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  • TV Review: ‘The Gentlemen’

    Theo James as Eddie Horniman in 'The Gentlemen.'
    (L to R) Theo James as Eddie Horniman in ‘The Gentlemen.’ Photo: Kevin Baker/Netflix. Copyright: © 2023, Netflix Inc.

    Launching on Netflix will all eight episodes on Thursday March 7th, ‘The Gentlemen’ finds Guy Ritchie –– the man behind ‘Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels’, ‘Snatch’ and even more relevantly ‘The Gentlemen’ –– in a very familiar place, for a story that is his most effective in years.

    Though it doesn’t exactly shoot its way out of the filmmaker’s comfort zone, it’s still a fine addition to his canon and proves he’s one of the best when it comes to culture clash, UK gangster action and witty repartee. Plus, it’s far better than the lackluster TV version of ‘Snatch’ that he wasn’t involved with.

    Related Article: Jake Gyllenhaal and Dar Salim Talk Making ‘Guy Ritchie’s The Covenant’

    Does ‘The Gentlemen’ muscle its way to success?

    Kaya Scodelario as Susie Glass and Theo James as Eddie Horniman in 'The Gentlemen.'
    (L to R) Kaya Scodelario as Susie Glass and Theo James as Eddie Horniman in ‘The Gentlemen.’ Photo: Christopher Rafael/Netflix. Copyright: © 2023, Netflix Inc.

    After a few years jumping from genre to genre, switching between the big studio likes of ‘The Man from U.N.C.L.E.’, ‘King Arthur: Legend of the Sword’ (both fizzled attempts to launch franchises) and ‘Aladdin’, and more indie fare such as ‘Wrath of Man’ ‘Operation Fortune: Ruse de Guerre’ and ‘The Covenant’, it was almost reassuring that one of those jumps landed on something truly familiar –– ‘The Gentlemen’, the story of an American (Matthew McConaughey) looking to offload his marijuana empire and coming up against a variety of crooked types, both posh and not.

    Though it didn’t get the same reaction as Ritchie’s earlier swims in the criminal pool, it was reassuringly fun. And we’re happy to report that the TV show which borrows its milieu but focuses on an entirely new set of characters and story, is great on its own terms.

    Script and Direction

    Guy Ritchie on the set of 'The Gentlemen.'
    Guy Ritchie on the set of ‘The Gentlemen.’ Photo: Kevin Baker/Netflix. Copyright: © 2023, Netflix Inc.

    Ritchie worked with Matthew Read, who has written movies such as ‘Pusher’, ‘Sword of Vengeance’, and ‘Hammer of the Gods’ and TV series including ‘The Pursuit of Love’ and (for a total curveball) the latest adaptation of kids’ adventure books ‘The Famous Five’. Together, they cranked out all eight episodes, and the result is a talky, extremely watchable mash-up of gangster tropes and something more like ‘Downton Abbey’.

    While American audiences might need to break out a British slang-to-US English dictionary at times (and rat-a-tat dialogue will almost certainly cry out for closed captions unless you have someone from the UK on hand to translate, the chatter really works, each new character met given their own particular patter and winning style.

    Ritchie launched the show’s tone via the first two episodes, with David Caffrey, Eran Creevy and Nima Nourizadeh sharing duties on the rest, and it all hangs together perfectly, the zippy, outlandish flourishes never overwhelming the twisty story.

    Performances

    Theo James, Josh Finan, and Vinnie Jones in 'The Gentlemen.'
    (L to R) Theo James, Josh Finan, and Vinnie Jones in ‘The Gentlemen.’ Photo: Christopher Rafael/Netflix. Copyright: © 2023, Netflix Inc.

    Theo James has been more known for his work in the dysfunctional ‘Divergent’ franchise, where he was largely a bland, handsome leading type. But it is on the small screen that he has found the space to stretch himself. ‘The White Lotus’ cast him as an overprivileged type and in ‘The Gentlemen’, he’s got even more privilege.

