DUMBO
Tim Burton’s magical film recreates Disney’s beloved animated classic originally made in 1941, which was inspired by the life of a gigantic elephant called Jumbo. The action follows circus owner Max Medici (Danny de Vito) and his troupe including Holl Farrier (Colin Farrell) and his two children Millie (Nico Parker) and Joe (Finley Hobbins), who are enlisted in looking after a baby elephant with huge ears. At first he becomes a laughingstock and is named Dumbo by the public until it is discovered that the baby elephant can fly…
The CGI special effects are out of this world and bring to life a very believable and most adorable of creatures that will melt the hardest of hearts. Burton’s attractive film boasts superb production values and his long collaboration with the brilliant Danny Elfman continues with another tremendous score probably one of their best since EDWARD SCISSORHANDS. His haunting music provides the heart and soul of the story which complements magnificently Ben Davis’ perfectly framed compositions.
The actors are also carefully selected particularly the children. Parker and Hobbins are very effective and it is their love and affection for Dumbo that first encourage him to fly.
Perfect family entertainment!
AT ETERNITY’S GATE
Willem Dafoe’s tremendous portrayal of Vincent van Gogh has already earned him a worthy Oscar nomination as Best Actor in Julien Schnabel’s compelling biopic. The film focuses on the great artist’s last years when he was living in Arles and then Auvers-sur-Oise, France, but still struggling to make ends meet despite the fact that he was being supported by his brother Theo (Rupert Friend).
Dafoe conveys magnificently the artist’s inner turmoil, on the precipice of madness. His condition is captured perfectly by Benoit Delhomme’s uneasy cinematography and use of a hand held camera. Schnabel shoots some of the action in giant close ups and that also works brilliantly.
A work of art about a troubled genius!
THE VANISHING
This psychological drama inspired by the Flannan Isle mystery takes place on a tiny Scottish island and follows the story of three lighthouse keepers whose 6 week shift turns into a nightmare when they make an unexpected discovery…
Kristoffer Nyholm directs with great assurance and elicits excellent performances from his cast. Peter Mullan is as solid as ever while Gerard Butler delivers a career best performance but the real revelation is newcomer Connor Swindells as the sensitive younger member of the team.
Terrific stuff!
EATEN BY LIONS
A change of direction for Jason Wingard, following his impressive first film IN ANOTHER LIFE focusing on the plight of the Calais jungle refugees. He now tells the story of two half-brothers Omar (Antonio Aakeel) and Pete (Jack Carroll) raised by their grandmother after their parents were eaten by lions. But when their beloved Grandma also dies they embark on a journey in order to find Omar’s birth father…
It is an engaging, original but overall an uneven comedy. The suitably eccentric characters are well fleshed out and the performances are fresh and watchable particularly by the two young protagonists.
I definitely look forward to seeing whatever Wingard does next!
US
Jordan Peele has a hard act to follow after his phenomenally successful GET OUT which earned him an Oscar for his original screenplay. His latest is blessed with a remarkable lead performance from Lupita Nyong’o as Adelaide Wilson, who plays a married woman with two children still haunted by traumatic childhood memories. She now returns with her family to the place where it all began and it is not too long before her nightmares begin to turn into reality…
It is a strong premise, creepy and suitably atmospheric with strong performances but ultimately it is curiously not entirely satisfying!
OUT OF BLUE
Carol Morley’s intriguing but uneven noir thriller is based on Martin Amis novel and tells the story of New Orleans Detective Mike Hoolihan (Patricia Clarkson), who begins a labyrinthine investigation in order to solve the murder of Jennifer Rockwell (Mamie Gummer), an astrophysicist and black hole expert shot dead in her observatory…
The plot is purposely complex raising existential issues about quantum physics and parallel universes. The wonderful Patricia Clarkson delivers another mesmerising performance and makes a valiant attempt to lift this from falling into a pretentious abyss of nothingness.
Also out this week:
BEING FRANK-THE CHRIS SIVEY STORY:
This fascinating documentary by Steve Sullivan follows the story of Chris Sivey, a talented songwriter, artist and comedian known for his alter ego creation Frank Sidebottom, the cult Manchester comedian who appeared everywhere in a papier mache head. His eccentric persona also inspired Lenny Abrahamson’s 2014 film FRANK with Michael Fassbender as the eponymous hero. A fine portrait of a unique personality!
WINTERLONG: David Jackson’s first full length feature takes place around Hastings and follows the story of Francis (Francis Magee), a solitary man living on the periphery of society until his estranged teenage son Julian (Harper Jackson) turns up one day…It is gloomy and miserable until Doon Mackichan turns up as Francis’ flirtatious new neighbour Barbara who lights things up for a while. It is a fresh and unpredictable but overall it takes itself far too seriously.
