Tag Archives: Daniel Kaluuya

NOPE (2022): The Things I Liked…

Nope (2022), Daniel Kaluuya, Brandon Perea, Keke Palmer, Universal Pictures
Nope (2022), Daniel Kaluuya, Brandon Perea, Keke Palmer, Universal Pictures

I would love to say that Nope is one of my favourite movies of 2022, but that wouldn’t be true. Director Jordan Peele’s third film, following Get Out (2017) and Us (2019), truly tested my patience so much that I came close to giving up on it.

It wasn’t until the fifty-five-minute mark that things changed. I was finally fully engaged and excited about what was happening in Peele’s horror/mystery/sci-fi film about the uncanny, chilling and undoubtedly alien events in an inland California gulch.

The cinematography of Nope is one of its key highlights. Daniel Kaluuya and Keke Palmer’s performances were two more high points. There was a point or two when I wanted Palmer’s character to speak less. Still, what I loved most about Nope is the sibling connection between Kaluuya and Palmer’s characters. A pleasing dynamic that happens to shine through even more after the aforementioned fifty-five-minute mark

As for the question of whether to watch Nope or not, that depends on your patience levels. It also depends on how big of a Peele fan you are. And, lastly, your curiosity about everything that happens after fifty-five minutes. 

I can’t say I completely forgive Peele for the slow half of the movie, just because I enjoyed the second half a lot more. But, I can say that I am somewhat less mad. 

Have you seen Nope? If so, what did you like most and least about it?

Happy Film Loving 

G

QUEEN & SLIM (2019): New trailer From Daniel Kaluuya, Chloë Sevigny, Jodie Turner-Smith, Bokeem Woodbine…

Queen & Sugar (2019), Daniel Kaluuya, Jodie Turner-Smith, Universal Pictures
Queen & Sugar (2019), Daniel Kaluuya, Jodie Turner-Smith, Universal Pictures

Daniel Kaluuya, Chloë Sevigny and Jodie Turner-Smith’s latest drama is Melina Matsoukas directed Queen & Sugar.

The story centres around a young couple who are having a pleasant evening on a first date. On the drive home a police officer pulls them over and all is changed…

I was almost certain about the way this trailer was going to unfold. Especially based on the officer’s disposition. How wrong I was.

It looks to me as though Kaluuya’s character saw himself dead and decided ‘Not today. Not here. Not like this.’ I’ve certainly had those precise thoughts – but definitely not during such a ‘life or death’ predicament. Excited to find out how the rather unexpected turn of events plays out.

Written by James Frey and Lena Waithe, additional cast includes Sturgill Simpson, Kenneth Kynt Bryan, Dominic Cancelliere, Colby Boothman, Scott Rapp and Justin Carmouche.

Queen & Slim Release Dates: November 27th, 2019 (US); January 31st, 2020 (UK)…

Happy Film Loving

G

WIDOWS (2018): New Trailer For Steve McQueen Movie Starring Viola Davis, Liam Neeson, Colin Farrell, Michelle Rodriguez…

Widows (2018), Viola Davis, Liam Neeson
Widows (2018), Viola Davis, Liam Neeson

Widows is a Chicago based crime / thriller about four women who must find a way to survive after their  husbands’ criminal activities leave them in great debt…

From 12 Years A Slave (2012) director Steve McQueen, Widows stars Viola Davis, Liam Neeson, Colin Farrell, Jon Bernthal and Michelle Rodriguez are among the key cast…

The cast, the director, the story, the way it looks like something I didn’t even know I was desperately waiting to see; I’m in.

Daniel Kaluuya, Cynthia Erivo, Brian Tyree Henry, Elizabeth Debicki, Garret Dillahunt, Jacki Weaver, Carrie Coon, Robert Duvall, Lukas Haas also star.

Widows release Dates: November 9th, 2018 (UK); November 16th, 2018 (US)…

Read my spoiler free movie review of Widows.

Happy Film Loving

G

BLACK PANTHER (2018): New Trailer From Chadwick Boseman, Michael B. Jordan, Daniel Kaluuya, Lupita Nyong’o…

Black Panther (2018), Lupita Nyong'o
Black Panther (2018), Lupita Nyong’o

Read my spoiler-free movie review of  Black Panther (2018).


Directed by Ryan Coogler (Creed 2015) and starring Chadwick Boseman, Michael B. Jordan, Lupita Nyong’o and Angela Bassett, Black Panther is Marvel’s latest comic book superhero movie.  As is the case with all super hero movies, Black Panther is about a hero rising to defend many from an outside enemy.  Boseman is T’Challa, the new ruler of the advanced kingdom of Wakanda and it’s up to him to prevent his land from being torn apart…

My general fatigue where superhero movies are concerned will need to simmer down a little just so I can enjoy this movie. I love how ‘queenly’ and in charge Lupita looks, especially at 1:11 in the trailer. Boseman is an actor we can all rely on – along with the rest of the Black Panther cast,  so yes, I’m very excited indeed. And since February is my birthday month, I’ll consider this film as the personal gift to me that it is… in my head.

