrives on the scene. Linnet and Simon ask Poirot to intervene, but since she has committed no crime, there is nothing he can do. In order to get away from Jacqueline, Linnet hires a ship to take her and her guests down the Nile. Poirot joins the party, but when a murder takes place, and everyone is a suspect, the detective will have no choice but to do what he does best … solve the crime!

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    After a decade of directing studio blockbusters like ‘Thor,’ ‘Cinderella,’ ‘Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit,’ and ‘Murder on the Orient Express,’ Branagh was finally able to make his passion project, ‘Belfast.’ The film was critically acclaimed and has recently gone on to be nominated for several Academy Awards including Best Picture and Best Director for Branagh. ‘Death on the Nile’ was shot in 2019, before ‘Belfast,’ and was delayed because of the pandemic. While his new film can’t compare to the brilliance of ‘Belfast,’ it is a serviceable murder mystery and an enjoyable movie, with a very entertaining cast and a really great performance from Branagh himself.

    Hercule Poirot is a classic literary character and a difficult role to play, as it is easy for an actor to get lost behind that mustache, as Branagh did a bit in ‘Orient Express.’ But by showing the character’s origin story, while also explaining why he lives a solitary life, it makes the character more relatable to the audience. Branagh is also more comfortable in his role this time around, and really commands the screen every scene he’s in. It was also really smart to bring back Tom Bateman as Bouc, which not only bridges Branagh’s two Agatha Christie movies, but also gives Poirot a confidant and someone to care about.

    The supporting cast are all very good in their roles, especially Annette Bening as Bouc’s overbearing mother. English comedians Jennifer Saunders and Dawn French are very funny as a socialite and her nurse, while Russell Brand gives a very against-type performance as the quiet and vulnerable Linus, Linnet’s former fiancé. Actress Emma Mackay gives an outstanding breakout performance as Jaqueline, and based on her work, I think we’ll be seeing a lot of great things from the ‘Sex Education’ actress in the future.

    But outside of Branagh’s performance as Poirot, the film really belongs to Gal Gadot. She is absolutely stunning in the film and commands her scenes with grace and power. She plays Linnet as a kind soul with too much money at her disposal, forcing her to trust no one. This can make the character a bit cold at times, but Gadot’s performance is never unlikable. In one of her best scenes, Gadot does not say a word, just simply walks the length of the ship while sailing on the Nile. Beautifully shot by Branagh, this scene tells us everything we need to know about the character.

    While it may be a better movie pound-for-pound than ‘Orient Express,’ ‘Nile’ is not without its faults. The film allows more time for character development, especially with Poirot, which is great, but it also means that the “mystery” really doesn’t begin until halfway through the movie. There is a lot of set up. Necessary of course, but perhaps it could have been streamlined a bit.

    Unfortunately, even if you’ve never read an Agatha Christie book or seen an adaption before, her work is so baked into our culture now, her mysteries can be very predictable. Without reading the novel or seeing the 1978 movie, I knew who the killer was almost as soon as the murder took place. I just know how Agatha Christie mysteries work, which is the biggest problem with the film. But in the end, thanks to Branagh’s performance, as well as Gadot and the supporting cast, ultimately ‘Death on the Nile’ is still an entertaining movie.

    ‘Death on the Nile’ receives 3.5 out of 5 stars.

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  • 2022 Oscar Nominations

    Oscars 2022 Nominees'
    Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences

    The 2022 Oscar nominations were announced this morning by Leslie Jordan and Tracee Ellis Ross.

    The 94th Academy Awards will take place on March 27, back after a couple of pandemic-affected years at Hollywood’s Dolby Theatre. For the first time in three years, the in-person event will have a host – or, according to broadcaster ABC, multiple hosts – though no names have yet been announced.

    Jane Campion’s ‘The Power of the Dog’ led the pack with 12 nominations, though ‘Dune’ is nipping at its heels with 10 (albeit left out of the major acting and directing categories).