    But for the new show, the crown weighs a little heavier, as James plays Edward “Eddie” Halstead, newly anointed as an earl following his father’s death. Eddie never wanted to play the rich man’s game: he left to join the British Army, yet discovers that his sprawling family stately home comes with a secret weed growing operation… And that he’s more comfortable straddling the aristocratic and criminal worlds than he expected.

    James still isn’t quite the charismatic center the show needs all the time, but he fits right into the role, and he’s mostly the straight man anyway, with others upping the entertainment game.

    Kaya Scodelario, a fellow veteran of big screen franchise fare including the ‘Maze Runner’ and ‘Pirates of the Caribbean’ series. Here, she’s cockney gangster royalty Susie Glass, who runs her father’s weed operation with an iron fist. Scodelario is excellent, whether she’s winning people over with her personality or fixing what needs to be fixed.

    Ray Winstone as Bobby Glass in 'The Gentlemen.'
    Ray Winstone as Bobby Glass in ‘The Gentlemen.’ Photo: Christopher Rafael/Netflix. Copyright: © 2023, Netflix Inc.

    Whether she’s playing off of James or meeting with her imprisoned dad (British acting royalty Ray Winstone, who can play this type of role in his sleep but is wide awake here), Scodelario’s Susie is the main reason to watch the show.

    Together, the lead pair butt up against a variety of great British and American character actors, even small roles made memorable by the likes of Peter Serafinowicz, Daniel Ings (as Eddie’s wayward older brother Freddie), Max Beesley, Joely Richardson and Vinnie Jones, the soccer-player-turned-actor who has been a growly good luck charm for Ritchie’s other gangster work.

    There’s great work all over the place here, the cast really gelling and making the most of chewy wordage.

    Final Thoughts

    Theo James as Eddie Horniman in 'The Gentlemen.'
    Theo James as Eddie Horniman in ‘The Gentlemen.’ Photo: Christopher Rafael/Netflix. Copyright: © 2023, Netflix Inc.

    Ritchie has had mixed fortunes in recent years, so it’s good to see him finding success in a field where he’s excelled. ‘The Gentlemen’ will certainly bring a smile to the face of anyone who remembers the director’s earlier, swearier films.

    And the TV format allows the story to breathe, and smaller roles the space they require to be memorable. Mostly notably, it doesn’t outstay its welcome, the eight episodes feeling like the right length for the tale to unfold and leaving you wanting more.

    ‘The Gentlemen’ receives 8 out of 10 stars.

    Giancarlo Esposito in the 'The Gentlemen.'
    (Center) Giancarlo Esposito in the ‘The Gentlemen.’ Photo: Kevin Baker/Netflix. Copyright: © 2023, Netflix Inc.

    What’s the story of ‘The Gentlemen’?

    ‘The Gentlemen’ sees Eddie Horniman (Theo James) unexpectedly inherit his father’s sizeable country estate –– only to discover it’s part of a cannabis empire. Moreover, a host of unsavory characters from Britain’s criminal underworld want a piece of the operation.

    Determined to extricate his family from their clutches, Eddie tries to play the gangsters at their own game. However, as he gets sucked into the world of criminality, he begins to find a taste for it.

    Who is in ‘The Gentlemen’?

    Beyond James, the cast also includes Kaya Scodelario, Daniel Ings, Joely Richardson, Vinnie Jones, Giancarlo Esposito, Chanel Cresswell, Michael Vu, Max Beesley, Jasmine Blackborow, Harry Goodwins, Dar Salim, Pearce Quigley, Ruby Sear and Peter Serafinowicz.

    Guy Ritchie and Vinnie Jones on the set of 'The Gentlemen.'
    (L to R) Guy Ritchie and Vinnie Jones on the set of ‘The Gentlemen.’ Photo: Christopher Rafael/Netflix. Copyright: © 2023, Netflix Inc.

    Other Guy Ritchie Movies:

    Buy Guy Ritchie Movies On Amazon

  • Movie Review: ‘Puss in Boots: The Last Wish’

    'Puss in Boots: The Last Wish'
    ‘Puss in Boots: The Last Wish’ opens in theaters on December 21st. © Universal Pictures.