How very far away February suddenly seems.

Danai Gurira, Martin Freeman, Forest Whitaker, Florence Kasumba and Andy Serkis also star.

Black Panther Release Dates: February 16th, 2018 (UK & US); February 15th, 2018 (GER)…

Happy Film Loving

G

GET OUT (2017): A Scary, Suspenseful & Clever Mystery…

Get Out (2017), Daniel Kaluuya, Allison Williams
Get Out (2017), Daniel Kaluuya, Allison Williams

Meeting a girlfriend’s parents for the first time is scary for any young man but when you’re a young African-American man (Daniel Kaluuya) visiting his Caucasian girlfriend’s mysterious family estate for the first time, there’s another level of scary that comes into play. And it’s writer / director Jordan Peele’s exploration of this fear combined with his smart social and cultural observations that make Get Out a thing to see.

As a self-confessed wuss, especially where scary movies are concerned, as soon as Get Out started, I was more than ready for the film to end. Not because I was having a bad time, as such. I simply knew that something bad was going to happen and I was looking forward to the point when it was over.  

In spite of my ‘wussy’ ways, I did make it to the very end of Get Out, a well constructed mystery where the immediate scares come in the suspenseful moments when you don’t quite know how the impending horror is going to take shape. 

Watch this movie because it’s worthy and you probably won’t have nightmares afterwards. At least not on the night you watch the movie. I didn’t; though I did have plenty of other thoughts going on… so that’s probably why. Or, maybe tonight is when the scares will come. Tonight…

Happy Film Loving

G

GET OUT (2017): New Trailer For Horror Movie From Jordan Peele & Starring Daniel Kaluuya, Allison Williams…

Get Out (2017), Daniel Kaluuya, Allison Williams
Get Out (2017), Daniel Kaluuya, Allison Williams

Written and directed by Jordan Peele of Key & Peele, Get Out is a brand new horror movie set on a cursed family estate and starring Daniel Kaluuya, Allison Williams, Bradley Whitford, Catherine Keener…

I’m hoping that I’ll be able to muster the courage to watch this one. Right this very moment I’m already too scared. Scrap that. I have to watch this. It looks too unlike everything else.

Catherine Keener, Bradley Whitford and Caleb Landry Jones also star.

Get Out Release Dates: February 24th 2017, (US)…

Happy Film Loving

G

SICARIO (2015): For The Performances, Music, Cinematography & Tension

Sicario (2015), Benicio Del Toro
Sicario (2015), Benicio Del Toro

Set in the US / Mexico border area in the middle of the escalating war on drugs; Emily Blunt plays a ‘fish out of water’ FBI agent recruited by Josh Brolin’s Matt Graver. Benicio Del Toro’s character is the mysterious consultant, Alejandro who Graver brings along for the ride.

Bristling with expertly captured tension’ is one way to describe Sicario; whether it’s the tensions between law enforcement and the criminals or the tensions between the film’s main characters. Sicario is excellently scored, filled with stunning visuals and really notable performances, especially from Blunt and Del Toro.

Sicario (2015), Benicio Del Toro, Emily Blunt
Sicario (2015), Benicio Del Toro, Emily Blunt

In terms of things that I wish were different about the movie, director Denis Villeneuve’s film has a few stretches of time that had me wishing for more things to happen. I’m sure that when little seemed to be taking place in terms of action and drama, those moments were true representations of what days can be like for the main characters involved. Unfortunately for me, those moments just made my mind wander elsewhere.

Overall, Sicario is a very good movie. Just don’t expect continuous action/ drama, for this is neither Training Day (2001) nor End Of Watch (2012); both great films.

Other key characters are played by Daniel Kaluuya, Victor Garber, Jon Bernthal and Jeffrey Donovan.

A reminder of the film’s excellent trailer

Happy Film Loving 🙂

G

SICARIO (2015): Trailer Of The Week, Starring Emily Blunt, Benicio Del Toro, Daniel Kaluuya…

Sicario (2015), Benicio Del Toro
Sicario (2015), Benicio Del Toro

Read my spoiler-free movie review of Sicario (2015).


In Mexico, Sicario means hitman. It is also the name of the new Denis Villeneuve directed crime / mystery / drama about a ‘fish out of water’ FBI agent enlisted to fight the escalating war on drugs in Mexico – whilst accompanied by a mysterious consultant.

With something of an End Of Watch (2012) vibe (which you know is a great thing if you’ve seen the Jake Gyllenhaal and Michael Pena film); Sicario’s main stars include Benicio Del Toro, Emily Blunt, Josh Brolin, Daniel Kaluuya and Jon Bernthal.

Why trailer of the week? The execution that doesn’t give too much away, but just enough to get you excited, the excellent editing and that gloriously unsettling musical score, courtesy of Johann Johannsson.

I am mad excited.

Happy Film Loving 

G