The Marvel Cinematic Universe will never be the same. After Endgame, Kevin Feige and the Marvel team have expanded the stories of our favorite heroes to the small screen, giving them more time to explore the new corners of this vast universe. However, after a long hiatus, Marvel movies are back, and it’s exciting to see Natasha Romanoff on the big screen one last time.
Black Widow has been one of the most interesting and mysterious characters in the MCU for years. When we first met her, she was a top SHIELD agent with an obscure past. Unfortunately, even though her story seemed worth exploring, Marvel never gave her a proper solo film. But that’s no longer the case.
Black Widow takes us to Europe, where Nat is hiding from the Government after the events of Civil War. There, she discovers a dangerous secret about the Red Room, something that could destroy many innocent lives. That’s when she decides to team up with her sister Yelena (Florence Pugh) to take down the Red Room and the man behind it once and for all.
Director Cate Shortland finally delivers an epic and trilling story where Natasha (Scarlet Johansson) isn’t just a side character. The film is on a par with one of the strongest MCU entries, Captain America: The Winter Soldier, and it really delivers in terms of action and story.
There are a lot of plot twists and surprises along the way, but also a lot of humor and heart. Natasha and Yelena are one of the best MCU duos ever created and Johansson and Pugh’s chemistry is perfect. Their scenes are perfect, and Pugh’s Yelena is the best addition to the MCU we’ve had in years.
The rest of the cast does a really nice job too, even though they don’t have much screen time. Rachel Weisz and David Harbour shine when they’re together and also have some good scenes; and O-T Fagbenle has a very small but funny role, one that could potentially play again in future MCU movies or shows.
As I mentioned before, the action is absolutely perfect. Every single sequence is incredibly well-choreographed and shot, and every single punch felt very real and painful. This is the kind of action that we sometimes miss in the MCU, but Shortland and her team really delivered this time.
If I had to say something negative about this film, it would be about the second act and the villain. The story moves so fast that at one point it stops and you can feel it. This pause the film takes is used to explore Natasha’s family dynamic, and it is actually a pretty good and moving sequence, but the pacing is not as good as the rest of the movie.
On the other hand, Taskmaster is a very intimidating villain and all the action scenes where he’s involved are good. However, they could have done more with the character, and I really hope Marvel uses him again in future MCU stories.
Black Widow is a very strong and powerful MCU film, one that every Marvel fan will enjoy. It explores the darkest corners of this universe while presenting new and exciting characters that will become fan favorites. Natasha’s story deserved to be told and even though we had to wait a long time, it was worth it.
A Quiet Place was one of the best movies of 2018. John Krasinski surprised us with a powerful, thrilling and moving story about a family who survived the apocalypse by living their lives in complete silence. Now, after 2 years of waiting for this sequel, A Quiet Place Part II finally arrived in theaters all over the world.
If you forgot how living in the world that Krasinski created felt like, don’t worry. The movie’s first scene is indeed a flashback that kind of explain how everything began, but Krasinski quickly returns to the current time. The story starts right where the first one ended, with Emily Blunt’s character ready to leave the family house.
The deadly atmosphere that surrounds the world of A Quiet Place comes back stronger than ever and the stakes are much higher this time. Yes, the family has an advantage against the monster (that very clever hearing aid), but the monsters are extremely dangerous, and the film makes you aware of that. Every single sound becomes a death sentence in this world, and Krasinski makes us, the audience, participate in this twisted game. Try eating your popcorns without feeling anxious.
Now, while the first film was smaller in scope than this sequel, it had an emotional side to it that I really liked. The cast succeeded in created a bond between us and these characters, and that made the ending of Part I a rollercoaster of emotions.
Part II is a more traditional apocalypse if you ask me. An amazing one, no doubt, but traditional. You have new survivors, more action and more worldbuilding. And I can confidently say that John Krasinski nails every single aspect. The ending definitely sets up a third part, but it also manages to open a world of possibilities in terms of possible spin offs.
The cast does an amazing job, just like they did last time, and the new additions are great even though they don’t have a lot of screen time. And yes, this family, especially the kids, keep making a lot of stupid decisions, but without them we wouldn’t have a story, so we should thank them I guess.
Horror fans must watch this movie, but I’m sure that anyone can enjoy it. Even if you didn’t love the first film, give this sequel a chance. And let’s hope Paramount doesn’t take years to make a third one.