    Debuting in theaters on December 21st, ‘Puss in Boots: The Last Wish’ reunites audiences with the dashing, daring feline hero who got his start in the ‘Shrek’ movies to humorous effect.

    With 12 years between ‘Puss in Boots’ entries, you might be forgiven for thinking that DreamWorks Animation had decided to close the door on movies based on its ‘Shrek’ universe altogether, outside of occasional straight-to-streaming spin-offs.

    Yet here comes Puss, riding back with a full theatrical release and leaving hints that we’ll be revisiting the wider ‘Shrek’-verse before too long.

    Judged on its own merits, however, ‘The Last Wish’ is a worthy, funny follow-up to the 2011 movie, which gives a little extra depth to the charismatic hero, who has little time for rules or regulations.

    Puss in Boots
    ‘Puss in Boots: The Last Wish’ opens in theaters on December 21st. © Universal Pictures.

    A quick burst of exposition catches us up with what Puss (Antonio Banderas, on enthusiastic vocal form as always) has been up to and provides a handy sketch for those who have not watched one of his appearances before.

    Which is all to say: Puss has been being Puss––drinking lots of milk, pulling off daring feats, annoying local authorities and hosting raucous parties (the initial scene features a combination of all three).

    But after his latest scrape, he realizes that his passion for peril and disregard for safety have taken their toll: Puss has burned through eight of his nine lives. An early highlight is a flashback clip showing how the others were lost, the character falling afoul of canons, weightlifting accidents, and falls from great heights.

    Worried that he’s on borrowed time, he initially decides to retire, heading for Mama Luna’s (Da’Vine Joy Randolph), a home for stray cats. Initially rebellious, he soon falls into a routine of eating with the others and using the litter tray like a regular moggy.

    'Puss in Boots: The Last Wish'
    ‘Puss in Boots: The Last Wish’ opens in theaters on December 21st. © Universal Pictures.

    A chance encounter with thieves who come looking for something at the house reveals the existence of the titular last wish––a star that could help him restore his spent lives. And along for the quest will be his former flame, Kitty Softpaws (Salma Hayek) and new friend/annoyance Perro (Harvey Guillén), a pug who longs to find his place in the world and who had been hiding out at Mama Luna’s disguised as a cat.

    Puss isn’t the only one looking for the star, though. He and his friends will have to stay one step ahead of Goldi (Florence Pugh) and the Three Bears Crime Family, and Jack Horner (John Mulaney), a rich, spoiled brat who is constantly trying to shake his reputation as “Little” Jack Horner.

    Plus, Puss is being pursued by a mysterious bounty hunter, the Big Bad Wolf (Wagner Moura), who appears to be more supernatural than your usual tracker. Could this be death on Puss’ trail given his lack of lives?

    ‘The Last Wish’ certainly stands as a solid sequel to ‘Puss in Boots’, and boasts an attractive, imaginative animation style that, like ‘The Bad Guys’ before it, owes a debt to ‘Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse’ for its blend of techniques that give the movie a painterly quality and the feeling of anime at different points.

    'Puss in Boots: The Last Wish' opens in theaters on December 21st.
    ‘Puss in Boots: The Last Wish’ opens in theaters on December 21st. © Universal Pictures.

    It’s certainly a shift from the standard look of the previous movie and other ‘Shrek’ entries, and makes for a frenetic, yet clear visual palette. If the teams behind these films are going to keep experimenting and finding new ways to present these movies, it’s something to be encouraged.

    Story-wise, this remains your basic quest mixed with pop culture references (though the latter side has been toned down some). Wacky villains are brought to life by a fine cast of voices beyond those we’ve already listed, including Olivia Colman as Mama Bear and Ray Winstone as Papa Bear.

    Banderas is still the beating, comical heart of the film, but combined with the updated animation, Puss really does seem to have a new life in this story. He’s always been one of the more entertaining characters from this fairy tale-spoofing cinematic universe (and deserving of spin-off films), and ‘The Last Wish’ earns its place in the canon.

