Tag Archives: Willem Dafoe

THE LIGHTHOUSE (2019): The Things I Liked…

The Lighthouse (2019), Robert Pattinson, A24
The Lighthouse (2019), Robert Pattinson, A24

The Lighthouse, a fantasy / drama / horror about two lighthouse keepers struggling to maintain their sanity while living on a remote, mysterious New England island is a movie that noticeably builds and builds; especially where the tensions between its two characters is concerned. It also becomes more and more intriguing, fantastical and has a permeating sense of dread as it plays, resulting in an ending that makes sense but also left me with some questions.

I definitely can’t deny overall that writer / director Robert Eggers’s 1890s set film is a good one. I enjoyed the cinematography, some of the dialogue and definitely the great performances by Robert Pattinson and Willem Dafoe. In terms of how I feel about Eggers’s movie in its entirety, for reasons that include the film’s genre (fantasy especially) and the general loudness based on the sounds and noises the two men had to endure; plus the inclusion of much of the less than sanitary / unsavoury aspects of being a lighthouse keeper in the 1800’s, I can’t say that I loved The Lighthouse. 

Should you find yourself quite curious, give it a chance because it’s unlike most. It also has that stage play quality, likely due to the dialogue style and single setting. Who knows, you may just find yourself far more enthused by the whole experience overall than I was.

I know for sure that during the movie and when it was over, I desperately wanted to believe that the job and experience of being a lighthouse keeper these days is quite different; at the very least, far more sanitary.

Happy Film Loving 

G

TOGO (2019): New trailer From Willem Dafoe, Julianne Nicholson, Christopher Heyerdahl…

Togo (2019), Willem Dafoe, Disney+, Walt Disney Studio
Togo (2019), Willem Dafoe, Disney+, Walt Disney Studio

Starring Willem Dafoe, Julianne Nicholson and Christopher Heyerdahl; Togo is the true story of asled dog named Togo. A beautiful canine considered by most to be too small and weak to lead such an intense race as the 1925 serum run, but he did it anyway.

Directed by Ericson Core; additional key cast includes Michael Gaston, Michael McElhatton, Jamie McShane…

Looks like we have ourselves an unforgettable underdog story. It also appears as though the time has arrived for movies about incredible dogs.

First we had Call To The Wild (2020); then Little Q (2019) and now Togo. It may be the Chinese year of the pig, but it’s definitely dog season.

Tom Carey, Malik McCall, Mark Krysko, Barb Mitchell, Michael Greyeyes, Thorbjørn Harr, Shaun Benson, Nikolai Nikolaeff and Steven McCarthy also star.

Togo Release Dates: December 13th, 2019 (US) / Dinsey+

Happy Film Loving

G

MOTHERLESS BROOKLYN (2019): New Trailer From Edward Norton, BRUCE WILLIS, Willem Dafoe, Gugu Mbatha-Raw…

Motherless Brooklyn (2019), Edward Norton, Warner Bros. Pictures
Motherless Brooklyn (2019), Edward Norton, Warner Bros. Pictures

Motherless Brooklyn story of Lionel Essrog (Edward Norton), a lonely 1950s New York private detective afflicted with Tourette’s Syndrome. Armed only with a few clue and his obsessive mind, Lionel is determined to solve the murder of his mentor and only friend, Frank Minna (Bruce Willis).

Additional key cast includes Willem Dafoe Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Leslie Mann, Alec Baldwin…

I like the first 30 seconds of this trailer most and I’m curious about how Lionel will use his unique mind to solve his friend’s murder.

Fingers crossed for an engaging t experience throughout.

Ethan Suplee, Michael Kenneth Williams, Bobby Cannavale, Dallas Roberts, Fisher Stevens, Cherry Jones and Robert Wisdom also star.

Motherless Brooklyn Release Dates: November 1st, 2019 (US) November 30th, 2019 (UK)…

Happy Film Loving

G

THE LIGHTHOUSE (2019): New Trailer From Robert Pattinson, Willem Dafoe…

The Lighthouse (2019), Robert Pattinson, A24
The Lighthouse (2019), Robert Pattinson, A24

Read my spoiler-free movie review of The Lighthouse (2019).


The Lighthouse which stars Robert Pattinson and Willem Dafoe tells the story of two lighthouse keepers on a remote and mysterious New England island in the 1890s.

A drama / fantasy and horror film, The Lighthouse is directed by Robert Eggers and also stars Valeriia Karaman…

This intriguing trailer has my attention because of how peculiar it appears to be. The peculiarity in this case equals to humour for me, even though comedy is not the film’s official classification.

As a fan of Dafoe especially, I’m interested in the Pattinson / Dafoe on screen chemistry. I’m not sure they’ve been in a movie together before but I’m definitely looking forward to this – including the fun accent work and dialogue.

The Lighthouse Release Dates: October 18th, 2019 (US)…

Happy Film Loving

G

LOVE, ANTOSHA (2019): New Trailer For Anton Yelchin Documentary…

Love, Antosha (2019), Anton Yelchin
Love, Antosha (2019), Anton Yelchin

At the heart of new Garret Price directed documentary Love, Antosha is Anton Yelchin, the talented young American actor who died suddenly after a freak accident on March 11th, 2016.