    Let’s break down the big categories and you can find the full list of nominees below…

    BEST PICTURE

    This will be a tough category to call in terms of winners, especially with 10 nominees. ‘The Power of the Dog’ is surely the front-runner, but don’t count out ‘Belfast’ or ‘King Richard’.

    Neither ‘Being The Ricardos’ or Lin-Manuel Miranda’s ‘Tick, Tick…Boom!’ managed to make it to the final list which is something of a surprise given the love for both, with ‘Drive My Car’ more of a surprise. And sorry Spidey – while it is dominating the box office, ‘Spider-Man: No Way Home’ couldn’t manage a berth here.

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    BEST DIRECTOR

    Jane Campion is the clear favorite here for ‘The Power of the Dog’ and has made Oscar history by becoming the first woman to score two Oscar nominations, following her nod in 1994 for ‘The Piano’. Yet she faces competition from the likes of Kenneth Branagh, whose sentimental ‘Belfast’ has drawn plenty of attention. Paul Thomas Anderson also seems to be in with a shout for ‘Licorice Pizza’

    Missing? We’d surely have predicted Guillermo del Toro for his work on ‘Nightmare Alley’ (which got a Best Picture nod but seems unlikely to win that given del Toro’s absence here) and Denis Villeneuve was surely in with a shot for ‘Dune’, but it was not to be.

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    BEST LEAD ACTOR

    No real shock to find Benedict Cumberbatch once again on an acting award nominees list, while Will Smith and Andrew Garfield were also talked up as locks.

    Perhaps an actual shock is the lack of acting nominations for ‘Licorice Pizza’. While Cooper Hoffman was not predicted to be in the running, we did think Alana Haim could end up in the Best Actress category.

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    BEST LEAD ACTRESS

    The likes of Colman, Chastain and Kidman were pretty much locks, though Kristen Stewart’s prospects for ‘Spencer’ had wavered of late, given the lack of love from either the Screen Actors Guild or the BAFTAs, yet she made it in here. Most shockingly, no sign of Lady Gaga for ‘House of Gucci’ and the film itself is a no-show beyond make-up and hairstyling. (Just picture Jared Leto’s Paolo wailing at the news).

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    BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR

    The biggest surprise here is the absence of Bradley Cooper, who missed out both on a nod for Nightmare Alley and didn’t make the Supporting Actor list for his comedic role as Jon Peters in ‘Licorice Pizza’.

    No sign of ‘Ben Affleck’ either, who had been drawing praise for his turn in ‘The Tender Bar’. Ciarán Hinds managed to make it through for ‘Belfast’, while co-star Jamie Dornan did not. Mostly, we want a video of ‘CODA’s Troy Kotsur reacting to his nomination, given the viral clip of him on the day of the BAFTA announcement.

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    BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS

    DeBose is surely in the lead here, though Buckley does good work in ‘The Lost Daughter’ and Dunst has been picking up plenty of attention for ‘The Power of the Dog’.

    No sign, sadly, of Marlee Matlin or Ruth Negga, who both deserved nods for ‘CODA’ and ‘Passing’ respectively. While it’s unlikely she’s winning again, there’s no denying the power of Dame Judi Dench.

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    BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY

    Campion may well win this one, though we’d love to see ‘CODA’ snag this one.

    • ‘CODA’– Siân Heder
    • ‘Drive My Car’ – Ryûsuke Hamaguchi Takamasa Oe
    • ‘Dune’ Jon Spaihts – Denis Villeneuve Eric Roth
    • ‘The Lost Daughter’ – Maggie Gyllenhaal
    • ‘The Power of the Dog’ – Jane Campion
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    BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY

    ‘Don’t Look Up’ continues to do well and could take this one, though ‘Licorice Pizza’ and ‘King Richard’ are big favorites. Aaron Sorkin didn’t make the list this year, with voters snubbing ‘Being the Ricardos’.

    • ‘Belfast’ – Kenneth Branagh
    • ‘Don’t Look Up’ – Adam McKay, David Sirota
    • ‘King Richard’ – Zach Baylin
    • ‘Licorice Pizza’ – Paul Thomas Anderson
    • ‘The Worst Person in the World’ – Eskil Vogt, Joachim Troer
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    BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY

    Despite the lack of love in the bigger categories besides Picture, ‘Nightmare Alley; is in with a chance here, though ‘Dune’ and ‘West Side Story’ are also big possibilities.

