Blitz (2024), Saoirse Ronan, Elliott Heffernan, Apple TV+
From Oscar-winning director Steve McQueen, Blitz is a new historical drama/action film about a group of Londoners during the events of the British capital bombing in World War II.
Saoirse Ronan, Elliott Heffernan, Stephen Graham, Benjamin Clémentine, Harris Dickinson and Kathy Burke are among the key cast.
War films aren’t my go-to. Yet, because of the cinematography, acting talent, the eventual reunion (let’s hope), and, because it’s Steve McQueen, I can’t quite ignore this.
May the reunion be as satisfying as my unquenchable ‘happy-ending thirst’ demands. Who’s with me?
John Mackay, Paul Weller and Erin Kellyman also star.
Little Women (2019), Saoirse Ronan, Sony Pictures Entertainment
Little Women is a book I have not read. As such, besides that Friends episode where Rachel spoils the story for Joey, I didn’t really know much beforehand.
Based on Louisa May Alcott’s famous novel about four sisters coming-of-age in America in the aftermath of the Civil War, there are three things that stood out most and in a good way while watching director Greta Gerwig’s remake.
Firstly, the beauty that is the gift of sisterhood. Beauty that’s there when you’re happy with your sister, when you’re mad at your sister and when times aren’t so great. I like how accurately and honestly Gerwig captured the magic of these moments. Second, I’ve always been partial to stories of girls and women who are determined enough to decide on the life they want and go after it; regardless of other’s expectations. An even more impressive move during far less liberated periods in women’s history.
Lastly, unrequited love. The presence of this theme in Little Women resulted in my favourite scene and some of the most moving moments in the whole film. Particularly the one that takes place in a field with Timothée Chalamet and Saoirse Ronan’s characters.
In terms of how I feel about Gerwig’s movie overall, it’s very well acted by all involved. I especially enjoyed Chalamet, Ronan and Florence Pugh’s performances. Beyond that and the standout moments I’ve referenced, I can’t say that I love Gerwig’s movie. This is in part because I’m not quite a fan of the editing. The way it jumped back and forth to different time lines proved more annoying than fully necessary. Perhaps the story was too big to tell in the allotted time. Furthermore, I found that Little Women really became most interesting from Meg’s wedding onwards. The unfortunate thing about that is Meg’s wedding doesn’t take place until approximately two thirds into the film.
Big fans of the book will probably like this film far more than I did. For everyone else, I still say, follow your curiosities, whether or not it was ignited by an episode of Friends.
The time has come for a remake of the classic Little Women, the story of four sisters who come of age in America in the aftermath of the Civil War.
Based on the novel by Louisa May Alcott; Greta Gerwig directs Florence Pugh, Timothée Chalamet, Emma Watson, Meryl Streep, Saoirse Ronan and more greats.
I simply cannot wait to see this one. Looks like miss Gerwig is in fantastic form. I’m of course completely ready for every word that comes out of Streep’s character’s mouth.
Laura Dern, James Norton, Chris Cooper, Bob Odenkirk, Eliza Scanlen, Louis Garrel, Abby Quinn, Sasha Frolova, Eowyn Young and Jamie Ghazarian also star.
Mary Queen Of Scots (2018), Margot Robbie, Focus Features
There are a number of things including the history lesson that made me want to watch Mary Queen Of Scots; the story of the troubled relationship between Elizabeth I, Queen of England, and her cousin Mary Stuart.
Considering that director Josie Rourke’s film is a costume drama, I’d hoped to see lots of sumptuous clothing design, in addition to very well-written dialogue delivered by great actors. The film’s trailer even had me expecting something not too far from as epic as director Shekhar Kapur and Cate Blanchett’s Elizabeth (1998).Unfortunately for me, things didn’t quite transpire that way.
Starring Margot Robbie, Saoirse Ronan, Joe Alwyn and Guy Pearce, there certainly were a handful of well-designed costumes to enjoy. Yet, it’s the few moments of beautiful visuals – especially outdoor cinematography that proved most arresting. Even more so than the dialogue and general story edit, which I have to admit had me less engaged and interested than I envisioned I’d be.
Mary Queen Of Scots (2018), Saoirse Ronan, Focus Features
It’s likely that, in addition to finding the story more dull than anticipated, my interest also started to diminish, in part because of how distressing sitting through the sexism and misogyny proved to be.
Just like my recent review of On The Basis of Sex (2018), another historical drama, it’s the part near the very end that I liked most about Mary Queen Of Scots. Meaning, everything from the moment the two royals finally meet. Actually, even with that said, I still choose the few visually arresting moments over the dialogue and this telling of the Elizabeth I and Mary Stuart story.
Watch Mary Queen Of Scots if you absolutely must. As for myself, I think it’s time I re-watched the great Elizabeth (1998).
On Chesil Beach (2017), Billy Howle, Saoirse Ronan
Starring Saoirse Ronan, Emily Watson, Billy Howle and Ann-Marie Duff, I’m glad I made it to the end of On Chesil Beach. Though a seemingly slow-moving story, I didn’t completely hate watching life unfold for a young couple whose idyllic romance in 1962 England collides with issues of sexual freedom, societal pressure and more.
The romance at the heart of the story is pleasant enough but when I think of On Chesil Beach, what I’ll first recall is the gorgeous blue hue of Ronan’s beach outfit. Besides that, I’ll remember howit had me thinking about two things, firstly, effective communication, which sadly isn’t always possible when in the heat of the moment, leading to some fairly unfortunate circumstances. Secondly, how a toxic parent/child relationship can negatively affect the child’s life, particularly when truth and or reconciliation plus therapy don’t happen.
Overall, I don’t think ‘enjoyed’ is quite the right word for how I feel about this movie. The performances were good, even though it took me a few minutes to stop seeing Cillian Murphy in Howle’s role – not that Howle did a bad job, mind you.
Overall, director Dominic Cooke’s On Chesil Beach is a film I watched that I neither loved nor hated. I guess the value of it, for me, is in all the reflection it inspired. And, yes, also the gorgeous blue of that beach outfit.
See it if you’r so curious. Just remember, it’s definitely heartbreaking.
The Movie My Life 