Featuring interviews with  J.J. Abrams, Simon Pegg , Sofia Boutella, Kristen Stewart, to name just a few, Love, Antosha offers a portrait of the life and career of Yelchin. Exploring his successes and struggles so that viewers can know the extraordinary man the world was cheated from seeing grow old…

I’ll be watching this one because the level of upset I felt at the news of Yelchin’s untimely passing is something that took me by surprise. I really had to think hard about why I felt so deeply for the loss of an actor I hadn’t even seen in especially many films, let alone met.

I eventually concluded that there was just something about Yelchin’s spirit, his presence and the way he gave through his art. The vulnerability of the characters he played in the useful stories he chose to be part of. He really had a way of connecting with his audience through his character’s truth like no one else I’d seen.

In my efforts to come to terms with the great loss, I decided not to stay upset for too long, but instead to be grateful he was actually here at all. And like that I was able to smile.

Willem Dafoe, John Cho, Drake Doremus, Joe Dante, Jodie Foster, Ben Foster and Bryce Dallas Howard are also featured.

Love, Antosha Release Dates: August 2nd, 2019 (2019)…

Happy Film Loving

G

JOHN WICK (2014): The Things I Liked…

John Wick (2014), Keanu Reeves, Lionsgate
John Wick (2014), Keanu Reeves, Lionsgate

Everything that happens at the start of John Wick may not feel as well-put-together story-wise as one might prefer. Reason being, the main focus of John Wick is the fight choreography, stylish shots and shoot-out fun. The story is merely secondary. 

Directed by Chad Stahelski and David Leitch, I liked seeing Keanu Reeves as a highly-skilled and certainly well-dressed hitman. I had fun as the camera followed him when he moved around the city of New York, enacting revenge against the people who killed his precious dog.

It’s clear to me now, why before I watched John Wick, the question All that for a dog?‘ came up so frequently for many viewers. The story could have been written in a way that meant such a question never came up at all. But, the filmmakers had other plans. And anyway, the way I see it, the killing spree wasn’t so much about the dog, but rather, everything the precious canine represented.

All-things-considered, John Wick isn’t my favourite revenge movie, but it also isn’t the worst. In terms of good cinematography, the scenes that feature a noticeable light blue wash over the film’s imagery were particularly memorable. I appreciate how the colour of the lights communicate the coldness of the characters and their actions.

I’m quite sure that it’s not just me who kept picturing how good a John Wick video game might look, as I watched the movie. Fans of Shoot-out games, fake graphic violence and stylishly executed action sequence will likely have the best time.

Happy Film Loving

G

AT ETERNITY’S GATE (2019): The Things I Liked…

At Eternity's Gate (2018), Willem Dafoe, CBS Films
At Eternity’s Gate (2018), Willem Dafoe, CBS Films

There’s plenty of beauty in director Julian Schnabel’s At Eternity’s Gate, a biography / drama about highly celebrated artist Vincent Van Gogh. The beauty lies first and foremost in the stunning cinematography, but also in the dialogue, editing and musical score.

As a big fan of colour and light, there’s certainly plenty of it to take in and enjoy  in Schabel’s movie; whether it’s the scenes in nature that Willem Dafoe’s Van Gogh is mesmerised by, or the beautiful blue of the jacket on the artist’s back.

Thanks to Schabel’s great execution, I enjoyed At Eternity’s Gate in its entirety. Even the heartbreaking moments that highlighted the truth of just how challenging Van Gogh’s experience of life must have been. The moments of suffering he endured made me sad and simultaneously grateful that he, at the very least had one of the most loving brothers anyone could ever wish for.

So engaging and immersive is the viewing experience of At Eternity’s Gate that it felt as though I was often there with Van Gogh; whether running with him through the beautiful vistas, laying down to take in the beauty of the sky and surrounding nature or even during his most tormented periods. Periods when there was next to zero colour in his days.

Watch At Eternity’s Gate because you appreciate visual art. Watch it to learn some truths about Van Gogh and for the mesmerising footage of an artist at work. By the very end, you may even be inspired to take  a trip to Amsterdam for the  Van Gogh Museum; or perhaps pick up some paint and brushes.

Time for me to look up Schnabel’s other films.

At Eternity’s Gate also stars Rupert Friend, Oscar Isaac, Mads Mikkelsen, Mathieu Amalric, Niels Arestrup…

Happy Film Loving 

G

VOX LUX (2018): New Trailer From Natalie Portman, Jude Law, Christopher Abbott, Willem Dafoe…

Vox Lux (2018), Natalie Portman
Vox Lux (2018), Natalie Portman

Starring Natalie Portman and written / directed Brady Corbet, Vox Lux is a new drama / musical about the unusual set of circumstances that end up bringing unexpected success to a pop star.

Jude Law, Christopher Abbott, Willem Dafoe and Jennifer Ehle also star.

I’m drawn to what looks like the humour and kookiness of this movie. I also just want to see the talented Portman perform in a role I didn’t exactly expect her to play.

Vox Lux Release Dates: December 7th, 2018 (2018)…

Happy Film Loving

G