    • ‘Dune’ – Greig Fraser
    • ‘Nightmare Alley’ – Dan Laustsen
    • ‘The Power of the Dog’ – Ari Wegner
    • ‘The Tragedy of Macbeth’ – Bruno Delbonnel
    • ‘West Side Story’ – Janusz Kamiński
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    BEST ANIMATED FEATURE FILM

    ‘Encanto’ is surely the big favourite, though don’t count out ‘Flee’, which made history by showing up in this category plus Best Documentary and Best International Feature Film. ‘The Mitchells vs. the Machines’ would also be a fun win.

    • ‘Encanto’
    • ‘Flee’
    • ‘Luca’
    • ‘The Mitchells vs. the Machines’
    • ‘Raya and the Last Dragon’
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    BEST COSTUME DESIGN

    Locked out of the main categories, ‘Cyrano’ might find some love here, though with ‘Cruella’, ‘Dune’ and ‘Nightmare Alley’ also on the list, we don’t love its chances.

    • ‘Cruella’
    • ‘Cyrano’
    • ‘Dune’
    • ‘Nightmare Alley’
    • ‘West Side Story’
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    BEST ORIGINAL SCORE

    Some predicted a double Jonny Greenwood year (he also scored ‘Licorice Pizza’), but it may well be Zimmer’s time again, or even, given its surging success, ‘Encanto’s Germain Franco.

    • ‘Don’t Look Up’ – Nicholas Britell
    • ‘Dune’ – Hans Zimmer
    • ‘Encanto’ – Germaine Franco
    • ‘Parallel Mothers’ – Alberto Iglesias
    • ‘The Power of the Dog’ – Jonny Greenwood
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    BEST INTERNATIONAL FEATURE FILM

    ‘Flee’, as previously mentioned, pulled off the trick of multiple categories and is a strong contender here, though ‘Drive My Car’ might be the one to beat, also having shown up in Best Picture. No sign of ‘Lamb’, as some had predicted.

    • ‘Drive My Car’ – Japan
    • ‘Flee’ – Denmark
    • ‘The Hand of God’ – Italy
    • ‘Lunana: A Yak in the Classroom’ – Bhutan
    • ‘The Worst Person in the World’ – Norway
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    BEST SOUND

    • ‘Belfast’
    • ‘Dune’
    • ‘No Time to Die’
    • ‘The Power of the Dog’
    • ‘West Side Story’
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    BEST ORIGINAL SONG

    • ‘Be Alive,’ ‘King Richard’ – Beyoncé Knowles-Carter, Dixson
    • ‘Dos Oruguitas,’ – ‘Encanto’ – Lin-Manuel Miranda
    • ‘Down to Joy,’ ‘Belfast’ – Van Morrison
    • ‘No Time to Die’, ‘No Time to Die’ – Billie Eilish, Finneas O’Connell
    • ‘Somehow You Do,’ ‘Four Good Days’ – Diane Warren
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    BEST DOCUMENTARY FEATURE

    • ‘Ascension’
    • ‘Attica’
    • ‘Flee’
    • ‘Summer of Soul (…Or When The Revolution Could Not Be Televised)’
    • ‘Writing With Fire’
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    BEST FILM EDITING

    • ‘Don’t Look Up’
    • ‘Dune’
    • ‘King Richard’
    • ‘The Power of the Dog’
    • ‘Tick, Tick … Boom!’