The MCU is expanding. Super soldiers and armored billionaires are over. Now it’s time to explore new corners in this vast universe, alongside one of our favorite superhero couples: Wanda Maximoff and Vision. Beware, because this review has huge spoilers for WandaVision. If you haven’t seen the show, go watch it first.
WandaVision was one of the most anticipated Marvel and Disney+ shows of all times, not only because it’s the first Marvel Studios original series, but also because its premise was unique and bold. We truly didn’t know what to expect.
The show starts with the recently married Wanda and Vision, living a happy and peaceful life in Westview, New Jersey, as if they were inside an old sitcom. Somehow, they are finally experiencing what seems to be the perfect life. No Thanos, no Avengers. Just sitcoms. But we know something’s wrong. And that’s how the mystery begins.
One of the most amazing aspects of this experience was the weekly episodes. While Netflix nails the binge model, Disney+ really owns this way of watching shows. Every Friday, we watched WandaVision, trying to put the pieces of the puzzle together, and that alone made the experience worth it. Of course, some theories were ultimately wrong, but I think the journey was so thrilling and full of great moments, that at the end of the day, that’s what we will remember.
Once you see the whole picture, you understand what WandaVision is really about. The big bad wasn’t Mephisto or Nightmare, or even S.W.O.R.D or Agatha. Wanda’s greatest foe was grief. And the show handle that perfectly.
As the decades of the sitcom world Wanda created change, you can see the different stages of grief she goes through. And even though she tries to do everything she can to keep Vision and his world intact, she can’t escape reality for long.
The first episodes show denial, that’s why the sitcom element is more prominent. Wanda is living her perfect life, and even though there are small inconveniences and little details out of place, she goes on with her fantasy. After that, we have anger, a moment we clearly see when Wanda pushes Geraldine/Monica trough the walls. And in that moment, we are shown Vision’s dead face, to remind us (and Wanda) of the real world.
I think one of the greatest elements of the show was Fake Pietro, or Fietro. “But Evan Peters wasn’t playing Peter, he’s not Fox’s Quicksilver, we were robbed!”. Well, I get that some people might have felt fooled, but I think that Ralph (Fietro) was a very smart move. Let me explain.
At this point on the show, Wanda seems to know that she did something wrong, but she can’t remember. Vision knows that too, and feels like Wanda is hiding something from him, which makes him no trust her as before. In that exact moment, Fietro appears. And when you see Wanda’s reaction, you know that she doesn’t recognize him, because he isn’t Pietro. But Vision doesn’t trust her, she’s alone, and she needs someone, a familiar face. And even though she knows that’s not her brother, she chooses to believe he is. And we, as the audience, do the same. We want to believe he is Pietro, or at least, a multiverse version of him, because we want Wanda to have someone she can rely on. And that move would never work if Evan Peters wasn’t playing that character.
If Fietro was a random actor, we, the audience, would have known from the very beginning that he wasn’t her brother. We wouldn’t have trusted him. But because we knew there was a chance, a small one, of Pietro being real, we chose to believe in him. And, of course, he wasn’t real. In her grief, Wanda chose to believe in him too, but when she faces the truth, she falls into the fourth stage of grief: depression.
When everything falls apart, we get to one the best episodes of the show: episode 8. After learning the truth about Agatha, with one of the most memorable villain introductions of the MCU, we go and explore Wanda’s trauma from the very beginning. This was not only brilliant and relevant, but also necessary, because the movies never really explored Wanda’s story.
We learned about Wanda’s obsession with sitcoms and how she was a witch before touching the Mind Stone, we see her bonding with Vision after Pietro’s death, and, finally, we see what really happened with Vision after Infinity War. After that, we witness how Wanda, feeling completely alone and broken, creates the sitcom world when her real powers finally manifest. And that’s when we hear, for the first time in the MCU history, the words we wanted to hear: “this is Chaos Magic Wanda, and that makes you, the Scarlet Witch”. And then, after the big finale with Wanda, Vision, Agatha, White Vision, the twins and S.W.O.R.D., we witness the rise of the Scarlet Witch, in all her glory.
The final episode is full of action, yes, but also emotion. Wanda’s fight with Agatha is visually stunning, and it’s great to see Billy and Tommy using their powers. Vision fighting Vision will be remembered forever as one of the most clever and amazing scenes in the MCU.
