Tag Archives: Nicole Kidman

THE GOLDFINCH (2019): The Things I Liked…

The Goldfinch (2019), Ansel Elgort, Warner Bros. Pictures
The Goldfinch (2019), Ansel Elgort, Warner Bros. Pictures

The Goldfinch is a movie for which I had high hopes post trailer viewing. The primary reason is the reliable cast and intriguing themes. 

Starring Ansel Elgort, Luke Wilson, Nicole Kidman, Finn Wolfhard and Sarah Paulson; director John Crowley’s film is based on a Pulitzer Prize-winning novel by Donna Tartt. A story that follows Theodore Decker, a young boy who loses his mother in a bombing at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. An event that leads to him being taken in by a wealthy Upper East Side, New York family. And from there we get to see the highs and lows of young Theodore’s life as he grows up.

Not particularly’ is unfortunately the answer to the question of whether I enjoyed watching The Goldfinch. The only sort of good news is that I didn’t hate the performances. Yet, I can’t deny that the movie left me disappointed. 

The Goldfinch (2019), Sarah Paulson, Warner Bros. Pictures
The Goldfinch (2019), Sarah Paulson, Warner Bros. Pictures

Part of the problem is the two-and-a-half hour-long runtime which felt excessive. Second, young Oakes Fegley is a talented performer. However, it proved distracting to me, how little he resembled Ansel Elgort, especially since he’s supposed to play the younger version of Elgort’s character. 

The Goldfinch isn’t focused on grief the way I expected. Yet, I’m not mad at that. My issue is more that whatever the film had to say, it could have been better-executed story edit/structure-wise. The lack of satisfaction and the emptiness I felt during much of, and by the end of the movie took me back to that feeling of leaving a dinner party you’d been looking forward to with a largely empty stomach. 

Okay, there were one or two highlights, Young Decker’s relationship with Jeffrey Wright’s character and the tiny little crush I may have had on Aneurin Barnard’s character. Overall, I’m sure it’s unsurprising that I’m having trouble thinking of reasons to suggest you give The Goldfinch a chance. However, Tartt’s book is a Pulitzer Prize winner. So maybe read it if you haven’t already. 

Happy Film Loving 

G

THE PROM (2021): New Trailer From Meryl Streep, Nicole Kidman, Kerry Washington, Andrew Rannells…

The Prom (2020), Meryl Streep, Netflix
The Prom (2020), Meryl Streep, Netflix

Starring Meryl Streep, Nicole Kidman, Andrew Rannells and Kerry Washington; Ryan Murphey’s latest creation is comedy/musical film, The Prom.

The Prom is the story of a swarm of self-obsessed theatre stars who arrive in a small conservative Indiana town, in support of a high school girl who wants to take her girlfriend to the prom.

Meryl Streep playing a role that’s the slightest bit reminiscent of her great work in The Devil Wears Prada (2006). That’s all the reason I need to watch this one. Particularly since musicals aren’t my favourite.

Also, Washington and Kidman and Rannells, plus I like the premise.

Keegan-Michael Key, Mary Kay Place, Tracey Ullman, Ariana DeBose, Kevin Chamberlin, Nathaniel J. Potvin, Nico Greetham, Jo Ellen Pellman, Logan Riley and Sebastian Vale also star.

The Prom Release Dates: December 11th, 2020 (US)…

Happy Film loving

G

BOMBSHELL (2019): The Things I Liked…

Bombshell (2020), Charlize Theron, Lionsgate Movies
Bombshell (2020), Charlize Theron, Lionsgate Movies

I was vaguely aware but definitely didn’t follow the Fox News / Roger Ailes sexual harassment scandal of 2016. 

Set predominantly in the Fox News offices in New York, Bombshell focuses on the experiences of three women in particular (Gretchen Carlson, Megyn Kelly and Kayla Pospisil), while they were employed by Ailes. 

