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Written by Matthew Toomey

Created: 02 November 2022

Arthur Miller’s The Crucible is an iconic 17^th Century play which taps into themes of honour, integrity and hysteria.  It depicts a world where faith and beliefs carry more weight than science and factual evidence.  One might think today’s world is a more sensible, enlightened place but that’s not always the case and novelist Emma Donoghue (Room) has expressed an interest in “how idealistic young people can get caught up in all sorts of systems of extreme belief, whether it's cults or whether it's suicide bombers.”

While it’s not quite a current day tale, this thought process helped inspire The Wonder, an 1862 story set in a small Irish village and loosely inspired by actual events.  Donoghue’s book was first published in 2016 and she subsequently teamed up with British screenwriter Alice Birch (Mothering Sunday) and acclaimed Chilean director Sebastián Lelio (Gloria, A Fantastic Woman) in adapting it for the big screen.  As we’re seeing with other potential “awards season” contenders, it’s receiving a short cinema run before its upcoming release on Netflix (you can stream it in two weeks).

The film is centred around Anna O’Donnell (Cassidy), an 11-year-old who has become a “sensation” within the community because she hasn’t eaten a single parcel of food in four months and yet is in perfect health.  She proclaims that she doesn’t need to eat as she’s from a devout Catholic family and has been provided with “manna from heaven”.  Her story has been met with a mix of amazement and scepticism.  Some believe she’s doing God’s work while others believe it’s part of an elaborate hoax to earn attention.

A committee has been set up to verify the claims and they’ve engaged a widowed nurse (Pugh) and an elderly nun to supervise Anna on a continual basis for two full weeks to ensure she does not consume any food.  Her role is simply to “watch” but the nurse, going against the wishes of the committee, takes it upon herself to be a part-time investigator.  She speaks with an inquiring journalist, she interacts with the family, and she becomes close with the girl at the centre of it all.

Continuing his strong track record, Lelio keeps audiences on their toes with a few directorial curveballs – best illustrated by the film’s introductory scene which breaks the fourth wall.  Florence Pugh (Little Women) reconfirms she’s one of the best in the business by delivering her lines with confidence and conviction.  She’s a worthy protagonist to root for – when told not to do something, she quickly becomes suspicious and does the opposite.

The Wonder is an interesting, well-assembled period piece.  The opening suggests intrigue, the middle offers meaningful character development, and the finale provides food for thought.

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Written by Matthew Toomey

Created: 24 October 2022

As we’ve seen again and again, cinema is medium which allows us to illuminate events from the past and help ensure they remain in people’s minds for decades to come.  In addition to being a successful Hollywood actress, Maria Bello (The Cooler, A History of Violence) is a highly regarded women’s rights activist who has championed important causes around the world which a particular focus on the Caribbean country of Haiti.

Bello has also spent a significant chunk of her life in Africa and whilst visiting Benin, the nation sandwiched in between Togo and Nigeria, she learned about the Agojie.  They were an all-female army who went into battle and protected their people under the direction of the king.  The regiment began in the 17^th Century and continued for more than two centuries.  Stories about these women have been passed down through generations and Bello rightly thought they would make for a great Braveheart-style movie.

The Woman King is the end result and, despite early scepticism of studios, we now know there is an audience for this.  It opened in the #1 spot on the U.S. box-office chart and has earned more than $60 million USD over its first five weeks.  Dana Stephens (City of Angels) helped transform Bello’s story into a screenplay and Gina Prince-Bythewood (Love & Basketball) took the reigns as director.  Fitting with the subject matter, there’s a strong female presence behind the camera in terms of the cinematography, editing, casting and costume design.

The film transports us to Dahomey (the former name of Benin) in the year 1823 where its citizens are at war with the powerful Oyo Empire who are accumulating wealth by enslaving African people, putting them on boats, and selling them to European traders.  The Agojie warriors, who have all taken a vow of celibacy to fully dedicate themselves to the cause, are going through an intense training regime as they prepare to defend their city against an upcoming Oyo attack.

