Tag Archives: Margot Robbie

Biography, Drama, No Spoiler Reviews, Sport

I, TONYA (2017): Good, Notable Performances…

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I, Tonya (2017), Margot Robbie
I, Tonya (2017), Margot Robbie

I, Tonya, the true story of competitive ice skater Tonya Harding, and the unfortunate events that led to the end of her career is a movie well done. Directed by Craig Gillespie, the film is structured and captured in a way that’s engaging both in style and content.

I found myself impressed by all the performances. Robbie’s portrayal is memorable because of what she was able to achieve both physically and emotionally. There’s even been talk of how impressive her solo scene in front of the mirror is, and it really is. But the moment that moved me most happened in the courtroom, immediately following sentencing.

As Harding’s abusive mother, Allison Janney did brilliantly. This of course, didn’t surprise me, because Janney always delivers. Always. The hateful truth of her character was conveyed so perfectly in her entire being, and very clearly through her eyes. 

Until this movie, I hadn’t really seen Sebastian Stan in much, except his work in Marvel’s Captain America and Avengers movies. Because of what he did with his role as Harding’s abusive husband, I’m now more interested than ever before in what he does next. Another highlight in Gillespie’s film is the well-chosen music.

Watch I, Tonya for the performances and the story. In the meantime, I’m looking forward to Robbie’s next leading role in a drama.

Happy Film Loving,

G

Biography, Drama, Sport

I, TONYA (2017): New Trailer From Margot Robbie, Bobby Cannavale, Sebastian Stan, Mckenna Grace…

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I, Tonya (2017), Margot Robbie
I, Tonya (2017), Margot Robbie

Read my spoiler-free movie review of I, Tonya (2017).

I, Tonya is the true story of competitive ice skater Tonya Harding (Margot Robbie), a skater who rose amongst the ranks at the U.S. Figure Skating Championships. However, unfortunately for her, things change drastically when her ex-husband intervenes.

Directed by Craig Gillespie; Bobby Cannavale, Sebastian Stan and Mckenna Grace also star.

I’m watching because it looks like this movie really allowed Robbie to act her socks off, and I personally can’t wait to see how that unfolds.

I’m also curious about the scary truth of what happened.

Additional supporting cast includes Joey Thurmond, Bojana Novakovic, Allison Janney and Julianne Nicholson.

I, Tonya Release Dates: December 8th, 2017, (US); February 16th, 2018 (UK)…

Happy Film Loving,

G

Action, Adventure, Comedy

PETER RABBIT (2018): New Trailer From James Corden, Daisy Ridley, Margot Robbie, Domhnall Gleeson…

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Peter Rabbit (2018), James Corden
Peter Rabbit (2018), James Corden

Peter Rabbit is the film adaptation of Beatrix Potter’s classic tale of a rebellious rabbit determined to sneak into a farmer’s vegetable garden. 

Will Gluck directs while James Corden, Daisy Ridley, Margot Robbie and Domhnall Gleeson star.

I grew up reading one or two of the Peter Rabbit books, but I only remember the stories vaguely.

My curiosity about how much I loved the books, and the general cuteness of all the animals, is why I’m tuning in. Also, I’ve always enjoyed stories about mischievous and clever animals.

Peter Rabbit Release Dates: February 9th, 2018 (US); March 16th, 2018 (UK)…

Happy Film Loving,

G

Action, Adventure, Fantasy, No Spoiler Reviews

SUICIDE SQUAD (2016) Movie Review: The Thing I Liked…

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Suicide Squad (2016), Margot Robbie
Suicide Squad (2016), Margot Robbie

The trailer for Suicide Squad, a.k.a. DC Comics’s answer to The Avengers (2012) is one of my favourite movie trailers of 2016. Fast forward to the first hour of actually watching Suicide Squad and I’m thinking… ‘Why does this feel like such a big mess?’

After my surprise at my initial reaction, the movie does thankfully become a little more watchable, after the first hour. Though certainly not enough to make Suicide Squad a particularly great experience.

A sizeable part of my issue with director David Ayer’s film is linked to the fact that, unlike Marvel’s The Avengers, stand-alone movies for most, if not all of the characters in Suicide Squad, don’t previously exist. This adds to the already gargantuan challenge of weaving a well-constructed and engaging story featuring all the numerous players, something this film fails to do. I didn’t realise how much Marvel’s approach made a lot of sense until, as a non-reader of comic books, I watched Suicide Squad.

Additionally, I know that superhero movies aren’t real but something about Suicide Squad was even more unbelievable than any other superhero movie I remember watching. I must admit that Cara Delevigne’s portrayal of Enchantress didn’t help matters. ‘Ridiculous’ is unfortunately the word that came to mind most times I saw her character and heard her speak.

Suicide Squad (2016), Viola Davis
Suicide Squad (2016), Viola Davis

As for the characters I did like, Harley Quinn (Margot Robbie) is cool but I found that I didn’t identify with her as much as I thought I would. The fact that all members of the Suicide Squad are hardcore criminals, I’m sure has something to do with it.

Deadshot (Will Smith) is another favourite because he too has that cool factor, thanks in large part to the nature of his particular set of skills. That, combined with how his story is shot is part of what kept me watching. Harley Quinn and Deadshot’s dynamic also helped hold the story together, where possible.

‘Is Jared Leto’s Joker going to be as arresting as Heath Ledger’s brilliant work in The Dark Knight (2008)?’ This was a question I wanted the answer to and I kind of got it… but not really, because The Joker is barely seen in this movie. And even though he is one of the better-known characters before this film – thanks to Batman, Joker’s stand-alone movie really should have come before Suicide Squad.

Overall, Suicide Squad is a movie you watch if you’re curious enough. It’s just not as good as it should have been.

Last but not least, I didn’t want to have to say that ‘Marvel’s The Avengers did it better‘, but I’ve never really been very good at lying to myself.

Happy Film Loving,

G

Action, Adventure, No Spoiler Reviews

THE LEGEND OF TARZAN (2016): The Thing I Liked…

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The Legend Of Tarzan (2016), Alexander Skarsgård
The Legend Of Tarzan (2016), Alexander Skarsgård

Within the first twenty minutes of The Legend Of Tarzan, my thought’s could be summarised with the phrase ‘chop, chop.’ That’s British for ‘hurry up’, ‘move along’, ‘come on!’ etc. The pace was slow and I was eager for the fun jungle action to begin.

Things did eventually start to happen, though certainly not soon enough. The scene when Tarzan faces off with the massive gorilla is my favourite, thanks to the action, camera work and Alexander Skarsgård’s convincing physicality. Overall, though, the movie proved quite dull and with very little that delighted.

The general structure of the story felt odd and I found myself wanting to see more of the young Tarzan’s experiences – because surely, it was more interesting than what I was watching.

Some might say that maybe I should have opted for The Jungle Book (2015) if the story of a boy growing up in the Jungle sans parents is what I was really after – and to that I say, ‘touché’. Still, that doesn’t mean that what we have with director David Yate’s The Legend Of Tarzan is close to all that it could have been.

The film’s stars Alexander Skarsgård, Margot Robbie and Christoph Waltz didn’t deliver terrible performances; it’s the execution of the story and final product that just wasn’t great.

For those who may be undecided about whether to bother with The Legend Of Tarzan, I say give it a chance to appreciate Skarsgård’s physical achievements (maybe), for some nice footage of Africa (perhaps) or for the human/gorilla fight action (the best part). You’ll still probably have to go elsewhere for a truly satisfying retelling of writer Edgar Rice Burroughs’s classic story. Especially since the experience of this movie left me and, I’m sure, many others wanting.

Happy Film Loving,

G