But when Wanda finally accepts her destiny and the reality she was trying to avoid, she has to say goodbye to Vision and the twins. That final sequence is full of emotion, “sadness, hope and love”. As the couple says, we will see them again for sure, but that doesn’t make the goodbye less painful.
WandaVision is one of the best superhero shows I’ve ever seen. It’s a great exploration of grief and trauma, but also a perfect origin story for one of the most powerful characters in the MCU. Wanda’s story is just starting, but she’s not the only one we’ll meet again.
Teyonah Parris’ Monica Rambeau has become a fan favorite, not only because of Parris ability to make a realistic and strong woman, but also because she shows the values that define a real superhero. And now that she also has powers, it’s safe to say that Captain Marvel will have a very useful ally.
And, of course, we have to talk about the twins. Billy and Tommy are definitely alive, and Wanda knows that. Reading the Darkhold is probably not the best idea, but I’m sure that we’ll see the repercussions of Wanda’s actions explored in the Doctor Strange sequel. After showing their powers, I can’t wait to see the twins again, and hopefully, they’ll grow up again to become Wiccan and Speed.
In conclusion, WandaVision is a must see for everyone who considers themselves a Marvel fan. This is the first Disney+ show Marvel has created, and the quality is undeniable. The show really feels like a very long Marvel movie, and the extra time is perfect to develop the characters that they never had the chance to explore in the movies.
After debuting on Broadway in 2018, The Prom became a huge musical sensation. Now, thanks to Netflix and Ryan Murphy, the world can finally experience this wonderful story, filled with great characters and amazing music.
Ryan Murphy is a particularly good producer, but he has his own style. I think that if you are not a Ryan Murphy fan, some of his shows and films can be difficult to sit through. However, sometimes he creates something so good and unique, that everyone can enjoy it. He did it with American Crime Story, and I think he does it again with The Prom.
The movie is incredibly bright and cheerful, and even though the story has its sad moments, by the end of the credits you’ll find yourself dancing and singing. And I think that’s how you know that a musical worked.
I would say that The Prom is the new Mamma Mia!, and I think that Meryl Streep has something to do with that. Her Dee Dee Allen is absolutely perfect: from her style, to her musical performances and funny lines, Meryl Streep’s Dee Dee Allen is the best character in this movie, and another example of how, sometime, stun casting actually works.
A lot has been said about James Corden’s performance as Barry. Sure, Corden isn’t gay, but I think his portrayal of a gay man wasn’t offensive at all. In fact, I really liked not only his performance, but also Barry’s story arc. Plus, I don’t think we can criticize The Prom for not having good LGBTQ+ representation, when not only the story is about two lesbian girls, but there are a lot of LGBTQ+ actors in the movie. And their roles are significant.
For instance, Andrew Rannells is fantastic as Trent, and his song “Love Thy Neighbor” is one of the most funny and entertaining musical numbers in the film. And I can’t say enough good things about Jo Ellen Pellman performance. Her Emma is funny and relatable, and Pellman is definitely a very talented actor who can hold her own alongside stars like Meryl Streep or Nicole Kidman.
The rest of the cast also does a good job. Nicole Kidman and Keegan-Michael Key have their moments to shine, and they really do. Plus, we really need to appreciate Kerry Washington’s performance. Her character is very annoying and represents the worst of humanity, but Washington deserves the credit for taking that role.
And yes, the music is incredible. “It’s Not About Me” and “It’s Time To Dance” are the best moments, in my opinion, but there are a lot of numbers and every single actor has a moment to show their talent. And, as someone who hasn’t seen the Broadway musical, I have to say: I think that the movie format works really good with this adaptation, because the camera allows us to enjoy the choreographies and see the actors’ facial expressions.
I can’t say enough good things about this movie. The Prom is a celebration of love and music. Even if you aren’t a huge musical theater fan, I think you will enjoy this film. The songs are catchy, but they talk too, and the characters are very relatable and funny. I think this is the kind of feel-good movie you want to watch right now.
The Haunting of Hill House was one of the most interesting shows of 2018, and thanks to its successful debut, Netflix announced a second season which will focus on a different haunted house. With The Haunting of Bly Manor, creator Mike Flanagan takes us to England, where a young American au pair is hired to take care of two orphans who reside at Bly Manor, a huge mansion with lots of secrets.