    BEST MAKEUP AND HAIRSTYLING

    • ‘Coming 2 America’
    • ‘Cruella’
    • ‘Dune’
    • ‘The Eyes of Tammy Faye’
    • ‘House of Gucci’

    BEST PRODUCTION DESIGN

    • ‘Dune’
    • ‘Nightmare Alley’
    • ‘The Power of the Dog’
    • ‘The Tragedy of Macbeth’
    • ‘West Side Story’

    BEST VISUAL EFFECTS

    • ‘Dune’
    • ‘Free Guy’
    • ‘No Time to Die’
    • ‘Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings’
    • ‘Spider-Man: No Way Home’

    BEST DOCUMENTARY SHORT SUBJECT

    • ‘Audible’
    • ‘Lead Me Home’
    • ‘The Queen of Basketball’
    • ‘Three Songs for Benazir’
    • ‘When We Were Bullies’

    BEST LIVE ACTION SHORT FILM

    • ‘Ala Kachuu – Take and Run’
    • ‘The Dress’
    • ‘The Long Goodbye’
    • ‘On My Mind’
    • ‘Please Hold’

    BEST ANIMATED SHORT FILM

    • ‘Affairs of the Art’
    • ‘Bestia’
    • ‘Boxballet’
    • ‘Robin Robin’
    • ‘The Windshield Wiper’

    Trailers of the Oscars 2022 Movies

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  • ‘Belfast’ Review: Kenneth Branagh’s Best & Most Personal Film

    ‘Belfast’ Review: Kenneth Branagh’s Best & Most Personal Film

    (L to R) Caitriona Balfe, Jamie Dornan, Judi Dench, Jude Hill, and Lewis McAskie in 'Belfast,' directed by Kenneth Branagh
    (L to R) Caitriona Balfe, Jamie Dornan, Judi Dench, Jude Hill, and Lewis McAskie in ‘Belfast,’ directed by Kenneth Branagh

    Opening in theaters on November 12th is ‘Belfast‘, the new film from director Kenneth Branagh, which won the People’s Choice Award at the 2021 Toronto International Film Festival and is already gaining early Oscar buzz. Written by Branagh and loosely based on his own childhood, the film features an excellent cast of actors that includes Caitriona Balfe (‘Ford v. Ferrari‘), Jamie Dornan (‘Fifty Shades of Grey‘), Ciarán Hinds (‘Justice League‘), Academy Award winner Judi Dench (‘Skyfall‘), and nine-year old actor, Jude Hill.

    The film is a love letter to Branagh’s childhood home of Belfast, Ireland, and tells the story of nine-year old Buddy (Hill), and his working-class family in 1969 that includes his brother, mother (Balfe) and father (Dornan), and grandmother (Dench) and grandfather (Hinds). Buddy lives a happy and normal life, playing with his friends, living with the locals, and adoring the girl that sits in front of him in class. Buddy’s father must travel to England for work, and is gone weeks at a time, which begins to put stress on his mother, who is desperately trying to get them out of financial trouble. Buddy is also very close to his grandparents, particularly his grandfather, who is hiding health issues of his own.

    But unbeknownst to Buddy, his entire world is about to change as the Northern Conflict between Protestants and Catholics begins waging wars in the streets of his small town. With Buddy’s father away, his mother does her best to keep the violence from affecting her children, but this becomes impossible to do as the conflict grows. As Protestants themselves, Buddy’s family tries to stay neutral, having much sympathy for their Catholic neighbors and appalled by the horror in the streets. But when Buddy’s father is approached by the leader of the anti-Catholic movement, Billy Clanton (Colin Morgan), he is forced to choose a side and do what’s best for his family. With a solid job offer in England, that will also provide a house with a yard for his family, Buddy’s father tries to convince his wife that they have no choice but to leave their friends and home behind for a safer life for their children. Now, with the prospect of leaving Belfast, his grandparents, and the girl he “loves” for good, Buddy will learn the only way possible what it truly means to grow-up.

    Drawing on inspiration from his own life, writer and director Kenneth Branagh has truly made his greatest movie yet, which is a beautiful and touching film about growing up, contrasted with the backdrop of the looming Northern Ireland Conflict. While most know Branagh as an accomplished actor, he is also quite the accomplished filmmaker and has been directing his own movies since he practically began in Hollywood over thirty-years ago. Branagh’s early work as a filmmaker includes such acclaimed films as ‘Henry V,’ ‘Dead Again,’ ‘Much Ado About Nothing,’ ‘Mary Shelly’s Frankenstein,’ and ‘Hamlet.’ But, for the better part of the last decade, Branagh has directed big studio movies like ‘Thor,’ ‘Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit,’ ‘Cinderella,’ ‘Murder on the Orient Express,’ and ‘Artemis Fowl.’ One might wonder why Branagh directed so many studio films over such a relatively short period of time. And after seeing ‘Belfast,’ I think I have the answer.

