American scientist J. Robert Oppenheimer‘s Christopher Nolan directed biography has a brand new trailer, and like all Nolan trailers, it does not disappoint.
Interesting and moving are the words for how it’s going to be to watch this while knowing what’s happening in the world right now. Yet, with such a magnificent Filmmaking team lead by Nolan, and starring Cillian Murphy, Emily Blunt, Matt Damon, Florence Pugh and Rami Malek, I say bring it on.
Bring on the audiovisual feast that is a Christopher Nolan film. I’m ready for my traditional pause for silent reflection at the end. Reflection on how grateful I am for film and its position as the perfect amalgamation of all the arts.
Robert Downey Jr., Gary Oldman, James Remar, Casey Affleck, Jack Quaid, David Krumholtz, Benny Safdie, Michael Angarano, Josh Hartnett and Kenneth Branagh also star.
Spending the last few days watching Netflix’s new eight-episode political drama/thriller, The Diplomat, has enlightened me to a few things. Firstly, as late as I am, I’m officially a new Keri Russell fan. She’s excellent as Kate Wyler, a career diplomat with plenty to juggle while in a high-profile role as ambassador to the United Kingdom. A job for which she’s admittedly ill-suited.
As someone who’d never given much thought to the question ‘What is it that diplomats do?’, watching creator Debora Cahn’s dramatisation of how high-stakes things can sometimes get for those in the role was a very entertaining eye-opener and welcomed education.
In addition to the faultless performances, I appreciate the musical score, the clever story edit and the pacing that builds until a brilliant crescendo. The kind I found satisfying in its execution, yet challenging to come to terms with. The latter, only because I’ll have to wait at least a year before learning how things faired for the characters in question.
I would love for season two to pick up exactly where season one ended, amid all the chaotic activity. If you’ve already watched season one, I bet you can picture how great that would be.
Watch The Diplomat if you’re curious. And certainly for all the great reasons above, plus one more – the sense of humour.
Key additional cast includes, Rufus Sewell, David Gyasi, Ali Ahn, Ato Essandoh, Rory Kinnear, Jess Chanliau, Pearl Mackie, Celia Imrie, Georgie Henley, Nana Mensah, Miguel Sandoval and Michael McKean.
Queen Charlotte – A Briderton Story, Corey Mylchreest, Netflix
Fans of the Bridgerton universe have been impatiently waiting for season three of Netflix’s popular regency era period drama.
So far, each season has focused on the dramatic love story of one of the eight Bridgerton siblings, starting with Daphne, followed by her big brother Anthony. Each season has taken place against a colourful backdrop with sumptuous costume design and excellent adaptations of popular modern music to fit the period, to name just two highlights.
For those who didn’t already know, 2023 isn’t the year we get to watch Colin Bridgerton and Penelope Featherington’s love story unfold. That’s on the agenda for 2024. Instead, 2023 is the year of Queen Charlotte, the most powerful, and certainly one of the most fun to watch characters of the Bridgerton stories.
Queen Charlotte – A Briderton Story, Arsema Thomas (Young Lady Agatha Danbury), Netflix
Starring India Amarteifio, Golda Rosheuvel, Corey Mylchreest and Arsema Thomas; Queen Charlotte – A Briderton Story, which had its London premiere on April 21st 2023, in Leicester Square, is a six-episode prequel about the rise and love life of the young Queen. I had the pleasure of attending said premiere and watching the first episode of the new series. The good news is that much of what fans love about the first two seasons seems to be present in this prequel. Specifically, the intriguing love story, the often fun/funny dialogue and the memorable, well-styled musical score/soundtrack. Not to forget the colourful, stunningly designed world in which all these elements live.
One of the first things you notice while watching the trailer for Queen Charlotte – A Briderton Story is what a great job the casting director has done. Especially regarding the young versions of Queen Charlotte and Lady Agatha Danbury. As for how much I enjoyed episode one overall, I can say that I liked it most towards the end, after the wedding. I can also say that the way episode one concludes had my mind conjuring up the Netflix site as I saw myself immediately clicking the ‘Next Episode’ button, something all fans will have to patiently wait for until May 4th 2023.
Queen Charlotte – A Briderton Story, Golda Rosheuvel, Netflix
As for the elements of episode one that had me least enthused, personally, the shots of the wedding seemed too long. The story edit needed to do a little more to keep me fully locked in because the pace left me wanting in places. Also, there wasn’t quite enough going on for me to think, ‘My, my, this is super.’ That is, of course, until after the wedding. Hence my mind conjuring up said ‘Next Episode’ button.
Overall, there is simply too much promise for me not to watch the remaining five episodes on May 4th. Particularly since since there are few things I love more than to watch any woman claim her power.
The Regime, (previously known as The Palace) is a new HBO mini-series that’s set in an invented Middle European autocracy.
Starring Kate Winslet, Martha Plimpton, Matthias Schoenaerts and Andrea Riseborough,the drama focuses on what’s going on within the walls of the palace, as an authoritarian regime is in the midst of unravelling.
Clearly, the Chancellor/dictator isn’t the most decent and likeable of human beings. That doesn’t mean I’m not more than a tad disappointed that according to IMDB, Winslet will only appear in one episode. Especially since witnessing the power dynamic between her character and that played by Plimpton is why I’m most intrigued.
Also, hearing the words ‘I do like‘ currently has me woohooing every time I replay this wonderful trailer. I’m telling myself that since this is an HBO production, I’ll eventually get over Winslet’s ‘cameo.’ Let’s see what the non-teaser trailer has to say when it’s finally released, hopefully soon.
Are you looking forward to spending some time, perhaps a year at the palace?
Guillaume Gallienne, Hugh Grant and Donald Sage Mackay also star.
The Marvels (2023), Brie Larson, Marvel Entertainment
A new unexpectedly refreshing trailer just landed. One that has a very promising cast that happens to be largely female.
Directed by Nia DaCosta, The Marvels stars Brie Larson, Iman Vellani, Teyonah Parris and Samuel L. Jackson in a follow-up to 2019’s Captain Marvel.
Outside of the rather recent Wakanda Forever (2022), it’s been a while since I committed to watching more than just the trailer of new superhero movies. Today however, I find myself curious about the dynamic between the younger and the more established female superheroes in this trailer. I mean, I’m certainly a fan of Iman Vellan and the energy she brings to her role as as Ms. Marvel.
If there’s a chance for a new superhero movie to pull me back in, perhaps it’s this one. Has this trailer had a similar effect on you?
Zawe Ashton, Park Seo-joon, Mohan Kapur, Caroline Simonnet Kamara Benjamin Barnett, Michael Oladele and Tony McCarthy also star.