This new season of “The Haunting” series is as strong as the previous one, at least in terms of characters and story, but it’s definitively not as scary or creepy. Is this a bad thing? It depends on you, to be completely honest. If you were looking for a traditional horror story, similar to Hill House, with lots of jump-scares, I think you would be disappointed with Bly Manor. However, if you enjoy a good story with a complex and deep story behind, you will love what Flanagan has created.
Yes, The Haunting of Bly Manor is not very scary. There are some good scares, and the ghosts Easter eggs that made Hill House so interesting are back. Some episodes are actually scary, or have good horror sequences, but not as much as some people (myself included) hoped. Plus, I think that the ghosts in Hill House were creepier and more terrifying than the ones we have in Bly Manor. However, that doesn’t mean that this season is, in any sense, bad or forgettable.
So, why is The Haunting of Bly Manor such a good show if it’s not that scary? The answer is simple: the characters, the story and the atmosphere are excellent, and sometimes even better than they were in The Haunting of Hill House.
First of all, the story is incredibly well-written. Mike Flanagan and the rest of the writers have created one of the most powerful gothic love stories I’ve ever watched. The stories behind Bly Manor, the ghosts and the main characters are deep, emotional, romantic, and so well constructed that, by the end of the show, you’ll be completely satisfied. This is one of those shows where the ending is actually good and doesn’t disappoint. Yes, some people could argue that the pacing isn’t perfect, and I would agree. Sometimes The Haunting of Bly Manor is very slow. But the show is a slow burn, and the best episodes are towards the end, where everything starts to make sense and you can finally put together all the pieces of the puzzle.
The characters are probably the most interesting element in this show. Every single character has an interesting backstory, and the show takes its time to explore them. Bly Manor is the kind of show where all the characters are so well written, that they feel like real people. Maybe the pacing wasn’t as good as one would have hoped, but I appreciated the fact that Flanagan and the other writers took the time to create interesting and realistic characters.
But the writing isn’t the only thing that made these characters the strongest element in this show. The cast is fantastic, and they deserve all the attention they’re getting. Victoria Pedretti, T’Nia Miller, Amelia Eve and Oliver Jackson-Cohen are, in my opinion, the strongest members of the cast, and their characters carry the show. However, both Benjamin Evan Ainsworth and Amelie Bea Smith, who play Miles and Flora, the orphans, deserve to be mention in this review, because they did an incredible job with their characters. And even though I never want to hear the sentence “perfectly splendid” again, I can’t say enough good things about those kids and the cast in general.
So yes, The Haunting of Bly Manor is quite different from its predecessor. It’s not just a ghost story. As they say at the end of the show, it’s also a love story. And a very good one, by the way. If you can, give Bly Manor a chance, and try to finish the show (if you haven’t already). You won’t regret it.
Season 1 of Sex Education was one of the most interesting and revolutionary shows Netflix released last year. The 8-episodes British comedy dealt with a lot of important issues like sex, homophobia, slut-shaming and more, and wasn’t afraid of showing things like abortions or STIs, proving that a teen comedy could also be very educational.
Now, Netflix has released season 2 of this amazing show, and I’m very happy to say that it’s as good as season 1 and even better in certain aspects. To sum up, Season 2 picks up exactly where we left it: Otis and Eric are friends again, Otis and Ola are starting a relationship, Maeve and Adam are expelled, and the school is freaking out about a chlamydia outbreak.
One of the first things I want to say about this new season, and the show in general, is how impressive it is that the screenwriters are able to handle so many characters and storylines without making it feel rushed or messy. In fact, this new season not only handles every single character we knew from season 1 perfectly but also introduces new characters, giving all of them their own storylines and development.
The new characters are incredibly interesting. Chinenye Ezeudu’s Viv or George Robinson’s Isaac are great examples of what I said. They interact with the main characters and develop engaging dynamics with them, which makes their role in the show not forced at all. Some of these new characters are more relatable or likable than others, but all of them feel real.
As for our beloved characters from season 1, they all got very funny, romantic and (of course) sexual stuff to do. Asa Butterfield as Otis continues to be a very good protagonist, and his chemistry with Emma Mackey’s Maeve (sorry Ola) is incomparable. However, his storyline is interesting because of the other characters he interacts with, not because he is interesting on his own.
Maeve and Eric (Ncuti Gatwa) are still the best characters in the show. They both have complex stories and problems that we, as the audience, can relate to, and their relationships with the rest of the cast are great.