There’s a strong cast of supporting players but two characters are front and centre throughout.  The first is the aging General Nanisca, fiercely played by Oscar-winner Viola Davis (Fences), who leads the army with a sense of tough love.  There are times when she provides strict discipline (orders must be followed) and other times when she offers comfort and support.  Davis creates an appealing protagonist and it’s soon evident her tough disposition hides a insecurities/secrets which won’t easily go away.  Also of interest is the tactful relationship she shares with the male king (Boyega).

The second key character is Nawi, played by up-and-coming star Thuso Mbedu (The Underground Railroad), who plays the Agojie’s latest recruit.  She’s a headstrong young woman who rubs several warriors up the wrong way but, thanks to a little guidance, her naïve passion is transformed from a liability into an asset.  She will have an important role to play in defeating the villainous Oyo.

I don’t think the battle scenes are well directed (too much editing, odd camera angles) but aside, The Woman King is a strong action drama.  It’s normally tricky with this many subplots (everyone has a worthy backstory) but Stevens and Prince-Bythewood weave it all together into something coherent and engaging.  You understand what motivates the characters, you care about their fate, and your eyes are opened to a seldom publicised part of African history.

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Written by Matthew Toomey

Created: 31 October 2022

It’s a pitch we’ve seen before.  A respected directed, with several films already under his belt, gets the funds to create a personal, semi-autobiographical drama based on their upbringing.  Examples which spring to mind include Almost Famous (Cameron Crowe), The Squid and the Whale (Noah Baumbach), Roma (Alfonso Cuarón), and Belfast (Kenneth Branagh).  We’ll be seeing one from Steven Spielberg in a few months when The Fabelmans, currently the Oscar frontrunner, is released in Australia.

Armageddon Time is James Gray’s entry into the genre.  He’s been in the business for three decades with credits such as Little Odessa, The Yards, The Lost City of Z, and Ad Astra.  This new film taps into his 1980s upbringing in Queens, New York and it’s very much “by the book”.  He starts out as a naïve, rebellious 11-year-old and, after a series of awakening events, he is transformed into a better person who more clearly sees the world for what it is.

In his first starring role, 14-year-old Banks Repeta steps into the shoes of protagonist Paul Graff.  He’s a cheeky kid who puts minimal effort into his schoolwork given he much prefers art over arithmetic.  The same personality shines through at home with Paul not afraid to push the buttons of his Jewish parents (Hathaway and Strong) to get his own way.  There’s a humorous early scene where Paul takes it upon himself to order take-out as opposed to eating his mum’s cooking.

There are two people in Paul’s life who he respects and confides in.  The first is his elderly grandfather, warmly played by two-time Oscar winner Anthony Hopkins (The Father), who realises this fact and tries to steer Paul in the right direction with wisdom and good advice.  The second is an African American kid from school (Webb) who opens Paul’s eyes to the difficulties faced by those from low socioeconomic backgrounds.

We’ve seen this type of movie before but Armageddon Time succeeds on account of its strong performances.  Youngsters Banks Repeta and Jaylin Webb are both very good and, for the most part, capture the immaturity and childlike conversation that you’d expect from pre-teenagers.  Anne Hathaway and Jeremy Strong neatly illustrate their own characters’ uncertainties while Anthony Hopkins will warm hearts as the granddad who understands the preciousness of time and how we must make the most of it.

A few elements add unnecessary padding (like the Jessica Chastain cameo) but I enjoyed Armageddon Time as a well-told, well-acted drama which may rekindle our own childhood memories.

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Written by Matthew Toomey

Created: 18 October 2022

When it comes to a great horror-thriller, there are many effective ways to create scares.  At one end of the spectrum, you can go with a farcical scenario involving mythical creatures such as ghosts, demons, zombies or evil spirits.  These films tap into our apprehension of the unknown and the supernatural.  At the opposite end of the spectrum, you can go with a realistic narrative which delves into common fears and inherent suspicions of other people.  Walking down a narrow, unlit alley in a strange town on a rainy evening?  Yeah, that’ll leave most of us on edge.

Written and directed by Zach Cregger, Barbarian is a terrific horror-thriller which creatively finds a way to cover both of the aforementioned alternatives.  It opens with an event which could happen to any of us.  A woman (Campbell), travelling to Detroit for a job interview, arrives at her single-bedroom Airbnb and finds someone else (Skarsgård) already there.  It seems the owner stuffed up and the place was double booked.  Exploring options, she calls a nearby hotel but it’s fully booked given a large medical convention is taking place in the city.

