Godzilla – King Of The Monsters (2019), Charles Dance, Millie Bobbie Brown, Vera Farmiga
Godzilla – King Of The Monsters is a new Michael Dougherty directed action / adventure of epic proportions. One that pits Godzilla against some of the most popular monsters in pop culture history.
Millie Bobby Brown, Vera Farmiga, Sally Hawkins and Bradley Whitford star…
My favourite thing about this trailer? Each moment wings unfurl to that beautiful music – especially at 1:19. The combination of the visual effects, the score and the monster’s sheer size makes for an almost, dare I say, ‘spiritual experience?’
To be clear, I’m in for the special effects and would truly be delighted if this were a disaster movie that pleasantly surprised me in more than one or two ways.
Kyle Chandler, Charles Dance, Ziyi Zhang, Aisha Hinds, Thomas Middleditch, Ken Watanabe and O’Shea Jackson also star.
The Shape Of Water (2017), Sally Hawkins, Octavia Spencer
Set in Cold War era America, circa 1963, director Guillermo del Toro’s The Shape Of Water is an other-worldly fairy tale and fantasy / romance about a lonely mute called Elisa. Played beautifully by Sally Hawkins, Elisa falls in love with ‘amphibian man’, a sea creature captured for a secret classified experiment due to take place at Elisa’s work building where she cleans.
Featuring good performances by all, including Octavia Spencer, Richard Jenkins and Michael Shannon, I found Hawkinsto be particularly captivating as Elisa. Her great performance along with the beautiful visuals, filming style – the way the camera barely stood still combined with the editing and pacing managed to keep me engaged.
The Shape Of Water is generally a well executed movie. Nevertheless, I’m not as enthused post viewing as I thought I might be. I understand the film’s message about love and how there are near to zero limitations in terms of where one can find it. Still, perhaps it’s just the kind of film, though good, it doesn’t inspire a certain level of excitement within me. It could have something to do with not really seeing myself ever falling in love with ‘amphibian man’. It could also be that the ‘love can be found anywhere’ message is one I’d already fully digested. Lastly, maybe I loved the first half more than I did the second half, where things got really serious. Yes, that may be it. I think I had more fun in the first half when Elisa was happy and tap-dancing in her corridor!
Richard Strickland’s (Shannon) voice and suit before the true nature of his character is revealed, the capabilities of ‘amphibian man’ and Hawkins’ performance are my favourite things about The Shape Of Water.
Watch it if you’re curious. Maybe you’ll be more wowed and enthused than I. It is the Best Picture Academy Award winner after all.
Lonely Elisa (Sally Hawkins) works in a hidden high-security government laboratory and is trapped in a life of silence and isolation. Her life is changed forever when she and co-worker Zelda (Octavia Spencer) discover a secret classified experiment.
Also starring Michael Shannon, Michael Stuhlbarg and Doug Jones, The Shape Of Water is an other-worldly fairy tale set against the backdrop of Cold War era America circa 1963…
Director Guillermo del Toro is all the reason I need to watch this one but I’ll add the cast and the intriguing ‘secret experiment’ to the list.
For some reason, when I read the words ‘high-security government laboratory’ and ‘secret classified experiment,’ Captain America – The First Avenger (2011) came to mind. Anyone else? Just me? Ok.
Starring Hugh Grant, Hugh Bonneville, Ben Whishaw, Peter Capaldi, Brendan Gleeson and a handful more British actors, director Paul King is back with Paddington 2, a sequel to the 2014 animated family comedy. The story picks with Paddington who’s now happily settled with the Brown family and a popular member of the local community. He works odd jobs to buy the perfect present for his Aunt Lucy’s 100th birthday but unfortunately, the gift is stolen…
I haven’t seen the original Paddington (2014) simply because the mood for it never really struck. It’s probably time I did, particularly to see another example of how Britishness, British charm and the streets of London are portrayed on the big screen.
Sally Hawkins, Imelda Staunton, and Julie Walters also star.
Maudie tells the true story of a fragile arthritic Nova Scotia housekeeper who becomes an artist and beloved community figure. Directed by Aisling Walsh and starring Ethan Hawke Sally Hawkins and Kari Matchett, Maudie is a story of one woman’s independence and an unlikely love story…
Maudie (2016), Ethan Hawke
I’d like to see Maudie because of Ethan Hawke. I also want to see Hawkins do well, especially since she’s in my favourite Woody Allen movie, Blue Jasmine (2013).
Cate Blanchett is the star of what is officially my favourite Woody Allen film, Blue Jasmine. Her performance is fantastic; a brilliantly captivating portrayal of a desperate woman very much on the edge – if not hanging directly off it.
Alec Baldwin, Bobby Cannavale and Sally Hawkins are in the supporting cast.
You’ll find yourself silently willing for Jasmine to make it through, even though she’s not exactly the most likeable character. Nevertheless, her predicament isn’t exactly uncommon and nobody want’s to be in her situation.
It’s interesting how the screen is filled with the most glorious sunshine, when ‘bright and breezy’ is far from what’s going on in the lives of the characters in this very well written and excellently paced film.
Blue Jasmine (2013) Cate Blanchett, Alec Baldwin
Watch Blue Jasmine because there is so much useful information about life and particularly why it can be ill-advised to take a detour from your well thought out plans far too hastily.
Watch it to understand the reason Woody Allen is a film making hero for so many and why Cate Blanchett is an absolute gift and probably Australia’s equivalent of Meryl Streep.
The Movie My Life 