Gillian Anderson’s Jean was definitively a very important character in season 1, but I felt that her relationship with Otis should have been developed a little bit more. This season, the writers did exactly that, and it was great. The dynamic between Otis and his mother, Jean, is fascinating and I think that, by the end of this season, they are in a very interesting position that I’d love to explore even more. Plus, they also explored Jean’s aspirations and needs a bit more. Her friendship with Adam’s mom, Maureen, was one of the best elements they’ve introduced in this new season. It was nice to see Jean interacting with more people other than Otis or Jakob because that gives the character more depth.
I would love to talk about the whole cast, but it would be necessary to go into spoiler territory, so I’m just going to say that the rest of the characters were also great, and they all had their moment to shine. Adam’s development was amazing, Jackson’s story was also great to explored and Aimee became one of my favorite characters.
The show keeps handling important topics and social issues as good as they did in season 1. Sexual assaults, consent, anxiety, self-harm, fetishes, asexuality, and bisexuality are some of the new topics they tackled, always with humor and love, but also keeping in mind that they are something that happens a lot in our society, especially with teenagers. And it’s amazing to see a show like this and think about all of the teenagers around the world, who are watching the show, and can feel identify with some of the characters or their dilemmas. As I said before, this is a very important show that everyone should watch. Even if you think that you are not the kind of person this show was created for, try to give it a chance. The issues they present here are everywhere, all around us, and a lot of people (kids, teenagers or adults) suffer from them.
I’m also very impressed by the visuals of this new season. Sex Education is not only a very well-written show, but also a visually stunning one. Each shots’ colors, the sets, the lights, and the characters’ clothes are beautiful and striking. Sometimes, while I was watching the episodes, I felt the need to play pause and just look at the backgrounds of the school or the landscapes for a couple of minutes. That is a very strong choice that I really loved because it makes the show even more special and unique. TV shows are usually pretty generic, in terms of visuals, so I appreciated the fact that they’ve created a show that is not only interesting in terms of story and characters, but also bright and colorful.
I won’t say anything else about this new season and the show. If you liked season 1, you’ve probably finished the new season by now, and if not, go and watch the eight episodes as soon as possible. The ending will leave you wanting more and more, and I’m sure Netflix will renew the show for, at least, one more season. And even if you don’t like teen comedies or teen shows in general, I think that Sex Education is so good, and so relevant in today’s society, that you could end up enjoying it a lot. To me, this is one of Netflix’s best original series and I can’t wait to see what they have in store for season 3.
I love Taika Waititi. He is a very talented director, his movies always make me laugh and, as an actor, he also plays great and funny characters. For those reasons, and as a Taika Waititi fan, I was really looking forward to seeing this movie. I thought it would be similar to one of his first films, Hunt for the Wilderpeople, but even funnier and weirder. After all, this is a movie about a little boy who wants to be a Nazi and has Adolf Hitler as his imaginary friend. However, I never thought I would leave the theater with tears in my eyes. But I did. I cried a lot while watching this movie. I also laughed several times, but I knew I was going to do that. What I didn’t know is how emotional and touching this movie would be.
Now, to be honest, this movie is not perfect, and most people won’t believe me when I say that, in my opinion, the script’s comedy aspect was the weakest element in the film. That doesn’t mean that the movie isn’t funny. It is. As I said, I laughed a lot and, as we all know, Waititi’s comedic skills are always on point. To me, there are two problems with the comedy: the first one is that the funniest jokes are in the trailers. That’s obviously not a problem the movie has, but more a problem that the movie has developed. Those jokes are great, but I’ve already heard them, so they don’t have the same impact on me as they did when I first saw the trailers. There are other gags in the movie, but they are not as funny as the ones I already knew.
My other problem with the comedy is that, at a certain point in the movie, something truly shocking occurs and, from that moment on, the movie becomes a very dramatic World War II story, in which the comedy doesn’t really fit. In the third act, after THAT thing has happened, Waititi keeps trying to introduce comedic elements in the narrative, but it doesn’t work. And the thing that surprised me the most was the fact that those elements weren’t really necessary. In fact, even without that characteristic Taika Waititi comedy, the third act is actually my favorite part of the movie. So, let’s talk about the great stuff.
Jojo Rabbit tells the story of a young German boy who discovers a Jewish girl hiding in his house. These events take place during the end of World War II when Germany was about to lose. Waititi focuses the story on the relationship between the girl, whose name is Elsa, and Jojo, creating a very funny and cute dynamic between the kids. The scenes between these two characters, played by Roman Griffin Davis and Thomasin McKenzie, are the best moments in the film and the way you see how their relationship grows is absolutely incredible. I can’t say enough good things about both actors and the amazing job they did with their part, especially the young Roman.