    Hayek, meanwhile, is still a delight as Kitty, every bit Puss’ equal on the action front and even more cunning when the moment calls for it. And though some of the others don’t get as much to do (Colman, Winstone and Samson Kayo as the bears are rarely handled the best material, though Mulaney’s vocal style makes Jack work on a level he might not otherwise), this is more visually dynamic than vocal.

    'Puss in Boots: The Last Wish'
    ‘Puss in Boots: The Last Wish’ opens in theaters on December 21st. © Universal Pictures

    The nods to classic stories are smart and feed into the plot, directors Joel Crawford and Januel Mercado, along with writers Tommy Swerdlow and Paul Fisher keeping the whole affair light on its feet (as is befitting a crafty cat). And the jokes come thick and fast––if some don’t land, another is on the way to make up for it a few seconds later. It’s fast and fun.

    And yes, there are of course callbacks to past Puss stories, including the deployment of nuclear-level cute faces from both Puss and Kitty (Perro trying his own with, let’s charitably call them, “mixed” results).

    It’s never going to challenge the minutely crafted likes of ‘Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio’ or ‘Marcel the Shell with Shoes On’, but it’s far from a pumped-out moneymaking exercise. But unlike ‘Pinocchio’ it features little––aside, perhaps from a couple of moments with the wolf––likely to traumatize the youngest in the audience.

    ‘Puss in Boots: The Last Wish’ receives 3.5 out of 5 stars.

    'Puss in Boots: The Last Wish'
    ‘Puss in Boots: The Last Wish’ opens in theaters on December 21st. © Universal Pictures
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  • New Trailer for ‘Puss in Boots: The Last Wish’

    Puss in Boots
    Puss in Boots (Antonio Banderas) in DreamWorks Animation’s ‘Puss in Boots: The Last Wish,’ directed by Joel Crawford.

    Our first look at the latest ‘Shrek’ fantasy universe spin-off – a new adventure for swashbuckling feline hero Puss in Boots (Antonio Banderas) – arrived via the first trailer back in March.

    Now here’s the second trailer, which fills in a few more details.

    The story of ‘Puss in Boots: The Last Wish’ is a relatively simple one: Puss, the crusading, heroic, flamboyant hero/musician is still happy to pull off daring feats and strum a few catchy tunes. But all his adventuring has started to catch up with him. After an unfortunate run-in with a falling bell during his latest gig – in both senses of the word, since he was playing music and battling a giant – leads to him losing his eighth life, he begins to realize that he only has one left.

    Yet while on-again-off-again girlfriend Kitty Soft Paws (Salma Hayek) tries to convince him – using all her cute-face superpowers that outrank his own – that having one life to live makes it even more special, Puss is not ready to admit defeat, and he heads out to find a way to get more life before death.

    In their quest, Puss and Kitty will be aided — against their better judgment — by a ratty, chatty, relentlessly cheerful mutt, Perro (Harvey Guillén). Together, our trio of heroes will have to stay one step ahead of Goldilocks (Florence Pugh) and the Three Bears Crime Family (Ray Winstone’s gravelly tones are behind Papa Bear), “Big” Jack Horner (John Mulaney) and terrifying bounty hunter, The Big Bad Wolf (Wagner Moura).

    The cast also includes Samson Kayo, Anthony Mendez, and Olivia Colman.

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    In this latest trailer, we also see where Puss is advised to head when he first learns of his conundrum – a quieter, “safer” life with Mama Luna (voiced by Da’Vine Joy Randolph), who has quite the collection of felines already (none of which are particularly happy to see the new arrival).

    An existence of filthy litter boxes, knitted booties, and a new name (Pickles) would seem to beckon, but while Pus tries to make the best of it, his past catches up with him.

    Mama Luna’s is also where he meets Perro, who, it turns out is a therapy dog. Oh, and unless we’re mistaken, that’s former DreamWorks staff member (and ‘Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse’ co-director) Bob Persichetti popping up as the “Ohhh Cat” among Mama Luna’s feline charges.