    At the Los Angeles premiere of the film, which is where I saw it, Branagh spoke and mentioned that he has been trying to make this movie for over thirty-years, and suddenly, it all made sense to me. Why else would the director of ‘Henry V’ and ‘Hamlet’ decide to make ‘Thor’ or ‘Cinderella?’ It was so he could eventually get ‘Belfast’ financed and made, and it was well worth the wait. Choosing to shoot the film in black and white gives the movie a feeling of timelessness, which I’m sure was the intended effect. There is some color in the film, wisely used when Buddy is watching American television or movies, which gives them the feeling of being from another world. The only use of color I object to was in the opening title sequence, which shows Belfast today and then cuts to the black and white of 1969. I felt that this opening sequence did not fit the tone of the rest of the movie, and puts you a bit off to begin with, but I understand the effect that Branagh was going for, contrasting Belfast now and then.

    The cast was absolutely incredible, led by a beautiful performance from Jude Hill. I am a voting member of the Hollywood Critics Association, and I have my own strict rules when it comes to voting for awards. I do not vote for children, ever! I know how hard and how long it takes to become an actor and prefer to vote for actors who have been working hard for decades, instead of a phenom kid who knocks it out of the park first time at bat. That being said, I may have to amend my personal rules this award season, as I was completely won over by Hill’s performance. He is so natural in this role and gives off so much deep emotion that it is almost startling. He is completely captivating and, to a degree, really carries the movie on his back.

    I also have to say how impressed I was with Jamie Dornan. Except for a handful of small roles, I’ve only ever seen Dornan in the ‘Fifty Shades’ movies, and am afraid to say, basically wrote him off as an actor. Boy, was I wrong! Jamie Dornan is a very gifted actor and has a range I was completely unaware of. He plays his character as a decent man, just trying to do what is best for his family, and basically stuck between “a rock and a hard place.” But he also shows great emotion in scenes with his wife and his father, yet has very silly, loveable scenes, like when he sings at a party at the end of the film.

    For her part, Judi Dench is, well, Judi Dench! She is wonderful in the role as Buddy’s grandmother, even if her Irish accent is not as good as the rest of the cast. She has some fantastic scenes where she is in the background, but she is so captivating just listening to the other actors, that you can’t take your eyes off her.

    But for me, the two Oscar worthy performances in this film come from Caitriona Balfe and Ciarán Hinds, respectively. As Buddy’s mom, Balfe gives an amazing performance, channelling all the worry of a young mother in her situation, at the same time exuding a young innocence that makes the character fun. The actress also displays a range of emotions in the film that is quite impressive. Hinds should also be in the Oscar race for playing Buddy’s grandfather, in some ways the heart of the film. The actor, who has worked somewhat under the radar for several decades, finally has a role that truly lets him shine, tapping into both his emotional and humorous sides. And he more than holds his own in his scenes with the legendary Dench.

    Finally, I want to mention the music, which was provided by Irish musician Van Morrison. I’m not sure if he recorded anything new for the film, but his library of classic songs is featured throughout the movie. It makes a lot of sense to use Morrison as the soundtrack for this film, and in a lot of places it really works. But there are some scenes, the opening sequence for example, where I felt a score would have been better used and allowed the emotion of the scene to resonate better.

    In the end, ‘Belfast’ is an absolute triumph for Kenneth Branagh as a filmmaker and is the “cherry on top” for an already brilliant career. I expect that Belfast will be nominated for Best Picture, and that Branagh will receive a directing nomination as well, and both would be well deserved. It is a heart-warming, and at times humorous movie with brilliant performances, and a veteran director finally regaining his stride.

    Belfast receives 9 out of 10 stars.

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