Waititi’s script really shines during these scenes, showing how good he is at writing real people. People with fears and doubts, but also with hearts. Waititi’s characters are funny, yes, but that’s just one of the layers. They are very realistic and relatable, and that’s what I love about him as a filmmaker, even more than his comedy.
One of the greatest elements in this movie is the acting. The whole cast does a great job. Rebel Wilson and Sam Rockwell both have small roles, but they also have great lines. Waititi is also great at playing imaginary Adolf Hitler, even though his role is not as large as I thought it would be. However, Scarlett Johansson is the one who stands out in this film, alongside Roman and Thomasin. One of the reasons why she shines and steals every single scene she’s in is because her character is perfectly written and has the best lines in the movie. The other reason is that she simply does an amazing job with her part, portraying a very kind and caring mother who is also trying to do some good. And that was one of the things I really liked about her character: she wasn’t just “the mom” in the story. She was a complex human being, not only a plot device.
As I said before, I don’t think this movie is a masterpiece. It’s not a perfect movie. But I love it as it is. I think that the good elements of the film are very good, and the bad parts are just not that good, but they are not horrible. Jojo Rabbit is a very touching, funny and entertaining story, with great characters and a beautiful message. This is probably one of my favorite Taika Waititi’s films to date, and I’m sure that, if you like Waititi’s filmmaking style and humor, you will love this movie as well.
A lot has been said about 1917. This movie has won the Golden Globe for Best Picture and it looks like it could win the Oscar too. At this point, there’s nothing I could say to convince you to watch the movie. If you want to see it, you’ll see it. However, as someone who doesn’t really enjoy war films in general, I was surprised when I left the movie theater and found myself loving the film.
1917 excels in every single aspect, but I’m sure that everyone will agree that the camerawork is probably the most spectacular. A short clip from the making of the movie has been going around the internet, showing how they filmed one of the scenes from the third act of the movie. That specific scene is probably the best sequence in the entire movie, and I think everyone should experience it in a movie theater. Mendes uses the fluid camera with no cuts to immerse us, the viewers, into the action and the horrors of war. And it works. The coordination behind that sequence is astonishing, but the movie is full of those kinds of scenes, and all of them are great. In fact, from beginning to end, I was at the edge of my seat, thanks to Mendes’ ability to build the tension.
The cinematography and the music are brilliant too. Roger Deakins creates shots that are visually stunning, and Thomas Newman’s original score is one of the most memorable elements in the movie, especially during that sequence I discussed before.
The cast is good. Dean-Charles Chapman and George MacKay do a great job, and there are a lot of well-known faces making brief cameos along the way. I ended up loving MacKay’s character, especially when you consider how he begins the film, not wanting to go to that mission. His friendship with Chapman’s Blake was very well developed, and that development helps us to connect more with the characters. This is one of the reasons why I also think that the sequence where MacKay is running across the field really works. You have a personal connection with the character, especially after everything he’s been through.
1917 is a great movie. If you enjoy period pieces and war films, you will love this movie for sure. But even if you are not a huge fan of the genre, try to give this film a shot: 1917 is a very entertaining war adventure, technically incredible, with great action sequences and character moments.
There are many different versions of Louisa May Alcott’s classic story, Little Women, and all of them have something special and unique, something that differentiates them from the previous version.
However, Greta Gerwig’s Little Women is, without a doubt, the best adaptation of the story, and it will remain that way for years. So now, let’s discuss why this new adaptation of Alcott’s Little Women is a perfect movie.
After Lady Bird (2017), Greta Gerwig became a sensation in Hollywood, and a lot of people, including myself, were eager to see her next project. Gerwig really understands young audiences, so the fact that she decided to adapt Little Women was a pleasant surprise. And she has a very unique yet traditional style, that old-school critics also love, making her the perfect fit for the project.
In a recent interview, we learned that Gerwig was hired to write the script for the movie, but she insisted on directing it too. And I’m sure that no one could have done a better job directing this movie, because she really knows how to get the best out of the whole cast.
Gerwig’s strength as a director is her ability to handle such a big cast. We know for sure that Jo March (Saoirse Ronan) is the main character in this story, but the other characters are really important too, and they all have at least one scene where they get an opportunity to shine.