    The animation style appears to be slightly shifted away from the original movie’s look – there’s a more painterly feel to it, more along the lines of DreamWorks’ recent ‘The Bad Guys’.

    Joel Crawford, who directed ‘The Croods 2: A New Age’ is behind the new ‘toon, working alongside Januel Mercado, who also worked on the prehistoric sequel, with a script from Paul Fisher.

    And the movie also marks a small point of DreamWorks history – it’s the first sequel derived from a spin-off movie.

    ‘Puss in Boots: The Last Wish’ will be in theaters on September 23.

    Puss in Boots (Antonio Banderas)
    Puss in Boots (Antonio Banderas) in DreamWorks Animation’s ‘Puss in Boots: The Last Wish,’ directed by Joel Crawford.
    ‘Puss in Boots: The Last Wish’ will be in theaters on September 23.
    ‘Puss in Boots: The Last Wish’ will be in theaters on September 23.
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  • Florence Pugh, Olivia Colman and Harvey Guillén join ‘Puss in Boots’ Sequel

    Puss in Boots, Kitty Soft Paws and Perro
    (L to R) Kitty Soft Paws (Salma Hayek), Perro (Harvey Guillén), Puss in Boots (Antonio Banderas) in DreamWorks Animation’s ‘Puss In Boots: The Last Wish’.

    We’ve known for a while that Antonio Banderas will be bringing his vocal stylings once more to the charismatic, sword-swinging feline for DreamWorks Animation sequel ‘Puss in Boots: The Last Wish’. News arrives today that Salma Hayek will be back as Kitty Softpaws, while a host of new casting has also been announced.

    Florence Pugh, Olivia Colman, Harvey Guillén, Wagner Moura, Ray Winstone, John Mulaney, Da’Vine Joy Randolph, Anthony Mendez and Samson Kayo are all now part of the team for this next outing, according to Deadline.

    The story for the new movie is set two months after the events of the first film, when Puss discovers that his passion for adventure has taken its toll: He has burned through eight of his nine lives, leaving him with only one left. He sets out on an epic journey to find the mystical Last Wish and restore his nine lives.

    So far, the only person with a named character on that list of new voices is ‘What We Do in the Shadows’ Guillén, who is playing Perro, a scruffy dog that is friends with our heroes. And Hayek’s Softpaws, of course, will be back as Puss’ great love, albeit one who keeps him on his toes. Well.. toe beans?

    Puss as a character was introduced back in 2004’s ‘Shrek 2’, where he quickly became an audience favorite. His eponymous spin-off movie, however, didn’t appear until 2011 and the road to a sequel has taken even longer.

    Antonio Banderas as Puss in Boots
    Antonio Banderas in DreamWorks Animation’s ‘Puss In Boots.’

    Chatter about a potential follow-up first started in 2012, when Guillermo del Toro (who was consulting as a producer for the DreamWorks team) announced that one was in the early stages. Banderas followed that up in 2014, saying in April of that year that work had already begun.

    DreamWorks went on to announce the title – ‘Puss in Boots: Nine Lives and Forty Thieves’ in June 2014, setting a November 2018 release date. A mere two months later, the warning signs began as it was delayed to December 2018.

    Fast-forward to January 2015, and the sequel was yanked from the schedules amidst corporate and creative restructuring before Banderas was back in March talking about script re-writes.

    Finally, in 2021, the movie re-emerged properly with its new title and a release date set for this year. There had been talk during its earlier development that Mike Myers might show up as Shrek, whose own franchise is still somewhat up in the air. Despite plenty of stories about a potential fifth film, and possibly a reboot, nothing concrete has emerged yet.

    Joel Crawford, who directed ‘The Croods 2: A New Age’ will direct this one, alongside Januel Mercado, who also worked on the prehistoric sequel. And the movie also makes a small point of DreamWorks history – it’s the first sequel derived from a spin-off movie.

