Anya Taylor-Joy, Timothy Olyphant, Annette Bening and William Fichtner are the stars of new 7-part crime/drama, Lucky.
Taylor-Joy is playing a reformed criminal who is forced to confront her past and return to illicit activities to secure her freedom.
I’m always happy to see the ever-great actor William Fichtner on a cast list. As for the premise of Lucky, it may seem super cliché, but perhaps the execution is a pleasant surprise.
The last production I saw Taylor-Joy in was The Gorge (2025). It looks like the character she played in that movie and the one in this series have similar skills, not at all a complaint, mind you.
Quinn Aune, Mika McCalla, Aadyn Encalarde, Matthew Rauch, Ariel Flores, Clifton Collins Jr., Drew Starkey, Eric Lange, Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor, Isaac Stephen Montgomery, Christiana Montoya, Paris Nicole, Armah David and Airic Knight also star.
Stopping Wario and Bowser Jr.’s evil alliance as they attempt world domination is what Mario and friends are tasked with in The Super Mario Galaxy Movie.
From director Aaron Horvath and Michael Jelenic, Brie Larson, Benny Safdie, Anya Taylor-Joy and Chris Pratt are among the key cast.
‘Princess Rosalina! You’re coming with me!’
The princess is a key reason for my interest. Especially since, in this trailer, everything that happens from 2:01 onwards is my favourite. The rest will likely feel like a watchable, easy viewing animated experience. Bear in mind that I say this all without having watched The Super Mario Bros. Movie of 2023, which I hear was quite fun.
How enthusiastic do you feel about this second instalment?
Jack Black, Keegan-Michael Key, Charlie Day and Kevin Michael Richardson also star.
Weeks ago, I doubted the quality of Anya Taylor-Joy and Miles Teller’s latest action/adventure/fantasy film,The Gorge, purely based on the trailer.
Luckily, especially after the recent disappointment of George Clooney and Brad Pitt’s Wolfs (2024), among one or two other movies that failed to deliver, I’m happy to confirm that I didn’t find The Gorge boring or bad.
In a story about two highly skilled operatives hired to protect a mysterious gorge, Taylor-Joy and Teller are well cast for a couple of reasons, including their chemistry. Sigourney Weaver and Sope Dirisu were also memorable.
So pleasant was my surprise to be truly enjoying The Gorge, that the following words came to mind as the movie played.
Hello, good story, special effects, and engaging execution.
Taylor-Joy and Teller sure move very convincingly as capable snipers.
Look at me liking this movie and eating my words.
Watch The Gorge if you’re curious. Perfect, it is not. What it is is fun, satisfying and romantic.
There are many good things about director Mark Mylod’s comedy/horror/thriller, The Menu.
The cast is fantastic, and the performances faultless, which makes sense since one can hardly go wrong with John Leguizamo, Anya Taylor-Joy, Ralph Feinnes, Hong Chau, Janet McTeer and Nicholas Hoult on the same call sheet. Especially considering the delightfully rhythmic dialogue plus the unexpected twists and turns.
Mylod’s story about a young couple who travel to a remote island to eat at an exclusive restaurant, but end up faced with shocking surprises is fun and will leave you with plenty to talk about afterwards.
The topics I had to discuss immediately once the end credits rolled included Anya Taylor-Joy’s Margot character being my favourite. I enjoyed Margot’s disposition and every word that came out of her mouth. Hong Chau’s Elsa is also fun for similar reasons to Margot, but undoubtedly in part because of her memorable outfit.
The Menu (2022), Anya Taylor-Joy, Searchlight Pictures
The Menu does well at keeping the audience far from comfortable from the beginning because of the mystery surrounding what the evening has in store for both the audience and the characters. Yet, the part-horror characterisation is not nightmare-inducing. What it is, is a memorable movie experience.
I’m convinced that The Menu might have benefited from being a mini-series rather than a feature film. Specifically because some moments felt inadequately fleshed out, resulting in my inability to buy into a handful of the decisions made by some characters.
Admittedly, I also eventually tired of Feinnes’s Chef Slowik character, distinctly how his pretentious and subsequently unlikable qualities manifest when he demands the attention of his guests.
Watch The Menu because it’s fun. Lastly, the things it gets right will probably leave you feeling glad that the movie exists.
Last Night in Soho (2021), Anya Taylor-Joy, Focus Features
Directed by Edgar Wright of Baby Driver (2017), Last Night in Soho is a new drama/horror/mystery starring Anya Taylor-Joy, Thomasin McKenzie and Jessie Mei Li.
It’s the story of a young girl (McKenzie), passionate about fashion design, who finds herself mysteriously able to enter the 1960s.
While there, she encounters her idol, a dazzling wannabe singer (Taylor-Joy). Only 1960s London isn’t quite what it seems.
The part-horror categorisation makes me nervous, but I remain curious. Who knew that Taylor-Joy had such a beautiful singing voice? Not me.
Here’s to hoping there are more pleasant surprises to look forward to.
Diana Rigg, Matt Smith, Rita Tushingham, Terence Stamp, Margaret Nolan, Lisa McGrillis, James Phelps, Synnove Karlsen, Oliver Phelps, Katrina Vasilieva, Michael Jibson and Kassius Nelson also star.
