Tag Archives: Colin Firth

Drama, Romance

EMPIRE OF LIGHT (2022): New Trailer From Sam Mendes, Starring Olivia Coleman, Colin Firth, Micheal Ward, Toby Jones…

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From director Sam Mendes, human connection and the magic of cinema are the subject of new drama/romance Empire of Light.

Set n an English seaside town in the early 1980s, Colin Firth, Micheal Ward, Olivia Coleman and Toby Jones star

I’m ready for the dialogue, cinematography and that special magic that exists in all Mendes films. That moment when I’m joyful to be experiencing a great moment on screen. The kind which reconfirms that this medium really is the true perfect amalgamation of all the arts.

It sure is starting to look like 2022 is the year of movies about movies, right? First, we had the rather fun Official Competition. Now, Empire of Light, and of course, Steven Spielberg’s The Fabelmans.

There are only 3 months left of this year but what do you think the chances are that at least one more film about movies is on the way? Quite likely, probably. I think I’ll be happy as long as it’s not too much like Hail, Caesar! (2016).

Tom Brooke, Monica Dolan, Sara Stewart, Crystal Clarke, Tanya Moodie, Hannah Onslow, George Greenland and also star

Empire of Light Release Dates: December 9th, 2022 (US); January 13th, 2023 (UK)…

Happy Film Loving

G

Drama, Family, Fantasy, No Spoiler Reviews

THE SECRET GARDEN (2020): The Things I Liked…

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The Secret Garden (2020), Julie Walters, Studio Canal

I had hoped that watching The Secret Garden would take me back to the pre-teen phase of my life. A period when I loved to read.

Having now seen this remake of Frances Hodgson Burnett’s novel about an orphaned girl who discovers a magical garden hidden at her strict uncle’s estate, director Marc Munden’s movie did take me back. It also reminded me that The Secret Garden was a book I recall having to read for school. However, even though it featured a magical garden, which I imagine young me would have loved. I don’t remember particularly loving the book – and this is why I shouldn’t be surprised to realise that I don’t love Munden’s movie.

The actors including Colin Firth, Julia Walters’s and Dixie Egerrickx performed well enough. I just found this version of the story to be quite simplistic and lacking in depth. In fairness, it is based on a Children’s story. Yet I had hoped to find it more than watchable at best.

My favourite thing about The Secret Garden is the actual garden itself. I mean, who wouldn’t want their own lush, colourful secret garden with magical properties?

Besides my issues with the story, my only other complaint is about the moments the musical score seemed to be unnecessarily loud and overbearing.

Watch The Secret Garden if you’re especially curious. Or, you could watch the 1993 film adaptation of The Secret Garden instead. I hear it’s much better.

Happy Film Loving

G

Drama, Family, Fantasy

THE SECRET GARDEN (2019): New Trailer From Colin Firth, Maeve Dermody, Julie Walters, Dixie Egerickx…

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The Secret Garden (2020), Colin Firth, Studio Canal
The Secret Garden (2020), Colin Firth, Studio Canal

Read my spoiler-free movie review of The Secret Garden (2020).

The Secret Garden is a movie version of  novelist Frances Hodgson Burnett’s book of the same name.

Starring Colin Firth, Maeve Dermody, Julie Walters and Dixie Egerickx, it’s a Marc Munden directed story about a young orphan girl who discovers a magical garden hidden at her uncle’s house…

I vaguely remember reading The Secret Garden at school, but I somehow only recall the basics. I.e. ‘There was a girl. There was a secret garden.‘

I’ll watch this to be reminded, but also definitely to enjoy the visulas of the beautiful flowers and greenery.

Jemma Powell, Amir Wilson, Sonia Goswami, Jackson Kai, Edan Hayhurst, Lee Starkey, Tommy Surridge, Chloe Stannage, Isis Davis, Abdul Hakim Joy and Anne Lacey also star.

The Secret Garden Release Dates: August 14th, 2020 (US & UK)…

Happy Film Loving

G

Biography, Drama, No Spoiler Reviews

THE HAPPY PRINCE (2018): The Things I Liked…

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The Happy Prince (2018), Rupert Everett
The Happy Prince (2018), Rupert Everett

The Happy Prince is the heartbreaking story of an artist who deserved so much better than the worst of the treatment he received whilst alive. The artist in question is the now very much deservedly adored and celebrated Irish poet and playwright, Oscar Wilde.

Starring Rupert Everett, Colin Firth and Emily Watson, I wanted to learn about the untold story of the tragic times leading up to Wilde’s last days. As a fan of his work and many of his great quotes, I had somehow imagined that I’d be hearing famous Wilde quote after famous Wild quote as the movie played. This is not quite what happened and I’m not sure that if it had, it would have been a good.

The good news is that there’s definitely clever and witty Wilde sayings to enjoy, even though Everett’s film focuses quite rightly on telling Wilde’s truth and capturing his undeniably magnetic charm.

As well as the fact that The Happy Prince is rather well cast, the cinematography is a pleasant surprise. I liked the general flow of the story which switches between present day and flashbacks. I also enjoyed the words that follow the unexpected confrontation in France… ‘There’s nothing in me, not even fear.’ 

The Happy Prince brought to mind the value of great friends during dark times. It also reminds me that as sad as Wilde’s story is, I can’t help but notice how far LGBTQ rights have come since the days of Wilde, and that certainly makes me happy. 