However, even though I think that Gerwig is a great director, her script is what impressed me the most. She made all the characters likable and created a story that goes from good to absolutely perfect. And even if you already know what happens because you’ve read the book or have seen other versions, there is a lot to enjoy in this film. Gerwig successfully creates a modern yet faithful adaptation of a timeless story, with enough room to develop all the characters, without making a film that is “too long” or is “too crowded”.
Now, when the movie started, I didn’t think it was as good as some people had said. The film begins with Jo March trying to get some money selling a couple of short stories she has written, and after that, we go back in time, to see how Jo’s life was when she lived with her sisters and her mother. These first 20 minutes of the movie introduce the characters and their personalities, and even when this part was good, it wasn’t something we haven’t seen before. However, once we begin to see how all of the characters were in the past, and how they are in the present of the story, the film becomes something truly special.
The cast does an excellent job portraying their characters in both the past and the present, and we can see how much they’ve changed and grown over the years. Florence Pugh really stands out in the movie, not only because her character (Amy) is the one who changes the most, but also because she shows that growth through his acting. The whole cast is amazing, but I think that Florence Pugh is the one who really shines in the movie, from the very beginning.
Emma Watson, Laura Dern, and Meryl Streep all do a great job as always, and even Bob Odenkirk, who plays the role of Mr. March and doesn’t have a lot of screen time, makes an impression. Sadly, Beth March, played by Eliza Scanlen, is the only character, in the whole movie, whom I never really cared about. Eliza Scanlen’s Beth never felt like a real person to me, and I think that’s because Scanlen didn’t do a particularly good job with the role. In fact, everything related to her character, especially the emotional impact that Beth has in the story worked because Saoirse Ronan, Laura Dern, and Chris Cooper made it work.
In the end, Little Women is the kind of movie everyone will enjoy. It’s funny and emotional at the same time, it has an important and universal message, the music and the cinematography are great, and the cast is wonderful. Greta Gerwig has created one of the best movies of the year, and definitively the best adaptation of the classic story. I really hope audiences give this film a chance because I’m sure that they will not regret it. Even if you have seen other versions of the story, go and see this one. It’s absolutely perfect.
There’s a lot you can say about this movie. Todd Phillips has created a very controversial and unique film that will divide audiences across the globe, and I’m sure that was the intention. As a comic book movie, “Joker” is not that special. It doesn´t have amazing action sequences or a gigantic cast of heroes. This is not that kind of movie. Does that mean that “Joker” is not good? Is this movie a complete failure? Not at all.
When reality surpasses fiction
Heath Ledger’s Joker is, probably, the most beloved and respected portrayal of the character. Ledger did such a good job with his interpretation of the Joker, that he won an Oscar. But his Joker had a Batman to fight, someone that could stop him. His relationship with the Dark Knight is, arguably, the most interesting aspect of these characters. So, how can they make a movie about the Joker, without Batman?
Well, the answer is simple. They didn´t. “Joker” is not the movie you are expecting. Yes, the Joker is the main character, but you only see him as this twisted villain at the end of this movie. This film is about Arthur Fleck, the man that becomes the Joker, and how he ended up that way.
Todd Phillips and Scott Silver’s screenplay tells the story of a man with mental illness, and how society decided to exclude him because of that. This premise is so well developed during the movie, that, sometimes, you can feel really bad about Arthur and everything that he has to go through. And this is a very delicate matter, because, unfortunately, it’s something that happens nowadays. Arthur is someone that needs help, but the world seems to not care about him. Of course, this is not an excuse for what he does, but it’s very interesting to see such a realistic take on a character like the Joker.
The most interesting part of this movie is not the Joker doing crazy things or killing people just to piss off Batman. What really sticks with you once you’ve watched the movie is the scary truth behind the origin of this Joker. A man who could not take care of himself becomes a monster due to the fact that the society where he lives turned his back on him. And the scariest aspect of this idea is that it’s not something that only happens in comic books.
“I can´t believe I feel bad about him”
As I said, there are certain moments where you feel bad about Arthur and what he has to go through. At first, I thought that feeling bad about this individual, who would end up being one of the most dangerous criminals on Gotham, wasn´t right. I could not feel that way about someone who could do the horrible things that the Joker does. However, that’s the entire point of this film. It reminded me of the dynamic between Batman and Joker during the events of “The Killing Joke”.
