Tag Archives: Nicole Kidman

Drama

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

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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 may be too young, but Jacob Tremblay 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

Action, Adventure, Fantasy, No Spoiler Reviews

AQUAMAN (2018): The Things I Liked…

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

In director James Wan’s latest, Jason Momoa is Arthur, 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’s recent films have turned out, Wonder Woman (2017) being an exception, as much as I enjoyed the Aquaman trailer, I made sure not to get too excited about how he film would be.

Having now seen it, even though Aquaman is not my favourite superhero movie, there is some fun to be had by watching it. For example, I found Momoa quite delightful, thanks to his aesthetic, physicality and charisma. If I had to choose, it’s 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 CGI-rich Avatar movies, whenever director James Cameron is ready, of course.

Other key highlights in Aquaman include the action sequences in Sicily. Namely, Willem Dafoe’s performance and Nicole Kidman’s rather convincing fight sequences.

In terms of the elements I wish weren’t quite so about Wan’s film, that would be the romance between Arthur 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 and some less-than-inspiring dialogue.

Lastly, we have Manta; he’s simply not close enough to the best superhero villains I’ve ever seen. 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 curious and not ‘too Team Marvel.’

Happy Film Loving,

G

Biography, Drama, No Spoiler Reviews

BOY ERASED (2018): The Thing I Liked…

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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 several scenes that will stay with me for a while.

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

My second favourite scene takes place just before the one with the phone call. It’s a moment that had me hoping 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 said nonsense.

Boy Erased has many heartbreaking things that happen, meaning you really won’t be laughing much, if at all. Still, I found the experience worthwhile for the insight into what can occur at gay conversion camps, and for well-executed and memorable scenes that take place towards the end.

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

Happy Film Loving,

G

Action, Crime, Drama

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

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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

Comedy, Drama

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

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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 from 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