Watch it if you’re a fan of Wilde. I have been for a long time. I even went to his final resting place at Père Lachaise Cemetery, Paris once.

One more Wilde quote… ‘Live! Live the wonderful life that is in you! Let nothing be lost upon you. Be always searching for new sensations. Be afraid of nothing.’

Happy Film Loving 

G

Drama, History

KURSK (2018): New Trailer From Colin Firth, Matthias Schoenaerts, Léa Seydoux…

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Kursk (2018), Matthias Schoenaerts
Kursk (2018), Matthias Schoenaerts

Directed by Thomas Vinterberg, Kursk is a historical drama about the 2000 K-141 Kursk submarine disaster and the governmental negligence that followed.

Colin Firth, Matthias Schoenaerts and Léa Seydoux star…

The trailer makes me eager to watch Kursk because of Schoenaerts, Firth and Seydoux. I’m only slightly hesitant because I feel as though it’s going to make me mad. You know, on account of all the reasons the ending won’t be as happy.

Michael Nyqvist, August Diehl, Steven Waddington, Zlatko Buric, Matthias Schweighöfer and Joel Basman also star.

Kursk Release Dates…

Happy Film Loving

G

Action, Adventure, Comedy, No Spoiler Reviews

KINGSMAN – THE GOLDEN CIRCLE (2017): The Thing I Liked…

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Kingsman - The Golden Circle (2017), Taron Egerton, Mark Strong
Kingsman – The Golden Circle (2017), Taron Egerton, Mark Strong

This is  probably unsurprising since Kingsman – The Golden Circle is a sequel but I did not enjoy this movie as much as the original. In director Matthew Vaughn’s sequel, the Kingsman head offices are blown up and the kingsmen must team up with an allied spy organisation in the US.

Not that Kingsman – The Secret Service (2014) was super realistic, but something about this follow-up felt quite ridiculous. Starting with the opening scene; somehow it just didn’t feel as thrilling as I’d ordinarily expect. Part of the problem is that I found myself immediately disappointed with the story’s choice of villain, the one we meet in the first few minutes. There’s also the fact that everything happened so suddenly in the first few minutes, whereas I somehow wanted or perhaps expected to be eased into the action, as odd as that may sound.

This movie has one or two fight sequences that harked back to the first film. These scenes played a little too ‘the same’, for my liking. In this way they reminded me of part of the reason why Quantum Of Solace (2008) was such a terrible follow-up to the brilliant Casino Royale (2006). It tried too hard to almost repeat so much of what worked so very well in the first movie.

As for the matter of the main villain of vaughn’s movie, let’s just say that I have officially found a Julianne Moore performance I do not like. In the role of the villain, I did not fully buy into her evil. Is her face simply far too angelic for the kind of evil required? Maybe. What I know for sure is that I didn’t see it in her eyes or feel it through her words and I needed to.

Luckily, there is some good news here; namely the beautifully executed ‘singing scene’ towards the end. I was moved. Overall though, my favourite scene in this film has to be the ‘infiltration’ of Poppy’s compound. That’s the moment I saw a fight scene that truly felt as though it belonged to Kingsman – The Golden Circle. Rather than something borrowed from Kingsman – The Secret Service and as a result, felt quite tedious.

Watch it if you’re very curious.

Happy Film Loving

G

Biography, Drama

THE MERCY (2017): New Trailer From Colin Firth, Rachel Weisz…

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The Mercy (2017), Colin Firth
The Mercy (2017), Colin Firth

The Mercy is the story of Yachtsman Donald Crowhurst, whose disastrous attempt to win the 1968 Golden Globe Race ends up with him creating an outrageous account of traveling the world alone by sea…

I’ll be watching to learn more about the kind of ‘madness’ that drives one to leave their wife and young children behind, to go a on a dangerous solo adventure with a 50/ 50 chance of survival. Particularly an adventure that doesn’t appear to be of benefit to the family left behind.

I of course also want to know about how far Crowhurst took the lies he started telling about his progress.

The Mercy Release Dates: 2017 (US); February 9th, 2018 (US)…

Happy Film Loving

G

Action, Adventure, Comedy

KINGSMAN – THE GOLDEN CIRCLE (2017): New Trailer From Taron Egerton, Channing Tatum, Colin Firth, Julianne Moore…

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Kingsman - The Golden Circle (2017), Taron Egerton
Kingsman – The Golden Circle (2017), Taron Egerton

In Kingsman – The Golden Circle, the Kingsman headquarters are destroyed and the world is held hostage. Upon discovering an allied spy organization in the US. The two elite secret organisations must work together to defeat a common enemy…

Before the First Kingsman movie, Kingsman – The Secret Service, I mostly knew the film’s director Matthew Vaughn as an excellent producer to one of my favourite British directors, Guy Ritchie.Look at him now! I can’t wait to see what looks yet another very welcome and thrilling festival of style, action and adventure.

I don’t actually recall how things were left with Sofia Boutella’s very cool ‘Gazelle’ character in the first movie, but my hope is that this new instalment will be so good that I barely miss her, if at all.

Kingsman – The Golden Circle Release Dates: September 22nd, 2017 (US); September 29th, 2017 (UK)…

Happy Film Loving

G