    ‘Puss in Boots: The Last Wish’ will be in theaters on September 23.

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  • ‘Black Widow’ Review: Marvel Makes a Great Spy Thriller

    ‘Black Widow’ Review: Marvel Makes a Great Spy Thriller

    Scarlett Johansson as Natasha Romanov in 'Black Widow'
    Scarlett Johansson as Natasha Romanov in ‘Black Widow’

    It’s a shame we didn’t get this ‘Black Widow‘ movie a few years ago, because it’s hard to imagine that Marvel Studios wouldn’t have found a different path for Scarlett Johansson‘s Natasha Romanov in ‘Avengers: Endgame.’ This is a satisfying spy movie set in the larger MCU, and although the baton is definitely passed, we’re definitely going to miss the Black Widow that makes a final appearance in this movie.

    The story starts off in Ohio in 1995, with a young Natasha and Yelena under the care of their parents, Melina (Rachel Weisz) and Alexei (David Harbour). If you’ve seen ‘The Americans’ or ‘Little Nikita,’ you have a pretty good idea what’s going on; the family is a cover for a Russian espionage operation that’s coming to a climax. Natasha and her “family” make a narrow escape from S.H.I.E.L.D. agents, and then it’s off to Cuba for a reunion with the man behind the mission, Dreykov (Ray Winstone), before heading back to Mother Russia. But young Natasha is having none of it; she and Yelena want to stay in the states, but they get pulled apart, drugged, and shipped off to the infamous Red Room to become tools of the state.

    Years later, we see Natasha on the run, after the events of ‘Captain America: Civil War.’ She’s almost captured by Thunderbolt Ross (William Hurt), with this moment serving to give us a guide as to when this movie is happening in the MCU timeline. Meanwhile, in Morocco, Yelena (Florence Pugh) is targeting a fellow agent, but when Yelena is sprayed by a mysterious red dust, she seems to suddenly realize she’s been under some sort of mind control. The rest of her team promptly turns on her, before another narrow escape – it seems these run in the family.

    Natasha finds Yelena hiding in her own Budapest safe house, the two “sisters” team up to find out what’s controlling the minds of the other agents in the Widow program. To find that out, they’ll end up needing the help of both of their “parents,” and the stage is set for what turns out to be a pretty effective spy thriller.

    It must be said that Florence Hugh almost completely steals the whole movie; her Yelena manages to push Natasha’s buttons in a way no one else in the MCU has before, and her specific comments about Natasha’s fighting poses are pitch perfect. Hugh and Johansson have a breezy chemistry together, letting us see two women that work together effectively while still bringing up old family grudges.

    While we’re talking about family, Harbour and Weisz give us former parental figures that still have real affection for their ersatz daughters, showing very real regret at what would later happen to the two girls. As with any family, there is teasing and sniping that’s hinting at decades of emotion, and all four of these actors sell it well. Weisz shows us a Melina that is trying (and failing) to convince herself that her patriotism justifies her actions. Bombastic Alexei may seem to be gleefully reliving his past glories, but Harbour lets us see that Alexei is also hiding his own regret and loss.

    Director Cate Shortland has put together a pretty impressive effort here; she impresses with the action set pieces, while showing us a family that is trying to heal old wounds. We’ve waited a long time for a solo story for Natasha, and Shortland’s movie delivers an emotional arc for Nat that hits all the right emotional notes, while fitting within the greater MCU storyline. We know what’s coming for Black Widow, but that doesn’t take away from the resonance here.

    There’s not much to say about the Taskmaster character that won’t quickly dip into spoiler territory, except that the stunt coordinators have done a great job showing us someone that can mimic the fighting styles of other characters, such as Hawkeye and Captain America, and even Black Widow herself. My only complaint here is that Ray Winstone seems a bit underused, and that the mind control plot isn’t that engaging. Although compared to an Infinity Gauntlet, what would be?

    In the end, this is one of the better entries in the MCU franchise, and worth seeing on the big screen.

    4.5 stars.
    ‘Black Widow’ is in theaters and on Disney+.

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