With such a great cast that features Charlize Theron, Margot Robbie, Nicole Kidman, Kate McKinnon and John Lithgow, it was clear right away that Bombshell wouldn’t disappoint performance-wise.

Instead, it was the distracting prosthetics work on Nicole Kidman’s chin that first stood out as ‘not quite right‘. Secondly, due to how the story is structured, by the end it felt as though I hadn’t quite watched a complete film – but rather snippets of specific days in a much bigger story. A story that I may have enjoyed more and felt more connected to, had it dived deeper into the backgrounds of the key characters. Maybe it would have worked better divided into several parts of a mini-series.

Bombshell (2020), Nicole Kidman, Lionsgate Movies
Bombshell (2020), Nicole Kidman, Lionsgate Movies

The last way in which Bombshell ‘isn’t quite right’ is actually through no fault of its own. I had some expectations about seeing a few scenes displaying ‘heartwarming female solidarity‘ between the key characters. A truth that seems more than a tad silly now, especially considering the social climate and apparent rivalries at the Fox News offices.

Overall, director Jay Roach’s movie did a good job of keeping my attention throughout; thanks in large part to the performances which really are the best thing about Bombshell. The prosthetics, particularly on Lithgow are also great.

Watch Bombshell for the ‘inside look’ at how disturbing things really were at Fox News. Just don’t make my mistake and go in expecting too much of the aforementioned heartwarming sisterly stuff’

Happy Film Loving 

G

THE GOLDFINCH (2019): New Trailer From Ansel Elgort, Nicole Kidman, Sarah Paulson, Finn Wolfhard…

The Goldfinch (2019), Ansel Elgort, Warner Bros. Pictures
The Goldfinch (2019), Ansel Elgort, Warner Bros. Pictures

Read my spoiler-free movie review of  The Goldfinch (2029).


Based on Donna Tartt’s Pulitzer Prize winning novel of the same name, and directed by John Crowley, The Goldfinch is a new drama starring Ansel Elgort, Nicole Kidman, Sarah Paulson and Finn Wolfhard.

After a bombing at the Metropolitan Museum of Art that kills his mother, young Theodore Decker is taken in by a wealthy Upper East Side, New York family…

I’m interested for reasons including this trailer looks great, my appreciation of most – if not all the actors involved and I can’t wait to see how well this movie says what it has to say about grief.

My only wish at this point is that young Theodore actually resembled grown up Theodore. He’s probably too young but Jacob Tremblay probably looks more like a younger version of Elgort and Thomas Mann looks more like a grown up Wolfhard. What do you think?

Luke Wilson, Jeffrey Wright, Aneurin Barnard, Peter Jacobson, Luke Kleintank and Peter Jacobson also star.

The Goldfinch Release Dates: September 13th, 2019 (US); September 27th, 2019 (UK)…

Happy Film Loving

G

AQUAMAN (2018): The Things I Liked…

Aquaman (2018), Jason Momoa, Warner Bros. Pictures
Aquaman (2018), Jason Momoa, Warner Bros. Pictures

In director James Wan’s latest, Jason Momoa is Aurthur, a.k.a Aquaman, a man who reluctantly begins a journey to take his rightful place as heir to the underwater kingdom of Atlantis and become a hero to the world.

Considering how DC Comics’ recent films have turned out, Wonder Woman (2017) being an exception; as much as I enjoyed the Aquaman trailer, I made sure to not get too excited.

Having now seen it, even though Aquaman is not my favourite super hero movie, there is definitely some fun to be had by watching. For example, I found Momoa quite delightful, thanks to his aesthetic, physicality and charisma. If I had to choose though, it’s definitely the underwater special effects in Aquaman that I loved most. From the toothy flesh eating creatures to the beautifully lit colours of the deep, I couldn’t help but be reminded to look forward to the upcoming C.G.I-rich Avatar movies… whenever director James Cameron is ready.