“All it takes is one bad day to reduce the sanest man alive to lunacy. That’s how far the world is from where I am. Just one bad day.” It’s clear that Phillips took some inspiration for his movie from this story, which I understand. It’s probably the best way to create an interesting dynamic between characters. The Joker represents someone who, as he says, has lost everything. He has nothing to give his life meaning. And at the end of the movie, after finding out certain things about his own past, he decides to go full dark.
What I really like about this idea is that it can be applied to anyone, heroes and villains. And that’s what makes heroes so interesting, the fact that they overcome their fears and traumas to fight for what is right. However, in this film, we are introduced to someone who could not face his traumas on his own. Arthur needs help, and that’s why I felt bad about him. He didn´t have anyone to help him, and his life was horrible.
Now, even though I think that the origin of this Joker is brilliant, and gives him some kind of humanity, I know that he is the bad guy. We all know. What he does, especially in the third act of the film, is really disturbing, and after watching that, there’s no way back. Arthur is no longer there, it’s just the Joker. And you start feeling bad about the people of Gotham, mainly, because they don´t have Batman to protect them.
Can the Joker exist without Batman?
One of the most shocking elements of this film, besides everything the Joker does at the end of the movie, is the fact that Batman doesn´t exist. He is not around, so the Joker has no opponent. This is something that a lot of fans could be angry about. The Joker is at his best when he is rivaling Batman. They are, arguably, one of the best duos in comic book history. So the fact that Bruce doesn’t dress up as a bat every night, should be a problem. However, Phillips cleverly avoids this issue by locking up the Joker. He is in prison, and everything is over, right? Well, not really.
One of the best ideas that Phillips develops in this movie is how the Joker becomes a symbol of a revolution. The revolution against the rich people of Gotham. The Joker is incredibly powerful and scary because even when he has been arrested, his ideas are still alive. There are people fighting in the streets against the aristocracy.
In this case, yes. The Joker can exist without Batman. It’s sad that we can’t see THIS Joker against Batman, but it’s not something that doesn´t work.
Joker’s huge problem
There’s, however, one problem that comes with this interpretation of the character. And that problem has a name: Thomas Wayne. Phillips and Silver created an amazing antagonist for this movie, but the fact that he was Thomas Wayne, is a problem. Why?
Well, let’s start by saying that Bruce Wayne / Batman is one of the most famous characters in the world. He is the favorite superhero of thousands of people and one of the most well-known superheroes of all time. So, the idea that Bruce’s father was such a despicable human being, someone who would say such horrible things about the people of Gotham, is not right. At least, for me. I understand what they tried to do with the character, but I think that they didn´t have to name him Thomas Wayne. He could have been anyone. The problem is that when THAT thing happens to Wayne at the end of “Joker”, instead of saying “Oh no, what a tragedy”, you end up saying “Yeah, he deserves that”.
Phillips and Phoenix, a great duo
“Joker” is a very good film overall. It has some pacing issues, which I’m sure some people would notice, but there are also some incredible scenes. Joaquin Phoenix is a very good Joker, very different from Ledger’s interpretation, but he respects the core essence of the character. He is scary and funny (in a Joker way), and, as I said, it’s sad that we won’t see more of him as the Joker.
Phillips, as a director, does a good job with the artistic part of the film. There are some really amazing shots throughout the movie, which results in a film that is beautiful and dark in a way that you can´t understand until you watch it. However, there are other elements that don´t work as well. The main problem is the pacing, as I said. The movie feels longer than it is, and there are certain moments during the second act, where the story doesn´t seem like it’s moving forward. One could say that the film is boring, but I wouldn´t go that way. It’s a slow burn. Phillips builds the tension little by little until the climax arrives at the end.
Why Joker works
Warner Bros. is having some trouble promoting this movie. And I know there are some elements that could trigger some people. However, we should remind ourselves that this is the story of the Joker, a character that is best known for his twisted mind and horrible actions. Phillips creates a film about a character that suffers from a lot of real issues and ends up becoming that monster we all know.
“Joker” works because the people who made this movie understood the character and decided to give him a more realistic backstory. There are no chemicals involved in the origin of this Joker. He is a real person with real problems, someone you could know. That’s what makes this movie special, and why I think a lot of people could have some trouble watching it. And that’s ok. Maybe “Joker” is not for everyone. But if you are a fan of the character, I’m sure you will enjoy this film a lot.
THE MAKING OF MOVIES 