So, what would you do in her shoes?  Would you be prepared to spend a single night in a homestay with a guy you know nothing about?  Would it make a difference if he slept on the couch and you were able to lock the bedroom door?  Would it make a difference if you talked to him for a bit and then formed an opinion as to his true nature?  Would it make a difference if it wasn’t the middle of the night and you had more time to explore other options?  It’s a gripping, plausible opening from Cregger who will have you closely scrutinising every word and facial expression in determining whether Bill Skarsgård is a good guy or a bad guy.

I won’t say too much more because Barbarian is a surprising, continually shifting tale that shouldn’t be spoiled.  You’ll be surprised by both the storyline and the direction.  As an example, there’s a jarring moment half-way through where Cregger turns the tension up to the highest dial before unexpectedly pressing the reset button (you’ll know it when you see it).  The heavy, sinister music score from composer Anna Drubich and the dimly lit, anxiety-building shots from cinematographer Zach Kuperstein add to the film’s impact.

Made for just $4 million USD, Barbarian has been one of this year’s success stories having spent 6 weeks inside the top 10 at the U.S. box-office with almost $40 million USD in ticket sales.  It’s not always the case but it’s nice when positive word of mouth spreads and original, deserving movies find their intended audience.  Hopefully we see the same here in Australia.

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Written by Matthew Toomey

Created: 24 October 2022

The much-loved Mrs. Harris was the creation of American author Paul Gallico who penned four novels about her adventures between 1958 and 1974.  Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris is an adaptation of the first book and is part of a small collective of films with rhyming titles.  Other entries include The Cat in the Hat, Drop Dead Fred, Hocus Pocus, and Mr. Magorium’s Wonder Emporium.  If we’re being technical, this isn’t a new entry though.  Fans of the late Angela Lansbury may remember she starred in a largely forgotten television movie based on Gallico’s work back in 1992 (Mrs. ‘Arris Goes to Paris).

Academy Award nominee Lesley Manville (Another Year, Phantom Thread) steps into the shoes of Ada Harris and it’s a role that requires her to be sweet and loveable.  The year is 1957 and after losing her husband during World War II, she’s spent the last 13 years as an “invisible” widower living in London who goes about her routine days with minimal fuss and fanfare.  She works as a poorly paid housekeeper before finishing most evenings with a drink amongst loyal friends at the local pub.

It’s while in the home of a snobby client that she first lays eyes on a £500 dress crafted by French designer Christian Dior.  It’s one of the most beautiful things Mrs. Harris has ever seen and, in a temporary moment of madness, she decides to travel to Paris and purchase a similarly exquisite dress for herself.  She doesn’t have the money but a few convenient plot devices take care of that – she wins a tidy sum playing the Pools, she gets a reward for finding a missing ring, and she receives a 13-year back-paid war widow’s pension.  It all adds up to £582 which is enough to cover the cost of the dress plus flights.

Much of the film is then spent in Paris where Mrs. Harris unwittingly charms her way into the lives of others.  She is initially looked down upon by Dior’s snobby management but once they see her cash-laden purse, perceptions change and she’s welcomed with open arms.  It will take roughly two weeks to complete the fitting and design and so Mrs. Harris spends her time sightseeing around Paris in the company of a wealthy nobleman (Wilson), an astute accountant (Bravo), and a budding model (Baptista).

One could easily think this was written by Hans Christian Anderson given it has the look and feel of an over-the-top fairy tale.  There are a few bumps along the way but for the most part, it’s filled with happy, smiling people who have a part to play in helping Mrs. Harris fulfill her unusual dream.  It’s a crowd-pleaser but there’s so much sugar and syrup that it’s difficult to swallow at times.  Mrs. Harris has an uncanny knack for bumping into people at “just” the right time, and her connections with key individuals (such as the wealthy nobleman) feel more contrived than authentic.

All of that said, I’m a long-time fan of Lesley Manville and even I’ll admit to being won over by her likeable performance.  If looking for a simple reminder that good things can happen to good people, Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris is for you.