Other key highlights in Aquaman include the action sequences in Sicily, Willem Dafoe’s performance and Nicole Kidman’s rather convincing fight sequences. Maybe I’m really into seeing Kidman fight because I don’t remember having seen her fight like that in a movie before. Either way, I remain impressed. 

In terms of the elements I wish weren’t quite so about Wan’s movie, that would be the romance between Aurthur and Mera. ‘Forced’ is the word because I simply didn’t buy it. I also noticed a few awkward instances regarding the placement of music as well as some less than inspiring dialogue. Lastly, we have Manta; he’s simply not the best superhero villain I’ve ever been exposed to.

By the end of Aquaman, I was just glad that I found more things to enjoy than not. Plus, I’m happy for DC Comics because things seem to be turning around.

Watch it if you’re not too Team Marvel.

Happy Film Loving 

G

BOY ERASED (2018): The Thing I Liked…

Boy Erased (2018), Nicole Kidman, Lucas Hedges
Boy Erased (2018), Nicole Kidman, Lucas Hedges

Boy Erased is a biographical drama based on a specific time in the life of Garrard Conley, a Baptist preacher’s son who as a teenager was forced to take part in a church-supported gay conversion program. A disturbing and damaging practice that I’m sadly unsurprised to learn still continues today. 

Besides standing out for being a heartbreaking true story that’s well acted and directed, Lucas Hedges, Nicole Kidman, Russell Crowe and Joel Edgerton’s latest movie features a number of scenes that I won’t soon forget. 

My very favourite one is a scene so moving that it made me realise I don’t actually recall the last time I wanted a person’s all important phone call to be answered so desperately. 

My second favourite scene takes place just before the one with the phone phone call. It’s a moment that had me hoping that every parent with a strong willed child recognises the value of their child’s will. Especially when the child chooses to question what appears as nonsense – at the most crucial time, regardless of who may be spewing it.

Boy Erased definitely has a number of unfortunate things that happen in this story; meaning you really won’t be laughing much, if at all. Still, I did find the experience worthwhile for the insight into what can occur at gay conversion camps and for the aforementioned well executed and memorable scenes which take place towards the end.

Watch it if it intrigues you enough and also because it’s more hopeful than you may think.

Happy Film Loving

G

DESTROYER (2018): New Trailer From Nicole Kidman, Sebastian Stan, Bradley Whitford…

Destroyer (2018), Nicole Kidman
Destroyer (2018), Nicole Kidman

Starring Nicole Kidman, Sebastian Stan, Bradley Whitford and directed by Karyn Kusama, Destroyer is the story of the moral and existential odyssey of an LAPD detective named Erin Bell.

Bell decides to reconnect with people from an undercover assignment in her distant past in order to make peace…

I’m in for what looks like a really good Kidman performance and to understand the nature of the wrongs that led to Bell needing to make peace.

Tatiana Maslany, Shamier Anderson, Toby Kebbell, Scoot McNairy and Toby Huss also star.

Destroyer Release Dates: December 25th, 2018 (US); January 25th, 2019 (UK)…

Happy Film Loving

G

THE UPSIDE (2017): New Trailer From Kevin Hart, Bryan Cranston, Nicole Kidman…

Read my spoiler-free movie review of The Upside (2017)


The Upside is a remake of French film The Intouchables (2011), the story of the relationship between a wealthy paraplegic and an unemployed man with a criminal record who’s hired to help him.

Bryan Cranston, Kevin Hart and Nicole Kidman star while Neil Burger directs…

There’s no denying it, The Intouchables  is a great movie and could have done without a remake. At the same time though, I think I may actually have fun seeing how different this remake is to the original. I could also be wrong about that last statement but I don’t mind finding out. Furthermore, I want to see what comedian Kevin Hart can do in a more dramatic role.

Julianna Margulies, Golshifteh Farahani, Tate Donovan and Aja Naomi King also star.

The Upside Release Dates: January 11th, 2019 (US & UK)…

Happy Film Loving

G